Office of the Councillors

COUNCILLOR G.Chahal

Public Safety & Community Violence Townhall -

Genesis Centre - July 23, 2019:
PANELISTS:

1. Ward 5 Councillor – George Chahal

2. Ward 5 & 10 School Board Trustee & Chair – Marilyn Dennis
3. Executive Director Youth Link Calgary Police Interpretive Centre – Tara Robinson
4. Calgary Police Service Deputy Chief – Sat Parhar
5. Calgary Police Service Deputy Chief – Cliff O’Brien
6. Minister of Justice & Solicitor General - Legislative Assembly of Alberta Calgary-Elbow – Doug
Schweitzer
7. Minister of Community & Social Services - Legislative Assembly of Alberta Calgary-Northeast – Rajan
Sawhney

OPENING REMARKS:

George Chahal – City of Calgary

I have been chatting with many residents and community groups about the recent developments with
crime and violence in the heart of our communities. It led to many conversations with our partners
including CPS and CBE to engage our community in a grassroots Townhall so that we can get the right
information out to the right people. I want to thank all the residents who are here with their important
questions and concerns. We must work collaboratively in making our City a safer place to live.

I want to also give a big thank you to our panel of dignitaries including, Minister of Justice and Solicitor
General Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Community & Social Services Rajan Sawhney, CPS Deputy
Chief Sat Parhar, CPS Deputy Chief Cliff O'Brien, Ward 5 & 10 School Board Trustee Marilyn Dennis,
and YouthLink Executive Director Tara Robinson.

Marilyn Dennis – Calgary Board of Education

The CBE welcome 125,000 students into school every day. Whether living in poverty, or addiction,
physical appearance, homeless, our schools do our very best to have welcoming environments so that
our youth always feel safe.

Tara Robinson - YouthLink

The Youth Link Centre is where youth and families come together to keep safe from crime. It provides
programs on crime prevention and community safety. Youth Link programs collaborates with school
boards and non-for profit organizations and CPS. We offer programs to solve crimes and help educate
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visitors and families with information to keep safe. We equip youth with strategies before they get into a
life of crime and violence. For example, there is a drug exhibit of what drugs are and what they do to
you. There is also a gang exhibit where you can learn from actual prisoners who have been involved in
crime. Cyber bullying has been an issue with many of our youth recently and we provide a program on
how to stay safe online. Youth Link is located right next to the CPS headquarters in Westwinds. We
provide free admission Tuesday to Saturday 10 am-4 pm.

We need to start the conversation on how to talk with our children. How to recognize if your child is
participating in high-risk behaviors – is your child doing things different or coming home late? Are they
hanging out with the wrong crowds and wearing expensive clothes?

Sat Parhar – Calgary Police Service

Programs can be effective for the youth, however, parents should not always rely on programs to address
the issues with our children. Parents also have the responsibility to intervene and pay attention to their
kids from an early age. If we pay attention when kids are younger and we try to intervene many of these
kids would still be alive or sheltered from organized crime. Get involved when they are younger so they
make good decisions.

Cliff O’Brien- Calgary Police Service

Unfortunately, Northeast Calgary has the largest number of shootings this year at 23 (53 citywide). 75%
of these shootings are targeted shootings and mainly due to a drug and criminal lifestyle. There are many
ways to help prevent our youth in getting into trouble such as suppression activity, curfew checks, and
abiding by the rules and conditions. Some parents and families do not always cooperate with the
investigations and we need to foster these relationships so that we feel comfortable moving forward. As
a community, when police are looking to solve crimes, please cooperate if you are able to.

Doug Schweitzer – Government of Alberta

We want to make sure we build bridges on these issues. All Albertans deserve to feel safe in their
communities. We are taking action on gang activity to make sure we have the tools to do our job and
keep dangerous offenders off our streets.

Rajan Sawhney – Government of Alberta

We need to have more meaningful and constructive dialogue, this includes being open with our children
and ourselves. It is our collective responsibility to get involved and help prevent these issues. We must
keep the momentum going.
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QUESTION AND ANSWER:

1. Would you be hosting the Youth Link presentation on the other sites where people gather?

Tara Robinson:

YouthLink Calgary will definitely consider this for the future. The four scheduled presentations (August
22, August 29, September 7, and September 12) will be held at YouthLink Calgary (5111 47 Street NE,
in the big white building marked “YouthLink” at Calgary Police Headquarters).

2. How can Community Associations help educate youth and parents about being safe and
responsible, besides the usual methods like websites and social media?

Tara Robinson:

They can inform residents to visit YouthLink Calgary, which is free admission for all visitors.
YouthLink has exhibits on key issues including gangs, drugs, online safety, and healthy relationships.
YouthLink staff and facilitators welcome everyone to the Centre, and are passionate about educating
families about these important topics.

Community Associations could also inform their residents of the scheduled presentations scheduled at
YouthLink Calgary (5111 47 Street NE), which will focus on helping the community understand the
issues currently happening in the community, how to recognize the signs and risks of young people
getting involved, and how to talk to young people and support them making the right choices.

George Chahal:

Community Associations can play a big role in bridging the gap between parents and youth through
education, engagement, and awareness. It is important that all of our partners including non-profit work
together to make our communities safer.

3. What is being done to stop bullying in high schools? In my experience, when these incidents are
reported to either the police or the school, no information is shared with the victim’s parents in
the name of privacy. However, the whole school knows about it and the victim is mocked and
bullied as they went to the police. As a result, the child stops sharing information with the parents.
What can be done to address this?

Marilyn Dennis:

Our schools ensure students are feeling welcome and have somewhere to go and someone to talk to
when they are being bullied. As resources for our students, schools provide after school programs, and
can speak to their school counsellor and police constable. We encourage students who see bullying
occur, to step in the middle of the situation so it does not escalate further. We advise our youth to be
aware of their friends circle, if you are getting into trouble, choose a different friends circle that will
have a positive impact on you. Have better judgment and choose kindness over retaliation.
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When police are involved we can’t share information as we have to protect the privacy of others. It is
unfortunately impossible to communicate every single detail and inappropriate and dangerous. We
advise this to be documented at school administration.

Sat Parhar:

The Calgary Police Service offers an anti-bullying program. We need to get parents involved so we can
change their behavior. Intervening at the right time can go a long way.

Tara Robinson:

Youth Link offers a cyber- bullying program.

4. What programs do we have to redirect our youth from crime and violence toward a healthier
lifestyle?

George Chahal:

There are many programs within the City of Calgary for our youth, including, Calgary Neighbourhood
programs, the YARD program, and Boys & Girls Club. Youth Link also provides so many different
programs, police school, evening programs, and summer camps. You can bring your families in for free.
The Youth Employment Centre is open to individuals for opportunities to get jobs and more programs
on mentorships. Genesis Centre also has 1000 Voices, which provides many programs and services.
Ward 5 will have its Youth Council this coming fall as well.

Marilyn Dennis:

We encourage kids to play sports and join school teams, clubs and groups that speak to their interest.
There are many different clubs within our schools such as robotics, drama clubs, music and band. Our
schools also host special events including wellness fairs, career days, diversity nights, school dances and
multicultural days. There are also a number of initiatives to exercise student’s leadership muscles.
Schools offer Student Leadership Council, Principals Leadership Council and there are mentorship
opportunities. Parents can also be involved in children’s activities through Parent Council. Parents can
talk about issues within students and the schools.

Sat Parhar:

Youth can start by getting involved in social activity. The Calgary Flames offer a program for teaching
new Canadians how to skate with the Flames and police officers. There is also a junior cadet program
where there are 100 kids regularly participating.
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5. Sometimes students in High Schools are involved in gangs and violence and things happen out of
school premises. What does the CBE do to address this?

Marilyn Dennis:

CBE administration, teachers, and support staff all work very hard to make sure our schools are
excellent environments for learning and teaching, not impacted by incidents, which may happen in any
of our communities. The following are key actions:

 Establish positive relationships with our students and their families

 Support students to be proactive leaders promoting and building a positive school culture with many
activities, workshops and guest speakers based on student interests
 Establish a culture that promotes safety and security within our schools where students and family
members contact trusted adults to share their concerns (e.g. school counsellors, school resource officer,
teachers, advisors, administration.)
 Network with our community neighbors by introducing ourselves and going to their establishments to
help develop a relationship, as well as introducing the school’s SRO so they have a contact with the
Calgary Police Service for incidents should they happen
 Encourage parents/guardians (and interested community members) to attend School Council. This is
often a forum for bringing up concerns and questions from parents/guardians but also for the school to
share information about what is happening in the school.
 Offer workshops and information sessions from a variety outside agencies and partners for parents and
youth on these topics. For example, YouthLink Calgary (part of the CPS) offers free presentations on
Calgary Gangs Education – understanding the current issues surrounding community safety and high-
risk lifestyles.

6. Places of worship have the ability to reach out through involvement and education. Leaders in
these religious groups should be part of this dialogue and be involved. How can we do that?

Marilyn Dennis:

Religious leaders are welcome to attend School Council meetings to learn more about our schools and
what is being done within schools regarding educating youth on these topics and dealing with these
issues. To gain a better understanding of our students and their backgrounds, school administration,
teachers and support staff often attend cultural awareness opportunities at places of worship and
participate in professional development opportunities to learn more about the various religions and their
cultural nuances. In the past we have specifically invited religious leaders to discuss concerns that have
been raised. When we sent out the invitations to many faith leaders and church groups, very few people
attended, but those who participated were very supportive of continued dialogue to support children and
families in our communities. It is important for religious groups to be involved in discussing the issues
and then work together with us to create viable solutions.

George Chahal:

After the election in 2017, we engaged the community and started a community-based forum called the
Diversity Council, which includes religious groups, community associations, businesses, residents, and
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government amongst others. The Diversity Council is a great opportunity for the whole community to
come together and discuss topics of relevance including the recent violence within our communities. I
would advise all community members to contact my office at ward05@calgary to get involved.

7. Are the programs/services offered in the Northeast culturally appropriate? How do you make sure
that while working with the East Indian Community you are aware of their cultural and
community struggles?

Marilyn Dennis:

We know that the northeast quadrant of Calgary has many, many organizations offering excellent
programs and services for children and families who come from many cultural backgrounds. Some of
these groups work directly in our CBE schools with our students and their families.

George Chahal:

In understanding the diverse needs of the community members in Ward 5 and Northeast Calgary, I
advocated strongly for a Multilingual Notice of Motion that Council passed in 2018. This will allow The
City of Calgary to communicate and engage with ethnically diverse communities in Calgary.

8. There are many activities available for student involvement but how many are culturally
appropriate for the population? (i.e. Mentorship for South Asian kids, South Asian counsellors)

Marilyn Dennis:

This is already happening in our schools. We have a number of CBE staff who are of South Asian
background, so they are natural mentors or advisors. Wherever possible CBE schools try to hire staff
members that reflect the diversity of the school population.

Most of the organizations that offer programming for students are very aware of the need for cultural
representation among their staff and have hired accordingly. Examples would include:

 Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA) – this is a culturally diverse settlement

agency that responds to the needs of immigrant and refugee women, girls and their families
 United Way – All In For Youth Advisor
 Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth – this organization works specifically with immigrant
and refugee youth and their families:
 In School Settlement program
 Afterschool homework program
 Mentorship program
 Immigrant Services Calgary – operates throughout the city but one specific location is out of the
Genesis Centre (1000 Voices)
 After School Program in select schools – includes homework help, fun activities, guest
speakers, field trips, sports opportunities
 Family Support & Counselling of various types
 Many other services for youth/families
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 Genesis Centre in their programming for youth have hired staff that represent the cultural
diversity of the community in recreational & leadership opportunities

9. How can we target violence through the lens of mental health? Can we do more outreach, more
counsellors at schools? How can we encourage this?

Marilyn Dennis:

To support student success and well-being, integration and coordination across government ministries
(Health, Justice, Community and Social Services and Education) needs to be fostered to maximize
available resources and serve students where they are – in schools.

It is important that many community stakeholders, including the CBE, work together in educating
children, parents and the public about the importance of a healthy lifestyle--and that includes mental
health. Collectively, we need to work to remove the stigma around mental health issues, within the
general public and within particular cultural or religious groups. There needs to be open conversations
in various community groups with all community members about mental health and the supports that are
available for families. It is also important that we pay ongoing attention to positive student mental
health, not just on special “days” or weeks” designated to raise awareness.

10. Most of the Junior High or High Schools are near shopping malls and most students go to the food
court at lunchtime. Local drug dealers and other agents hang out in these areas to recruit the
youth. Why don’t we have in-school lunch programs so the students do not have to go to the food
court or is there another way for them to not be allowed to go out?

Marilyn Dennis:

CBE middle/junior high schools typically do have lunch programs but sometimes students do not wish
to eat the food offered or want to leave the school at lunch for personal reasons. High schools typically
have a cafeteria or culinary program that offer lunch offerings for students at a very reasonable cost,
ranging from snacks and sandwiches to full meals. These food offerings are responsive to what the
students would like but also need to be healthy choices.

Based on the developmental needs of adolescents, CBE high schools allow students freedom to leave
campus at lunch. It is part of the educational process of helping students become responsible decision
makers. Students are encouraged to make wise choices and decisions. Schools also offer activities,
clubs and tutoring to engage students at lunchtime. It is important for parents to take an active role in
having discussions with children about their lunchtime activities.

11. As a business owner in the community, we also find some drug activity happening at our premises,
what can our staff/management do? How as a business can we help?

Calgary Police Service:

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The key is to always report information to police. Calling the non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 or
911 if a crime is in progress. Every bit of information from the public, is helpful. Crime Stoppers allows
for people to share information in a confidential manner by calling 1-800-222-8477 or visiting
www.calgarycrimestoppers.org.

12. What are police doing to reduce or eliminate racial profiling and use of excessive force on youth in
police force/department?

Calgary Police Service:

We take every effort to ensure that our policing is bias free. Street checks, which are often conducted in
areas of high crime, are not random, and we ensure that they are without bias and that they are lawful.
Stopping one vehicle and confirming who is in that vehicle, can sometimes be the difference between a
night ending safely or ending in deadly violence. For more information, view this video that provides
information about how street checks are conducted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT_ao_hx_b8

13. What steps are CPS taking to raise awareness among youth to control crime, especially in schools?

Calgary Police Service:

We work closely with school boards and also have School Resource Officers and Community Resource
Officers that work closely with youth and families on a daily basis.

The Multi-Agency School Support Team (MASST) is a partnership between the Calgary Police Service,
the Calgary Board of Education, the Calgary Catholic School District, The City of Calgary’s Calgary
Neighbourhoods, and Alberta Health Services. The MASST program facilitates the early identification
of high-risk behavior and the delivery of prevention and intervention services to children from five to 12
years old. Each MASST team consists of a police officer and a registered social worker working closely
with the city of Calgary school boards. For further information visit
https://www.calgary.ca/cps/Pages/Youth-programs-and-resources/Youth-intervention/Multi-Agency-
School-Support-Team.aspx.

The Youth at Risk Development Program (YARD) is a community-based early intervention initiative,
delivered in partnership with the Calgary Police Service, Calgary Neighbourhoods, and Alberta Health
Services, that supports youth who are at risk of gang involvement. YARD works with youth aged 10-17
who are currently at risk, affiliated with a gang or involved in gang activity. Youth participation in
YARD is voluntary. YARD teams, consisting of a police officer and a registered social worker, work
closely with youth, their families, schools and community agencies. YARD works to develop an
individualized case plan that is family centered in order to help youth at risk avoid or escape the gang
life style. Visit https://www.calgary.ca/cps/Pages/Youth-programs-and-resources/Youth-
intervention/Gangs-and-Youth-at-Risk-Development-Program.aspx for further information.

14. Are there any plans to build a police station north of Country Hills Blvd in the near future? If so,
when?
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Calgary Police Service:

At this time, there are no plans for additional community stations.

15. How can we ensure realtors feel safe at open houses and while showing homes?

Calgary Police Service:

Being aware of surroundings and calling police should there be any concerns, is always the right
approach.

Sharing your location and timing with trusted family and friends is important. Wherever possible,
having someone with you is also advantageous.

Recently, the Alberta Real Estate Association has taken safety measures for their members through use
of a safety app, we would urge the association members to take advantage of this.

16. What are the main sources of violence in northeast Calgary? What trends are we noticing in term
of criminal activity?

Calgary Police Service:

The main source of violence in the northeast is drugs & targeted shootings. Victims who are involved in
high- risk lifestyle (drugs) often become a target.

17. Who do people contact in regards to reporting illegal activities? Similarly, where do they go for
help if they are involved in it?

Calgary Police Service:

You can call 911, 266-1234 or Crimestoppers 403-262-8477. Individuals can also report at police
stations. If you are involved, you can contact Youth Link 403-428-5465.

18. How do you plan to educate younger generations on drug related crimes and on spotting such
activities?

Calgary Police Service:

A number of efforts are underway as listed above. Information sessions through YouthLink, which will
be advertised soon. Information on YouthLink program can be found at https://youthlinkcalgary.com.

19. Please clarify your position on budget cuts in relation to public safety and violence.

George Chahal:
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Our approach to the budget cuts is taking a least harm approach. This means that we will focus on
savings through efficiencies including many that will come from attrition. Our goal is always to be
continually improving and finding better ways to deliver service and programs at a lower cost.

Doug Schweitzer:

The Alberta Government budget is being introduced in the fall. We are going to fulfill our campaign
commitments and make sure CPS have the tools they need to do their job. We will also introduce
different initiative to free up court time, hire new prosecutors and provide the security that resources are
available.

20. What is your plan to get funding for grassroots organizations that are more directly linked to
solving these problems? How do you plan to help these authentic, effective, smaller organizations
partner with larger organizations?

George Chahal:

The City of Calgary has a number of programs and initiatives including a mental health and addiction
strategy, social programs, and opportunities for our youth including summer jobs. We are in the process
of putting the budget together in November and we will know if there is additional funding available for
external programs. I would recommend discussing this topic with your local MLA and MP as well as
there are many grants and bursaries available at the provincial and federal levels.

Doug Schweitzer:

The ministry has funded a number of organizations and met with them to make sure we are looking at all
opportunities. We are providing government funding so we can learn how to create capacity and learn
how to fundraise to support the community.

21. Can you comment on what we have learned from the Lower Mainland with the South Asian
community? Are we working across our public and private sectors?

Sat Parhar:

CPS communicates extensively with its counterparts in the Lower Mainland and we have learned lots
from them. We are always trying to learn and do better and prevent crimes as much as possible. We will
continue to work with our partners in the public and private sectors.

Doug Schweitzer:

We should not have have barriers between levels of government. It is important that we provide one
another with feedback and know what resources we have to prevent these crimes. Open lines of
communication is key.
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George Chahal:

We need to work together with open dialogue to find solutions to these issues with all levels of
government. It is important to look at places like the Lower Mainland to learn from as they have seen
many of the issues Northeast Calgary is dealing with today.

22. What are the steps we, as a community, are taking to get drugs out of our community?

Calgary Police Service:

CPS continues to police by enforcing possession and trafficking of drugs in the City. CPS has special
Drug Under Cover Street Teams, Gang Enforcement Teams and provincial teams that drug
investigations are their sole mandate. What we can do as a community is work together to decrease the
demand for drugs in our communities by talking about the dangers with our kids. Youthlink also has
great programs about this topic to support families.

23. What is being done for the individuals who are or have been involved in criminal activity in terms
of prevention, support, addressing trauma and other issues that lead people down a path of crime
and gang violence?

Calgary Police Service:

This is a complex problem that requires a collaborative approach which includes school boards, AHS,
social services, and families at the table. There are a lot of resources, programs and supports available
and it’s up to all of us to assist people to find one that suits their needs.

24. The South Asian community is one that greatly values and espouses the high life (i.e. living in
luxury). How much impact does this embedded mindset have on our youth to choose a quick and
rich lifestyle? What can the community do to address this?

Sat Parhar

Parents should always stay engaged with their children. Know who they are hanging out with, what they
are doing on social media. Success does not come from criminal activity, but from working hard.

Rajan Sawhney

We should not assign stereotypes because all families are unique and successful. Many South Asian
families give back to their communities. It is important to value education so that we can stay successful
and learn to have a prosperous life.

George Chahal
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Parents have a hard time acknowledging that their children may be in the wrong crowd. Sometimes,
their kids may be on their own when both parents are working long hours. We have to ensure as parents,
we stay focused on them and provide our support.

25. What can I do as a parent if I believe my teenager is behaving oddly and starting to hang out with
the wrong crowd?

George Chahal

As parents, we need to have honest conversations on an ongoing basis with our children. Engage with
them by asking questions and having open lines of communication. Set curfews and intervene if you feel
they are not making the best decisions.

26. How is the City balancing major projects like the arena vs cuts to our Police and Fire, and how do
we make sure safety is not compromised?

George Chahal

The City’s mandate is to take the least harm approach. As previously discussed, this means we will have
to be leaner and better at what we do moving forward. We will also have to invest dollars where we see
the best return, including both financial and social.

27. My family moved to Canada from Pakistan in 2013 and one big reason was due to the safety in
Canada. Based on recent developments, how can I confidently let my children play in our public
spaces without worrying about their safety?

Calgary Police Service

We understand the safety of our youth is a serious concern for families. Canada is known to be one of
the safest places in the world. We have great police resources and 911 & the non-emergency police line
is always open to call.

28. As a City Councillor, what role do you envision yourself playing in enhancing public safety and
curbing community violence?

George Chahal

I will keep advocating for Calgarians on all issues including public safety and community violence. It is
important for our community to come together and tackle these issues together. I am always open to
discuss issues and opportunities to make Ward 5 and Calgary a safer place for all community members.

29. With the recent shootings, I want to know how my elected officials and government agencies are
working together to combat these issues?

George Chahal
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It is important that we have open lines of communication, transparency, and accountability. We will
continue to discuss issues with other municipalities and levels of government. This Townhall is a great
example of how different levels of government and agencies have come together for the betterment of
the community.

30. When can the new communities like Redstone, Skyview, Cornerstone and Cityscape expect a new
Recreation Centre, Community Hall and Library?

George Chahal

We are advocating strongly for all of the communities in Ward 5. Our northern communities are some of
the fastest growing in The City and this means infrastructure investment has to keep up to date. We
currently do not have any funding allocated for these projects but we will keep advocating for them
moving forward.

31. When youth and children are engaged in impactful activities, the crime will reduce. What are the
activities planned for the communities that are cost free and beneficial?

Calgary Police Service

Youth Intervention Programs offered by the Calgary Police Service include YARD, MASST, and the
Gateway Initiative. The YouthLink Centre is also available for everyone at no cost, which includes
programs for all ages.

George Chahal

I have started a Youth Council that will be running in the fall of 2019 and this is a great opportunity for
our youth to work with me and my office on great opportunities including mentorship, volunteering, and
learning more about the municipal government. I would encourage all parents and youth to contact my
office at ward05@calgary.ca to get involved.

THE CITY OF CALGARY PROGRAMS:

1. MASST (Multi-Agency School Support Team) is a partnership between the Calgary Police
Service, Calgary Neighbourhoods, Calgary Board of Education, Calgary Catholic School District
and Alberta Health Services. MASST is a prevention/early intervention program that is offered
to at-risk children aged 5 to 12 years of age with the goal of decreasing the likelihood they will
become involved in a criminal lifestyle or pattern of victimization by fostering a positive change
in the risk and protective factors in their lives and the lives of their families. MASST teams
consist of a police officer and a registered social worker who provide coordinated and managed
support and resources to children and families. There are currently 13 MASST teams which are
deployed geographically to serve clients in all four quadrants of Calgary.
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2. Youth at Risk Development Program (YARD) is an evidence-based early intervention

program supporting youth aged 10 to 17 who are at risk for gang involvement. YARD is a
partnership between Calgary Neighbourhoods, Calgary Police Service and Alberta Health
Services which is offered city-wide and which focuses primarily on prevention and intervention,
aiming to address the roots of gang involvement at the individual level. The program is
voluntary, not time-limited, and allows youth to receive services based on their needs (although
the program does aim to achieve individual outcomes within 12 months). Each youth who enters
the program is supported by a team comprised of a police officer and a social worker, supported
by a clinician from Alberta Health Services (to offer mental health assessment and support as
needed) and a Youth & Family Support Worker provides additional support to youth and their
families as needed. YARD has five teams including one which focuses just on at-risk Indigenous
youth.

3. Re-Direct is a Calgary based initiative that seeks to prevent the radicalization of youth and
young adults to the ideologies of extremism or terrorist groups. Re-Direct focuses on education,
awareness and early intervention to address identified vulnerabilities to radicalization, which
may lead to extremism and violence. Re-Direct complements Canada’s counterterrorism
strategy Building Resilience Against Terrorism and is staffed by one team comprised of a police
officer and a social worker.

4. Calgary AfterSchool-
a. Calgary AfterSchool is invested in the future of every young person. We offer fun, safe,
free or low-cost after school programs for a diverse group of children and youth. We have
hundreds of programs that focus on sports, arts, volunteerism, healthy living and
leadership development. Our unique programming is designed to help children and youth
do better in school, stay productive, learn new skills and make new friends. Our
evidence-based approach to programs provide safe spaces for children and youth to build
positive relationships through a Social Emotional Learning lens where youth can build
strengths and understanding in the domains of Self Awareness, Self-Management, Social
Awareness, Relationship Skills and Responsible Decision Making.
b. Our approach to programming is done in an intentional, collaborative way that leverages
our skills to provide quality after school and out of school programs through The City of
Calgary and various community-based partners. More information about these programs
are located at Calgary.ca/afterschool
c. Ward 5 Calgary Neighbourhoods CAS programs & CAS Partner programs are as
follows:
i. Martindale Kids - Crossing Park School
ii. Martindale - Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth - Next Gen Jr.
iii. Saddletowne - Aspen & Antyx - Youth Arts Action North @ Genesis Centre
iv. Saddletowne - Antyx Hip Hop @ Genesis Centre
v. Saddletowne- Two Wheel View @ Peter Lougheed School
vi. Castleridge Kids - Escuela St. Paul 11 Elementary School
vii. Falconridge Zone Up – Terry Fox Junior High
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5. Community Programs:
a. Provides free (accessible), safe, reliable, and high-quality programming to children and
youth in Calgary. These programs contribute to social inclusion and support residents in
experiencing positive social conditions. Calgary Neighbourhoods Summer Programs run
July- August through various times and locations across the city. We are offering 6
programs this summer in Ward 5 for children, youth and families. More information
about these programs and others are located at Calgary.ca/free
b. Ward 5 Calgary Neighbourhoods Summer programs are as follows:
i. Falconridge Park n’ Play and Stay n’ Play - Falconridge School, July 8 – 12
ii. Taradale Park n’ Play and Stay n’ Play -Ted Harrison School, July 8 – 12
iii. Saddle Ridge Park n’ Play and Stay n’ Play - Saddle Ridge School, July 29 –
Aug 2
iv. Saddle Ridge LEAD - Peter Lougheed Middle School, July 15 – 26
v. Martindale Lawn Chair Theatre - Crossing Park School, July 23
vi. Skyview Ranch Lawn Chair Theatre - Apostles of Jesus School, August 20

6. Youth Employment Centre (YEC)

a. The City of Calgary Youth Employment Centre (YEC) provides career and employment
services to Calgary youth, ages 15 to 24. In collaboration with local businesses and
youth-serving agencies, YEC provides youth with career and employability development
opportunities such as interview preparation, resume critiquing, cover letter writing, job
searching, training, a computer lab, job postings, hiring fairs, career exploration
opportunities, etc.
b. YEC specializes in working with youth and local employers. Our team works closely
with employers who represent a wide range of industries. This not only helps meet
employers hiring needs but also gives the opportunity for youth to gain experience in
their chosen field of work. In addition to this, YEC collaborates with schools and youth
serving agencies ensuring that the youth of Calgary are well set up for success in their
careers. YEC Outreach staff are working within communities to help youth gain access to
services and opportunities outside of the youth’s current reach.

7. Opportunity for All Youth (O4AY)

a. Opportunity for All Youth is a national initiative originated with the MaRS Solutions Lab
in Toronto to address youth unemployment. Over the next five years, The City of Calgary
Youth Employment Centre (YEC) is contributing to the national goal of hiring 40,000
Opportunity Youth by supporting and preparing local youth who are experiencing
difficulty entering the workforce. YEC collaborates with employer partners to establish
youth friendly hiring practices, strategies to increase retention, sensitivity training and
career progression plans for the youth. YEC has several employer partners who have
joined this initiative so far.

8. All in for Youth – Career Talks

a. Career Talks is a series of interactive information sessions where high school students
and school staff will meet and learn from professionals about various careers. All in for
Youth collaborates with a variety of schools across Calgary. Nelson Mandela High
School is currently one of our partners.
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