AHC Historical Timeline

Edmonton Healthcare Citizenship Project (EHCP) was formed, focusing activities in: 

• McCauley 
• Boyle Street 
• Alberta Avenue 
• Cromdale 
• Parkdale 

• Spruce Avenue
• Eastwood
• Central McDougal
• Norwood

First AGM meeting was held June 26th, 1996.  

 Mary Gullivan was hired to oversee the Community Health Team with funding from Canadian Heritage. 

EHCS Obtains charitable status 

 EHCS obtains its first office in a house on 97 street 

A project team was created to facilitate seed grants and put decision-making power and accountability into the hands of community residents. The team was composed of six individuals from the ten communities that EHCS worked in.

 The Community Initiative program grows and receives funding from FCSS (till present).  

• The organization’s new home was centrally-located sacred heart soul school, alongside several non-profit organizations. 
• EHCS’s logo is created, symbolizing a tree 

• Debbie Chaba becomes the first director (ED) and Ivon Idalia is the first program coordinator.  
• Leadership training and community building activities are implemented into EHCS’s Community-Capacity Building and the volunteer development program is initiated, with funding from the Wild Rose Foundation and FCSS between 2004-2006

• Ivon Idalia becomes Executive Director 
• 10th anniversary of EHCS 

• EHCS officially changes its name to Action for Healthy Communities 
• The Newcomer Youth Empowerment and Inclusion Program (formally New Immigrant and Refugee Youth) starts with funding CIC 
• AHC’s formal training program of Community Development Animators & Promoters (CD A&P) was launched through the Voices from our Neighbourhoods Initiative. 2007-2013 saw the training of more than 50 CD A&P)  

• AHC moves to its own leased office space on 105 ave and 110 Street 
• The Adult Literacy and Skills classes are funded by ECALA 
• The Community Action Dash begins 

Youth Challenges & Strengths: Through Their Eyes program was funded by Canadian Heritage between 2010-2013 & lottery board between 2012-2014 

Youth Challenges & Strengths: Healthy Living Through Their Eyes program funded by Public Health between 2011-2014 

First Annual Community Development Conference  

• Settlement and Integration Program funded by IRCC begins 
• AHC holds first Diversity fair 

The first Connecting Us All Conference takes place - organized by AHC, Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers, the Edmonton Multicultural, Edmonton Chambe of Voluntary Organizations, the Edmonton Foundation of Community Leagues, the City of Edmonton, and Alberta Culture & Tourism

• AHC’s 20th anniversary 
• The board releases its 2015-2025 strategic plan 
• Institutional Capacity Development funded by public health between 2015-2016 

• Aftab Khan becomes the third and currently Executive Director 
• AHC moves to its current office on 113 street and 105 avenue 
• The Healthy Active Community Kids (HACK) program begins with funding from FCSS and ECF 
• AHC added its Syrian refugee initiative, funded by IRCC 

AHC signs a three (2017-2020) contribution agreement with IRCC to strengthen its support for newcomers by including employment and enhanced youth programming in its portfolio. 

AHC launches its redeveloped Entrepreneurship Supports funded by ECF, City of Edmonton, and ECALA 

AHC begins an 18-month pilot project funded by Canadian Heritage called Empowering Black Girls, aimed at the empowerment of Black Canadian Girls ages 16-24.  

• AHC signs five-year (2020-2025) contribution agreement with IRCC to run settlement, employment, entrepreneurship, and youth programs in Greater Edmonton area and Settlement in Schools and Community Programs in Camrose, Cold Lake, and Bonnyville.  
• AHC celebrates 25 year anniversary 
• AHC launches its Mental Health Support for immigrants 

• AHC expands its Rural Small Centre support to Leduc/Beaumont in collaboration with the Black Gold School division 
• AHC led a one-year Edmonton COVID-19 Rapid Response Collaborative (ECRRC) project involving 13 partners agencies to support COVID affected individuals, which includes providing services and supports in mental health, financial, vaccination, and food. This collaboration raised 3 million dollars, including 2 million dollars from the provincial government 

AHC board updated its 5-year strategic plan 

AHC started a 3 year agreement with FCSS Edmonton. These strengthened supports helped add more online supports, increased internal capacity to effectively respond to community needs, and  improved diversity in AHC funding 

• AHC gained national visibility and increased request for collaboration and partnerships 
• AHC increased its funding base and improved programs and supports 
• Three additional programs are initiated based on community needs 

• AHC entered into a new partnership for program strengthening in rural Alberta 
• AHC initiated programs in two other province in collaboration with local/provincial organizations 
• AHC completes three-year agreement with FCSS Edmonton 
• AHC celebrates 30th anniversary