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Last August, the Africa Caribbean Heritage Alliance (ACHA) proudly opened its new dedicated space at City Centre Mall, Edmonton, creating a vibrant hub for youth programs, cultural education, and community wellness. This milestone marks an exciting chapter in ACHA’s journey to connect youth and community members with African and Caribbean cultures while promoting health, creativity, and economic opportunity.
The opening builds on the success of ACHA’s spring initiative, CHAWTA (Community Health and Wellness Through Arts), which was supported by an AHC Seed Grant 2025. CHAWTA is designed to engage youth through a combination of arts, dance, and cultural heritage activities. By offering programs like traditional dance classes and workshops on creating cultural artifacts, CHAWTA encourages participants to explore their identity, develop new skills, and strengthen their mental and physical well-being.
Since its launch, the program has had a remarkable impact on the community. Approximately 40 participants in the dance classes reported improved social connections, enhanced confidence, and better mental health outcomes. These activities don’t just teach steps or craft techniques—they foster teamwork, cultural pride, and a sense of belonging. Youth participants often share how creating or performing arts inspired by their heritage boosts their self-esteem and helps them connect with peers who share similar experiences.
The new ACHA space also serves as a vibrant marketplace for Afro-Caribbean vendors and program participants. This unique aspect allows community members to showcase and sell traditional arts and crafts, turning creative skills into real-world economic opportunities. By combining cultural celebration with entrepreneurship, ACHA encourages youth and adults alike to explore new avenues for personal and professional growth.
The grand opening celebration was more than a festive gathering. It included targeted sessions on Financial Awareness, Business Development, and Intercultural Exchange, welcoming members from African, Caribbean, and Indigenous communities. These workshops are part of ACHA’s ongoing effort to provide holistic support—nurturing cultural, economic, and personal development in one integrated program.
Looking ahead, ACHA is excited to launch a youth musical band. This initiative is designed to raise awareness and support for program sustainability, while also providing a creative outlet for youth to express themselves through music. Combined with existing dance and arts programs, the band is expected to further strengthen youth engagement, community participation, and fundraising efforts.
ACHA’s new space is more than just a physical location—it’s a dynamic hub for culture, wellness, and community growth. By bringing together youth programs, arts education, and small business opportunities, the organization is actively building a stronger, healthier, and more connected African and Caribbean community in Edmonton.
Community members, parents, and youth are encouraged to visit the ACHA space at City Centre Mall to experience the vibrant programs firsthand. Whether you’re interested in learning traditional dance, exploring cultural crafts, or participating in wellness and business workshops, ACHA offers a welcoming environment where heritage, health, and opportunity intersect.
Through initiatives like CHAWTA, ACHA demonstrates that arts and culture are powerful tools for community wellness, youth empowerment, and economic development. By investing in programs that nurture both personal growth and cultural pride, ACHA is creating a sustainable model for inclusive, arts-driven community engagement in Edmonton and beyond.
It all started with a simple goal — bringing people together to build a stronger and more connected Edmonton. What began as a small community gathering has now grown into something much bigger: a citywide movement for inclusion, collaboration, and shared purpose, uniting residents, organizations, and leaders across the city.
Hosted by the Community Development Unit at Action for Healthy Communities (AHC), the Building Inclusive Communities Forum has become a key Edmonton community event where people come to learn, share, and take action together. Every year, it brings grassroots groups, nonprofits, and public institutions under one roof to exchange ideas, form partnerships, and strengthen collective efforts to make Edmonton a more inclusive and welcoming city. The forum also highlights best practices in community development, encouraging long-term collaboration and civic engagement.
The 2025 forum, held on October 8, focused on one key message — we are stronger together. When communities share goals, their impact grows. This year’s event gave participants the opportunity to connect, share experiences, and explore creative ways to build stronger community ties across Edmonton. Participants learned how collective action and coordinated efforts can amplify the work of grassroots organizations and improve outcomes for diverse populations, including immigrant and newcomer communities.
Over the years, AHC has noticed that many grassroots organizations work toward similar goals but often do so independently. This can make it more difficult to share resources or build long-term partnerships.
The forum addressed this challenge by encouraging organizations to collaborate, pool resources, and co-design solutions. Throughout the day, several examples of these partnerships were showcased, demonstrating how collaboration leads to more sustainable community impact. By sharing knowledge and experiences, participants learned practical strategies to strengthen programs, expand outreach, and engage more residents in civic participation and inclusion initiatives.
The keynote address, delivered by Dr. Bukola Salami from the University of Calgary, was titled “Building Belonging Through Inclusion and Civic Engagement.”
Dr. Salami shared that while immigrants make up 23% of Canada’s population, many still face barriers such as language challenges, lack of mentorship, and limited representation in civic spaces. She emphasized that belonging is essential to mental health, community well-being, and long-term social inclusion. Her message encouraged everyone to co-create programs with communities, promote civic education, and celebrate cultural identity as the foundation for inclusion and belonging in Edmonton’s diverse neighborhoods.
This year’s forum featured inspiring presentations from:
Their stories were organized around four key themes:
A major highlight of the day was the panel discussion, “Strengthening Civic Engagement Through Grassroots Capacity Building.” Panelists explored how empowering community leaders helps boost civic participation and makes decision-making more inclusive and representative of Edmonton’s diversity. Attendees also had the opportunity to network with other community development practitioners, sharing insights and strategies to improve engagement in local initiatives.
The 4th Annual Building Inclusive Communities Forum was more than just an event — it was a celebration of what happens when people come together with a shared purpose.
As Edmonton continues to grow and diversify, one message continues to shine through: When communities work together, everyone belongs.
Action for Healthy Communities thanks all participants, speakers, and community partners who made this year’s forum a success. By continuing to collaborate, share knowledge, and support grassroots organizations, Edmonton is building a stronger, more inclusive, and resilient city for everyone.
Community is all about building meaningful connections with past and future generations. For the Tunisian Women's Society of Alberta, it has made it its mission to bridge the intergenerational gap among community members, combating disconnection and isolation while fostering a sense of belonging among them.
In 2023, with seed grant support from AHC, the Tunisian Women Society of Alberta organized a series of events that brought together children, youth, and seniors. These gatherings celebrated the rich culture of Tunisian culture, including folklore story readings, literature and poetry sessions, traditional Tunisian music (Malouf), language and dialect lessons, and historical narratives delivered in the Tunisian dialect.
These initiatives help preserve Tunisian culture, providing children with experiences of common folklore stories, literature, poetry, and historical narratives in the Tunisian dialect. For the community, learning the value of oral storytelling, which is a hallmark of Tunisian culture, is especially important in this digital media era.
The expected outcome of this initiative was clear: to build community connections, strengthen bonds, and preserve Tunisian heritage for future generations through the knowledge and lived experiences shared by senior community members. While the Tunisian community embraces their home in Canada, they remain rooted in their cultural history and identity.
But this is only the first step in a longer journey to preserve their heritage. The next step is providing additional exciting activities to inspire the next generation, including:
These efforts have not only enhanced community connection and support but also sparked interest among youth and children to learn more about their culture and heritage.
While they navigate their lives in Canada, the community remains deeply rooted in their traditions, which has brought immense joy to our seniors and all community members, helping them feel a strong sense of belonging in their new homes. This holistic approach enhances the cohesion of the community, ensuring that the beautiful tapestry of Tunisian culture continues to flourish in Canada for years to come.
Action for Healthy Communities Entrepreneurship Supports Program, in collaboration with Explore Edmonton, proudly showcased 54 diverse, owned small businesses at the K‑Days 2025 Pop‑Up Marketplace on July 18-20, 2025.
Over three exciting days, our passionate entrepreneurs presented a diverse range of exclusive products and services, including delicious foods, handmade crafts, creative fashion, art, wellness items, toys, and professional services, each reflecting their unique culture, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit. More than 764,000 attended KDays this year, helping our entrepreneurs showcase their products and services in front of many eager onlookers.
The marketplace presented a captivating selection of exclusive products and services, reflecting the culture and creativity of our local entrepreneurs. Attendees were delighted by:
Each vendor contributed to a rich and diverse tapestry, enhancing the marketplace with their unique offerings and backgrounds. We want to thank the following vendors for joining us at this year's Kday Pop up Market:
This year’s marketplace was a tremendous success! Our vendors were enthusiastic, achieved strong sales, gained valuable exposure, and proudly represented their communities.
This year’s event yielded numerous success stories that were both inspiring and encouraging:
Beyond business success, this experience reminded us that empowering newcomer entrepreneurs goes far beyond economic growth, it’s about embracing diversity, fostering innovation, and creating meaningful community connections.
Check out all our vendors who participated this year!
If you are a small business owner interested in learning more about the Entrepreneurship Supports Program, visit .Entrepreneurship Supports Program – Action for Healthy Communities
Action for Healthy Communities (AHC) is proud to celebrate the accomplishments of our recent Workforce Participation Program graduates. These motivated participants successfully completed introductory training in hospitality and customer service, gaining the essential skills needed to excel in two of Canada’s fastest-growing industries.
Hands-On Training for Job Readiness
Participants in the program received practical training in workplace expectations, industry terminology, customer service strategies, and effective communication. This job readiness program helps newcomers build confidence and develop the professional skills necessary to thrive in fast-paced, people-focused environments.
Real-World Experience Through Employer Partnerships
Our employer partners provide valuable work exposure opportunities, allowing participants to apply their training in real-world hospitality and customer service settings. These experiences give graduates insight into daily operations, help them practice new skills, and foster connections with potential employers.
Building Skills for Career Success
Beyond technical training, the Workforce Participation Program enhances teamwork, communication, and understanding of Canadian workplace culture. Graduates leave equipped to navigate the local job market, expand their professional networks, and pursue rewarding careers in hospitality and service industries across Canada.
Celebrating Achievement and Future Opportunities
We proudly recognize every client who completed the program. Their dedication represents a significant step forward on their career journey, and we look forward to seeing them succeed in Canada’s growing hospitality and service sectors.
Congratulations to all our Workforce Participation Program graduates—your success inspires the entire AHC community.
Learn more about our Employment Supports
On June 25th, 2025, Action for Healthy Communities celebrated its 30th anniversary. This milestone event was a heartfelt tribute to all the contributors, communities, clients, volunteers, and dedicated staff members who have passionately supported our mission to foster healthier communities across Alberta over the past three decades.
Despite the looming weather, over 400 enthusiastic attendees gathered together to commemorate not just the organization’s achievements but also the remarkable individuals and diverse communities that have been integral to our story for the last 30 years. The atmosphere was vibrant, filled with laughter, joy, and a sense of unity as we reflected on the incredible strides we have made together.
Our anniversary was more than just a celebration; it was a festive gathering that brought together communities, families, and individuals of all ages. Attendees were treated to a free BBQ, a photo booth, and family-friendly activities. Our vendors from the Entrepreneurship Support Program (ESP) and our partners also showcased their services and offerings.
More than 30 dedicated volunteers came together to support our anniversary—and their presence made all the difference. From setting up early in the day to assisting guests, managing logistics, and even helping shelter others during unexpected rain, their efforts brought warmth, energy, and care to every corner of the celebration.
One of the highlights of our 30th anniversary was the incredible showcase of community talent through eight unique cultural performances. This year, we extended a special thank you to the groups who joined us in celebrating, sharing not only their artistry but also the rich tapestries of their cultures. Each performance was a reminder of the vibrant diversity that enriches our community.
We were also honoured to have the Legislative Assembly of Alberta MLA of Edmonton-City Centre David Shepherd and the City of Edmonton Counsellor Jennifer Rice representing the office of Mayor Amarjeet Sohi to present us with celebratory scrolls.
After our 30th Anniversary Celebration programming concluded, we conducted our annual general meeting (AGM) for all board members. As members gathered, we at AHC reviewed our fiscal year and voted on our future strategic direction. Our AGM also introduced new board chair directors David Bourne, Faisal Shafiq, and John Alexander.
Additionally, our last annual report was also unveiled for the first time and can be found on our AHC website at Publications & Resources – Action for Healthy Communities.
From seedling to a now prospering tree, our 30th anniversary leaves much for us to reflect on and where we are headed. We want to extend our most heartfelt gratitude to all our guests, contributors, clients, community members, volunteers, and participants who made our 30th anniversary celebration a memorable event. Each of you played a crucial role in our journey, and your continued support inspires us to forge ahead with our mission.
Thank you for being part of our story and for standing with us as we strive to create healthier, more inclusive communities. Here’s to the next chapter of Action for Healthy Communities! We can’t wait to see what we will accomplish together in the years to come.
On June 25, 2025, we celebrated our 30th Anniversary by honouring our collaborators, partners, and supporters with the Partnership Award and the Excellence in Service Award. For 30 years, AHC has been fortunate to have dedicated and passionate individuals and organizations supporting us in our mission, helping us ensure that equity-deserving individuals and newcomers have the services and programs they need to thrive.
To honour our remarkable collaborators, we introduced these awards to acknowledge individuals and organizations that have gone above and beyond to serve our clients and communities. Their dedication has shaped AHC into the organization it is today, helping equity-deserving individuals and newcomers access the crucial services and programs they need to thrive.
These recipients truly exemplified the spirit of community service and commitment.
Partnership Award recipients include the following organizations and individuals:
Excellence in Service Award recipients include the following individuals:
Each of these awardees has demonstrated exceptional commitment to serving our community and uplifting those around them. Their contributions have not gone unnoticed, and we are deeply thankful for their unwavering partnership. Congratulations to all the winners and to everyone whose collaboration is essential to our organization.
We could not have achieved our 30-year milestone without your continued partnership. Your dedication fuels our mission, and we are excited to continue this journey together as we strive for a more equitable future.
The fourth quarterly Community of Practice session was held on November 30, 2024, with 15 community leaders in attendance. This interactive session provided an opportunity to reflect on the October 9 Building Inclusive Communities Forum. Participants shared valuable feedback about the forum's impact and engaged in in-depth discussions about the successes, challenges, and lessons learned from their community initiatives. A significant focus of the session was on identifying strategies to ensure the long-term sustainability of these projects.
The "Reflection and Experience Sharing" theme served as an excellent platform for community leaders to learn from one another, refine their approaches, and deepen their collective understanding. It highlighted the power of collaboration and shared knowledge in driving meaningful change.
Overall, the CoP has been instrumental in sustaining impactful community initiatives, ensuring they remain aligned with the broader community mission and vision. It continues to serve as a valuable resource for fostering growth, learning, and mutual support among community leaders.
In summary, we successfully completed four CoP sessions this year—three quarterly sessions and one large-scale Building Inclusive Communities event on October 9, 2024. We also saw a shift in leadership, as community leaders began taking ownership of the CoPs, including agenda-setting, topic selection, and session facilitation.
There’s much to look forward to in 2025 for us at Action for Healthy Communities. For starters, we are celebrating our 30th anniversary this year. Since 1995, we’ve supported Albertans and helped communities. Fast forward 30 years and we’ve continued to ask ourselves how to best serve equity-deserving communities and individuals.
As we welcome the new year with renewed commitment, it’s only appropriate to reflect on our 2024 year and how we continue to make a difference.
Our recent Fall 2024 semester has been a remarkable success.
The Adult Literacy and Skills Development program saw an exceptional level of engagement from our adult learners in their education module learning and informative sessions, including topics like health literacy, winter preparation, and health screening conversations.
Over 70% of our students completed the semester and are now moving on to higher levels of English classes. In these classes, they learn to navigate daily life, seek employment opportunities, and engage more fully in their community.
Beyond language classes, we continue to offer a comprehensive range of settlement support services such as wellness health support, practical guidance on housing, employment, income, and a free tax clinic for low-income earners.
We are incredibly proud of our adult learners’ achievements and remain committed to supporting AHC clients with the tools and support they need to thrive in their new homes.
Transitioning to life in Canada can take an emotional and physical toll on newcomers – a fact that doesn’t get talked about enough.
Many of our clients face issues like anxiety, depression, past traumas, and family relationship struggles. The stress of moving can make these challenges even harder, and it can slow down their integration into Canadian life.
To better help our clients, the Settlement and Integration program spent 2024 on suicide prevention and caring for those who've experienced domestic violence. The team also reached out to local leaders to understand better the mental health challenges in the community, like depression and stress related to settling into Canada.
While navigating wellness is always challenging, our team remains dedicated to offering culturally sensitive, trauma-informed wellness health services.
Every newcomer’s journey is unique, and our team is dedicated to ensuring that our clients have the support they need.
Building strong and diverse communities starts at the grassroots level, and our Community Development Unit (CDU) has continued to prove its support.
In 2024, we launched four Communities of Practice with over 250 participants each and supported ten community initiatives through seed grants. We helped an additional twenty-eight initiatives with capacity-building support.
To encourage engagement among ethnocultural groups, we held eighty-five community dialogues and organized twenty-eight training sessions on grant applications. We also provided twenty-seven grant writing support sessions and assisted five groups with legal registration, connecting forty-five groups to various resources.
To wrap up the year, we hosted our 3rd Annual Building Inclusive Communities Forum, bringing together nearly 120 attendees from grassroots organizations and community leaders. Together, we focused on dismantling barriers and promoting inclusivity in the Greater Edmonton Area.
For our CDU team, it is about empowering and enhancing the voices of diverse communities, ensuring they have the tools and resources to self-determine their best interests.
This year has been challenging for Albertans, especially for newcomers. The unemployment rate for those in Alberta for five years or fewer is 9.8%, exceeding the provincial average.
Fortunately, our Employment Supports Program has helped over 400 clients, leading to more than 300 job placements.
Our Workforce Participation Programs (WPP) have been in high demand, with waitlists often exceeding 30 clients. Another popular WPP is our Hospitality program, developed in partnership with an Employer Partner.
We also hosted Spring and Fall Career Fairs to help job seekers connect with employers.
Throughout the year, we offered workshops to improve essential job-seeking skills, including:
Every job seeker is unique and that’s why our employment counselors created personalized, one-on-one support to meet individual needs.
The AHC Employment Supports Program's 2024 achievements demonstrate our commitment to empowering job seekers and bridging the gap between talent and employment opportunities, combining large-scale events with personalized guidance to navigate the job market effectively.
Many newcomers to Canada aspire to become entrepreneurs. According to the BDC, “2.9% of the immigrant population aged 15 and over are entrepreneurs in Canada, compared to 2.0% for non-immigrants.”
Despite Canada’s current economic challenges, our Entrepreneurship Supports Program (ESP) has been offering aspiring entrepreneurs free business training programs, learning sessions and workshops, and sale opportunities.
In the Spring and Fall 2024 semesters, we mentored over 60 participants in essential skills like customer identification and market research. Our Business Boot Camp trained 22 individuals in business planning and financial forecasting, while 50 participants benefited from networking during Small Business Week.
We’ve also provided opportunities for entrepreneurs to showcase their products, from handcrafted sweets to fashion. In July, over 40 of our entrepreneurs participated in the KDays Pop-Up Market. We also helped 18 entrepreneurs present at their first holiday market during our AHC Holiday Market.
AHC’s ESP has helped many entrepreneurs achieve their small business dreams, and will continue to do so by providing more opportunities to help small business owners grow.
Newcomers are increasingly choosing to settle in rural Alberta, and not just Edmonton and Calgary. While more newcomers add diversity to our community, it also presents its fair share of challenges for those adjusting to a new environment with fewer supports compared to major Alberta cities.
That’s why our Rural Small Centre (RSC) team is dedicated to helping newcomers settle in places like Leduc, Beaumont, Camrose, Cold Lake, and Bonnyville.
It’s been one of the many pleasures we had as an organization to help newcomers feel welcomed into the country. For example, we supported Ukrainian refugees by celebrating International Vyshyvanka Day, honoring their heritage and resilience.
Additionally, migrant families from Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa enjoyed their first Canadian summer with outdoor events and activities, including summer camps and a ballet camp in Leduc.
Moving to a new country is never easy, especially for children and youth, and that’s why our programs help children discover themselves and integrate themselves into Canada.
Last year, 848 newcomer kids and youth participated in our Children and Family Empowerment programs. These programs support social integration, language learning, emotional well-being, and education. We also engaged 237 parents in Family Empowerment activities that included information sessions and field trips.
In our Gender Equity Leadership Lab (GELL) programs, we offered leadership opportunities for racialized and immigrant girls to help spark their interest in STEM fields. Our bilingual STEM summer camp for French-speaking newcomers had 40 participants, and 72% of the youth in the STEM Club members made new friends.
We also organized a summer camp for over 170 kids, featuring activities, sports, guest speakers, and field trips. This camp focused on their physical, social, and emotional well-being.
Through our programs, we aim to create a supportive environment where children can build friendships, develop life skills, and succeed academically.
As we grow as an organization, we recognize that our main priority is and always has been the betterment of our equity-deserving communities and clients. As we continue to work with the communities and clients we serve, we find new and innovative ways to empower them to achieve their goals in the new year.
The Empowering Youths Reading Club and Aboriginal Awareness Initiative by Young Learn—a South Sudanese organization based in Edmonton—has made a significant impact in fostering understanding between ethnocultural community members and Indigenous communities.
Supported by the AHC seed grant, this initiative combined a passion for reading with a focus on Aboriginal culture, sparking meaningful conversations and mutual learning.
Through engaging activities such as book clubs, workshops, and interactive events, young participants not only improved their literacy skills but also deepened their understanding and respect for Indigenous traditions, history, and perspectives. The initiative provided a platform for youth to express themselves, share their stories, and actively engage in discussions about cultural diversity and social issues.
One of the most remarkable outcomes was the strengthened connections between Aboriginal elders and younger generations, both South Sudanese and Indigenous. These intergenerational interactions created a space for shared learning, fostering mutual respect and cultural exchange. The program also experienced a notable increase in youth participation, growing from 30 to 50 participants, highlighting its success and community impact.
This community-led initiative demonstrates how the power of reading and cultural awareness can unite and inspire people to build a more inclusive, informed, and connected future.