Our Community Blogs share stories from across our work with equity-deserving communities, highlighting AHC programs, partnerships, and community-led initiatives in action. Through reflections, updates, and success stories, we showcase how culturally responsive programming and inclusive service delivery support individuals and groups to strengthen wellbeing and build capacity.
Alongside program insights, you’ll find community success stories and testimonials that reflect the impact of collaboration, participation, and grassroots leadership. Together, these blogs offer a practical and people-first look at how communities are advancing their own wellbeing and prosperity, with AHC walking alongside them as a partner.
On Saturday, December 15, 2018 AHC held its Annual Winter Celebration (Year-end celebration) event. This year the event saw more than 300 guests, including (volunteers, community partners, clients and their families) gather at the St. John's Cultural Centre to recognize their efforts of our volunteers and community partners throughout the year, while also partaking in the festivities of the season.
This year's theme centered around "surviving winter" and "embracing winter". MEC (Mountain Equipment Coop) was present to talk about different strategies about how to embrace winter, including low-cost winter activities. Mountain Equipment Coop (MEC) to had all their winter play gear set-up with things like snowshoes and cross country ski boots and skis to try on. Kids were also able to take turns practicing their hockey skills, shooting balls in a net. The Alberta Motor Association set-up a display and table about winter driving. While some of our community partners such as the Syrian Heritage Association of Canada set-up a display to discuss their various initatvies in the community.
The program started at 2pm with words of welcome from our City Councilor Scott McKeen and MLA David Shepherd. Our Executive Director, Aftab Khan presented a word of recognition for the efforts of our community partners and volunteers this year. Participants were invited to partake in a "winter clothing fashion haul" while being educated on appropriate winter wear. In addition, there were performances by St. Joseph High School's Improv Team, Sebastian Barrera (guitar and Spanish singing) and then Kaz Curtis from Hip Hop in the Park (with a demonstration/story about how people learn English through hip hop music).
Finally, volunteers and community partners were able to collect their certficates and take a picture with our Executive Director. In all, our celebration was a great success with a very high turnout, much engagement from the community and support from over 100+ volunteers and community partners.
View images from the event below
The Connecting Us All Collaborative met for their first meeting of 2019 at AHC on Tuesday, January 15, 2019. The collaborative would like to mentor and support a youth planning committee to host a 1.5 day Anti-Racism Youth Forum targeted at newcomer youth bringing together 3 levels of government, service agencies, ethnocultural community organization leaders with youth to discuss challenges they face and work towards potential solutions to anti-racism in the Edmonton Region. The partners in the Collaboration includes the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers, Action for Healthy Communities, The Sierra Leone Association of Alberta, and Multicultural Relations Office of the City of Edmonton.
The forum will take place in May or June 2019. The expected outcomes of this project are:
Ø Share knowledge and learning about racism issues as they affect youth through panel presentations and community dialogue;
Ø Learning about cultural and linguistic differences, diversity in places of origin, racism and discrimination experiences from youth who have lived it
Ø Focus on collaborative and coordinated approaches listening to youth concerns about the various barriers in their lives
Ø To plan, develop and recommend culturally and linguistically grounded initiatives that resonate with this population, and help address adaptation issues required
Ø To build the capacity and confidence of youth to be able to provide a leadership role in initiating actions to address and solve racism issues
On Thursday, August 16th, AHC held its 6th annual Diversity Health Fair. We were very honored to have MLA David Shepherd, Edmonton-Centre attend the fair, behalf of Honorable MP Sarah Hoffman, who sent her regrets due to unforeseen circumstances.
Our Board Chair, Mr. Michael Beard, welcomed Mr. Shepherd and all the Alberta Health Exhibitors. As well, Vice Chair, Mr. Ahmad Dean Shaikh, and Director, Amanda Serra, had a chance to visit all the Exhibitors. Our Settlement Manager, Ms. Suzana Dumo, Welcomed and thanked all the Health Service Providers and participants for presenting a fundamental part in the day's event.
Rola Chehayeb, the Settlement and Integration Case Management Supervisor, started organizing this event, in April this year, to ensure that it was a success, bringing in, not only more service providers but a wide range of service providers who were first time participants at the health fair. The feedback was all positive from 300+ people of all ages, who had a meaningful and educational engagement.
We must really congratulate the Alberta Health Council and All health & wellness organizations for taking this opportunity to address some health issues that the diverse community has concerns about during this successful 6th Annual Diversity Health Fair. We extend our appreciation to Alberta Health Advisory Council and the Coordinator Maya Atallah’s and her assistance to facilitate some of the Health Service Vendors. As well, we congratulate the AHC team that helped organize the health fair this year for a job well done. The event was well organized, well attended and overall successful.
Important information about preventing chronic diseases, improving the nutritional content of meals especially for school lunches, screening for Diabetes, heart health, among other things were available to the community participants who had the opportunity to interact with the various Health Service booth holders to get answers to any questions they had. This event is a strong reminder of how important personal action is in preventing diseases. This initiative is just the beginning of the process towards addressing health concerns.
We would like to extend our appreciation to our community events supporters: Walmart, REmax, Arctic Chiller Water Company, Radio 88.5FM and Radio 1023now, Cedar Sweets, donations from community members and commitment to extend a hand at every event.
View images from the fair below.
On August 25, 2018. AHC held it's annual Community Soccer Tournament at the McQueen community center & Archbishop MacDonald High School soccer fields. More than 250 players, partners and supporters from different communities participated. Partner agencies were the City of Edmonton, McQueen Community, Archbishop MacDonald School and the Edmonton Food Bank. Listed below are the participants of the day and images from the event.
List of participant teams and winners:
Winners Medals:
Trophies:
On Thursday, September 13, 2018 AHC held its semi-annual Employer Connections Event (previously known as the Job Fair). Over 130 participants gathered at Bonnie Doon Shopping Centre to visit the booths of the employers, attend employment information sessions, seek resume and job application help. View images of the event below.
On Thursday, October 18, Dr. Bashair Ibrahim discussed the issues and challenges being now in a western country. Refugees face not only challenges related to renegotiating their status and roles within the family but also a range of challenges which prevent them from successfully adjusting to and integrating into a new country, thus exacerbating their difficult living conditions and the subsequent impacts on their family relationship. The challenges that refugee families face in resettlement in a new country are complex and various. She shared how important it us to understand their various challenges and how these might negatively affect them if not dealt with properly. View the images below.
On Saturday, October 6th, AHC took its clients and their families on a field trip the the Edmonton Corn Maze. View the images below.
This July, HACK and EPSB teamed up to provide a free indigenous cultural summer camp. Children in the program learned about identifying themselves culturally and socially while also practicing and learning new skills in music, crafts, technology, dance, social, emotional and physical health, language and literacy and other types of self-development.In addition, HACK offered nutritious meals, peer support, mentoring, cultural guidance and a fun learning experience. On the last day of camp, HACK hosted a free community BBQ, indigenous dancing and a fiddle performance by the children. View images from the BBQ below!
On Saturday, July 21st, the Business Program team held its Graduation ceremony to celebrate the achievements of the program participants who are enrolled in three different initiatives. The event was well organized and attended by people from all walks of life including three MLAs, a city councilor, representative of various organizations, funders, partners and participants from three groups with their friends and families.
As part of the celebration, entrepreneurs had the opportunity to showcase their business through various booths/displays set up around the venue. Participants have eagerly and persistently dedicated the last 14+ weeks to take their business ideas to fruition, through the guidance of well-known and experienced facilitators, business consultants, and mentors. This event will serve as a celebration of the entrepreneur’s achievements and provide them the opportunity to showcase their products/services to the public.
The event was covered by StarMetro Media and CBC French!
This unique program is held in partnership with Communities United, Somali Canadian Women & Children Association (SCWCA) and numerous cultural communities and organizations, as part of a new initiative to strengthen the financial security and integration of immigrants and Albertans through self-employment.
On Thursday, March 8, AHC joined several other service providers and community members to celebrate International Women's Day at City Hall. The event saw many Edmontonians stop by to learn about various resources and initiatives being offered around the city for women. In addition there were presentations from Mayor Don Iveson, Elder Betty Letendre, Minster Stephanie McLean, among others. The event was a great way to recognize and honour women, including the many within the city who contribute towards many women's initiatives. There was a Women's Leadership Award presented to Mauriel Stanley Venne. This event was held in partnership with Women's Initiative Edmonton; view images from the event below.
On Thursday, March 8th AHC held its semi-annual Job Fair event at Bonnie Doon Shopping Centre. Over 250 guests stopped by to visits the booths of the employers and service providers. View images of the event below.
On Saturday March, 31st, Mr. Ziad Aboultaif, Canadian (Federal) Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Manning joined the Ready to Work program as a guest speaker to talk about Public Service, the focus of this month. The MP shared his story as an immigrant, and what life steps he took to become the community leader he is today. The event was a success and the I.M.P.A.C.T (Leadership) program took the chance to offer their students certificates in the presence of MP. The MP met youths one by one, and shared with us how he emigrated 28 years ago, only knowing how to say Good Morning to becoming a Member of the Canadian Parliament. The MP also learned more about AHC and gave students insight on how to volunteer and get educated to become a Public Servant. Youths learned that volunteering is key in the community, while there is no singular route of education for governance. It was refreshing to see newcomer girls interested in governance. View images from the event below!
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