Earlier this October, AHC's Rural Small Centres' Team hosted their first Winter Badminton Tournament in Camrose. 

Inclusion in sports has innumerable benefits for youth, but many newcomer youth face barriers to sports due to sports organizations and facilities not anticipating their background and accommodating to their different languages and cultures. 

We are so happy to create more opportunities for newcomer youth to increase their health, their social ties, and build confidence as they try new sports. 

Thank you to all that participated and congratulations to our winners, Nice, Reece, and Axle. 

If you a newcomer living in Rural Alberta and would like support in accessing resources or organizations in your community, you can learn more about Rural Small Centre's or email us at communications@a4hc.ca!

Earlier this October, AHC staff met with Canada Post to receive a generous grant of $20,000 (and a lovely plaque) from the Canada Post Community Foundation to support a significant initiative in Edmonton – AHC's STEM-Literacy Club.

The after-school program provides a free and accessible space for marginalized children from low-income, indigenous, immigrant, refugee, and racialized backgrounds to learn more about STEM with engaging hands-on activities. This not only helps children from all backgrounds have more equitable exposure to STEM, it mitigates the likelihood of vulnerable children engaging in risky behaviors during the crucial period between the end of school and their parents return from work and none of this.

With Canada Post's support, AHC plans to enhance the program by launching a STEM Literacy Club for new immigrant children. This initiative combines STEM and Literacy in weekly sessions, aiming to ignite interest, offer inclusive learning, and promote social integration and English language skills.

Thank you, Canada Post, for your interest in making a difference in the lives of children and youth!

This November AHC had the pleasure of hosting a Celebration of Learning and Integration.

Many community members associated with AHC show admirable dedication to their education and growth with a willingness to embrace new challenges. Whether that means taking one of our many literacy classes and workshops or finding resources to learn new skills and prioritize education. AHC is incredibly proud of those who pursue learning and wanted to take this opportunity to honor and reward achievements of knowledge, skill, and growth by community members while recognizing teachers and supporters that make their journey possible.

Over 500 community members showed up for a night filled with inspiring words on the importance of education and perseverance from David Shepherd, MLA; Debbie Clark, Executive Director of ECALA; and Jennifer Rice, Edmonton City Councillor. Former students of AHC's literacy programs also shared speeches on the impact learning has had on their day-to-day life. This only complemented the joy and validation of those who have recently completed one of our literacy classes as they were honoured with certificates of completion to mark their achievements. The celebration continued with multicultural entertainment, delicious food, and opportunities to connect with other education-oriented service providers throughout Edmonton.

AHC's Executive Director, Aftab Khan, and Adult Literacy Program Manager, Yanyu Zhou were also pleased to accept an award from Edmonton City Councillor, Jennifer Rice in honour of the educational work we do and the positive impact it has on newcomers and community members throughout Edmonton and Alberta.

To pursue your own learning journey, learn more about our Adult Literacy and Skills Development Workshops today.

Winter is finally here and last month AHC had the pleasure of hosting a Family Ski Trip alongside Edmonton Ski Club for newcomer families to discover the beloved winter sport of skiing!

Winter sports are a beloved pass time in Alberta and helps community members get outdoors, get active, and feel a little more connected to the Albertan climate and community despite the cold weather. However, winter sports can be intimidating if you aren't used to the winters, don't know someone who participates, or if you don't want to invest in equipment and tickets trying to find the sport for you. That's why AHC wanted to remove the financial barriers of skiing and help families try out the sport on an accessible hill with a skilled skiing instructor to guide them along the way.

Newcomers from around the world were able to bundle up, waddle in their ski boots, and hit the slopes at Edmonton Ski Club with accessible, translated lessons and a sense of community amongst other newcomer families. Many of the families had a blast and we hope that they will continue this family pass time for winters to come!

Would you like to access similar integration opportunities? AHC's Settlement and Integration Program is always creating fun, educational events and programs that are responsive to newcomers greatest interests and needs. To learn more or sign up click here!

After three months of beginner and advanced streams of business training on essential topics like marketing and sales, business regulations and licensing, pricing and profit scaling, management methods and client relations, our Fall 2023 Business Development Training Program recently wrapped up with Business Pitching Workshop. Each entrepreneur was able to craft impressive business plans and pitches for future investors and collaborator, showcasing the unique value of their company and their product!

The business owners were also able to attend an informative field-trip to the local and renowned restaurant La Prosciutteria where their learning journey was enhanced with a detailed tour of the operations of a thriving business and the opportunity to chat with the owner about their experience with attracting new clientele, sustaining profit, getting funding, and of course, starting a business as a newcomer.

We are so proud of the business savvy and dedication our entrepreneurs consistently displayed throughout the fall and look forward to continuing to support them and their businesses!

If you have big dreams of running a business, or want support to scale up, we are currently accepting applications for our Spring 2024 Business Development Training beginner with beginner and advanced options available! Sign up today or contact lida.arguello@a4hc.ca for more information.

Women – Mindful, Empowered, and Nurturing (WMEN) is a Nepalese women-led community initiative supported by Action for Healthy Communities. The group launched their initiative with a self-care session themed Stay Fit with Zumba on June 29, 2024.

The event was held at NECASE Community Hall, and 18 women, including eight newcomer young women, were participating, and they felt connected and safe in this group. The Zumba instructor for the session was one of the group leaders, demonstrating effective use of internal resources to address community needs.

Participants expressed high satisfaction with the one-hour session of intensive physical exercise. Following the Zumba workout, they had the opportunity to network with other women and share their experiences, joys, and challenges. This session aimed to create a safe space for sharing, which is particularly needed by newcomer women in the community.

This activity is planned for four sessions, concluding on July 27. The next session will feature the theme Stay Fit with Yoga.

Marking a year of considerable growth, AHC held its 28th Annual General Meeting alongside an Open House on Wednesday, June 14, 2022. The events drew in more than 80 participants who had the opportunity to get the most up to date information on our diverse programs and services before hearing highlights of the past year and casting their votes on our organizational growth. For those that weren't able to attend, or would like to review our the print versions of the 2022-2023 Annual Report, this document can be accessed via our publications page.

In the 2022-2023 fiscal year, AHC provided support to more than 18,000 individuals, including families, children, and communities of various backgrounds. This could not be done without the leadership and commitment of our dedicated staff and network of 200+ volunteers.

The past year also saw the development of number of special initiatives and new programs including specialized supports for Ukrainian evacuees, acting as a donation centre for the earthquakes in Syria and Turkey, the wrapping up of the P.A.S.S. Program by sharing the related research with policy makers at all levels of government, and the development of the STEP Project which will aid female entrepreneurs in business finance management.

We are thankful to our funders, partners and stakeholders for their continued support and guidance in making 2022-2023 a successful year for us. With the ongoing support and insight of these valuable parties we will only be able to address greater challenges to peoples prosperity in society and ultimately create stronger, healthier communities.

View images from the event below.

Nurturing Minds, Transforming Lives, Championing Mental Health for a Brighter Tomorrow! 

In May, AHC hosted multiple introductory mental health events to support people of all backgrounds as they learned tools for self-exploration and emotional regulation. This included our “Art-Based Support - An Introduction” Workshop where people of many ages and cultures had the opportunity to explore their identity and emotional state through their creative endeavors. 

Some of the activities included participants designing drawings alongside their name that represented their identity before sharing the meaning with one another, and doing free drawings of lines that were meant to convey their emotional state before filling those lines in with objects they observed and sharing what they thought this meant. With each activity participants were able to engage in enriching conversation about their life experiences and perspectives through the art they created while making genuine connections through nurturing guidance of our experienced facilitator. 

There is no telling how far a little self-reflection and social connection can go, and we are so proud to provide opportunities like this for people to have mental health tools and open themselves up to the power of other mental health services. 

No matter how you are feeling and where you are in your mental health journey, please know AHC has space for you. 

If you want to explore of the mental health support provided by AHC click here 

View event photos here:

Salsa is the language of the soul, where emotions, rhythm, and movement come together to create a symphony of expression. 

Earlier this June, AHC hosted a Health Literacy salsa class to celebrate the end of the semester for all of our literacy classes at our main office. This joyous outdoor event was a great success, with over 50 attendees stepping into the world of salsa. People of all ages and backgrounds worked up a sweat and learned beginner salsa steps set to vibrant Cuban music.

Led by Orlando, a skilled instructor from Fiesta Cubana Dance School, this class offered a welcoming and supportive environment, making it perfect for participants of all levels. As students mastered the art of salsa, they not only improved their coordination and health, they developed a greater sense of confidence and self-expression while making new friends. Whether dancing for fun, fitness, or performance, the salsa class promised an unforgettable experience and a wonderful introduction to a healthy new hobby.

If you would like to learn more about other classes offered from our Health Literacy Course, visit our Adult Literacy and Skills Development page click here.

Scroll down to view event photos!

Over the summer, AHC introduced English Corner, a series meant to bring people together to celebrate and learn about multiculturalism in Alberta while improving their English skills. Every session asked community members to share as a group about their own cultural experiences while learning more about how various cultures approach different customs like clothing, colour, art, dance and sharing meals! 

It was inspiring to see the sort of connection, deep understanding, and joy that can be shared when we take the time to meet one another with intention. Thank you to all the community members who came out, all of the guest speakers who shared their knowledge, talent, and experience with us, and most of all to Hermella Haile who led the program with passion and care.  

On Saturday, Apr 23, 2022, Action for Healthy Communities was represented at the Taste of Ramadan, An event organized by Al-Rashid mosque at Churchill Square and open to the public.  The AHC booth was richly showcased with information from all programs and highlighted the work that the organization does, and the various populations it target. AHC stamped paraphernalia was distributed, and the AHC logo was swarming the square .

Below are some photos from the event.

After two consecutive years of virtual AGM's, AHC held its 27th Annual General Meeting in a hybrid format on Wednesday, June 8, 2022. The event saw more than 70 participants both in-person and virtual gather to learn about the highlights of the year, the financials', 2022 Board slate and more. As part of this event, guests were able to watch a video presentation showcasing the highlights of the past year. Both the print and video versions of the 2021/2022 Annual Report can be accessed via our publications page.

In 2021-2022, AHC provided support to more than 15,000 individuals, including families, youth and children. This could not be done without the leadership and commitment of our dedicated staff and network of 200+ volunteers.

The past year also saw a number of special initiatives and new programs including the Edmonton Covid-19 Rapid Response Collaborative (Mar-Dec 2021), the Edmonton Newcomer Zonal Outreach, the P.A.S.S program and Pathways to STEM for Racialized Immigrant Girls.

We have also built meaningful relationships with various stakeholders and partners in small towns to expand our support to the underserved newcomer population groups in those towns. We have also expanded to close to 80 program sites including partnerships with 26+ schools in rural Alberta (Lakeland area, Camrose, Leduc/Beaumont).

We are thankful to our funders, partners and stakeholders for their continued support and guidance to make 2021/2022 a successful year for us and we strongly believe that with their ongoing support we will be able to take on new challenges and help more people to successfully integrate into society.

View images from the event below.