Social Development

Works collaboratively to provide leadership and support to projects and initiatives that enhance equitable access for all Edmontonians to city programs, policies, facilities and services.

Provides leadership and support to Council Initiatives that address issues of concern to children, Next Gen and Seniors that impact their ability to be engaged in community and civic life.

In collaboration with community partners honours outstanding community and volunteer service through the delivery of city wide recognition events including the Mayor's Awards and the Salute to Excellence Community Service and Hall of Fame award ceremonies.

Facilitates and supports a variety of leading edge, transformational Council and community initiatives.

Some current high profile change projects include:  

• End Poverty Edmonton
• Edmonton’s Winter City Strategy
• the Women’s Initiative

• Allocates, monitors and coordinates the distribution of Grants and Funding to strengthen the not-for-profit and social services sector through operational, project, program and capital development needs and interests.  
• Works collaboratively with internal partners and community to build capacity.
• Strives to assist in the identification of social issues, trends and needs to develop strategies to address them.

• Works collaboratively with key community partners to develop and deliver preventive social services that build individual, family and community capacity.
• Strives to build caring, inclusive and safe communities where people are connected to the resources they need to thrive and realize their potential.
• Provides leadership and support to Council Initiatives including Gender-based Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention and Mental Health/Urban Isolation.

The work of the section is accomplished through Assessment and Short-term Counselling, City-wide Community Building Social Work, Family Violence Prevention, Community Safety, and project and policy development.

The Indigenous Relations Office builds and supports good relations between the City, Indigenous people and organizations that serve Indigenous people.

Edmonton is home to a dynamic, vibrant, and an energetic Indigenous Community. It is young, entrepreneurial, educated, culturally active, artistic, and caring. It is the home of the second largest urban Aboriginal population in Canada, and lies in the heart of Treaty No. 6 territory.

It is the headquarters of the Metis Nation of Alberta, and a gateway to the north for many Inuit who seeks services away from home. Edmonton is a hub for visitors before embarking to the numerous Treaty 8 First Nations and Metis Settlements in Northern Alberta, and welcomes many other Indigenous people who come to Edmonton to work live and play.

Thus, the “Indigenous community” is not one community, but “many communities.” It is a reflection of the diversity and multifaceted population which calls Edmonton one of their homes.

The Indigenous Peoples in Edmonton have roots that are deeply sown and well-traveled through-out the whole of the City and extend from the past, through to the present, and will continue well into the future.

The Multicultural Relations Office aims to create a socially inclusive city, where newcomers and other citizens are able to be involved in all areas of the economic, social, political and cultural parts of life. Working towards an  Edmonton for All where Edmonton is welcoming and inclusive for everyone who lives and visits here. The work includes:

• Providing intercultural education and awareness initiatives for City of Edmonton staff
• Working outside of our organization with communities, grassroots organizations, non-profits, and others to support efforts towards inclusion and cohesion
• Supporting the governance and operations of several multicultural centres
• Promoting intercultural appreciation, learning, and engagement between communities