We had an incredible turn out of over 160 people at our Discernment Assembly on Monday September 16, 2024 at Scarboro United Church, each one coming with a priority issue on their mind. We heard about widespread affordable housing challenges, heart-breaking  stories of individuals struggling with mental health and addictions, the grind and disheartening process of trying to find a good job these days, and a moving overview of how the Environment and Climate Change are existential issues, especially through the lens of our call to reconciliation with indigenous peoples in Canada. 

Ultimately, through 3 rounds of voting including a round for institutions and 2 rounds for individuals to vote with a personal commitment to work on the issues, the two chosen issues for the Alliance to focus on were Mental Health, and Good Jobs, with a commitment to work in a spirit of reconciliation and right relationship with our indigenous neighbours as to how they are impacted by these issues as well.

Victory! In June of 2024 Calgary Alliance turned up our advocacy efforts regarding the Green Line, asking council to ensure the Green Line would get built to Eau Claire. We are pleased to say that council voted on July 30th, 2024 to ensure a revised Phase 1 would still go to Eau Claire, as a key part of our messaging was that the Green Line needs to be built so that it can eventually serve North Calgary. Had the downtown section been scrapped and the core of the line not built to go to Eau Claire, we despaired of whether this transit line would ever make it over the river. 

We are holding a Discernment Assembly on Monday September 16th at 7pm at Scarboro United Church. All member institutions are requested to come with their Core Teams ready to vote on the broad campaign topics on which the Alliance will focus our work for the next couple of years.