Social Policy, Planning & Research

… supporting a socially-sustainable Calgary, for all.

Reliable research, strategic development and meaningful community engagement on Calgary’s social issues is the work of the Social Policy and Planning Division (SPP) at The City of Calgary. By laying the foundation for well-designed social programs, policies and initiatives, this work fundamentally responds to the question: How do we best live together in cities, so that every Calgarian enjoys a sense of belonging, an improved quality of life and equal access to services?

To accomplish this, SPP staff provide socio-centric information resources; research; leadership and support with planning and policy development; and strategic advice to both internal and external stakeholders. As well, staff maintain long-standing relationships at the national, provincial and local levels, through which a clear sense of issues-happening-on-the-ground are derived.

Targeted Social Topics

Aboriginal

Accessibility and Disability

Affordable Housing

Diversity and Inclusiveness

Homelessness

Income and Poverty

Seniors and Aging Population

Community Information

• Community Profiles: neighbourhood statistics based on federal and census data
• Indices of Community Well-Being (published 2010): economic, social and physical well-being of Calgarians
• Signposts (published 2009, 2011): survey of the needs and issues of Calgarians, 2006 & 2009
• Social Outlook: annual five-year forecast report on broad-based social issues, companion to Economic Outlook
• Street Survival Guides: list of community, health, government and social services)
• Ward Profiles: City ward information

Policy & Initiatives

• Centre City social planning (background reports for Centre City community-building chapter)
• Community Social Data Strategy (pan-Canadian local data warehouse)
• Corporate Accessibility (City-wide service improvement for Calgarians with disabilities)
• FCM-QOLRS, 2001 report (participation in the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Quality-of-Life Reporting System)
• Fair Calgary Policy (equitable access to City programs, facilities and services)
• Living Wage (policy work informing decisions on wages for City contract employees)
• Older Adult Housing Working Group (Inter-departmental collaboration on the needs of Calgary’s aging population)
• SEEPP Sustainable Ethical & Environmental Purchasing Policy (ensuring City suppliers adhere to ethical and environmental standards)
• SO-NET – Social Outlook Knowledge Network (City/community collaboration on content for the Social Outlooks publications – see above)
• Social Policy Review – land use planning with a social perspective
• TBL Triple Bottom Line Policy (ensuring The City considers all social, economic and environmental impacts in its planning and decision-making)
• Welcoming Community Policy (Creating a city that is welcoming to diverse populations)