Policy to the Point: Influencing Public Policy
Charities are a source of insight and expertise about the communities and the people they serve and sharing this knowledge with all levels of government can lead to more effective public policy.
Alberta Minimum Wage Increase Coming October 1
Alberta's minimum wage will increase to $15.00 an hour, up from $13.60 an hour. This increase will mark the final stage in a series of minimum wage increases enacted by the Alberta Government. In 2015, Alberta was the first province to commit to a $15.00 minimum wage phase-in, and as of October 1st, will be the first province or state in North America to accomplish it.
Engaging Young Professionals in the Nonprofit Sector
Last week, CCVO held a lunch for summer students working in The Kahanoff Centre to learn about their experiences in the nonprofit sector, and to encourage them to connect with one another. Thirteen students from nine organizations in the building joined us for an insightful discussion. The students shared stories of what brought them to their summer jobs in the sector, and what they’re learning from their experiences.
Building an Alberta Nonprofit Election Toolkit
As a result of focus group discussions from around the province, CCVO is creating a resource to help nonprofit organizations prepare for the upcoming provincial election in Spring 2019. The Alberta Nonprofit Election Toolkit is intended to arm Alberta’s nonprofits with flexible tools to help ensure the candidates and parties address issues of importance to our sector.
Freedom of Expression Rules the Day for Canadian Charities
There was some big news for charities across Canada this week. An Ontario judge ruled that the section of the federal Income Tax Act limiting the political activity of charities has “no force or effect” as of Monday, July 16. The judge ruled that this section of the Income Tax Act is an infringement on freedom of expression for charities. Partisan activities are still prohibited – a restriction that CCVO fully supports.
What does the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Legislation mean for Alberta Nonprofits?
The Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) legislation was passed by the provincial government in June 2018 to enable municipalities to establish a program that assists property owners to make energy efficiency upgrades. It is a voluntary program that provides financing, which is repaid through property taxes. Municipalities must pass a PACE bylaw in order for residents to participate.
A Whole New World: 4 Things to Watch for and Consider in the New OH&S Act
It’s now been just over a month since Alberta’s new Occupational Health and Safety Act took effect. To put it mildly, the changes are aplenty, and are taking workplace health and safety in Alberta to a place it’s never been.
Bringing Adaptive Capacity “to Life” in Calgary
Through my research, I determined the definition of adaptive capacity to be “the ability of an organization or system to proactively prepare for change.” For nonprofit organizations, being adaptive means to adjust the way they meet their missions while unpredictable changes occur around them.
Lessons in engaging Millennials from the German ‘welcome culture’
Over the last few weeks working with CCVO, I have often been asked what Canada can learn from the German nonprofit sector. Simultaneously, I have learned that many nonprofits in Calgary find it challenging to attract millennials as volunteers. This is why I decided to share some of my learnings from the German ‘welcome culture’ in this blogpost.
Why a German social entrepreneur wants to learn from CCVO
Canada has a well-developed social system, similar to Germany, but US influence on cross-sectoral cooperation is strong. Volunteering is woven into many peoples´ and business´ DNA in Canada, who see themselves as part of an active community. Calgary had to handle a severe economic downturn and the sector is aware that one has to find ways to adapt to political, economic, social, and technological challenges that will face us in the future.
Budget 2018: Signs of thinking differently, but still committed to status-quo
The Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (CCVO) was pleased to see Budget 2018 highlight the value of Alberta’s nonprofit sector. The provincial budget, released on March 22, includes the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s key strategies that place a priority on assisting nonprofits in building their human and financial capacity.