For Immediate Release September 20, 2013 Municipal Poverty Reduction Leaders meet in Calgary A gathering of poverty reduction

leaders from across the province convened Thursday, September 19th to speak directly to Minister of Human Services Dave Hancock about the ongoing provincial poverty reduction strategy. Building on the Government of Albertas Social Policy Framework from 2012, a Poverty Reduction Strategy is one of three pillars of the Together We Raise Tomorrow initiative unfolding within the ministry. The other two pillars are Early Childhood Development and the creation of a Childrens Charter. Representatives from Airdrie, Banff, Calgary, Canmore, Edmonton, Red Deer and Region, and Wood Buffalo, along with other Calgary-based stakeholders gathered to share the status of their own municipalitys local poverty reduction initiatives and to contribute to this unique community consultation. These events are critical in pushing forward the collective agenda of significantly reducing poverty across Alberta while emphasizing a community-based approach. It is through this process that all Albertans will be empowered to contribute to the Government of Albertas promises, made during the 2012 election campaign, to end child poverty in 5 years and to significantly reduce overall poverty in 10 years. In addition to the community consultation with various poverty reduction leaders, Action to End Poverty in Alberta and Vibrant Communities Calgary formally launched Poverty Costs 2.0: Investing in Albertans as a follow-up report to the original Poverty Costs report released in March 2012. While the first report determined that poverty costs Albertans between $7.1 and $9.5 billion each year, Poverty Costs 2.0 has proposed a comprehensive strategy to reduce these costs in Alberta. This cross-sectoral and inter-municipal engagement will continue into the new year as Action to End Poverty in Alberta and Vibrant Communities Calgary promote Poverty Costs 2.0 and its recommendations to citizen groups, business communities and all orders of government throughout the province of Alberta. Presentations to citizens groups, business associations, non-profit organizations and others can be requested by contacting the individuals below. Copies of the report are available online at www.actiontoendpovertyinalberta.org and www.vibrantcalgary.com -30For More Information Contact: Mike Brown, Public Policy Coordinator Momentum Mobile: 403-605-5835 E-mail: mikeb@momentum.org Website: www.momentum.org Janet Eremenko Vibrant Communities Calgary Phone: 403-283-2193 janet@vibrantcalgary.com Website: www.vibrantcalgary.com