CITIZENSHIP HIGHLIGHT BELONGING

Belonging, feeling valued and an important part of society, is an important part of citizenship. Brian, Evan, and Mathew are engaged citizens who experience belonging to their community. Friends and roommates, this past spring they have been growing seedlings to sell to fellow eager gardeners in their community. In April, perched on their front lawn, they had their inaugural seedling sale selling an assortment of vegetables and herbs. Friends, family, community members and neighbours (including their furry companions) came out and purchased plants. This is just one example of how Brian, Evan and Mathew creatively build connections and contribute to their community. For Brian, Evan, and Mathew being a good neighbour is about helping others and being friendly and welcoming – helping others to feel they belong to the neighbourhood. Mathew helps neighbours by shoveling their walks in the winter, Evan connects with neighbours at the park, and Brian is a long-time volunteer with the City of Edmonton Green Shack program: “I like helping out and doing things in the community”. Plans are in the works to host a harvest party at the end of the growing season, where they’ll sell vegetables and invite the CommuniTEA Van to set up a pop-up block party!

As citizens making positive change in the world,

• Evan identifies as an Actioner making real world action happen now,

• Mathew an Innovator, being a trailblazer and pushing systems to be better, and

• Brian a Dreamer, reimagining new ways of being in the world

Staff in the disability sector have worked without a wage increase since 2014. In mid-March, the Government of Alberta announced a sustainable wage increase starting April 1, 2023. This amounts to an increase of 8% for direct service employees (not including sleep-night positions) and a 6.5% increase for all administrative and management employees. While Skills Society is grateful for the government’s commitment to increasing these wages, rising inflation and years without wage increases will require more investment to ensure a sustainable and qualified workforce.

Alberta Council of Service Providers received funding from the Government of Alberta in the spring of 2022 to lead the development of a sector-driven workforce strategy for the Community Disability Services sector. KPMG was engaged to support the work that resulted in an external report (Project Blueprint) which looks at what is required to sustain a qualified workforce in the PDD sector. The report examines the current state of workforce challenges and identifies a comprehensive strategy that includes 18 recommendations, an implementation plan, and a timeline of priorities for action. We remain hopeful that the government will use this workforce strategy to work collaboratively to fix systemic issues in the PDD sector as the recent wage increase is just a first step.

As part of the strategic priority to work on fund development, Skills contracted the services of the ViTreo Consulting Inc. to provide a fund development assessment and plan. The goal for Skills is to have a sustainable plan with a focus on increasing and diversifying revenue streams and expanding the organization’s fundraising capabilities. One of the outcomes of this work was the recent hiring of Amanda Bell as Senior Manager of Fund Development and Engagement. She brings a wealth of experience in the non-profit community and fund development. We are excited to work with her as she guides this important work. Many thanks also to the Skills Society Fund Development committee which spearheaded this work – board members Carmen Norris, Darcy McDonald, Kate Gunn, Nancy Spencer, and staff Ben Weinlick and Rebecca Rubuliak.

This year, we welcomed Megan Posyluzny, a student at the University of Alberta, as our Board Intern. During her time with the board, her project “Friend Development Open House at the Action Lab” provided a useful tool that can be used for fund development to create an event in the fall. We enjoyed our time with Megan and wish her well in the future. A big thanks to board member Kate Gunn for her excellent mentorship of Megan.

This is the final year of our strategic priorities. In preparation for the development of new and continuing priorities that will guide our next years, the Board and Skills Senior Team participated in a full-day strategic retreat in November. We reviewed our current and discussed emergent organizational priorities. While Skills Society will continue to face the challenges that come with working in the disability sector, there are exciting possibilities on the horizon. I am confident that under the skilled guidance of Ben and his Senior Team, Skills will continue to be an innovative leader in the disability sector.

Skills Society has an exceptional group of staff, starting at the top with Ben Weinlick as the Executive Director, his Senior Team, office staff, and all the front-line staff (some of whom I’ve had the opportunity to meet) who support the amazing people within the Skills community. The work they do has kept Skills moving forward throughout the challenges we have all faced during the past three years. I would like to thank each of them for their work and commitment to the organization. I don’t think we could find a better group of people than those who make up the Skills community. In February, we said goodbye to longtime Senior Manager Bev Hills as she retired. We thank her for her many years of service to Skills Society. As we said goodbye to Bev, we welcomed Heather Richards, the new Senior Manager of Operations.

I would also like to thank my fellow board members for the hours they give to the Skills community, often beyond the time spent in board meetings. We all bring different experiences and skills to the board and together make up the best board I have worked with.

I look forward to seeing what is next for Skills.

Debbie Royer, Board Chair