Food for Thought

Our expansive network of agency partners enhances our inclusive approach by maximizing our ability to reach diverse households across Calgary.

I Can for Kids (iCAN) witnesses a much higher rate of food insecurity among Indigenous families than we would expect based on the mix of different cultures living in Calgary. In 2023, our agency partners estimated that 33% of all the households who accessed our program identified as First Nations, Metis, or Inuit. In contrast, the most recent census data for Alberta shows that only 3% of all Calgarians identified as Indigenous.

I Can for Kids advocates for evidence-based and effective income policies such as the proposed Groceries and Essentials Benefit.

We’ve witnessed firsthand how philanthropy generates the greatest amount of momentum towards more efficient, dignified, and evidence-based responses to food insecurity.

I Can for Kids (iCAN) aims to create a world where all children have an equal opportunity to thrive. And what better way to achieve this than by empowering parents to strengthen the environment their kids need for optimal growth, development, and resilience. In this blog, we describe how our grocery gift card program offers incredible potential to boost much more than a child’s diet and nutrition.

At I Can for Kids (iCAN), we’re often asked why immigrants and refugees experience food insecurity after they relocate to Canada. Even though we’ve responded to this question by summarizing the latest research in a recent blog, we also wanted to share insight from Newcomers who face this struggle.

Discover more about the many unique factors that contribute to higher rates of food insecurity among immigrant and refugee families in Calgary.

Delve into the relationship between food insecurity and disabilities to explore the unique struggles that families encounter as they navigate both issues at the same time.

In this blog, we share valuable insights about dignity from current evidence and from the families who benefit from our program.