Poverty Reduction Alliance says empathy required with poverty under the microscope

CAPRA operations committee member Chelsea O’Donoghue, who is also CEO at United Way Central Alberta, says that in these hard economic times, it’s key to find ways of moving the needle.

“We all know there is quite a disparity, especially in Alberta, between minimum wage and the actual living wage, which folks need to just meet the basics. That doesn’t include the ability to participate in community,” says O’Donoghue.

“There are ways for communities to come together and reduce the living wage, to make it more affordable in the cities and towns we live in.”

In Red Deer, that includes the city’s fee assistance program.

“The Tuition Assistance Bursary lowered the living wage of Drayton Valley by nearly eliminating the cost of post-secondary education for their residents,” shares Ryan Lacanilao, ALWN economist.

“The Cochrane Connect Card reduced Cochrane’s living wage by providing a variety of discounts that make the basket of goods we use in the living wage calculation cheaper.”

Those are a few examples of concrete solutions which can directly help a person’s wallet, but then comes the education piece.

“Poverty is very real in our region, especially in rural communities, but it’s sometimes hidden. Plus, it can look different in Red Deer than it does in, say, Lacombe,” says O’Donoghue, whose United Way is hosting a Poverty Simulation event in Red Deer on June 17.

“This is one way to build understanding or challenge perspectives of what rural poverty looks and feels like, so that it isn’t something people will just dismiss because it may not be front and centre for them or in everyone’s faces.”

‘Empathy’ will be one of the words of emphasis at the simulation, she continues.

O’Donoghue also explains how pride can become a barrier in smaller communities where people are more likely to know one another, and therefore are more hesitant to talk about struggles and/or access services.

“There is greater shame, greater judgment,” says O’Donoghue.

“The simulation will increase folks’ understanding as to why someone who has a childcare dilemma may be five minutes late to their work shift; or why a student may miss class because they’re trying to source food for their household.”

It’s a good way over three hours, she says, to put yourself in the shoes of 40,000 central Albertans who are trying to manage at a level below the living wage.

According to data from Statistics Canada, released in April 2026, 11 per cent of Canadians in 2024 were living below the poverty line. That’s about 4.5 million Canadians, or 1-in-10 people.

In contrast, 5.4 per cent of seniors in 2024 were living below the poverty mark, while 12.6 per cent of those aged 18-64 were doing the same.

Also released on June 1 was the 2026 Poverty Report Cards from Food Banks Canada.

Alberta gets an overall grade of D-, with an F for:

People Paying More than 30% of Income on Housing
People Having Trouble Accessing Healthcare
Government Support Recipients Who Say Rates are Insufficient to Keep up with Cost of Living
and several other categories

The entire Food Banks Canada report card for Alberta can be read here. The report for all of Canada, which got an overall grade of D+, can be read here.

For more information about CAPRA, visit capovertyreduction.ca.

To sign up for the poverty simulation, click here.

by Josh Hall

Poverty Reduction Alliance says empathy required with poverty under the microscope

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