Municipal Planning
Municipal planning is the systematic process of designing, managing, and organizing the physical, social, environmental and economic aspects of cities and communities to ensure sustainable development and improve quality of life for inhabitants.
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Diversity Certified
e4c and Edmonton Shift Lab will co-develop a training curriculum and toolkit for market landlords and non-market housing providers on the prevention of discrimination in housing. This training will reflect input and collaboration between landlords, housing providers, and renters. Diversity Certified will set up housing professionals for success through encouraging positive and reciprocal relationships between landlords and tenants, through reduced tenant turnover and tenant satisfaction, and through growing more cohesive rental communities where residents from diverse backgrounds are welcome.
ResourceHealthy Homes & Healthy Communities Toolkit
The COVID-19 pandemic and related public health have drawn people’s attention to how critically important their homes, neighbourhoods, and communities are to their health. Public health works proactively to create the conditions for long-term recovery by focusing not only on the disease but on promoting the health of people. Healthy people are the foundation of a healthy economy.
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Proposed Cities Institute
The Cities Institute looks to be a global leader in facilitating collaboration in urban research, teaching, and partnerships which will ensure that Edmonton, and other cities in Canada, can benefit from the latest advances in technology and city building. The Cities Institute will launch in spring 2021 with a conference what will engage researchers, teachers, government officers, NGOs, and industry members who are involved in city building. The ultimate goal of the Cities Institute’s conference is to foster ‘city builders’ both on and off campus and kick-start projects that will help to make Edmonton and Alberta a more viable, livable, and competitive city and province.
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Real Estate Industry / Community Sponsorships and Small Grants 2020-2021
Accessible funding in an uncertain economic environment in the province. The purpose of the Small Grants and Sponsorship fund is to improve the Foundation’s reach across the province and strengthen its connection to industry through the support of industry-related initiatives and community events. This fund allows the Foundation to respond nimbly to the needs of its stakeholders. Small Grants and Sponsorships have proven to be a successful method to reach out to new organisations and have led to larger future grants and more defined partnerships.
ResourceHeritage Inspires YYC
Heritage districts and heritage places of interest can create niche markets for shopping, living, and eating in “differentiated” heritage environments that contribute to urban liveability and the attraction of talent. The Calgary Heritage Initiative’s Heritage Inspires YYC includes a tab for realtors and comprehensive FAQs that cover everything from place-making to urban planning policy and the steps needed to designate a heritage property. It features 36 community histories, 17 flyover videos of potential heritage districts, 50+ examples of new uses for old buildings, as well as success stories of revitalization and designation. Visitors to the website can learn about how heritage contributes to economic recovery, sustainability, and urban liveability.
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Additional Small Grants and Sponsorships 2019-2020 for COVID-19
In March, as the COVID-19 lockdown began, AREF’s Board recognized that the province’s real estate industry required additional short-term support, and in response, the Board more than doubled the Sponsorship and Small Grants budget by adding an additional $150,000 to ensure the Foundation responded nimbly to the needs of its stakeholders.
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Renewable Skills to Support Economic Recovery in Remote and Indigenous Communities
If Alberta’s real estate market is to recover, we need to see overall economic recovery. Iron and Earth is an initiative that focuses on putting people back to work which will ultimately support economic recovery and directly impact movement in the real estate market.
NewsUsing the Canadian Rental Housing Index to inform community-based planning
The Canadian Rental Housing Index has contributed to a diverse range of planning, policy, and advocacy materials. These materials are all being used to shape affordable housing policy in different ways so that the needs of renters are being taken into account.
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Pedesting App Communications Strategy
Bricolage Calgary’s mission is to build a truly accessible and inclusive world for all and will soon be releasing Pedesting, a way-finding app created for all pedestrians to navigate both outdoor and indoor spaces. Bricolage is currently completing the ‘Minimum Viable Product’ (MVP) of the app. Upon its release, Bricolage will begin development of a communications strategy. The primary goal of this next step is to find as many ‘innovators’ and ‘early adopters’ who are receptive to Bricolage Calgary’s vision and wish to engage in the next stage of product development.
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The Next Step: Examining the Real Estate Foundation Revenue Model & Modernization
The Alberta Real Estate Foundation will celebrate its 30th Anniversary in 2021. Now is the time for reflecting on what has worked well with the AREF model to date and how the Foundation can position itself in a changing world of payments, interest rates and community investment and continue to innovate for its next 30 years.