Calgary Dollars’ Impact on NHA’s Residents and Community
This post was written using the metrics, surveys, and reporting from Calgary Dollars directly. Thank you to them, as always, for their support!
What is Calgary Dollars?
Calgary Dollars (C$) is a local and complementary currency. This means Calgary Dollars are only used in Calgary, and can be used to help purchase goods and services from businesses and other users. Local currencies like Calgary Dollars aim to help foster stronger community connections by facilitating and encouraging local consumption.
Calgary Dollars can be earned in a variety of ways, such as placing ads to sell goods and services, and receiving Calgary Dollars as rewards from participating businesses.
How does Calgary Dollars support NHA’s residents?
At a tangible level, Calgary Dollars are accepted for a portion of rent by residents of NHA on a quarterly basis, with Norfolk accepting C$5000 towards rent contributions annually. That same C$5000 is credited back to residents throughout the year for various building engagements, community development and pride of place tasks.
IN THE LAST CALENDAR YEAR, RESIDENTS PAID A COMBINED $5,050.00 IN CALGARY DOLLARS TOWARDS RENT – THAT’S $5,050 FEDERAL CURRENCY THAT STAYED IN THEIR POCKETS AND WENT TO OTHER THINGS!
But Calgary Dollars also supports residents at an emotional and even spiritual level, by bringing residents together around shared interests and activities, creating social change in the community and encouraging resident participation in that change – both from a participation perspective and creating spaces for residents to be their own levers of change.
Calgary Dollars staff chatting with residents and community members at our Stampede Breakfast
Some of the ways NHA residents have earned Calgary Dollars include attending digital skills sessions; delivering newsletters; making positive window messages, attending the Community Advisory Group and helping build a stronger and more transparent community; attending community events and workshops such as the Environmental Sustainability workshop; storytelling, sharing family histories and travel experiences with the community; hosting events and workshops such as yoga or a technology support hub; participating in the ambassador programs, and more!
What makes this support beneficial and important?
Staff work closely with Calgary Dollars to identify resourcing gaps and changing needs in our resident population to ensure that the types of workshops, opportunities, and community building activities being offered support the current needs of residents.
The focus for this year’s collaboration period included: improved resident health; improved NHA & resident environmental stewardship, and; facilitating resident access to income and other supports.
Do NHA residents have the same access to Calgary Dollars as anyone in the city?
Yes…and no! Or yes and…also! 😆
Norfolk has a custom C$ website and mobile app (in Apple and Android phone and tablets) for resident engagements with their building and neighbours.
For residents, this gives them the option of engaging ONLY within the Norfolk community (in other words, with their neighbours), or expanding beyond the community and accessing Calgary Dollars members across the city.
Currently, 44 NHA residents are on the Calgary Dollars app and those 44 folks had 159 transactions in the last year, sending and receiving C$11, 325.00! WOW.
What does the future of the NHA and Calgary Dollars collaboration look like?
We’re so glad you asked! The beauty of this collaboration is that it is directly linked to the feedback and involvement of NHA’s residents – as residents’ needs and interests change, so will the relationship.
But if we’re being honest, we feel pretty sure this relationship is here to stay for the long haul ;-) and we’re so happy to be able to say that.
If you have questions about Calgary Dollars, please head to their website and get in touch!