Core Challenges Initiative - WCP
Western Cities Project - Core Challenges Initiative
The Core Challenges Initiative (CCI) is a three-year (2006 — 2009) public policy research and communications endeavour. The CCI is a major component of Canada West Foundation's Western Cities Project.
The CCI is examining the "street level" manifestations of social problems such as homelessness, prostitution, and visible drug use that tend to be concentrated in the downtown and inner city neighbourhoods (core areas) of western Canada's large urban areas. The CCI seeks to contribute positively to the ongoing efforts to address street level urban social problems by providing reliable, accessible information and by increasing awareness of the issues. Western Canada's largest cities——Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg——provide a manageable set of case studies for examining street level social problems in Canada.
The objectives of the CCI are:
- Identify and examine the key street level social problems facing large western Canadian cities, and specify the public policy implications of these problems;
- Identify and differentiate the responsibilities and activities of the three orders of government, the nonprofit sector, and the corporate community in dealing with these problems;
- Present key national and international lessons, both positive and negative, from efforts to address selected street level social problems in other jurisdictions; and
- Increase policy-maker, decision-maker and general public awareness, debate, and action regarding the street level social problems facing large western Canadian cities.
The initiative is focused on engaging experts—those in the field working at the street level, those who have researched street level social problems and those who have been leaders in the development of proactive solutions. In addition, a major public opinion survey (Looking West 2007) of urban residents provides an accurate read of where the public stands on street level social problems and the options for addressing them. What we learn will be distilled into accessible reports, discussion papers, articles, media commentary and presentations aimed at a variety of audiences including key decision-makers and the public.
A key assumption of the CCI is that street level social problems are not the inevitable side-effect of life in a "big city." Street level social problems can be effectively addressed by proactive and innovative public policy in concert with other efforts such as community action.
For more information about the CCI, please contact Director of Research Robert Roach (roach@cwf.ca).
Funding
Funding for the CCI was provided by the Cities of Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg; an anonymous philanthropic foundation; the Calgary Foundation; the Winnipeg Foundation; and the United Ways of the Lower Mainland, Calgary and Area, the Alberta Capital Region, Regina, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg