Data driving how we deliver services remains critical at Bissell Centre — the way we collect, display, and interpret information received a huge boost thanks to a group of students.
Over summer 2026, Bissell Centre hosted 13 summer interns from ATB Financial on a project to help refine how we gather feedback from program participants. The team innovated our data collection processes — integrating the ability to compare data across programs to gain clearer pictures on how improvements can be made to services.
ATB’s Early Talent Specialist Kimberley Dart explains its summer student program, called ATB 101, aims to, “unleash high performance by equipping our summer interns with the foundational tools needed to jump-start their careers.” Around 2020, the program’s focus shifted to community-based projects, partnering with different organizations to help them refine and improve aspects of their operations.
“We first partnered with Bissell Centre in 2024, and it was an outstanding experience,” says Dart. “When seeking meaningful project opportunities in Edmonton this year, returning to collaborate with Bissell Centre was a natural and exciting choice.”
The student project
This year’s ATB 101 project was especially impactful because student groups from both Edmonton and Calgary collaborated on the project. The students ventured to better standardize the data programs collect from participants sharing their experiences with Bissell Centre, automate much of the data collection process, and create a dynamic and cohesive dashboard to easily gleam insights and have participant feedback directly informing how we can improve service delivery.
Emily Desousa, one of the student leads on the project explains she had limited knowledge about Bissell Centre initially. Her excitement about the project grew as she delved deeper into the programs and services.
“Bissell Centre does incredible work, and we really wanted to make sure we helped them help as many people as possible,” says Desousa. “Our hope is that the surveys will help expand Bissell Centre’s outreach and bring more awareness to the programs offered to the community.”
The team of students investigated all aspects of our data collection, from program participant surveys to the information dashboards staff use to make program decisions, standardizing the information collection process and displaying consistent data for cross program comparisons.
“This provides Bissell Centre with useful insight into how the community is interacting with programs — allowing for meaningful changes to serving the community,” says Desousa. “By refining the data collection process, Bissell Centre has the ability to connect with their participants on a deeper level.”
Pride in helping the community
The team of students expressed their pride for how they were able to deliver a set of tools that will help to collect meaningful information from participants and visualize it to easily see areas for improvement and incite change.
“The teams at Bissell Centre can use the dashboard at a glance to get a general understanding of participant feedback, or they can use it to look deeper at the reasons for some of the results,” says Desousa.“I think the most rewarding part of working on this project was knowing that my contribution would ultimately help improve someone’s experience within the programs, hopefully improving their life.”
Eliminating poverty is a collective responsibility — ATB and the summer interns stepped up and helped rebuild a vital part of how we’re working to strengthen the community. Thank you to the incredible group of students for your contributions towards our data collection practices. And thank you to ATB for continuing to be an invaluable partner in our mission to remove barriers and walk alongside people as they come out of poverty and homelessness.
There are countless ways that you could help make an impact on your community — just like these students did. Reach out to engagement@bissellcentre.org if you have an idea for how you could help us eliminate poverty in the community.
Did you know Bissell Centre helps families with children entering school? Bissell Centre receives supplies each year to give to families with children about to enter grade one through our Family Support Services team (find the contact information below).
This is just one of the low or no cost supports available to families facing barriers to affording the growing costs associated with sending children to school. Navigating all these services can be complicated — Bissell Centre’s Family Support Services team can help you uncover the supports that will work best for you and your family.
If you want to meet with our Family Supports team, you can find them at the Bissell Centre Service Hub at 10527, 96 Street. You can contact our Family Supports team directly:
If you’re reaching out to any of the services on this list, please visit their websites for their criteria. For a full list of additional services, call 211.
School and Education Technology
Bissell Centre Family Support Services — supplies are limited. Please reach out directly to learn more about what’s currently available.
Income Support for School Expenses
You could be entitled to receive support from the Government of Alberta to help pay for school expenses. Qualified families can receive annual financial assistance for school expenses:
- $63.00 per year per child aged 4 or 5 or in kindergarten
- $121.00 per year per child aged 6 to 11 or in elementary school
- $208.00 per year per child aged 12 or older or in junior high or high school
Click to learn more about how to qualify and how to apply for this benefit.
School Supplies – Pencils, Paper, Binders, etc.
Many schools offer programs to supply children from qualifying families in need with school supplies for the year. Contacting your school if your first best step to ensuring your children have everything they need for the school year. If this option isn’t available to you, here are some community-based resources that can help.
Can Man Dan — the 14th annual We’re Here For Ya Day will be on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at Shadified Salon & Spa (12222 137 Ave NW Edmonton, Alberta). This is an annual event where the Can Man Dan organization provides free backpacks full of school supplies for families who qualify. Registration is required to receive a backpack full of school supplies for the year and closes on August 16, 2026. Click to be taken directly to the registration page, which includes further information about this program.
Reuse Centre
FIND
Free or low-cost clothing for Back to School
KARA Family Resource Centre – The annual Kicks of Kids event is coming up on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Trinity Reformed Church (13427 57 Street, Edmonton). Families can receive footwear for all children going back to school in the fall.
Mill Woods United Church
Saint Vincent de Paul
Building Hope
Amity House
Care Closet
Bissell Thrift Shop
Mustard Seed Thrift
Free Food or Meals for Lunches
Building Hope
C5 Hub Food Pantry
Candora Society
Hope Mission
Freedom Centre Church
Edmonton Food Bank
Food Not Bombs
Wecan Food Baskets
Native Healing Centre
Native Friendship Centre
Pantry N More’
Bethel Church
Tegler Youth Centre – School Lunch Program
What if the compassion and care you’ve shown throughout your life could continue creating change for generations to come?
Even leaving 1% of your total estate in your will to Bissell Centre can have a huge ripple effect on those looking for support. It might not sound like much, and you’re still leaving 99% to your family — but even this seemingly small fraction of your total estate could help low-income families have access to necessities for raising healthy little ones, people looking for housing have support readily available, and those who are at risk of losing their homes have access to financial support and education.
Best of all, you don’t need great wealth to create lasting change. Your future gift is more than generosity. It’s hope in action that ensures long after you’re gone, your values live on in a stronger, more caring community.
How to leave a legacy with Bissell Centre
Did you know Willpower can help you calculate what impact a 1% planned gift in your will could have on an organization like Bissell Centre? Its suite of free tools and advice can help guide how best you can leave a legacy of giving and community care. But the best advice it offers starts with making sure you speak with your lawyer or financial planner about the kind of gift you want to leave.
After you talk about the financial realities of your estate with an expert, adding Bissell Centre to your will is remarkably easy. There are a few details you need to make sure you include:
- Bissell Centre’s Registered Charity Number — # 118810829RR0001
- Bissell Centre’s Address — 10527 96 Street, Edmonton, AB., T5H 2H6
Once you add these details to your will, along with what percentage of your estate or total gift you want to leave, then your legacy of care for your community is set and you’re continuing to help countless individuals and families find their paths out of poverty and homelessness.
The continued impact from your legacy
In 2025, Bissell Centre provided support to 8,709 unique individuals through our tax clinic, financial education program, housing services, family services, Indigenous cultural supports, and more. We housed 246 people, helped 581 people avoid eviction or utility disconnection, and supported 2,864 people with their tax returns.
This is only one year in Bissell Centre’s more than 150 years of supporting Edmontonians in the downtown community. Your planned gift can help us continue our mission to remove barriers and support people as they move out of poverty. With your support, we will see our vision of eliminating poverty in our community become a reality.
Leaving your legacy to Bissell Centre in your will makes a difference for someone trying to find secure and stable housing, a family struggling with daily essentials, or a whole community finding hope. With careful planning and preparation today, you can help create a better tomorrow for everyone in your community.
Reach out to your legal or financial advisor or contact Terry Tobin at ttobin@bissellcentre.org to learn more about how you can make a lasting impact on the community.
Diapers and formula are essential for raising a happy and healthy family. High costs are making it harder for families experiencing poverty to find stability — often struggling to afford these necessities and there are few programs than can help.
People in Alberta with infant children spend between $900 and $1,200 each year on diapers. On average, infants use eight to 10 diapers each day and without regular changes babies are at risk of diaper rash and other illnesses
For people with limited resources, providing necessities for an infant can seem insurmountable. That’s why on May 1, we launched Tushies and Tummies as a 10-day Mother’s Day Sprint to collect diapers and formula for families with young children. Our Family Services program provides diapers and formula to families in need and is one piece that can help a family break the generational cycles of poverty.
To continue this important program we need support from our community, including you!
Why Donate Diapers?
Donating disposable diapers can be crucial for families facing multiple barriers. Providing free diapers means families in need don’t worry about running out, and instead can focus on keeping their children clean, healthy, and happy.
Families without regular access to disposable diapers might try:
- Changing them less often.
- Leaving wet/soiled diapers on their children for full days.
- Using other materials like newspapers or tea towels as diapers.
To attend most child care centres, caregivers also need to provide their own disposable diapers, creating another barrier for people accessing programs like Bissell Child Care’s free respite care. The added stress can increase anxiety and be detrimental to mental health for both caregivers and children and even compromise the bond between child and caregiver.
Family at Bissell Child Care.
Reasons to Donate Formula
Ensuring children receive all the vitamins and nutrients they need is critical to their development. While mother’s milk is the ideal, it isn’t always an option.
Donating formula becomes a lifeline for hundreds of families across the city accessing our Family Supports program. In 2025, this program helped 291 families with essentials like diapers and formula. We also provided referrals and navigation to other supports that help keep families healthy and strong.
It takes a community to keep children healthy and strong. Your donation of diapers and formula today keeps tushies clean and tummies full, relieves stress on families as they navigate their pathway out of poverty, and helps strengthen the community for future generations.
For this Mother’s Day, help ensure families have what they need to raise healthy and happy little ones. We have drop-off locations for diapers and formula across Edmonton and in Sherwood Park — and they’re accepting donations right up until Mother’s Day on May 10, 2026!
Even after Mother’s Day, we’re always accepting diapers for all ages and sizes and formula donations. They can be dropped off at our Bissell Thrift Shop at 8818 118 Avenue every Monday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
People across the greater-Edmonton region are invited to Bissell Child Care (9331 105 Ave. Edmonton) on March 28, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for its spring open house. Bissell Centre’s child care program is catered to children newborn to six-years-old, with spaces reserved for families needing full time care or respite care.
“This is an excellent opportunity for parents to see first-hand what makes Bissell Child Care so unique,” says Jaye Brown, Manager of the Early Childhood Development Program with Bissell Centre. “This is a space where programming has benefited countless children and continues to give them an incredible start to life before they enter kindergarten.”
A History of Quality Child Care in Edmonton
Bissell Centre has been running a respite child care program since the 1970s, expanding to offering full-time child care services when its new child care space opened in 2020. Children attending Bissell Child Care receive one meal and two snacks every day (provided by Bissell Harvest Catering), can attend field trips all summer long, and have access to specialized supports — all at no additional cost to parents.
“Bissell Child Care is not only for families living in the downtown core and experiencing instability,” says Brown. “We are an inclusive environment that recognizes how everyone can be a part of this community and we welcome all children and their family.”
Crucial to Bissell Centre’s Mission in the Community
Guests can treat themselves to light snacks and refreshments as they explore the nature-inspired space where children play, learn, and thrive. Educators and leaders will be on-site during the event to answer questions and provide guided tours with more information on what parents can expect when sending their children to Bissell Child Care.
Bissell Child Care is just one of Bissell Centre’s social enterprises that seeks to help fund Bissell’s crucial programs: also including Bissell Thrift Shop and Bissell Harvest Catering. All funds raised are directly invested back into programs helping people uncover their unique paths out of poverty and homelessness — increasing Bissell Centre’s capacity to meet people where they are at and help strengthen the community.
Close to 400 walkers on more than 60 teams walked through downtown Edmonton on February 28, 2026, for Bissell Centre’s ninth annual Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser. More than $161,000 was raised to go towards Bissell Centre’s programs in housing, financial empowerment, eviction prevention, family supports, and Indigenous cultural supports.
Temperatures hit as low as –24 degrees that night with wind chill, but it didn’t deter any walkers from showing up and walking alongside people in need to help strengthen the community. The walk kicked off at YMCA Boyle Street Plaza at 4:00 p.m., starting with an opening reception where walkers picked up their matching colourful toques before taking to their routes.
Walkers could choose either a two-kilometre route that took them up to 100 Street, or a five-kilometre route which saw walkers traverse all the way to 109 Street. Once walkers completed their routes, they headed back to Boyle Street Plaza for a complementary pasta buffet from Bissell Harvest Catering.
Money raised at Coldest Night of the Year makes real impacts on people in the community. In 2024, Bissell Centre helped house more than 500 people, prevented more than 600 evictions, returned more than $7.6 million through more than 4,000 personal tax filings, and connected hundreds more people to resources to help them live with a better quality of life.
Next year’s Coldest Night of the Year walk will take place on February 27, 2027.
Thank you to our sponsors:
Capital Power
Boardwalk
Coca-Cola Canada Bottling
Home Depot Canada
BigSteelBox
Alberta Residential Landlord Association
Recruitment Partners Inc.
Associated Engineering
JACEK Chocolate Couture
BioWare
Fairmont Hotel McDonald
GSJJ
Tim Hortons
North Country Fair
And thank you to all the volunteers who helped make this incredible event a success!
Bissell Centre is expanding its crucial Financial Empowerment program to better serve diverse communities facing poverty and housing instability.
With funding from Prosper Canada’s Resilient Futures program, Bissell Centre is partnering with Métis Money Moves and the Canada FASD Research Network (CanFASD) to make its Financial Empowerment programming more accessible and relevant to people rooted in Indigenous Nations and people with FASD — two demographics disproportionately experiencing poverty and homelessness.
This collaboration begins in March with Bissell Centre team members presenting Métis Money Moves’ culturally informed financial education program at the Stanley Milner Edmonton Public Library.
Finance from an Indigenous Perspective
“Indigenous teachings about things that relate to money go deeper into why a person wants to be better with finances,” says Sophia Mejia, Manager of Specialized Services with Bissell Centre. “It helps provide more personal autonomy and asks reflective questions prompting people to provide personal motivations to help them gain a better understanding around finances.”
While the Bissell Centre team leads these sessions, Métis Money Moves and CanFASD are reviewing Bissell Centre’s existing Financial Empowerment program and to create workbooks tailored to the needs of Indigenous people and people with FASD. This is expected to continue until 2027, with the new Financial Empowerment program rolling out in 2028.
“Métis Money Moves is making change for the next seven generations, empowering individuals and families to gain a deeper understanding of their money and reducing recidivism back into houselessness,” says JoLynn Parenteau, Métis Money Moves’ Founder and Facilitator. “In 2026, Métis Money Moves will reach more households than ever before, made possible by the leadership and vision of Bissell Centre’s Financial Empowerment and Prosper Canada’s Resilient Futures programs.”
Funding from Prosper Canada’s Resilient Futures Program
Resilient Futures is a $60 million, multi-year initiative that will support community organizations across Canada to expand free financial empowerment services — such as tax filing help, assistance accessing government benefits, and financial coaching and counselling — for people with low and modest incomes. The initiative aims to reach one million people and connect them with an estimated $2 billion in income benefits and tax credits.
To register for Métis Money Moves’ program, or for more information about this partnership, visit the Edmonton Public Library website.
Bissell Centre is holding its annual Coldest Night of the Year walkathon on Saturday, February 28.
Beginning at YMCA Boyle Street Plaza (9538 103A Ave. Edmonton), the opening reception starts at 4:00 p.m. and walkers will set off at 5:00 p.m.
This event features hundreds of Edmontonians walking through the city’s downtown, in matching colourful toques, to help raise funds for Bissell Centre’s critical programs and services.
Last year’s walk
Last year’s walk saw close to 400 walkers on 79 teams helping to raise $150,000 for programs that help people find sustainable housing, increase their financial knowledge, connect to Indigenous culture, and provide essentials for families.
“There’s something powerful about seeing hundreds of people bundle up and walk together on a cold winter evening,” says Michelle Reid, Manager of Community Engagement. “It’s a visible reminder that our community cares deeply about making sure everyone has access to safe housing and supports.”
What to expect at the event
Teams of walkers have been raising funds since November and will continue until the day of the walk. Kicking off from Boyle Street Plaza, walkers can choose either the two kilometre route through City Centre or five kilometre route up to 109 Street before heading back to Boyle Street Plaza for a reception with warm food and soft drinks.
Reid says seeing people from the larger Edmonton community show up to walk alongside one another reminds her how events like these open doors for people and helps strengthen the community.
About Coldest Night of the Year
Coldest Night of the Year started back in 2011, with three Ontario ministries, to raise awareness around what their communities are experiencing. It wasn’t long before hundreds of organizations across Canada and the United States adopted the event, including Bissell Centre whose own Coldest Night of the Year walkathon remains an essential event to ensure it can continue offering its range of programs including in housing, financial empowerment, family supports, and Indigenous cultural supports.
