Welcome to the Partnership Pillar! We’ve enhanced the user experience by providing an interactive video and workbook that takes you through this pillar so that you can feel equipped and confident to take action in building healthy places in your community. Remember – This is a ‘choose your own’ adventure so you can choose which tools to use in this journey.
Within the Healthy Communities Framework, we define a partnership as two or more organizations, individuals, or municipalities working together to reach a common goal.
- Interactive Video
- PDF Workbook
- Read on the Web
Within the Healthy Communities Framework, we define a partnership as two or more organizations, individuals, or municipalities working together to reach a common goal.
Whether it’s two individuals working together or a multi-partner coalition, the Partnership Pillar will help you enhance your relationships to achieve your goals.
Why Partner?
Partnerships are a crucial part of successful community-wide Healthy Eating & Active Living (HEAL) initiatives – none of us can make lasting change alone! Partnerships enable you to(1):
- Achieve a goal that your efforts alone could not achieve
- Combine efforts to reduce duplications and to use resources to their best potential
- Have community-level impact reaching over multiple sectors
Partnerships in Recreation
All partnerships take work. However the time and effort that we put into building partnerships, results in better HEAL initiatives, a deeper sense of belonging and stronger communities. Partnerships are especially powerful in the recreation sector. Partnerships(2):
- Reduce program costs
- Increase recreational opportunities
- Create new opportunities for community connection and support
Community Spotlights
Sharing a Meal: Connection and Community in Northeast Calgary
The Mustard Seed and community social workers in Marlborough and Abbeydale teamed up to bring healthy eating programs to the city’s northeast neighbourhoods during the pandemic. The partners received a $5,000 ChooseWell Healthy Community Grant to fund nutrition workshops, cooking classes and a community garden — all with the aim of connecting neighbours during a season of uncertainty. “It’s about residents building trust with each other so they have a sense of belonging. You feel safe when you know three or four neighbours. You don’t feel alone anymore,” says Lemlem Haile, a community social worker in the Marlborough neighbourhood.
Partner Up: Collaboration Builds Capacity
A growing partnership between ChooseWell and Alberta Blue Cross® allows both organizations to better meet their goal of supporting Albertans’ holistic wellness. Over the past three years, the partners have worked together to offer education sessions and provide grants to communities in need. “ChooseWell’s work spoke to us because it’s exactly what we’re trying to do too — empower Albertans to live their best lives and affect change in their communities. And when you collaborate, you maximize impact,” says Ashley Bolduc with Alberta Blue Cross.
Continue Exploring Partnerships
Knowing who to partner with can feel like an intimidating feat, but it doesn’t have to be.
Getting Started with Partnerships
Getting Started with Partnerships
Knowing who to partner with can feel like an intimidating feat, but it doesn’t have to be.
It’s important to maintain a positive working relationship within your partnership. The key is to aim for authenticity, respect, and genuine care of and for your partner.
Keeping Your PartnerSHIP Afloat: Maintaining Partnerships
Keeping Your PartnerSHIP Afloat: Maintaining Partnerships
It’s important to maintain a positive working relationship within your partnership. The key is to aim for authenticity, respect, and genuine care of and for your partner.
Each community, band, and nation is different. Do your due diligence and research ahead of time when preparing to partner with Indigenous Communities.
Indigenous Voices in Partnerships
Indigenous Voices in Partnerships
Each community, band, and nation is different. Do your due diligence and research ahead of time when preparing to partner with Indigenous Communities.
