Community Data Training Retreat
May 14-15, 2026
Edmonton, Alberta
The 2026 Community Data Program annual learning and networking event will take place in Edmonton, Alberta, and will be co-hosted by the City of Edmonton. The event will be open to all members, with the goals of fostering learning and encouraging networking. By making the event accessible to all members of consortia, we hope that at least one representative from each consortium will be able to participate. Please note that this event is for in-person attendance only
Meeting Venue: Delta Hotels Edmonton South Conference Centre
Address: 4404 Gateway Blvd NW, Edmonton, AB T6H 5C2 (Google Map)
Registration Is Required! Eventbrite link (closed)
Hotel Booking Details
Delta Hotels Edmonton South Conference Centre
for 164.00 CAD - 194.00 CAD per night
CLICK to book your special group rate for the City of Edmonton by April 22, 2026
Agenda (Mountain Time)
Thursday 14 May 2026
Location – Delta Hotels Edmonton South Conference Centre
08:00 – Breakfast (Hosted by City of Edmonton)
09:00 – City of Edmonton - CCEDNet - CDP – Welcome to the Annual Learning & Networking Event
9:15 – Hello my PROJECT is – roundtable introductions and networking icebreaker
10:00 – Census 2026 Questionnaire - Statistics Canada
Presenters: Ivelina Delahousse, Tania Hinchcliff, Nicole Britnell
The Presentation will provide an overview of methodological and content changes for the 2026 Census of Population and provide information on the planned release schedule for 2026 Census data.
11:30 - Community Data Program Orientation: The CDP team will address a range of topics, including but not limited to:
- What data sets are available through the program?
- Deep dive into the community data
- CDP Rental Housing Affordability Dashboard Version 2 Project
12:30 – Lunch (Hosted by the City of Edmonton)
13:30 – A panel discussion on Perspective on Community Data: Ethics and Impact
Presenters:
- Sarah Barber, United Way Alberta Capital Region
- Erin Faught, Edmonton Police Service
- Fatima Mustafa, PolicyWise for Children & Families
Description: Members of the Edmonton Race-Based Data Table will share the history of a community developed "Charter for Ethical Race-Based Data". Through the sharing of experiences and context, the panel will share the relevance of the charter and the subsequent need to consider data's impact on communities and the organizations that work and serve them.
14:00 – Project Presentations (CDP Members)
- 14:00 - 14:30 – From Data to Decisions: Building Banff’s Community Social Assessment with CDP Data
Presenter: Alison Gerrits, Director, Community Services, Town of Banff
Description: This presentation will provide an overview of the Social Assessment process and highlight the key CDP datasets most relied upon to develop the report, along with practical insights on how the data is translated into meaningful, locally relevant direction for action. - 14:30 - 15:00 – The Calgary Equity Index (CEI)
Presenter: Maya Kryzan, City of Calgary
Description: The Calgary Equity Index (CEI) is a research tool that shows patterns of equity and inequity across Calgary. By combining data from 61 indicators, the Index is represented as a single, overall measure—the total equity score—and further organized into six domains representing a community’s Economic Opportunity, Human and Social Wellbeing, Population Health, Community Belonging and Safety, Accessibility and Amenities, and Climate and Environment. Inspired by the Social Determinants of Health, the Index highlights overlapping challenges, like high unemployment, lack of affordable housing, and limited access to services. The CEI can be used to explore and understand community needs across Calgary, helping to identify inequities and guide resources where they are needed most, making Calgary an inclusive and equitable place to live. The presentation will cover the data used in the tool, the process and methodology, limitations, and use cases / examples of how it has been applied. Visit the website, www.Calgary.ca/EquityIndex to learn more about the CEI and check out the app at https://maps.calgary.ca/CalgaryEquityIndex/
15:00 Networking
15:30 Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Community Data
The CDP team will concentrate on the application of AI in the program. We invite the audience to share their experiences, particularly in the context of data management and analysis. As part of the CDP strategic plan for 2027-2031, we aim to explore the best ways to leverage AI over the next five years.
16:30 – Day 1 Wrap up
18:00 – Dinner Networking Event
Friday 15 May 2026
Location – Delta Hotels Edmonton South Conference Centre
08:00 – Breakfast (Hosted by City of Edmonton)
09:00 – Project Presentations (Edmonton)
- 09:00 - 09:30 – Canadian Index of Multiple Deprivation
Presenter: Vivian Michael, Data Analyst, City of Edmonton
Description: This presentation will introduce the Canadian Index of Multiple Deprivation (CIMD) and explore how the model can be used to better understand patterns of social and economic disadvantage across communities. The session will walk through the four dimensions of deprivation within the CIMD framework and demonstrate how these indicators can be applied at the census tract level to support local analysis and decision-making. The presentation will also briefly compare the CIMD with other vulnerability frameworks, such as the Social Vulnerability Index, and discuss how multi-dimensional measures of deprivation can help governments and organizations identify areas of need, improve planning, and support more equitable resource allocation. - 09:30 - 10:00 – People First Data Charter
Presenter: Omar Yaqub, Servant of Servants (ED), IslamicFamily
Description: Data is failing everyone! Funders can’t see real impact, researchers work with incomplete or distorted inputs, frontline workers are burned out by extractive reporting, and most of all the people seeking help whose stories are fragmented into checkboxes. In this session we will explore how to redesign measurement systems in social services to be more effective, trauma-informed, and genuinely engaging. Drawing from IslamicFamily’s foray into building impact-tech (Transform flourishing.systems) we'll examine how design, strengths-based metrics, and the people-first data charter (share.islamicfamily.ca/datacharter ) can transform data from an administrative burden into a tool that improves care, strengthens equity, and generates evidence that truly informs policy and practice.
10:00 – Taxfiler Presentation - Statistics Canada
Presenter: Dominique Pinard
The T1 Family File (T1FF) is a large dataset based on tax data and offers a wide spectrum of possibilities. This presentation will cover various aspects of the T1FF, including its mandate, population, geography, typical data usage and coming redesign.
11:30 – Ask me Anything – (CDP team)
12:00 – Event wrap up – and announcement of 2027 host community (CDP team)