Executive Summary

1

Background and Introduction

6

Common Themes Emerging from the Findings

6

3.1 Emerging Issues

7

3.2 Unmet Needs

7

Significant Highlights of the Findings with Respect to the Social Needs assessment

10

4.1 Findings with Respect to Community

11

4.2 Findings with Respect to Youth

12

4.3 Findings with Respect to Seniors

14

4.4 Findings with Respect to Childcare

15

4.5 Findings with Respect to Transportation

16

4.6 Findings with Respect to Housing

17

Significant Highlights of the Findings with Respect to the Labour Market Needs Assessment

18

5.1 Community Consultation

18

5.2 Current and Emerging Employment and Training Needs and Barriers to Accessing Education/Training

21

Recommendations

22

6.1 Capacity Building

22

6.2 Social Programs and Services

25

6.3 Employment and Training

27

Strategic Planning Framework

29

Appendix A: Approach and Process

31

Appendix B: Findings with Respect to Community

36

Appendix C: Findings with Respect to Youth

70

Appendix D: Findings with Respect to Seniors

83

Appendix E: Findings with Respect to Childcare

93

Appendix F: Findings with Respect to Transportation

103

Appendix G: Findings with Respect to Housing

110

Appendix H: Findings with Respect to Business/Industry

126

Appendix I: Statistical Poverty Profile

139

Appendix J: Findings with Respect to Labour Market Issues and Associated Education/Training Issues

149

Appendix K: Social Planning: An Overview

180

• communities across Canada are experiencing difficulties in addressing affordable housing requirements
• some constituencies in Camrose require attention (e.g. waiting lists exist for handicapped, seniors and marginalized families/individuals)
• housing for youth who are making the transition to independence is difficult to locate and not always appropriate
• some acute care beds are used by frail elderly waiting for appropriate housing

• few providers have the “tools” in place to care for special needs children
• providers are not prepared to take in sick children because of the potential for communicating the sickness 
• while informal neighbourhood networks address the need for “back up daycare” (e.g. snow days, professional development days, etc.) to some extent, gaps do exist for those new to the community or without support networks

• there are few housing options in the community for youth in crisis (whether the crisis is a result of addictions, abuse or mental health issues)
• youth who cannot stay in the home for a variety of reasons have limited housing options
• currently some “couch-surfing” occurs while others take shelter in situations that may not be inappropriate
• The Open Door worked with 60 housing-related cases last year

• community consultation pointed to a strong concern about the lack of sustainable employment opportunities for youth
• while students, individuals working for a “second income” and some seniors find part-time work in the retail and hospitality sectors to be attractive, these opportunities do not meet the needs of single mothers or young families with a single wage earner
• in 1996, 30% of Camrosians were employed in the retail and food service/accommodation industries and with the recent development in the west end that number will have increased considerably
• youth indicated the reasons they would be leaving the community were higher income, ability to apply skills and better job opportunities

• both the community consultation and recreation trends reports point to a need for less structured recreation and leisure opportunities
• a skatepark is in the planning stages
• the Camrose Recreation Department has recognized the trends toward, and the need for, unstructured and informal recreation opportunities at the community level and is planning to address this issue

• in addition to “traditional” mental health issues, trends point to increasing mental health needs in the general population due to the stress and pressures of daily living
• mental health outreach services in the community have been reduced and are less accessible

• while the community at large did not identify transportation as a critical issue in the short term, some pockets of need currently exist (e.g. single mothers attending school or working who need to make more than one stop to drop off the child at day care)
• the City projects increased growth in the long term pointing to a need for public transportation planning within the next 5-10 years

• the trends are moving toward “aging in place” and independent living supports
• not all seniors will have the “wealth” to afford personal and social supports (e.g. aging widows and single women, individuals who relied on investments that have not performed as expected, inter-generational farmers, etc.)
• both seniors and handicapped were concerned with finding safe, qualified, and trustworthy providers, tradespeople, etc.

• respondents across the community indicated some concern about difficulty in identifying providers and associated programs/services
• others felt that the location of the provider, program or service did not meet their need for anonymity or privacy
• the Camrose Seniors Center is currently working toward a Service Options for Seniors (SOS) program

• the community consultation pointed to a need for community-based transportation targeting individuals who require treatment, tests, etc. in a facility outside the community
• currently the Canadian Cancer Society operates an inexpensive program of volunteer drivers for cancer patients, and the Senior Centre offers a “Care Cars” program
• an agreement has been reached with a local taxi company with respect to affordable rates for transporting dialysis patients to Wetaskiwin
• informal neighourhood networks and families are addressing needs to some extent in the more rural areas and in some areas in the City of Camrose

• the incidence of low income for unattached individuals rose by 5% and by .3% for families between 1991 and 1996
• in 1996 16% of the Camrose population lived in poverty, 52% of which were lone parent families with children, and 39% of which were unattached individuals
• the average part time income was $13,675 in 1996 and 54% of workers had part time jobs
• 65% of Camrosians earned less than $25,000 per year in 1996, and 44% of households earned under $30,000/year
• a 2001 review of 261 food bank case files indicated that 42% of income went directly to rent
• 1996 Statistics Canada data points to 24% of Camrose households where average rent/major payments >= 30% of household income

• business respondents identified the following issues: a lack of work ethic/work literacy, candidates with unrealistic expectations in terms of roles/responsibilities/income, promotion, and lack of awareness of opportunities within the industry sectors

• although a myriad of programs and services are available for youth and new entrepreneurs, currently programming does not address the needs of retirees who are wanting to start a business after leaving the workforce
• it has been said that “small business is the backbone of the economy” however programming specifically related to the “growing pains” and other issues encountered by business already in place and requiring information, assistance, and advice for further growth/development is needed

• the aging population is resulting in a need for strategic succession planning to ensure the on-going sustainability of business, infrastructure, service provision and leadership

• currently programming is not addressing the “school-to- work” transition for youth, “work-to-semi-retirement” transition for the aging population, or “farm-to-employment” transition for the farmer who is looking to change lifestyles

• communities across Canada are experiencing difficulties in addressing affordable housing requirements
• some constituencies in Camrose require attention (e.g. waiting lists exist for handicapped, seniors and marginalized families/individuals)
• housing for youth who are making the transition to independence is difficult to locate and not always appropriate
• some acute care beds are used by frail elderly waiting for appropriate housing

• few providers have the “tools” in place to care for special needs children
• providers are not prepared to take in sick children because of the potential for communicating the sickness
• while informal neighbourhood networks address the need for “back up daycare” (e.g. snow days, professional development days, etc.) to some extent, gaps do exist for those new to the community or without support networks

• there are few housing options in the community for youth in crisis (whether the crisis is a result of addictions, abuse or mental health issues)
• youth who cannot stay in the home for a variety of reasons have limited housing options
• currently some “couch-surfing” occurs while others take shelter in situations that may not be inappropriate
• The Open Door worked with 60 housing-related cases last year

• community consultation pointed to a strong concern about the lack of sustainable employment opportunities for youth
• while students, individuals working for a “second income” and some seniors find part-time work in the retail and hospitality sectors to be attractive, these opportunities do not meet the needs of single mothers or young families with a single wage earner
• in 1996, 30% of Camrosians were employed in the retail and food service/accommodation industries and with the recent development in the west end that number will have increased considerably
• youth indicated the reasons they would be leaving the community were higher income, ability to apply skills and better job opportunities

• both the community consultation and recreation trends reports point to a need for less structured recreation and leisure opportunities
• a skatepark is in the planning stages
• the Camrose Recreation Department has recognized the trends toward, and the need for, unstructured and informal recreation opportunities at the community level and is planning to address this issue

• in addition to “traditional” mental health issues, trends point to increasing mental health needs in the general population due to the stress and pressures of daily living
• mental health outreach services in the community have been reduced and are less accessible

• while the community at large did not identify transportation as a critical issue in the short term, some pockets of need currently exist (e.g. single mothers attending school or working who need to make more than one stop to drop off the child at day care)
• the City projects increased growth in the long term pointing to a need for public transportation planning within the next 5-10 years

• the trends are moving toward “aging in place” and independent living supports
• not all seniors will have the “wealth” to afford personal and social supports (e.g. aging widows and single women, individuals who relied on investments that have not performed as expected, inter-generational farmers, etc.)
• both seniors and handicapped were concerned with finding safe, qualified, and trustworthy providers, tradespeople, etc

• respondents across the community indicated some concern about difficulty in identifying providers and associated programs/services
• others felt that the location of the provider, program or service did not meet their need for anonymity or privacy
• the Camrose Seniors Centre is currently working toward a Service Options for Seniors (SOS) program

• the community consultation pointed to a need for community-based transportation targeting individuals who require treatment, tests, etc. in a facility outside the community
• currently the Canadian Cancer Society operates an inexpensive program of volunteer drivers for cancer patients, and the Senior Centre offers a “Care Cars” program
• an agreement has been reached with a local taxi company with respect to affordable rates for transporting dialysis patients to Wetaskiwin
• informal neighourhood networks and families are addressing needs to some extent in the more rural areas and in some areas in the City of Camrose

• the incidence of low income for unattached individuals rose by 5% and by .3% for families between 1991 and 1996
• in 1996 16% of the Camrose population lived in poverty, 52% of which were lone parent families with children, and 39% of which were unattached individuals
• the average part time income was $13,675 in 1996 and 54% of workers had part time jobs
• 65% of Camrosians earned less than $25,000 per year in 1996, and 44% of households earned under $30,000/year
• a 2001 review of 261 food bank case files indicated that 42% of income went directly to rent
• 1996 Statistics Canada data points to 24% of Camrose households where average rent/major payments >= 30% of household income

• business respondents identified the following issues: a lack of work ethic/work literacy, candidates with unrealistic expectations in terms of roles/responsibilities/income, promotion, and lack of awareness of opportunities within the industry sectors

• although a myriad of programs and services are available for youth and new entrepreneurs, currently programming does not address the needs of retirees who are wanting to start a business after leaving the workforce
• it has been said that “small business is the backbone of the economy” however programming specifically related to the “growing pains” and other issues encountered by business already in place and requiring information, assistance, and advice for further growth/development is needed

• the aging population is resulting in a need for strategic succession planning to ensure the on-going sustainability of business, infrastructure, service provision and leadership

• currently programming is not addressing the “school-to- work” transition for youth, “work-to-semi-retirement” transition for the aging population, or “farm-to-employment” transition for the farmer who is looking to change lifestyles

• community as a whole
• youth
• seniors

• childcare
• housing
• transportation

• the most common concerns voiced by respondents are as follows: the need for diversified economic development, shrinking resources/funding and resulting pressure on social service programs particularly mental health, the lack of affordable housing, the availability of sustainable employment, the lack of opportunities for youth and resulting exodus, the need for more unstructured recreation opportunities

• the combined increase in population for the City and County of Camrose between 1996 and 2000 is just over 5%, with the largest growth occurring in the 40-45 cohort, and the least growth occurring in the 0-14 and 30-39 cohorts
• the City of Camrose predicts annual growth of 2.3% per year reaching populations of approximately 18,000 in 2010 and 23,000 by 2020
• the average age of residents in the City of Camrose is just over 32 years old
• a pattern of growing stability in terms of resident mobility can be seen between 1991 and 1996

• residents have excellent access to post-secondary education both locally and within commuting distance
• in addition a wide range of informal education opportunities are provided by community-based organizations
• school enrolment in general increased by only 2% between 1991 and 2001 while enrolment in the PACE Outreach School increased by more than 250%
• in 1996 only 3% of the community held trades certificates, and 31% were without a complete grade 12
• in 1996 42% of the population had post-secondary education of some type
• in 1996 the foremost fields of study chosen by County and City residents were engineering (27%), health professions (17%), commerce (15%), and education/recreation (13%)

• between 1991 and 1996 average income rose about 8% for both males and females
• average part time income was $13,675 in 1996 and 54% of workers had part time jobs
• the incidence of low income for unattached individuals rose by 5% and by .3% for families between 1991 and 1996
• in 1996 16% of the Camrose population lived in poverty, 52% of which were lone parent families with children, and 39% of which were unattached individuals
• 65% of Camrosians earned less than $25,000 per year in 1996
• the year 2000 economic dependency profile indicates the dependency of Camrose taxfilers on government to be 15.45% for husband/wife families, 34.1% for lone parent families and 53.5% for non-family persons
• a 2001 review of 261 food bank case files indicated that 42% of income went directly to rent

• the unemployment rate continues to hover around 4%
• 30% of Camrosians were employed in the retail and food service/ accommodation industries, and 16% in the health/social service industry sectors

• respondents felt that the community offers a strong network of community-based agencies and organizations that provide a myriad of accessible, affordable and relevant community-based services and programs
• although service providers meet regularly, a need has been identified for more effective communication between agencies
• respondents reported that often when a need is identified a new program or service is developed, pointing to the need for stronger coordination of efforts between agencies
• mental health needs are on the rise while resources are decreasing (i.e. outreach programs have been downsized)
• provincial child and family services have been restructured resulting in increased pressure on existing local resources
• users and community have identified a need for more approachable services in locations that provide for privacy
• it appears that some acute care beds are used by frail elderly waiting for appropriate housing
• a need for emergency crisis beds was identified by community
• programs to assist low income individuals and families in managing their finances are needed

• Camrose operates a number of excellent recreational facilities
• the community voiced some concern about the maintenance of facilities (i.e. the basketball courts and the swimming pool)
• ice time is difficult to get and there seems to be a growing need for a new ice arena
• recreation trends indicate an increase in the need for “open”, informal and unstructured recreational opportunities which is mirrored by the results of community consultation
• some concern was expressed with respect to the coordination and start times for programs, particularly for young working families
• barriers to participating in recreation activities included time, cost of equipment/supplies, and overcrowded facilities

• youth reported issues such as the lack of trust/respect between youth and the community, the focus of the community on seniors, lack of sustainable job opportunities, lack of informal recreation opportunities, lack of trades/technical educational opportunities, need for a skateboard park and a “drop in” centre
• other concerns included an increase in the flow of “hard” drugs to the community and the lack of affordable housing

• both youth and the community indicated a need for a “vehicle” for youth to have input into decisions being made within the community, and for them to be involved with community activities and projects

• youth generally reported a lack of trust from the community
• youth appear to feel that rural community leaders often feel that their leaving is a positive and inevitable event, necessary for youth to pursue post-secondary studies and have greater opportunities; and that retaining and/or attracting youth was not important

• the 2002 Rural Youth Migration Project indicated that 51% of rural youth plan on leaving their communities in the future as compared to the results of the grade 12 student survey at 75%
• 40% of those responding to the grade 12 survey indicated that they are unlikely to very unlikely to return
• 49% of grade 12 survey respondents saw not knowing what types of jobs/careers are available as a barrier and a further 50% felt that they would be unable to find a job that matched their interest
• >the key factors affecting decisions as to whether or not to return to the community were higher income, reduced cost of living, improved recreation, improved education/training opportunities, ability to apply skills, and better job opportunities

• youth reported that providers, programs and services were sometimes difficult to locate and to access
• in some cases, youth appeared to feel that providers had little understanding of youth and were not approachable

• youth reported a need for more informal, open recreational programs and facilities (e.g. alternative to team sports, skateboard park, etc.)
• a “drop-in centre” or a place where youth were welcomed was identified as a priority

• the Steering Committee felt that the Camrose area identifies its seniors as aged 65 and over
• the most common concerns voiced by respondents were lack of awareness of programs and services, the need for personal and social supports, and the need for a range of housing options to meet the needs of the aging population
• the need for a local “navigation point” for resources, referrals and information and a communication program to support it was identified, and the Camrose Senior Coalition is currently working toward a Service Options for Seniors (SOS) program that will address the issue

• by the year 2010 seniors will make up more of Alberta’s population than children and youth combined
• if the community continues to grow as expected, within the next two decades more than 4,500 seniors will call the City home
• this could increase significantly if boomers “find” the Camrose area as they follow the trend to “rural renaissance”
• Camrose County is aging resulting in a potential increase in the population of seniors to 29% of the total number of residents
• Camrose is, and will continue to be, a service centre for its growing trading area and the surrounding farms
• rural Canada has been undergoing a seniors boom at a much faster rate than urban centres because older adults have been migrating to small towns and the surrounding countryside, some “coming home”, others seeking an active outdoor lifestyle, and still others are part of the “rural renaissance”

• population aging will have profound effects on the size of the workforce resulting in a need to integrate seniors back into the labour market with associated education/training opportunities to support that career change
• seniors may be seen as an alternative workforce and market-driven training programs will need to be in place to meet industry needs
• older workers will be interested in entrepreneurial and self-employment opportunities and the supports to assist them to identify and develop these opportunities will be required
• seniors will be interested in flexible work options that provide them with an outside interest
• seniors who are working for “something to do” rather than for income, will require a flexible attitude from employers

• year 2000 taxfiler data for the area indicates that 54% of those aged 65-74 and 77% of those aged 75 and over earn less than $25,000 annually
• although there is a perception that the area is attracting “wealthy” retirees and seniors, it should be noted that the current lag in investment returns is resulting in a decrease in the portfolios of some seniors/retirees

• it will be a challenge to locate “isolated” seniors and provide needed supports
• seniors who desire to remain in their homes will require assistance with a variety of maintenance tasks, and those aging in place will require safe, qualified and affordable in-home personal and homecare supports
• community involvement and a strong social support system are essential to the long term mental and physical health of seniors to encourage interaction and a sense of connectedness and to help prevent loneliness, depression and illness
• as short patient stays and outpatient treatments continue, more seniors will need care at home

• “conventional” recreation and social activities developed for previous generations of seniors will need to be enhanced/expanded to meet the emerging and future needs of the “new senior”

• the most common concerns voiced by respondents were the hours of the care providers, the lack of back up care providers, and the quality of the care/facility

• students, shiftworkers, low income families, and families with special needs children are facing increasing challenges with respect to childcare
• studies suggest that quality affordable childcare helps companies recruit and retain workers, improves workers’ productivity, reduces absenteeism and tardiness and can actually save money for companies that provide assistance
• affordable child care could become a greater issue as the gap between the “high income” and “low income” earners is widening, and the number of lone parent families and low income earners in rural communities increases
• trends such as the increased mobility of families interprovincially and the pattern of lower income families moving into rural communities often result in a loss of the family support network which would normally provide for some of the childcare requirements
• today’s workplace tends to operate 24/7, requiring shiftwork, longer hours and can involve an average commute of 30 to 45 minutes

• existing childcare facilities appear to be close to capacity and providers are seldom located near colleges or business/commercial districts
• there appears to be a need for providers to extend the hours, accepting children earlier and closing later
• there appears to be an informal network of neighbours who take children prior to the opening of care providers, drop them off when the facility opens, and pick them up should the parent be late
• some of these interim caregivers indicated concerns with respect to liability should something happen to the child while in their care
• providers are often in the business of childcare keeping their own hours, disciplining parents for late pick ups, and at times refusing “difficult” clients
• lack of affordable childcare combined with a lack of available spaces has the potential to generate hazardous situations where children may be left on their own or in the care of older siblings

• the most common concern voiced by respondents was the lack of housing to meet the various levels of income and demographic sectors in the community

• the vacancy rate appears to hover around 0 to 1%
• 1991-1996 and pre-1961 stock make up more than 40% of the housing stock, 1997 and later accounts for 28% of the housing stock
• the majority of the housing stock is in good repair and requires only regular maintenance
• due to the growing population, housing stocks are low and prices are rising therefore affordable housing for low-income and marginalized families is difficult to locate

• Brigantia Women’s Shelter reports that some mental health patients are using shelter beds because alternatives are not available
• there are waiting lists for virtually every housing opportunity in the community

• the lack of rental units has resulted in higher rents and added difficulties for those tenants with credit or behaviour issues
• 1996 Statistics Canada data points to 24% of Camrose households where average rent/major payments >= 30% of household income
• The Open Door works with over 60 cases per year requiring housing
• there are waiting lists for virtually every housing opportunity in the community

• with respect to housing, there are reports of frail elderly using beds in the hospital because there is no appropriate housing available for them
• current housing options are not keeping up with the existing demand therefore transition options within individual accommodation centres are needed to keep seniors with the friends and environment they know and to age in place
• waiting lists exist in most senior-related housing facilities

• the community appears to agree that Camrose does not have a large population of “homeless” youth
• there does appear to be a need for transitional and/or emergency housing for youth

• while the dominant age groups for first time renters is under 25 and for first time buyers it is 25-34, over 50% of this age group earn less than $30,000 per year (according to year 2000 taxfiler data)
• in a year 2001 study the shortfall for apartment dwellers was been identified as $122 to $220 for those on SFI
• hourly household earnings required to afford rent (as identified by the 2001 Affordable Housing Supply and Demand Report) were found to be significantly higher than the earnings (1996 Statistics Canada data) of 26% of households and 44% of the earnings of the area population
• 1996 Statistics Canada data points to 24% of Camrose households where average rent/major payments >= 30% of household income

• attracting and retaining suitable staff
• programming that emphasizes skills in job readiness, interpersonal skills, customer service skills, workplace literacy, employer/employee roles and expectations
• sectors at highest risk for skill shortages in Camrose include retail, hospitality, construction, agriculture, health and social services, and education
• current and emerging skill shortages in the province and the region that also impact the Camrose area include entry level tradespeople, skilled tradespeople, retail and hospitality workers, health care professionals, adult educators, skill-specific instructors, teachers, long haul drivers, IT professionals, leadership/management to support all sectors, skilled communicators and facilitators, experienced professionals and business service providers to support the growth of small business

• youth appear to feel that rural community leaders often feel that their leaving is a positive and inevitable event, necessary for youth to pursue post-secondary studies and have greater opportunities; and that retaining and/or attracting youth was not important
• youth also indicated a feeling that “returning=failure”, and that the community only want to retain/attract “good” youth
• in the 2002 survey 18% of grade 12 student respondents indicated they would be looking for employment in trades and/or construction related areas, 22% in education, health or social service fields, 14% in professional and business sectors, 8% in arts and recreation, 6% in retail/hospitality, and 3% in agriculture
• 30% of grade 12 survey respondents indicated that they expected to make $1500 to $3000 per month initially, and an additional 16% indicated that they expected to earn between $3000 and $5000 per month initially

• those communities with the foresight to develop strategies in the following areas will have the most opportunity for long-term sustainability: retaining and repatriating of youth involving seniors in the workforce and in contributing to the community
• the 2002 Rural Youth Migration Project indicated that 51% of rural youth plan on leaving their communities in the future as compared to the results of the grade 12 student survey at 75%, and 40% of students indicated they would be unlikely to very unlikely to return
• 1996 statistics reported that more than 25% of the population of the Camrose area were 55 years of age and over, and the 2001 census of the City of Camrose reported that 28% of the City’s population were aged 55 and over
• the 2001 census also reported that the largest growth can be seen in the 40-45 cohort at 13%
• the combined increase in population for the City and County of Camrose between 1996 and 2000 is just over 5%
• within the next 2 decades demographics will show a greater population in the seniors cohort than that of youth and children combined
• those leaving the workforce will begin to exceed those entering by 2006
• here in the Camrose area that could mean as many as 3,500 workers preparing to leave the workforce with only about 2,000 preparing to enter full time positions

• at regional, provincial and national levels, communities are experiencing critical skill occupational shortages in the retail/hospitality, health and social services, specialized therapy, education, trades, and construction sectors
• shortages in these areas are already evident in the region
• other skill and occupational shortages are emerging in the business services, agriculture and primary sectors
• in 1996 only 3% of the Camrose area population held trades certificates
• in 1996 the foremost fields of study chosen by County and City residents were engineering (27%), health professions (17%), commerce (15%), and education/recreation (13%)
• 1996 statistics reported 30% of the jobs in the area were in the hospitality and retail and 16% in health and social services indicating a need for increased diversity in economic development efforts

• a number of employment and career-related programs and services are present in the community, there appears to be a need for increased awareness of same with community members, candidates and employers
• although job readiness programs and services exist in the community, employers indicate that candidates are not always presenting themselves appropriately, often have unrealistic expectations of the job market and the employers, and/or appear to have difficulty with basic workplace literacy and work ethic

• Programming that connects to further skill training and makes a strong link between formal career plans and the specific steps in the training/job path that clients need to take.
• Programming alternatives for individuals to acquire essential skills of reading. writing, comprehension or numeracy for entry level work without committing to a formal structured program of basic education.

• Programming that emphasizes skills in job readiness, interpersonal skills, customer service skills, workplace literacy, employer/employee roles and expectations for those who prefer to move directly into the workplace without formal education.
• Programming that assists with developing role models and/or community connections that contribute to an understanding of employment and how it relates to the day-to-day lives of youth-at-risk.

• Population aging will have profound effects on the size of the workforce resulting in a need to integrate seniors back into the labour market with associated education/training opportunities to support that career change.
• Flexible age limits in programs to allow older workers to access funding or funded programs.

• Offer on-going language sessions to assist individuals in developing skills to function well in the workplace.

• As the labour market moves to jobs that require employees to be multi-tasking, individuals with intellectual or learning disabilities, and/or those with multiple or severe disabilities have difficulty finding sustainable work.
• Organizations with expertise on specific disabilities need to work with employers and industry sector councils/organizations as jobs are being designed so that persons with disabilities can be considered from the start of the hiring process.
• Further discussion is needed between employment/training funders, the health region, and career development agencies working with persons with disabilities, particularly those with mental illnesses, to determine appropriate roles and expectations regarding employment outcomes.

Though not strictly identified as training needs, the following complicating factors affect some community members in accessing programs and employment: 

• affordable daycare
• transitional support
• lack of appropriate education required to enter desired programming
• fear resulting from lack of familiarity with technology and/or a long absence from school/learning/education. Although lack of evening or weekend courses is often cited as a barrier, it is more likely that daily pressures of time and responsibility are the underlying issues.

• customer service
• workplace literacy and ethic
• interpersonal and communications skills
• orientation to industry-specific roles, expectations, and opportunities
• anger management and conflict resolution
• adult upgrading
• entry level trades
• succession planning
• small business growth and development
• career development programming for potential workers

• determining the value of the training
• relevance of content/material to their industry
• timing (time of day, day of week, season, etc.)
• affordability

• parenting
• anger management and conflict/resolution
• customer service
• communication and interpersonal skills
• money management
• job readiness
• adult upgrading
• entry level trades
• career development
• computer and technology skills
• management development
• business development

• time
• affordable childcare transportation to the training
• awareness of the availability of the training
• entrance requirements
• affordability of the training
• fear
• availability/timing of programs

• It is recommended that a community-based task force be mandated to research models, opportunities, and resources related to the development of a continuum of housing to meet the needs of the community, and using the models identified in Appendix G as a starting point.
• It is recommended that a Comprehensive Development Plan Task Force consisting of members of the development industry and representatives of both City administration and leadership be established to determine a fair and equitable formula for affordable housing development costs.
• It is recommended that the potential of an emergent foster home that could house up to 3-4 youth on a short-term basis be reviewed.

• It is recommended that “neighbourhoods” be identified within the community and, perhaps by working with local groups such as “neighbourhood watch”, the informal networks could be further developed into a “Caregivers Call” or a “Natural Helpers” model.
• It is recommended that existing childcare providers be convened to discuss gaps and challenges in childcare and possible ways of addressing same in the short term.
• It is recommended that a consortium of business, labour, education, economic development agencies, human service providers, childcare providers, government and families examine the potential of developing a sustainable strategy to address child care needs and gaps, possibly based on a public-private partnership model.

• It is recommended that a group of service providers be convened to discuss the most effective vehicle for facilitating the sharing of information between agencies on a regular basis, existing and/or potential overlap of resources/services and ways to reduce same.
• It is recommended that opportunities for agencies dealing with common clients to solve problems by meeting as a group with the specific client rather than individually.

• It is recommended that economic development efforts be diversified to include opportunities in addition to those related to the retail and hospitality sectors.
• It is recommended that, using the directions set out in the City of Camrose Strategic Plan, a community-based economic development strategy be developed based on community input and involvement.

• It is recommended that the City and County recreation entities include opportunities for informal, unstructured recreation in subsequent plans.
• It is recommended that a community-based initiative, driven by youth, be established to develop a skatepark.
• It is recommended that recreation programs related to the needs of the “new senior” be researched and implemented.

• It is recommended that the “Seniors to Seniors” program, identified in Appendix D of this report, or a similar initiative, be developed and implemented to meet the needs of seniors for safe, qualified and affordable personal and professional services and supports.

• It is recommended that, in co-operation with the work on the Service Options for Seniors (SOS) initiative, the community examine the potential of developing a one-stop information centre or “navigation point” which could include a listing of personal and professional service providers by target group, a referral service, etc.
• It is recommended that careful consideration be given to the naming of the “navigation point” (e.g. information centre rather than resource centre).
• It is recommended that, should such an initiative be developed, a strong public information strategy be developed and implemented to advise community members of the initiative and how to access it.

• It is recommended that the providers of services and programs related to transportation work together to coordinate existing vehicles in an effort to meet the current needs of the community.
• It is recommended that the community research various options such as a car co-operative, bulk purchase taxi services, etc.
• It is recommended that opportunities for a public transportation system be reviewed in order to prepare for the projected population increase over the next decade.

• It is recommended that a vehicle be developed to encourage the participation and involvement of youth in community planning and decision-making.
• It is recommended that a youth-driven initiative to facilitate the development of a “drop-in” centre be established.

• It is recommended that the migration of people from poverty to the next step on their journey to self-sufficiency be facilitated by improving the awareness, accessibility and availability of training supports, resource supports, and crisis supports.

• a strong, representative, action-oriented implementation team
• an advisory group representing industry, business, educational agencies, and community groups/agencies
• objective-specific task forces directed by members of the implementation team

• single “point of navigation” for information access re: programs and services
• effective coordination of social service providers, programs and services
• a strong public information strategy to advise community members of programs and services and “point of navigation”

• retention, repatriation of individuals who have an existing familiarity with/attachment to the area
• consistent succession planning supporting inter-generational transfer of area businesses and management/ operations of public sector/not-for-profit organizations
• increased communication re: availability of local training/education programs and services
• increased availability and accessibility of targeted local training/education opportunities