About Us

Sunrise Community Link (Sunrise) is a community development agency and resource centre engaged in poverty reduction and community economic capacity building in east Calgary. Located in the heart of east Calgary, Sunrise works within 17 diverse communities to provide advocacy and basic needs referrals to more than 10,000 people each year. By providing sensitive, respectful, and consistent services, Sunrise has established a safe, accessible, and trusted centre that truly belongs to the community. We have earned a strong reputation for providing crucial basic needs, advocacy and referral services that significantly impact clients' financial and personal crisis.

In her article Can Communities Reduce Poverty?, Sherri Torjman from the Caledon Institute of Social Policy sets out a framework for community-based poverty reduction as a compliment to public policy. The framework discusses four basic interventions: meeting basic needs, removing barriers, building skills, and promoting economic development. Sunrise Community Link was designed to address poverty reduction through these same interventions.

Meeting Basic Needs

In a variety of ways, the staff at Sunrise assist residents to maintain housing, have adequate food available and gain access to clothing and furniture.

Removing Barriers

An integral part of the Sunrise mandate is to address access barriers to community resources, agencies and active community involvement. The barriers can be naturally occurring barriers or institutional barriers. Sunrise works with community programs to look at the barriers in their agencies.


History

Sunrise was created in response to community concerns about social problems in the Calgary's east side. In 1997, the Marlborough Social Concerns Network, the Sunrise Community Partnership, and the Family Violence Prevention Initiative, with the encouragement of Calgary Rocky View Child and Family Services, formed a working committee to address these concerns. There was broad agreement that a centre was needed in east Calgary to provide information dissemination, referrals to services, and more accessible programming. In September 2000, Sunrise Community Link was established.

Staff

 Sunrise staff can be reached by calling (403) 204-8280 or by email at info@sunriselink.org


Board

Sunrise is guided by a board of directors comprised of area residents, representatives of local agencies and businesses, and interested professionals.

If you would like more information on the Board, including how to join, please contact Sunrise at info@sunriselink.org.


Funders

Sunrise Community Link thanks the following for their support.

  • Region 3 Calgary and Area Child and Family Services
  • Alberta Lottery Fund
  • Individual and NGO Donors