Diversecities’ Workshop Story
The workshops delivered through the City of Calgary’s Home Upgrades Program have attracted over 620 participants since the program’s launch.
“Is my furnace safe?”
“What does this energy bill even mean?”
Annie hears questions like these often.
As a program coordinator at Diversecities, she works closely with immigrants in Calgary. Many come in carrying utility bills they can’t decipher or are worried about older furnaces and appliances they don’t know how to assess.
“Most of our clients are seniors or newcomers… they have only limited knowledge about energy or home safety in Canada, especially the seniors. Although they have already lived here for a long period of time, their knowledge is not enough,” Annie said.
For over four decades, Diversecities has been supporting immigrants in Calgary, helping underserved communities navigate language barriers and everyday challenges experienced at home.
Some clients have asked Anna if poisonous gas might be coming out of their furnaces. Others have come to Diversecities with bills or letters they could not understand, asking “Why is my utility bill so expensive” and “How should I respond to the letters from the energy company?”
Many don’t know what resources exist or which programs they might be eligible for in Calgary, she shared.
When the Home Upgrades Program began offering multilingual energy and water usage educational workshops through the Empower Me® outreach program, partnering with Diversecities as a workshop host was a natural next step.
“We greatly appreciate our collaboration, which has been very beneficial to our clients,” Annie said.
Out of the 31 workshops delivered before the end of November by the Home Upgrade Program since the City of Calgary relaunched a tailored version of the program in May, Diversecities has hosted two — one in Cantonese in person at their office in Calgary’s Chinatown, and one in Mandarin online. Offering both formats allows participants to choose the option that works best for them, whether they prefer to join from home or attend in person.
The in-person workshop was led by Calvin Tang, who is the coordinator for the Home Upgrades Program. He finds the workshops to be a valuable part of the program, as they offer Calgarians the chance to learn about energy and water efficiency in their homes, and the behavioural changes they can make to bring down the cost of their bills while lessening their environmental footprint.
“At the workshops, participants can ask questions about their home energy and water use in the language they’re comfortable in and receive practical advice that helps them improve their home comfort and safety,” said Calvin. “Having that safe space makes a big difference.”
During workshop Q&As, participants will typically seize the opportunity to ask all the questions they have been holding onto, including general home safety questions such as “How often should my furnace be checked for maintenance?”
The workshops are also an opportunity to learn more about the Home Upgrade Program’s other two streams: free home upgrades and RetroKits. For seniors and newcomers who attend, being able to ask questions in a trusted environment brings clarity and relief.
Annie recalled one senior who had come to Diversecities with concerns about her house.
“Her home, I think, is over 50 years [old]. It’s very old, but she lives alone. So, she’s a little bit worried about whether her home is safe for her. And her furnace, it is very old and seems not safe.”
Finding help with the cost of assessments and repairs or replacement was hard. She was unsure where to turn, like many others.
“I referred her to join [the Home Upgrades Program]… she finds it is very useful,” Annie said.
The workshops delivered through the City of Calgary’s Home Upgrades Program have attracted over 620 participants since the program’s launch earlier in the year.
The multilingual workshops are open to all Calgarians interested in accessible education about home energy use and energy efficiency. Participants are welcome to attend a free workshop whether or not they qualify for the program’s other streams.
To sign up for a multilingual workshop, go to: https://www.homeupgradesprogram.ca/multilingual-workshops
To learn more about Calgary’s Home Upgrades Program and apply, visit: https://www.homeupgradesprogram.ca/calgary
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