Did you know that in spite of the province’s booming wealth, poverty in Alberta remains a growing concern?  While the provincial child poverty rate sits at 1 in 10 – over 77,000 – the concern is even greater in Edmonton, where 1 in 6, or 25,000 children, live at or below the poverty line.

Over the past few years, with the help of local community groups, individuals, and committed sponsors, KidsFest has been working to close this gap through several initiatives that are equipping children in Edmonton to rise above these statistics and achieve lifelong success.   With the launch of our newest Running & Reading Club at Spruce Avenue School this month, KidsFest is now serving almost 200 children in Edmonton through our afterschool educational program at three schools in the city.  School reports are showing significant gains in language arts and physical fitness, and teachers and volunteer coaches are noting increased confidence, leadership and initiative, teamwork and interpersonal skills among children who participate in the program.  These gains have been made possible through the support of the KidsFest community matrix that includes sponsors such as World Vision Canada, a dedicated partner in our Edmonton program.

Also new to the city this year was the addition of a Backpack Program packing site at the Grand & Toy Edmonton branch, where over 800 knapsacks were filled to the brim with quality school supplies and distributed to children in need throughout Alberta and British Columbia.  The fun-filled August event featured cotton candy, bouncy castles, balloons and caricature paintings for the children, while a diligent team of volunteers from both corporate and community sectors teamed up to assemble the supplies, ensuring that children at risk were able to start the school year on an even playing field, with the proper materials for academic success.

Finally, on September 16th, our inaugural KidsFest Run for Change took place in Edmonton at the Running Room head store to raise support and awareness for Canada’s 1.2 million children living in poverty.  Leading the way for communities at multiple Running Room locations across Canada, the Running Room headquarters at 109th Street in Edmonton kicked off this special celebration, welcoming KidsFest sponsors, program participants, and local donors and volunteers to bring change and run to make change in the lives of the most vulnerable children in their city.

With partners like World Vision Canada, Grand & Toy, Brooks Canada, the Running Room and many others, KidsFest looks forward to our continued growth and impact within Alberta’s capital. Together, we can make a difference for Edmonton’s 1 in 6 children, giving them hope for a brighter future!