Recent News & Events

Free Money for the Disabled?

Yes, it is true. IHS has recently learned from the Investors Group that our federal government has set up a Registered Savings Plan which includes free grants from the government for qualified disabled individuals.

Never heard of this program? IHS’ CEO, Dave Haut, is not surprised.

IHS, with the Investors Group, is pleased to be able to help simplify this process. IHS will be setting up information sessions at our locations and bring in expert speakers to help our clients enroll. You can also contact the Housing Department for direction on where to get assistance.

IHS wishes to thank the Investors Group and Richard Demers, Executive Financial Consultant, for their proactive approach in providing assistance to the disabled community. We also wish to thank Stephen Harper and the Government of Canada for this much needed program.

IHS Helps Make Home Owners

For the past five years IHS has been quietly helping disabled, low income families make the transition from renter to home owner.

As is so often the case, low income and a disability go together. This makes the goal of owning your own home an unattainable dream. We have seen this pattern for years and decided to make a real difference in a few deserving individuals by offering our homes at a substantial discount to the disabled families that live there.

The reduced price makes the monthly mortgage payments affordable and with the equity already built in, our clients can qualify for that mortgage from the banks. Over the years we have been able to help more than twenty-five families become independent.

IHS has received many thank-you’s from our past clients. Just a few of which are shared below.

It is with mixed feelings that IHS transferred our last single family home, bringing a close to this much needed program. While sad to not be able to continue to make new home owners, the gratitude of twenty-five families lets us know we made a real difference in people’s lives.

Now, we turn to the future with much anticipation as we continue to rise to the challenge of creating accessible, supportive living communities.

IHS 3rd Annual Big Top

The IHS 3rd Annual Big Top was held at Villa Marguerite on Thursday, June 23, 2011. Unlike last year, the rain stayed away for the day so we were able to enjoy the outdoor activities to their fullest!

The day featured games, a petting zoo, and musical entertainment. Our Recreation department also raised funds for future recreation activities and programs through a yard sale and a wide range of fair foods including: cotton candy, popcorn, caramel apples, giant soft pretzels and homemade cookies, just to name a few!

The IHS Recreation Team did a fabulous job planning, organizing and executing this event. In addition all IHS Team Members pitched in where possible to make the day all that it could be for our Residents.

This year we had an increased number of attendees from our 114 Gravelle facility, a special thank you to those made the efforts to get all the Residents from 114 Gravelle to this event.

The IHS Big Top has become an event that our Residents and Team Members alike look forward to each summer. IHS is proud to be able to put on such a wonderful event and to see it grow into something even more special for our Residents every year.

A special thank you to the Government of Alberta's Spirit Program! Just as they did last year, the Spirit Program provided IHS with a Donation Grant that assisted in covering some of the costs of our Big Top event. Thank you again to all of our Team Members, Volunteers and Visitors who made the IHS 3rd Annual Big Top the best Big Top to date, the day would not have been what it was without you!

More Photos of the IHS 3rd Annual Big Top

IHS Commitment to Helping Others

At Innovative Housing Society, we take our mission statement “Creating Communities where people want to live” seriously. Part of creating a vibrant, fun place is being part of the Community around you. As a not for profit organization, we already have made a commitment to re-invest in accessible homes rather than enrich shareholders, yet we felt that we can do more. We are part of the Edmonton community and want to help it be a great place to live.

Some of our programs enrich people’s daily lives. Do you know that we host, in association with Mental Health, Edmonton Zone, the “Out of the Shadows” Art program for community members? This program lets artists and artists-in-training get together on a regular basis under the guidance of an instructor and develop their skills in an environment where everyone can grow and laugh together. As an added bonus, we have been able to frame some of the Art and hang it around our communities, making everyone’s life richer!

Other community activities we participate in are:

In association with Canadian Paraplegic Association Alberta, Indoor Bocce Ball.

In association with Alberta Health Services, the Community Linking Program which provides various activities such as Museum tours, Zoo trips etc., West End Fitness Referrals, where an AHS Recreation Therapist helps facilitate individualized fitness programs at Jasper Gates; and Paralympics Sport Association Wheelchair Square Dancing.

We have also hosted community floor hockey leagues, have yearly outdoor carnivals, petting zoos and even rabbits. Okay, the rabbits are here year round because this is their home too. I am not sure exactly how many live on our 10 acre site, but I see them and the squirrels almost every day. On really lucky days, an observant person will see a covey of partridges around the trees on the front of our community.

A large percentage of IHS' clients are on fixed incomes. We are pleased to have them living with us in a safe, secure community which ensures they get their three meals a day. Not everyone is so lucky however, and we wanted to do something to help. Each year, IHS donates to Operation Friendship 2,100 litres of soup or stew and 1,000 lbs. of Jell-O.

It is rewarding to see this marvellous program make a difference in the lives of people and we are very pleased to be able to help out.

We also donate space for a Nurse Practioner Clinic on site. This is a great program where skilled health care can be delivered in a timely fashion, improving people’s lives.

Resources are always limited but at IHS, we like to do whatever we can. We take pride in our efforts to help make Edmonton a better place to call home. We also want to congratulate our partners, Alberta Health Services, Alberta Mental Health, CP Association, Operation Friendship, Grey Nuns, Paralympics Sport Association and the many others whose commitment is to be applauded.
A Big Thank you!