About Us
The Edmonton Multicultural Coalition (EMC) is a charitable, community-based organization dedicated to advancing equity, belonging, and socio-economic inclusion for Edmonton’s diverse communities.
Founded in 2007 and registered as a charity in 2021, EMC works alongside ethnocultural communities, newcomers, seniors, women, youth, families, persons with disabilities, community organizations, public institutions, and the voluntary sector to help build a more inclusive, equitable, and connected Edmonton.
Our work focuses on expanding equitable access to resources and opportunities, strengthening community leadership and organizational capacity, advancing racial and gender equity, and creating inclusive spaces for healing, intercultural dialogue, civic participation, and cross-cultural connection.
At the heart of EMC is a commitment to community-led solutions. We believe communities are best positioned to identify their priorities, build on their strengths, and shape the programs, partnerships, and approaches that affect their lives.
Our membership reflects Edmonton’s diverse ethnocultural communities and contributes valuable lived experience, knowledge, leadership, and perspectives to our work.
Our Mandate
The Edmonton Multicultural Coalition works to:
Expand equitable access to resources, services, and opportunities for ethnocultural and equity-deserving communities.
Support socio-economic integration and inclusion through multicultural programming, community-led initiatives, and meaningful engagement.
Strengthen community capacity by supporting emerging ethnocultural groups and community leaders in governance, leadership, organizational development, and program delivery.
Advance racial and gender equity through education, advocacy, trauma-informed approaches, intercultural dialogue, and community collaboration.
Create inclusive and welcoming spaces for healing, relationship-building, civic participation, and collaboration across cultures, generations, and faith communities.
Build partnerships and connections that strengthen communities and contribute to a more equitable and inclusive Edmonton.
What We Do
EMC provides programs, services, capacity-building initiatives, and community engagement opportunities that support the social and economic inclusion of equity-deserving communities, including racialized communities, newcomers, immigrant women, youth, seniors, families, and persons with disabilities.
We work with individuals, community leaders, and ethnocultural organizations to strengthen their capacity to lead, advocate, participate, and contribute meaningfully to community life.
Our work includes:
We foster collaboration among Edmonton’s diverse cultural communities while strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities, institutions, service providers, and the broader community.
Our approach is grounded in the belief that meaningful relationships, mutual respect, shared learning, and community leadership build stronger communities. Through dialogue, partnership, and collective action, we work to reduce barriers, strengthen belonging, and create opportunities for everyone to participate and thrive.
Our Guiding Principles
Our work is guided by four core principles:
Inclusion
We promote equitable access to resources, opportunities, and participation while creating spaces where diverse voices, identities, experiences, and perspectives are welcomed and valued.
Participatory Learning
We create opportunities for individuals and communities to learn from one another through shared experiences, storytelling, dialogue, and collective action.
Intercultural Relationship Building
We foster meaningful relationships across cultures and communities to strengthen understanding, mutual respect, trust, and a shared sense of belonging.
Community Capacity Building
We strengthen the knowledge, skills, leadership, and organizational capacity of individuals and community organizations so they can advocate, lead, collaborate, and thrive.
Our Story
The Edmonton Multicultural Coalition grew from a community-driven process focused on strengthening civic engagement and creating opportunities for ethnocultural communities to participate more fully in public life.
Through a project funded by Health Canada under the Voluntary Sector Initiative, more than 120 community members participated in 36 policy education workshops to identify key challenges affecting the health and well-being of ethnocultural communities.
Participants identified four major priorities:
Employment
Unequal access to meaningful employment opportunities, particularly for internationally trained professionals and workers.
Education
Limited access to educational opportunities for newcomers, including inadequate support for English as a Second Language programs.
Health
Barriers to affordable, accessible, and culturally appropriate health services.
Civic and Social Inclusion
Social isolation and barriers preventing ethnocultural communities from fully participating in civic and political life.
Recognizing that these challenges required a strong and coordinated community voice, participants came together to create a coalition that could advocate for meaningful change and develop community-led responses to shared priorities.
In 2007, representatives from ten ethnocultural communities founded the Edmonton Multicultural Coalition, united by a common vision of a city where diversity is valued and everyone has an equitable opportunity to participate, belong, and thrive.
Today, EMC continues that community-led legacy by strengthening community capacity, advancing equity, supporting civic and socio-economic participation, fostering intercultural relationships, and building partnerships that contribute to a more inclusive and connected Edmonton.
Our Vision
An inclusive and equitable society where diversity is celebrated, belonging is strengthened, and all communities have the opportunity to participate and thrive.
Our Mission
To empower, strengthen, and connect ethnocultural and equity-deserving communities through capacity building, advocacy, inclusive programming, collaboration, and community-led engagement.
