Our Approach

Strengthening the economic and social well-being of Saskatoon’s five core neighbourhoods through a community economic development approach.

Our Vision

  • We see citizens who are empowered, self-determining, and take pride in their community role.
  • We see a community that is safe, stable and caring, where all its citizens can participate and grow.
  • We see ourselves providing community economic development initiatives that support a healthy social and economic environment for all.
  • We see a vital local economy that uses local resources, sustains jobs, businesses, and community enterprise.
  • We see neighbourhoods that are prosperous, beautiful, and environmentally sustainable.
  • We see the community initiating and supporting cultural, recreational, educational, and socio-economic opportunities for the good of all.

Community Economic Development principles guide all of our work

The core communities face disporportionate challenges in every area and we believe that a CED approach has the potential to enable our communities to regain autonomy over their day-to-day lives, take pride in their contributions, and create an environment where local, social needs take precedence over distant, corporate needs.

Community Economic Development (CED) strives to:

Work in a holistic way that integrates economic, social, environmental, and cultural development to strengthen and reclaim communities.

Develop community organizations that enable marginalized groups to pool their resources and talents to create community ownership, jobs, training, and income.

Be inclusive of marginalized groups and individuals.

Undertake economic development in a manner that is in-keeping with the diverse cultures and values of a community.

Develop community capacity, skills, and resources.

Ensure that social and economic resources remain in the community.

Promote local ownership, community control over capital and resources, and local reinvestment.

Involve community representation and control of the economic development process.

To work with partners in business, government, and the community in order to create jobs, training and housing for community members.

Our Approach

  • Create welcoming spaces
  • Focus on relationships and rapport building
  • Meet people where they are at
  • Act as allies and advocates 
  • Maintain a strong connection to the community
  • Remain responsive to changing needs
  • Be a valuable resource of information
  • Employ a workforce that is representative of our neighbourhoods 

Our Community Objective

Our motto is that we work together to strengthen communities. One of our four long-term objectives is to nurture community vibrancy and resilience. This means that we initiate and support community initiatives that create cultural, recreational, educational, and socio–economic opportunities in the core neighbourhoods.

Quint nurtures community vibrancy and resilience by:

  • Organizing access to free, family-friendly inclusive events;
  • Working with partner organizations to coordinate forums for community residents to have a voice in important community discussions;
  • Participating in community events and initiatives;
  • Working with others to strengthen the core communities.

Partnering for Change

Various partnerships and initiatives provide the theory, community leadership, resources, and guidance to achieve our community economic development work in the west side core.

Quint works collaboratively with Reconciliation Saskatoon, Community-University Institute for Social Research, The Canadian Community Economic Development Network, the Safe Community Action Alliance, Saskatoon Poverty Reduction Partnership, Saskatoon Inter-Agency Response to Covid-19, Station 20 West Development Corporation, Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, North Saskatoon Business Association, and the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce.

Diversity, Inclusion and Reconciliation

Equity work requires a sustained and conscious effort to disrupt a system that has for too long privileged the few and left the many behind. Only by addressing the roots of these issues can we work towards our goal of creating opportunities for all and reducing disparities in our community.

We strive to ensure that our directors, staff, and program participants reflect the many identities, cultures, and abilities that make up the core neighbourhoods.

Together, we work to build an equitable community that heals from colonial harms and eradicates oppression, discrimination, and marginalization. 

The Role of Our Diversity Awareness and Engagement Committee

  • Educating our staff on the inequities within our communities and arming them with the tools to address these issues in their work
  • Recommending changes to Quint’s internal policies and external services to ensure that our operations reflect the wisdom and evolving needs of the marginalized communities we serve.

Endorsement

Our board endorsed the TRC’s Calls to Action and our organization is committed to continying to incorporate the Calls into our work. We are also an active member of Reconciliation Saskatoon, our leadership has undergone reconciliation training specific to nonprofits, and we support and participate in local Indigenous-led events and initiatives.

Help us grow!

We invite community members to help us identify areas of growth for our organization.

​We value and welcome feedback on how Quint could better serve marginalized communities.