Empowering Vulnerable Populations

Who we are?

The Health & Social Research Centre (HSRC), Inc. was founded in 2015 and incorporated under the Business Corporations Act of Alberta, Canada. The centre is committed to integrate scientific and compelling anecdotal evidence to develop programs that fill the needs of our most vulnerable populations as well as gaps in existing programs. This includes identification and promotion of effective health and social programming and service delivery. ‘Evidence for Action’ is the slogan of the centre. HSRC also conducts different types of qualitative and quantitative research, including mixed methods, gender audit, project/ program implementation, evaluation, appraisal reviews and others.

Mission

To address the health and social issues of vulnerable populations including seniors and immigrants by promoting research and program intervention locally, regionally, nationally, and globally.

Vision

To work for and with vulnerable populations to assist in empowering them to achieve an improved quality of life.

Our Core Values

Diversity
Inclusiveness
Respect
Commitment
Collaboration

Our Focus

HSRC is committed to conduct research and program intervention on health and social issues particularly focusing on vulnerable populations including immigrants, women, youth, children, seniors and others. The aims of the organization are to design, implement, and evaluate programs of health and social concerns with vulnerable populations locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

Our Core Team

HSRC’s core executive team includes Founder & President, Vice-President, Director of Programs, Treasurer, one director, one coordinator and volunteers. The team members have proficiency and experience working with vulnerable populations. There is also an Advisory Board with consists of five members (see below). 

Advisory Board

Heather MacIntosh

MPA, BA (she/her)
Director, Global Health Projects
Indigenous, Local & Global Health Office
Cumming School of Medicine
University of Calgary

Themba Watungwa

Policy and Research Analyst, City of Calgary

Dr. Sakina Raj

GP, Sehet Medical Centre
155, Nolan Ridge Ct. NW

Hong Wang

Broker of Record
94 Tuscany Glen Way NW
Calgary, Alberta T3C2Z6

Naman Awan

Business Intelligence Analyst,
Community Natural Foods, Calgary, AB
MBA in Information Systems Management and
Bachelor’s in Computer Sciences.

(Our Programs

Our current project is Healthy Aging for Social Inclusion which will end March 2025. For another ongoing project, Food for All, we deliver food for people in need. This program is in partnership with Ecssen Career School.

We have also launched an exciting program with Centre for Sexuality, Culterwize, to provide education about healthy relationships and wellness in ethno-cultural communities. The goal of this project is to advance the primary prevention of gender-based violence within underserved, equity-seeking ethnocultural communities. This project is funded by the Government of Alberta. 

We also have practicum students who assist HSRC with its many programs and projects. Practicum students are connected with the Alberta Business and Health Institute (ABHI).

HSRC has implemented projects with seniors since 2022 funded by the New Horizons for Seniors Program, Federal Govt. of Canada. Our first project was Empowering Seniors for Quality Life (ESQ) and the second project was the Seniors Friendship Hub. 

HSRC organized an art competition, Ocean Through My Eyes, that involved children and youth funded by Canada Ocean Literacy Coalition. The celebration of this art competition was held during Ocean Week Canada last June 2024.  

Upcoming Projects

We have several proposals under consideration. One proposal is for Tales Over Tea (2Ts) which would be in collaboration with Storytelling Alberta Calgary and Ram Breakfast Cafe.

Another project, Every Stroke Counts, is an intergenerational participatory art project. This project would encourage children, youth and seniors to work together with an artist providing an opportunity for intergenerational connection. 

We are also submitting another Canada Ocean Literacy Coalition for an “intergenerational art odyssey” that would be a innovative participatory art and storytelling project celebrating the intersection of art and science. 

Finally, we hope to launch the photography project ‘CLICK’ to support special needs youth.

Contact Us

Zaman Ara

Founder & President, HSRC
Email: ara.zaman12@gmail.com

Tayyiba Khan

Vice-President, HSRC
Email: taibanaman@gmail.com