Subnet Users

Calgary Dollars (C$) are integrated into Calgary Housing, Norfolk Housing and the CUPS housing programs to build social and economic capital for each agency and its residents. Residents can earn C$ for supporting their communities through a variety of tasks such as helping with the maintenance of their buildings and communities. C$ can used to pay a portion of rent in some buildings and with local businesses. This brings socioeconomic benefits for residents to get the things they need while supporting their community members.

This saves housing agencies money by encouraging resident participation in their community and localized spending with circulated currency that keeps moving in the community and promoting new ideas and services that otherwise would not be available.

An example of this is the Household Lending Library where useful items, like vacuums, tools, or cleaning supplies are rented through Calgary Dollars. A resident organizes the sharing with others promoting social, community and economic benefits for housing agencies.

Users can also use a portion of Calgary Dollars at Fresh Routes mobile markets to purchase fresh fresh fruits and vegetables right in their communities. C$ supports residents engaging with their local landscapes and addresses local inequity in one of Canada’s largest cities.

Calgary Dollars is supported by The City of Calgary’s Family and Community Support Services funding.  In this way we have a model of municipal public banking where the City (through Calgary Dollars) is creating local credit to address issues of affordable housing and poverty. Municipal service expenditures that are related to the affordable housing can be reduced in absolute terms and becomes a justification for accepting C$ in lieu of CDN$ for partial payment of property taxes.

Calgary Dollars (C$) is a leading global innovator for complementary currency (CC) systems and community economic development. This is most evident in our affordable housing collaborations, which are generating notable benefits for both residents and housing agencies. CC systems provide communities with tools to prioritize and develop alternative forms of capital, by providing unique methods for market access and income supplementation. C$ users with an untapped skill, service or item can earn Calgary Dollars to supplement their income.

With the rise of anonymous global trustless currencies like bitcoin, we’re recognizing the need for localized trust-based alternatives that allow individuals and small businesses to tap into the potential of community trust to support community affordability. Calgary Dollars is hyper local meaning that wealth doesn’t leave our local economy but stays to create robust, sustainable and connected communities. Re-imagining wealth and capital to create more equitable societies means identifying the community value in individual financial resilience and supporting its growth at the individual, business and community levels.

More financially stable people mean more stable communities.

Globally, many communities are exploring the benefits of digital complementary currencies in community development and providing social support. C$ does this in a number of different ways to support local business, economic access, and community resilience in YYC.  Calgary Dollars are not redeemable for CAD so they circulate continuously throughout Calgary with users and local businesses. Residents develop social connections contributing to Calgary’s local circular economy. C$ are unique as one of the of the only complementary currencies that pairs affordable housing initiatives with local exchange and grassroots activism.

It is the only digital currency currently addressing all three of these needs and as a result Calgary Dollars is a worldwide leader in complementary currencies for environmental, economic and social good.

You can feel proud that with every transaction you complete in Calgary Dollars you are not only producing economic good for your community but supporting Calgarians in accessing fresh produce, public transit, and affordable housing.