Calgary Food Bank Research Presentation

How does Health Canada define food insecurity in these research notes?

The inability to acquire or consume food of adequate quality and quantity due to financial constraints.

Why is research on food insecurity among older adults important?

Seniors historically had some of Canada's lowest food insecurity rates, but recent Calgary Food Bank data show a sharp increase in older adults seeking support.

Historically, how did seniors' food insecurity rates compare with those of other Canadians?

Seniors had some of the lowest rates of food insecurity in Canada.

How much more likely are seniors to reuse the Calgary Food Bank compared with the general population?

Nearly three times as likely.

How much did seniors' use of services increase from 2023 to the period described as now?

153%, compared with a 100% increase in the rest of the population.

What demographic change is Canada expected to experience by 2046?

Canada is expected to become a “super aged nation,” with over 20% of the population aged 65 or older.

What does “super aged nation” mean in these notes?

A country in which more than 20% of the population is aged 65 or older.

What research methods were used to investigate food insecurity among older adults?

Roundtables with senior-serving organizations; discussions with frontline staff and professionals; CEOs and senior leadership; 30 in-depth semi-structured interviews; and a survey of 736 anonymous Calgary Food Bank clients aged 55 or older.

Who participated in the roundtables for the older-adult food insecurity research?

Senior-serving organizations.

Which professionals contributed perspectives to the older-adult food insecurity research?

Frontline staff and professionals, as well as CEOs and senior leadership.

How many in-depth interviews were conducted with food-insecure older adults?

30 semi-structured interviews with older adults who were Calgary Food Bank clients.

Who participated in the 30 in-depth interviews?

Food-insecure older adults who were clients of the Calgary Food Bank.

Who participated in the older-adult food insecurity survey?

736 anonymous Calgary Food Bank clients aged 55 and older.

What percentage of surveyed retired older adults first experienced food insecurity after retirement?

64%.

What does the finding that 64% first experienced food insecurity after retirement suggest?

Retirement can coincide with financial pressures that make food insecurity a new experience, rather than a problem limited to people who were food-insecure earlier in life.

What were the main themes identified in the older-adult food insecurity research?

Rising cost of living, lack of savings, low Canada Pension Plan (CPP) payments, healthcare costs, and unforeseen circumstances.

What were survey respondents worried about affording over the next 12 months?

Housing, utilities, and medical expenses.

What percentage of older-adult survey respondents worried about affording housing over the next 12 months?

71%.

What percentage worried about affording utilities over the next 12 months?

58%.

What percentage worried about affording medical expenses over the next 12 months?

52%.

What was the main affordability concern for most older adults in the research?

The cost of living.

Among non-retired respondents, what percentage said they could not financially afford to retire?

80%.

Among non-retired respondents who could not afford retirement, what percentage had no savings or private retirement funds?

85%.

Which private retirement savings and pension funds were mentioned in the research?

Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs), Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs), Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs), and workplace pensions.

What percentage of retired respondents were currently repaying debt?

61%.

What percentage of retired respondents owned their homes?

17%.

What do the savings findings suggest about retirement and food insecurity?

Limited savings, debt, and low homeownership may leave older adults financially vulnerable when living costs or unexpected expenses rise.

What health-related issue did the older-adult interview quotation illustrate?

Health-related costs and caregiving responsibilities can compound affordability pressures and affect the ability to seek or maintain employment.

What did the interview participant say about her husband's medical expenses?

Her husband was in assisted living, and his medical costs had been high even with insurance.

Why did the interview participant question whether she could look for work?

Her husband's health and care needs created practical and financial pressures that complicated her ability to seek employment.

How can healthcare costs compound the affordability crisis for older adults?

Medical expenses and caregiving costs can reduce money available for food, housing, utilities, and other essentials.

What are the three public pension or income-support programs discussed in the notes?

Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS).

According to the September 2026 notes, what is the average CPP monthly pension at age 65?

$877 per month.

According to the September 2026 notes, what is the maximum CPP monthly pension at age 65?

$1,500 per month.

What is the minimum age to receive CPP according to the notes?

60 years old.

How is CPP calculated?

Based on lifetime contributions.

What is the maximum OAS payment for people aged 65–74 according to the September 2026 notes?

$752 per month.

What is the minimum age for OAS eligibility according to the notes?

65 years old.

What citizenship requirement for OAS is listed in these notes?

The person must be a Canadian citizen.

How long must a person have lived in Canada since turning 18 to meet the residency requirement listed for OAS?

At least 10 years.

What does GIS stand for?

Guaranteed Income Supplement.

What determines the GIS payment amount?

Income and marital status.

What is the minimum age for GIS eligibility according to the notes?

65 years old.

What other eligibility conditions for GIS are listed in the notes?

The person must receive OAS, reside in Canada, and have annual income below the government's limit.

How do CPP, OAS, and GIS differ in the notes?

CPP depends on lifetime contributions; OAS has age, citizenship, and residency criteria listed; GIS is income-tested and requires OAS eligibility.

Why are public pensions relevant to food insecurity among older adults?

Pension income may be insufficient to cover rising living costs, housing, utilities, food, and healthcare expenses.

Why does the broader Calgary food insecurity research matter?

Household food insecurity has increased rapidly since 2019, affecting many Calgary residents and increasing demand for food bank services.

How many Calgarians were reported to face food insecurity in the research presentation?

420,000.

How many people did the Calgary Food Bank serve in 2024–2025?

135,526 people.

By what percentage did the Calgary Food Bank's number of people served increase in 2024–2025?

27%.

What research question examined the relationship between food insecurity and client wellbeing?

How does food insecurity severity connect to client wellbeing and behaviours?

What did a Calgary Food Bank client say about having no food and feeling depressed?

The client explained that having nothing to eat created depression and a lack of hope about tomorrow.

According to the client quotation, how can having food help someone who is unemployed?

Food provides something to fall back on and a sense of security even when the person does not have a job.

What methods were used in the broader Calgary Food Bank client research?

Three semi-structured client interviews, a survey developed from those interviews, and an online survey completed by 1,878 clients in seven languages.

How many semi-structured client interviews were conducted in the broader study?

Three.

How was the broader client survey developed?

It was developed from the semi-structured interviews.

How many clients completed the broader online survey?

1,878 clients.

In how many languages was the broader client survey available?

Seven languages.

What topics did the broader Calgary Food Bank study measure?

Household food insecurity; food bank use; eating practices and food literacy; and physical, mental, social, financial, and food-related wellbeing.

What dimensions of wellbeing were measured?

Physical, mental, social, financial, and food-related wellbeing.

What percentage of respondents in the broader survey were women?

63%.

What percentage of responding households had children under 18?

43%.

What percentage of respondents were visible minorities?

30%.

What percentage of respondents lived with family?

61%.

What percentage of respondents rented their primary residence?

63%.

How was wellbeing related to food insecurity severity?

Wellbeing declined as food insecurity deepened, with the lowest wellbeing in severely food-insecure households.

Which households had the lowest overall, physical, mental, social, and food-related wellbeing ratings?

Severely food-insecure households.

What percentage rated their mental health as very good or excellent in the severe food insecurity wellbeing comparison?

25%, according to the figures presented in the notes.

What percentage felt quite a bit or extremely stressed in the severe food insecurity wellbeing comparison?

71%, according to the figures presented in the notes.

What percentage experienced loneliness often or always in the severe food insecurity wellbeing comparison?

53%, according to the figures presented in the notes.

What is the key conclusion about food insecurity and wellbeing?

Severe food insecurity is associated with the lowest wellbeing ratings across multiple dimensions.

What percentage of Calgary Food Bank clients experienced some level of food insecurity over the past year?

95%.

What percentage of Calgary Food Bank clients experienced severe food insecurity over the past year?

55%.

What are three indicators of severe food insecurity?

Decreasing meal size, skipping meals, and not eating for an entire day.

What does decreasing meal size indicate?

People reduce how much they eat to cope with insufficient food or financial resources.

What does skipping meals indicate in the context of severe food insecurity?

People go without meals because they lack sufficient food or money to obtain it.

What does not eating for an entire day indicate?

A severe form of food insecurity in which a person goes a whole day without eating.

Nearly what fraction of Calgary Food Bank clients rely on it as their only grocery source?

Nearly one-third.

What percentage of Calgary Food Bank clients had used its services for less than one year?

More than 50%.

What was associated with Calgary Food Bank clients who had used services for over five years?

They tended to experience more severe food insecurity.

What were the top reasons for using the Calgary Food Bank?

Income loss or reduction, inadequate government benefits, and rising grocery prices.

How can income loss or reduction lead to food bank use?

Less income reduces the money available to buy food and cover essential expenses.

How can inadequate government benefits contribute to food insecurity?

Benefits may not provide enough income to meet food and other basic living costs.

How can rising grocery prices contribute to food bank use?

Food becomes less affordable, especially for households with limited or fixed incomes.

Does emergency food support fully resolve clients' food insecurity?

No. It eases immediate hardship, but many clients continue to struggle with food security after receiving support.

What is meant by ongoing hardship after receiving food bank support?

Clients may receive emergency food yet remain unable to consistently afford sufficient food and other essential expenses.

What percentage of clients worried about day-to-day expenses?

98%.

What percentage of clients felt comfortable living on their current income?

5%.

What percentage of clients used savings or borrowed money to pay for food?

69%.

What percentage of clients had to choose monthly between food and other necessities?

40%.

What do the financial pressure findings suggest?

Most clients experience significant financial stress, and many must use savings, borrow money, or sacrifice other necessities to obtain food.

What percentage of clients had to choose every month between buying food and paying for rent or housing?

42%.

What percentage had to choose every month between food and transportation?

40%.

What percentage had to choose every month between food and other necessities such as clothing?

39%.

What percentage had to choose every month between food and utilities?

20%.

What percentage had to choose every month between food and medicine or medical expenses?

The notes list 20% for utilities and 20% for medicine or medical expenses.

What does it mean when clients must choose between food and other necessities?

They face trade-offs in which paying for one essential need leaves insufficient money for another.

What does the grocery-price quotation about an $8 cauliflower illustrate?

Rising grocery prices force people on tight budgets to compare food with other necessities and decide how to spend limited money.

What percentage of households reported that someone had the knowledge and skills to cook healthy meals?

94%.

What did the research find about clients' cooking confidence?

Many clients were confident cooking meals within 30 minutes and following or adjusting recipes.