Action Lab

The Action Lab has a fully equipped kitchen that renters can use throughout their booking.

Whether you’re making coffee, putting out snacks, preparing food, or taking a break between activities, the kitchen is available to support whatever you have planned for the day.

Learn more about the space or book the Action Lab for your next gathering: https://www.actionlab.ca/booking

[In the first image, several turquoise cups sit upside down in a rack. A yellow “Action Lab” sticker is attached to the front of the rack.
In the second image, a yellow and turquoise kitchen area has white cabinets, a refrigerator, coffee machines, and rolling carts holding cups and glasses.]

The SDX ProAction Cafe is coming up on September 29.

Have a reconciliation-related project or challenge you’re working on that you’d like to bring to the group? Submit it by 4 PM on September 18.

Planning to join us? Grab your ticket and come take part, whether or not you’re bringing a project.

Submit a challenge:�https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMJMFTKNBzUkKGxh9AbxiZN7QZdBw0JpxgEDW6encWQnaITw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=108571292032182098341

Get your ticket:�https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/sdx-proaction-cafe-tickets-1998510539823?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

[The image shows the Action Lab Treaty Reflection & Renewal Space in the background. A woven basket filled with dried ceremonial materials, including sweetgrass and sage, sits on a wooden shelf. The background has soft blue wave patterns with warm tones throughout. The main text reads “SDX,” with “Systemic Design Exchange” underneath in black. A purple banner across the middle says “ProAction Café: Reconciliation.” Under that, the text reads, “Last chance! Submit your reconciliation-related project or challenge and get your tickets!”]

We like highlighting some of the organizations who regularly use the Action Lab, so today we’re featuring Civida

Civida is Edmonton’s largest provider of community and affordable homes, managing more than 5,300 homes across the city and administering rent subsidies for thousands of households each month. Their work focuses on providing safe, affordable housing and working with community partners to support the people and communities they serve.

The Action Lab is a space for organizations working through complex issues like this. The Lab is available for meetings, workshops, planning sessions, and other gatherings where having a space for collaboration and creative thinking can be useful.

Civida is one of the organizations that comes back to the Lab regularly, and we’re always happy to have them here. Curious about using the Action Lab for your next meeting or workshop? Visit our website to learn more about the space and view our rental rates.

[In the image, the top half shows a photo of people gathered around a table in the Action Lab, with large white text reading “Action Lab Featured Renter.” The bottom half has a white background with the Civida logo, alongside text reading: “Civida provides affordable housing and housing support to people across Edmonton, helping make safe and stable homes more accessible.” The Action Lab logo appears on the right side.]

As part of the Community Animator project, four University of Alberta Occupational Therapy students partnered with Action Lab to explore asset mapping at Edgemont Flats.

The project started with the idea of using asset mapping to better understand residents’ strengths, interests, and experiences, but evolved through conversations with residents. Instead of focusing on collecting information, the team explored how the process itself could create opportunities for people to connect and participate in their community.

Through focus groups, pop-ups, community boards, a scavenger hunt, and interactive activities at a community BBQ, the students tested different ways of engaging residents and adapted their approach along the way.

Read the full article to learn more about the project, the activities they tried, and what they learned along the way: https://www.actionlab.ca/blog/reimagining-asset-mapping-at-edgemont-flats

[In the first image, an Action Lab graphic titled Our Latest Work introduces a project with University of Alberta Occupational Therapy students exploring how asset mapping can support community connection and participation at Edgemont Flats. A photo shows three of the students outside at the table promoting the Edgemont summer BBQ event.

In the second image, the graphic explains how the students explored asset mapping as a collective process for building connection. Photos show a community scavenger hunt poster and community boards used to invite residents to share ideas and participate in a BBQ event.

In the third image, the graphic describes how the project helped students reflect on community engagement, including the importance of co-designing with residents, considering wider systems that shape participation, and adapting based on community feedback. A photo of The Faces of Edgemont asset-mapping activity shows residents’ self-portrait drawings displayed on strings. The graphic also directs readers to Action Lab’s latest blog post about the project.]

Join us September 29 from 1–4 PM at the Action Lab for an SDX ProAction Café focused on Reconciliation.

A ProAction Café is a space to bring a project, question, or challenge you’re working on and get thoughtful feedback from others who can help you think it through. For this session, SDX is inviting folks to bring a specific reconciliation-related challenge they’re currently working on within their org or company.

Your project should be time-bound, connected to reconciliation, and at a point where the path forward isn’t quite clear. It can relate to UNDRIP, the TRC, MMIWG, or other areas of reconciliation work.

Have a challenge you’d like to bring to the group? Submit your project by 4 PM on September 18.

Submit a challenge:�https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMJMFTKNBzUkKGxh9AbxiZN7QZdBw0JpxgEDW6encWQnaITw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=108571292032182098341

Get your ticket:�https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/sdx-proaction-cafe-tickets-1998510539823?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

We look forward to learning with you.

[The image shows the Action Lab Treaty Reflection & Renewal Space in the background. A woven basket filled with dried ceremonial materials, including sweetgrass and sage, sits on a wooden shelf. The background has soft blue wave patterns with warm tones throughout. The main text reads “SDX,” with “Systemic Design Exchange” underneath in black. A purple banner across the middle says “ProAction Café: Reconciliation.” Under that, the text reads, “Submit a reconciliation-related project or challenge you’re working on and get your tickets!” At the bottom, a dark purple section includes the event details: “Date: September 29, 2026,” “Time: 1:00–4:00 PM, doors open at 12:45 PM,” and “Location: Action Lab, 10408 124 St. Edmonton, Suite #210.”]

How do we build our collective capacity to respond to complex challenges?

After attending this year's Canadian Forum for Social Innovation, Skills Society's Director of Development and Community Engagement, Annand Ollivierre, reflects on a few ideas that have stayed with him. His reflections explore why people with lived experience need to be recognized as experts, how systems change depends on learning across different perspectives, and why creating space for people to share their experiences is essential to building stronger communities.

Read his full reflection here: https://www.actionlab.ca/blog/reflections-from-the-canadian-forum-for-social-innovation

[The image features the title "Reflections from the Canadian Forum for Social Innovation" over a blurred background of hanging photographs. Supporting text explains that Skills Society's Director of Development and Community Engagement, Annand Ollivierre, reflects on key takeaways from the 2026 Canadian Forum for Social Innovation. See the caption to learn more.]

Meet Teresa Bradley, the newest member of the Action Lab facilitation team.

Teresa joins a group of facilitators who support organizations and communities through collaboration, systems thinking, and participatory processes. In her role as Coordinator of Social Enterprise and Innovation at Skills Society, she supports Action Lab's facilitation services and project coordination.

Born and raised in Edmonton, Teresa brings a thoughtful and collaborative approach to her work. Whether she's coordinating projects, facilitating conversations, or helping people work through complex ideas together, she creates the conditions for meaningful
participation and collaboration.

We're grateful to have Teresa on the team and look forward to the many projects and partnerships she'll help support.

[Teresa sits outdoors on a sunny day in a lawn chair, wearing a white knit short-sleeve sweater. Trees, grass, and a garden fence are visible in the background. White text at the bottom of the image reads, "Teresa Bradley."]

The Action Lab includes multiple breakout spaces designed to support smaller group conversations and facilitated activities.

Whether you're running workshops, strategic planning sessions, or community engagement events, these spaces make it easy for larger groups to split up, work through ideas, and come back together to share what they've learned.

Learn more about the space or book the Action Lab for your next gathering: https://www.actionlab.ca/booking

[A small group of people sits in a circle in one of the Action Lab's breakout spaces, engaged in a facilitated discussion. The bright room features large windows, colourful chairs, potted plants, and creative wall displays. Designed for smaller group conversations and activities, the breakout space provides a comfortable setting for larger groups to divide into more focused discussions before coming back together.]

We recently had the opportunity to partner with the Alberta 2slgbtqi+ Chamber of Commerce on the Beyond Barriers project, which explores the experiences of Q***r and trans entrepreneurs in Edmonton.

This work brought together community voices to better understand the barriers and opportunities shaping entrepreneurship, while helping lay the foundation for future engagement and resources.
We're grateful to the Alberta 2SLGBTQIA+ Chamber of Commerce for the opportunity to collaborate on this important work.

Visit our website to learn more about our approach and explore examples of our work: https://www.actionlab.ca/our-work

[The first image has a white background with a title in navy text that reads "What's Happening at Action Lab... Our Latest Work." On the left is the cover of the Beyond Barriers: Understanding Q***r and Trans Entrepreneurship in Edmonton primer. On the right, text explains that Action Lab recently partnered with the Alberta 2SLGBTQIA+ Chamber of Commerce on the Beyond Barriers project. A green arrow at the bottom points to the next slide.

The second image has a white background and explains that the primer introduces the Beyond Barriers project, shares early learnings, and explores the experiences of Q***r and trans entrepreneurs in Edmonton, including the barriers they face and opportunities for a more inclusive business ecosystem. Below the text is a sample spread from the primer. A green arrow at the bottom points to the next slide.

The third image has a white background and features another sample spread from the Beyond Barriers primer. Below, text explains that Action Lab led the design and facilitation of the listening sessions, synthesized the findings into the primer, and developed the participatory engagement process that will continue throughout the project. The Action Lab logo appears on the right. Along the bottom, text invites readers to visit Action Lab's website to learn more about its work.]

Don't miss the third episode of Season 2 of Wicked Complex!

Mark Cabaj joins us to explore disruption, systems change, uncertainty, and how humour and creativity can help us navigate complex challenges.

You can find Wicked Complex on our website or wherever you listen to podcasts: https://www.actionlab.ca/podcast

[The image has a bold red square centered over a black-and-white aerial image of people walking across a large target pattern. Large white text reads “WICKED COMPLEX,” with a small green label “SEASON 2.” Below, smaller text says, “Absurdly Hopeful: How Play and Creativity Can Crack Open New Futures.” At the bottom, on a dark blue background, it reads “Wicked Complex Podcast S2-3” and “Navigating Disruption: A Framework for Systems Change.” The Action Lab logo appears on the right, and along the left edge, vertical text reads “DON’T MISS IT.”]