Catholic Social Services
Catholic Social Services is the social services arm of the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton, operating 20+ programs across Alberta — including refugee settlement, emergency shelters, language assessment, and medical lodging — serving newcomers, women, youth, and vulnerable populations free of charge.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1966
- HeadquartersEdmonton, Canada
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Catholic Social Services does
Catholic Social Services (CSS) is the social services agency of the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton, operating 20+ distinct programs across Alberta including refugee settlement, immigrant language assessment (LARCC), emergency shelter for women and youth (Valta's Centre, Sarah Stollery House, St. Faith's), Safe House services, Larga House medical lodging, and community outreach initiatives. The organization is funded primarily through government contracts — particularly for refugee resettlement and language benchmarking — alongside charitable donations raised under the Sign of Hope brand. Founded in the mid-1960s and operating with a headcount in the 1,001–5,000 range, CSS has expanded its service footprint over six decades into one of the largest faith-based social service providers in Western Canada.
The organization's technology footprint is operational rather than product-oriented: it has piloted third-party AI interpretation (Vasco V4, January 2026) and is evaluating Microsoft Copilot for staff productivity, with a public AI adoption presentation at the Alberta Bishops MCI Summit in May 2026. It has also expanded English language testing services to Lloydminster and announced a 2026 expansion into Saskatchewan. The agency depends on a broad volunteer and parish-referral ecosystem rooted in the Archdiocese, and coordinates with municipal bodies (e.g., Edmonton Fire Rescue Services) and arts/community groups (Kickstand Edmonton, ArtsHub Ortona).
CSS is a registered non-profit; all services are provided free of charge to vulnerable populations including newcomers, refugees, women fleeing violence, youth at risk, and individuals needing medical lodging. Revenue mechanics consist of government grants and contracts supplemented by diversified donor contributions — there are no paying customers in the traditional sense. A leadership transition is scheduled, with current CEO Dr. Troy Davies stepping down at the end of July 2027.
Catholic Social Services firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Catholic Social Services
- Legal name
- Catholic Social Services / Catholic Charities Society / Sign of Hope Society
- Website
- https://cssalberta.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1966
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Catholic Social Services is the social services arm of the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton, operating 20+ programs across Alberta — including refugee settlement, emergency shelters, language assessment, and medical lodging — serving newcomers, women, youth, and vulnerable populations free of charge.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Catholic Social Services industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social and Human Services
- NAICS
- Social Assistance (624), Religious Organizations (8131), Community Housing Services (62422), Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD), Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)
Keywords
Where Catholic Social Services is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edmonton
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Catholic Social Services business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Charitable Donations (Sign of Hope): The Sign of Hope fund accepts charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and community groups. Donations support all funded programs including shelters, refugee services, senior support, and youth programs. Donations are processed through the CanadaHelps platform.
- Government Grants and Referrals: Government-funded programs include the Government Referral program and settlement services funded by immigration authorities. Services are provided at no cost to clients.
- Volunteer Services (In-kind): Volunteers contribute thousands of hours annually across all programs, providing services at no cost. The LACE (Learning and Community Enrichment) program is primarily volunteer-driven.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Free services to clients across all programs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Catholic Social Services product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Catholic Social Services delivers a comprehensive continuum of social services free of charge to vulnerable populations across Alberta, including psychological counselling, emergency and transitional shelters for women and children fleeing domestic violence, refugee and immigrant settlement support (language assessment, employment, cultural integration), supportive housing, youth services, elder abuse response, and family and disability support. Sign of Hope Society serves as the fundraising and donor arm funding 20+ CSS ministries.
Product overview
Catholic Social Services is a non-profit social services organization operating as a collection of interconnected programs rather than a unified technology product. The agency offers approximately 20 distinct service programs organized around core areas: counselling and mental health services, immigrant and refugee settlement support, domestic violence shelters and support, housing services, family support programs, services for seniors, youth programs including Safe House, and spiritual care. The main service delivery channels include Mercy Counselling, Immigration and Settlement Services, emergency and transitional shelters (Lurana, La Salle), Safe House for youth, and various community support programs. Sign of Hope serves as the organization's fundraising and donation arm, while the main cssalberta.ca website serves as the primary digital service portal. The organization has begun piloting AI technology (Vasco V4 interpreter) to enhance language services for newcomers accessing counselling and support.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sign of Hope: A donor-facing brand and fundraising arm of Catholic Social Services, focused on donations and raising awareness for CSS programs serving vulnerable populations.
- Immigration and Settlement Services (ISS)
- Lurana Shelter
- La Salle Shelter and Support
- Gianna Centre
- Morning Star
- Safe House
- Elpida
- Care-A-Van
- LARCC
- Mercy Counselling
- Saint Zita
Products and services
- Mercy Counselling Psychological counselling and mental health/wellness services for children, youth, adults, couples, and families, delivered in Edmonton, Red Deer, Lloydminster, and Wainwright.
- Immigrant & Refugee Support (Immigration and Settlement Services) Comprehensive settlement services for newcomers to Canada including housing assistance, language assessment, employment support, and cultural integration programs.
- Domestic Abuse Shelters & Support Emergency and transitional shelter services for women and children fleeing domestic violence, including first-stage emergency shelter (Lurana Shelter) and second-stage transitional shelter (La Salle Shelter and Support).
- Lurana Shelter First-stage emergency shelter for women and their children fleeing domestic violence and requiring urgent safe housing.
- La Salle Shelter and Support Second-stage shelter helping women and children escaping domestic violence to transition into stable housing and rebuild their lives.
- Safe House Voluntary supportive environment for youth navigating trauma, exploitation, and instability. Founded in 1986 as Edmonton's first program of its kind.
- Supports for Children & Adults with Disabilities Services supporting individuals with disabilities and their families across Alberta.
- Elder / Senior Citizen Abuse Support Program supporting seniors at risk of abuse and neglect through crisis response, risk assessment, outreach, and intervention.
- Elder Abuse Resource and Supports (EARS) Dedicated elder abuse intervention program that helps hundreds of seniors at risk of abuse and neglect each year through crisis response, risk assessment, outreach, and intervention.
- Senior Connections Services connecting seniors with community resources and support.
- Family Capacity Building Programs helping families develop skills and resources to support their members.
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Support Specialized support services for individuals and families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
- Foster Care Foster care services placing children with caring families.
- Government Referral Referral services connecting clients with government programs and resources.
- Parole Supports Support services for individuals on parole.
- Gianna Centre Pre- and post-natal support for vulnerable women and their families through resources and education.
- Family Intervention Intervention services for families in crisis.
- Family Support General family support services.
- Supportive Housing Housing programs with support services for vulnerable individuals and families.
- Spiritual Care Faith-based spiritual support services including prayer, contemplative practices, and pastoral care guided by Catholic tradition.
- Morning Star Outreach and safe place services in Red Deer providing vulnerable women access to food, personal hygiene products, laundry, and shower facilities.
- Links for Success Volunteer job placement program for Edmonton newcomers providing intensive weekly training before short placements with local employers.
- Bridge to Belonging Educational sessions and hands-on experiences teaching newcomers about Truth and Reconciliation and Indigenous cultures.
- ARK Employment Services Employment-readiness support for newcomers in Red Deer (resumes, interviews) with a special focus on Ukrainians seeking safety in Canada.
- Saint Zita Crisis response service for vulnerable individuals needing immediate help with confidentiality and compassion; offered in Edmonton, Red Deer, Wainwright, and Wetaskiwin.
- Welcome Home Volunteer matching program that pairs recently-housed program participants with volunteers providing support and friendship during transition to long-term stable housing.
- Care-A-Van Mobile mini-van service helping unhoused individuals outside Edmonton's downtown core by delivering basic necessities and supports where fixed locations are unreachable.
- LARCC (Language Assessment, Referral and Counselling Centre) Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) assessment centre for Edmonton and surrounding communities, providing language assessments and educational counselling for newcomers.
- Elpida Halfway house program for individuals in recovery from substance abuse.
- Sign of Hope Society (Fundraising Arm) Donor-facing fundraising brand supporting 20+ CSS ministries including shelters, refugee services, elder abuse support, and youth programs through charitable donations via the CanadaHelps platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- EARS helps hundreds of seniors at risk of abuse each year
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Catholic Social Services
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Catholic Social Services technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature2 records
Catholic Social Services partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Edmonton Fire Rescue ServicescoreEdmonton Fire Rescue Services participated in the 'Landlords & Newcomers' event hosted by CSS Immigration and Settlement Services, engaging families with fire trucks and sharing fire safety information. The event also featured survivor Naveed Hakimi sharing his experience of surviving an apartment fire after coming to Canada as a refugee.
- Newman Theological CollegecoreCSS CEO Dr. Troy Davies announced his resignation effective July 2027 to join Newman Theological College as Associate Professor & Chair of Catholic Education and Theology. The relationship involves leadership transition and ongoing Catholic educational collaboration.
- Kickstand EdmontoncoreKickstand Edmonton partnered with CSS for the annual Spring Art Walk, providing youth contributors access to its dedicated creative space at West Edmonton Mall. Youth from Kickstand participated in the art showcase, strengthening community ties and artistic programming for at-risk youth.
- ArtsHub OrtonaminorArtsHub Ortona hosted the 13th annual Spring Art Walk on June 2, 2026, providing the venue for showcasing artwork created by CSS youth and Community Creativity Workshop participants.
- Catholic Crosscultural Services (CCS) TorontominorBoth CSS Edmonton and CCS Toronto participated in the Alberta Bishops Mission Collaboration Initiative (MCI) Summit 2026, where Eoin Murray (CSS VP) and Claudio Ruiz (CCS Executive Director) discussed AI adoption for refugee services. The organizations share best practices and collaborate on Catholic immigrant agency initiatives.
- City of EdmontoncoreThe City of Edmonton's Community Safety and Well-being Grant sponsored the Spring Art Walk, investing in community connection and youth well-being initiatives. CSS also collaborates with the city on housing events and newcomer integration.
- LARCC (Language Assessment, Referral and Counselling Centre)coreLARCC is the only Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) assessment centre for Edmonton and surrounding communities, operated by CSS. Founded in 1985, it provides language assessments and educational counselling for newcomers.
- Archdiocese of EdmontoncoreCatholic Social Services is the social services arm of the Archdiocese of Edmonton. Archbishop Richard Smith has blessed CSS offices and spoken on the role of Catholic charity in the Church. CSS facilitates private refugee sponsorship on behalf of the Archdiocese.
- Sign of Hope SocietycoreSign of Hope Society is the fundraising arm of Catholic Social Services. It funds 20+ CSS ministries including shelters, refugee services, elder abuse support, and youth programs. Founded approximately 60 years ago, Sign of Hope was the original funder of Safe House.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Catholic Social Services competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Boys & Girls Club Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton: Edmonton-area youth services non-profit focused on at-risk youth, mentorship, and safety — directly comparable to CSS's Safe House program in serving vulnerable youth populations.
- Bissell Centre: Edmonton-based non-profit serving people experiencing poverty and homelessness through shelter, housing, and community programs; a direct operational peer to CSS in core geographic market and service lines.
- Salvation Army Alberta: Faith-based non-profit with overlapping service lines including shelters, family services, addiction recovery, and newcomer support; comparable in scale, faith-rooted identity, and multi-program delivery model.
- Calgary Drop-In Centre: Major Alberta shelter and social services provider based in Calgary, directly comparable in shelter operations, outreach, and vulnerable-population service delivery to CSS's Edmonton programs such as Lurana Shelter and Care-A-Van.
- The Mustard Seed (Alberta): Faith-adjacent non-profit operating shelters, housing, and community support across Alberta, directly competing with CSS in emergency shelter, transitional housing, and outreach for unhoused populations.
- Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS): Catholic-affiliated newcomer settlement and refugee services agency in Alberta; near-identical mission and overlap with CSS's Immigration and Settlement Services division.
- Catholic Charities (Toronto): Sibling Catholic social services agency referenced in CSS's AI pilot collaboration; operates refugee settlement, housing, and seniors programs with the same Catholic-affiliated operating model, making it a near-direct peer in mission and structure.
Broad incumbents
- United Way Alberta Capital Region: Federated funding agency that both funds and operates regional social services in the same Edmonton geography; an incumbent competitor and partner for grant dollars alongside CSS.
- YMCA Northern Alberta: Large multi-service non-profit in Edmonton offering newcomer settlement, housing, and youth/family programming — broader in scope and secular in identity but competing for the same donor and government funding pools.
Regional players
- Carya (formerly Calgary Family Services): Calgary-based family and community support non-profit providing counselling, senior, and newcomer services — directly comparable in service portfolio but operating in the Calgary region rather than Edmonton's core footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Catholic Social Services social profiles
Digital presenceCatholic Social Services financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Catholic Social Services leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Catholic Social Services funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Catholic Social Services M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Catholic Social Services
What does Catholic Social Services do?
Catholic Social Services delivers a comprehensive continuum of social services free of charge to vulnerable populations across Alberta, including psychological counselling, emergency and transitional shelters for women and children fleeing domestic violence, refugee and immigrant settlement support (language assessment, employment, cultural integration), supportive housing, youth services, elder abuse response, and family and disability support. Sign of Hope Society serves as the fundraising and donor arm funding 20+ CSS ministries.
Is Catholic Social Services a public or private company?
Catholic Social Services is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Catholic Social Services founded?
Catholic Social Services was founded in 1966. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Catholic Social Services based?
Catholic Social Services is headquartered in Edmonton, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Catholic Social Services make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Charitable Donations (Sign of Hope) is the primary driver. The others are government Grants and Referrals and volunteer Services (In-kind).
Who are Catholic Social Services's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Boys & Girls Club Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton, Bissell Centre, Salvation Army Alberta, Calgary Drop-In Centre, The Mustard Seed (Alberta), Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) and Catholic Charities (Toronto). Broad incumbents are United Way Alberta Capital Region and YMCA Northern Alberta. Carya (formerly Calgary Family Services) is listed as a regional player.
Does Catholic Social Services have an API?
No public API is recorded for Catholic Social Services.
What industry is Catholic Social Services in?
Catholic Social Services's product category is Social and Human Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAJAG, Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling), with a secondary code of BPAGAEAD, Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services. Its NAICS code is 624 and its SIC code is 8300.