Catholic Social Services

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.

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

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

• Social services nonprofit
• Counselling and mental health
• Domestic violence shelters
• Refugee settlement services
• Affordable housing support

Headquarters

HQ city

Edmonton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Edmonton Fire Rescue ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026Edmonton 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 CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026CSS 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 EdmontoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Kickstand 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 OrtonaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026ArtsHub 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) TorontominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Both 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 EdmontoncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026The 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026LARCC 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 EdmontoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic 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 SocietycoreOthersSign 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/cssalberta
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1Y5eFCRD7MplCuW5tXjGSg
• Facebookfacebook.com/cssalberta
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/catholic-social-services-of-alberta
• Instagraminstagram.com/cssalberta

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Catholic Social Services