Study examines ‘Halo Effect’: religious congregations’ impact on community
Posted Jun 1, 2017 7:27 am.
Last Updated Jun 1, 2017 10:10 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Religious congregations are worth about $2.2-billion in Calgary a year, in social good.
A new report looks at what it calls “the Halo Effect”, and how churches, mosques and synagogues can be an invaluable asset to the community.
Milton Friesen, with Cardus, looked at 5,000 urban centres across Canada and the different congregations in their various neighbourhoods.
“Things like, you know, the value of open space, the direct spending of the organizations, their educational programs, the things that they invest in terms of bringing people together, offering counselling services,” he said.
“And the ways in which those kinds of services, if they disappeared, and the city or someone else had to put them back, what would it cost the city to do that?”
Friesen said the study intends to raise awareness that these types of organizations are critical to a thriving city.
“Regardless of our own individual religious beliefs, or no religious beliefs, these are important catalysts to helping communities function at their fullest,” he said.
Canadians can figure out what “the Halo Effect” in their community, by using Cardus’ online calculator.
