Calgary's first halal food bank readies for launch

The need for food assistance comes as food insecurity continues to affect thousands of Calgarians, but one organization is hoping to address the needs of people looking for halal options.

The Calgary Halal Food Bank Foundation, officially launching on Aug. 29 at the Falconridge-Castleridge Community Association, will provide halal food to people experiencing dietary insecurity, regardless of their faith or background.

In 2024, about 24.9 per cent of Calgarians experienced some level of food insecurity, according to Vibrant Communities Calgary’s Wellbeing Dashboard.

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That figure was down from 31.7 per cent in 2023, although Calgary’s poverty rate increased to 11.1 per cent during the same period.

According to the Calgary Food Bank latest data from 2025, the demand for food has increased by 100 per cent since 2023 and 200 per cent since 2020.

While most people who access food banks are unemployed, there has been an increase in employed people seeking food assistance due to inconsistent work hours, insufficient wages, and lack of job security.

“You would be astounded to hear that 31 per cent of individuals belong to the working class, so it means the food insecurity did not only hit the unemployed, but to people who are already working,” said Amir Ali, vice-president of the Calgary Halal Food Bank Foundation.

Calgary is home to a large Muslim population, with about 100,000 people in the city identifying as Muslim in the 2021 census.

Halal refers to foods and practices that follow Islamic dietary rules, including avoiding pork and alcohol and preparing meat in a specific way.

For Muslims who follow halal dietary requirements, not all food available through food-support programs is suitable for them.

Samina Rao, founder and president of the Calgary Halal Food Bank Foundation, said the idea came from her own experience after moving to Canada in 2008.

She said she received food from the Calgary Food Bank while struggling financially, but much of the food was not halal and she had to return it.