February 11, 2026 | Alberta

In Alberta, Community Service Workers are front-line professionals. They work directly with people facing addiction challenges, housing instability, mental health barriers, social isolation, and settlement difficulties. 

They are not clinical therapists or registered social workers. Instead, they provide structured support, guidance, and community resource coordination in real-world settings. 

In Alberta’s two largest cities, Calgary and Edmonton, the local population shapes what this role looks like in practice. Let’s explore what you can realistically expect. 

What Is a Community Service Worker? 

A Community Service Worker supports individuals and families by helping them access community programs and social services. 

Typical responsibilities include: 

• Conducting client intake interviews 
• Connecting clients to housing and income supports 
• Assisting individuals accessing addiction recovery services 
• Providing referrals to mental health or social programs 
• Supporting seniors with benefit navigation 
• Helping newcomers connect with community resources 
• Documenting interactions and maintaining case notes 
• Working as part of a support team within an agency 

This is structured, client-facing work. You are often the first point of contact in a community organization. 

Bonus Read: What Is a Community Service Worker? 

Community Service Work in Calgary 

Calgary has over 1.3 million residents. Its growing senior population, large immigrant community, and ongoing housing challenges influence where Community Service Workers are employed. 

Addictions and Housing Support 

Calgary has several large nonprofit organizations focused on addiction recovery and homelessness support; 

In entry-level roles, Community Service Workers may: 

• Support shelter operations 
• Conduct intake assessments 
• Connect clients to detox or treatment programs 
• Assist with housing applications 
• Provide structured daily support in residential programs 
• Maintain documentation 

These roles are highly aligned with addictions and community services training because they focus on direct client support and recovery-oriented environments. 

Senior Services 

Approximately 14 percent of Calgary’s population is over 65. 

Organizations such as seniors centres and outreach programs employ Community Service Workers to: 

• Assist seniors with benefit applications 
• Provide information about community programs 
• Coordinate group activities 
• Connect older adults with support services 

This work focuses on community navigation and structured support — not medical care or clinical case management. 

Settlement and Integration Support 

With about one-third of Calgary residents being immigrants or non-permanent residents, settlement agencies play a major role. 

Community Service Workers in these agencies may: 

• Provide information about language classes 
• Assist with referrals to employment programs 
• Help clients understand local systems 
• Connect families to community resources 

These are support-based roles, not immigration consulting or legal advising. 

Community Service Work in Edmonton 

Edmonton, Alberta’s capital, has over 1 million residents and a strong network of inner-city service organizations. 

Outreach and Shelter Support 

Organizations such as Boyle Street Community Services. 

Employ Community Service Workers in roles such as: 

• Shelter Support Worker 
• Outreach Support Worker 
• Housing Support Worker 
• Case Aide 

Daily tasks may include: 

• Supporting individuals experiencing housing instability 
• Connecting clients to addiction treatment services 
• Assisting with referrals to mental health programs 
• Providing structured daily support in shelter environments 
• Documenting client interactions 

These are front-line, non-regulated support roles. 

Indigenous Community-Based Services 

Edmonton has one of the largest urban Indigenous populations in Canada. 

Community organizations offer culturally informed support services. Entry-level Community Service Workers may: 

• Assist with program coordination 
• Support community events 
• Help clients access social resources 
• Provide structured support within community programs 

These roles require cultural awareness and professionalism but do not involve clinical practice. 

Senior and Settlement Services 

Like Calgary, Edmonton has: 

• Senior outreach programs 
• Settlement agencies 
• Community-based family support services 

Community Service Workers assist with: 

• Information and referral services 
• Resource navigation 
• Program facilitation 
• Client documentation 

What Your Work Environment Might Look Like 

Depending on your role, you could work in: 

• Nonprofit agencies 
• Government-funded programs 
• Shelters 
• Community health centres 
• Schools 
• Seniors centres 
• Addiction treatment facilities 
• Outreach teams 

Some roles are office-based. Others are community-based or mobile. Some shifts are daytime. Others may include evenings or weekends. 

What This Career Is — and Is Not 

Community Service Work in Alberta is: 

• Direct 
• Structured 
• Client-focused 
• Team-based 
• Community-centered 

It is not: 

• Clinical psychotherapy 
• Registered social work practice 
• Independent counselling practice 
• Medical care 

It is front-line support within nonprofit and community agencies.  

What Skills Do You Actually Use 

Across both cities, Community Service Workers rely on: 

• Communication and active listening 
• Case documentation and reporting 
• Crisis response skills 
• Cultural awareness 
• Team collaboration 
• Professional boundaries 
• Resource coordination 

You are not just “being kind.” You are working within structured systems that require accountability and professionalism. 

How Education Aligns with These Roles 

To step into these positions, employers expect foundational knowledge in: 

• Addiction fundamentals 
• Mental health awareness 
• Professional communication 
• Documentation practices 
• Ethical boundaries 
• Community resource systems 

The Addictions and Community Services Worker Diploma at CDI College in Alberta is designed specifically for these types of entry-level roles. 

The program focuses on: 

• Addiction theory and recovery models 
• Client support strategies 
• Community resource coordination 
• Professional ethics 
• Documentation and reporting 
• Working with vulnerable populations 

A required practicum placement allows students to gain supervised experience within a community agency before graduation. This is critical because many employers value hands-on experience in real service environments. 

Also, students earn the three external certificates bundled into the program, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NVCI), First Aid, and CPR-C certifications to add to their professional credentials for future career success. 

The diploma prepares graduates to begin working directly with people in community settings, particularly in addictions recovery, shelter environments, outreach programs, and social support agencies. It does not prepare students for regulated clinical or licensed social work roles. 

Bonus Read: How to Become a Community Service and Additions Worker in Alberta?

Final Thoughts 

Community Service Workers provide structured, practical support to individuals navigating addiction, housing instability, settlement challenges, or social barriers. 

In Calgary, that may mean working in a shelter, recovery program, seniors centre, or settlement agency. In Edmonton, it may involve outreach, housing support, Indigenous community programming, or addictions recovery environments. 

If your goal is to begin working directly with people in community settings, especially in addictions and social support environments, pursuing comprehensive training such as the CDI College Addictions and Community Services Worker diploma program aligns with that pathway. It is designed to prepare you for front-line roles where you can step into Alberta’s communities and begin making a practical, meaningful impact.