HelpSeeker Technologies is a Canadian software company that was founded in 2018 and awarded $2.5 million from the Government of Canada in 2021.
 | |
| Industry | Software |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2018 |
| Headquarters | |
Key people | Alina Turner Travis Turner |
| Website | www |
Organization and history
editHelpSeeker is based in Calgary, Alberta.[1] It was founded in 2018 by Alina Turner and Travis Turner who are married.[2]
The company was given $2.5 million by the Government of Canada in 2021.[3]
Activities
editThe company sells digital products that assist clients to understand social services around them.[2]
Vancouver Police Department commissioned HelpSeeker to analyse spending on social services in Vancouver during 2018 and 2019.[1][4] HelpSeeker charged the police $149,000 for the work.[4] Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim was critical of HelpSeekers analysis, stating "It is difficult to trace the source of the figures given in this report."[5] Mike Farnworth, Canada's Minister of Public Safety was also critical of the analysis, calling it "sensationalized" and "misleading".[5]
Edmonton Police Service commissioned HelpSeeker to produce a report called Money in the System.[6][7] Ottawa Police Service engaged HelpSeeker in 2021 to provide a "Social Impact Audit."[8]
References
edit- ^ a b Denis, Jen St (2022-11-09). "'Copaganda': Critics Challenge Police Report on Social Spending". The Tyee. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
- ^ a b Stephenson, Amanda (12 Feb 2021). "Calgary social services tech startup gets $2.5 million from Ottawa to scale up". calgaryherald. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
- ^ Valleau, Natalie (12 Feb 2021). "Calgary company receives $2.5M in federal funding for social services app". CBC.
- ^ a b Larsen, Karin (8 Nov 2022). "Vancouver police call for centralized body to co-ordinate services on the Downtown Eastside". CBC.
- ^ a b "Le maire de Vancouver juge peu utile le rapport de la police sur le filet social". Radio Canada. 10 Nov 2022.
- ^ Johal, Rumeek; Magusiak, Stephen (2022-11-17). "Police Across Canada Are Hiring a Tech Company to Justify Bigger Budgets and Belittle Social Services". PressProgress. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
- ^ Social Impact Audit, Edmonton Police, June 2022
- ^ "Community service providers unhappy with police-commissioned report on reimagined public safety model". ottawacitizen. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
External links
edit- Money in the System (report), Edmonton Police Service