Action Lab Creates space to think and do differently - We help organizations & systems to tackle complex challenges through systemic design methods.

Action Lab is a social enterprise of Skills Society, a not-for-profit disability rights and service organization in Edmonton that has always been committed to innovation in supporting marginalized community members to find belonging and lead rich, inclusive lives.
Back in the mid 2000s leaders at Skills Society started to explore how to foster more creative thinking and innovation in human service systems. Emerging from these early explorations was a ‘think tank process’ that engaged creative problem solving and early human centered design thinking methodologies to help connect people with disabilities to meaningful roles in the community. After years of experimenting, iterating, and honing, this think tank process lays the foundation of Action Lab’s approach today. Finding success with the process in the disability sector (like MyCompass Planning that is now scaling across Canada), we started to get requests to help other sectors and systems to tackle complex challenges. Fast forward to today and our approach and work is now internationally recognized.

Space Rental
One of Edmonton’s most unique venues that can be rented for private events, workshops, meetings, and strategic planning.

Workshops & Social Innovation
Hire us to design and facilitate anything from a short workshop to a multi year innovation lab around a complex challenge

Capacity Building
We are learning from, contributing to, and growing the social innovation ecosystem in Edmonton and beyond.