Time for a Change Campaign
PSA: September 25th, 2025.
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Can Man Dan's "Time for a Change" Campaign Gaining Steam
Edmonton - On April 1st, 2025, a frustrated Can Man Dan launched his "Time for a Change" campaign via a press conference at a local soup kitchen in hopes of starting a very serious conversation regarding homelessness in Edmonton. Johnstone, who was demanding both accountability and systemic change from current political leaders, invited sitting politicians and political hopefuls from both sides of the proverbial aisle forward to begin a difficult conversation concerning the harsh realities of homelessness in Edmonton.
And now, in hopes of creating fast-moving and long-term change for Edmonton's most vulnerable, Can Man Dan has been pushing Edmonton City Council and those seeking a chair at City Hall to step up and address the looming problem once and for all by taking a public pledge.
Watch: Time for a Change Launch
The Time for a Change Campaign was made up of three parts or phases, and would span a total of seven months, targeting both the public and private sectors alike.
The three-part plan was made up of the following steps:
1. "Blowing the Whistle" and raising awareness about homelessness in Edmonton
2. Hosting a 12-week workshop/open house at the Refuge Mission Hall (a local homeless shelter) from June to September 2025
3. Challenging Edmonton City Council candidates to include the following in their platforms by making a public pledge to:
- Reinstate the 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness
- Aid frontline workers and service providers
- Help save lives by investing in affordable housing projects and emergency shelter spaces
As Edmonton's municipal election looms, Can Man Dan has been meeting with the top mayoral candidates of the political race in hopes of shedding some much needed light on homelessness in Edmonton and the accompanying housing/shelter crisis that the city is facing. Along with those vying to be mayor, Dan has also been taking the time to meet with other city council hopefuls, including current city councillors and those hoping to be elected to the position. While he has been let down in the past, Johnstone remains optimistic and hopes that his efforts to "unite Edmonton's current and future city council on the issue" will not be in vain, and that those taking the public pledge will hold up their end of the bargain.
“I think I speak for everyone when I say that Edmonton is done with seeing our streets in turmoil and in complete disarray,” said Johnstone. “We have over 5000 homeless people living on our streets, shelters are either over capacity or closing down for good, and the problems are only getting worse, which means that more people are going to die. Whether they die from an overdose, extreme cold, violence, illness, or hunger, I believe that a majority of these deaths are completely preventable and are to be viewed as signs of a broken and unethical system.”
As of September 30th, 2025, the following candidates have taken Can Man Dan's pledge for change:
City of Edmonton Mayoral Race
Councillor Andrew Knack
Dr. Omar Mohammad
Tony Caterina
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Jon Morgan
Councillor Jennifer Rice
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Giselle General
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Jackie Liu
