HelpSeeker Technologies

HelpSeeker Technologies is a Canadian software company that was founded in 2018 and awarded $2.5 million from the Government of Canada in 2021.

HelpSeeker Technologies
IndustrySoftware
Founded2018
Headquarters
Calgary
Key people
Alina Turner
Travis Turner
Websitewww.helpseeker.co

Organization and history

HelpSeeker 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

The 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
  1. Denis, Jen St (2022-11-09). "'Copaganda': Critics Challenge Police Report on Social Spending". The Tyee. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
  2. Stephenson, Amanda (12 Feb 2021). "Calgary social services tech startup gets $2.5 million from Ottawa to scale up". calgaryherald. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
  3. Valleau, Natalie (12 Feb 2021). "Calgary company receives $2.5M in federal funding for social services app". CBC.
  4. Larsen, Karin (8 Nov 2022). "Vancouver police call for centralized body to co-ordinate services on the Downtown Eastside". CBC.
  5. "Le maire de Vancouver juge peu utile le rapport de la police sur le filet social". Radio Canada. 10 Nov 2022.
  6. 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.
  7. Social Impact Audit, Edmonton Police, June 2022
  8. "Community service providers unhappy with police-commissioned report on reimagined public safety model". ottawacitizen. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
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