Within the Alberta’s Societies Act, the Application document to Form a Society lists a number of purposes that can be selected to describe its purposes. Some of the purposes that are listed are similar to those which the courts have determined to be not charitable, while others are simply too vague and broad to clearly identify any recognized charitable aim.

The purposes listed in the Application to Form a Society are only examples or suggestions of purposes that an organization can use. An organization is not required to use any of them.

For these reasons, it is recommended that organizations formed in Alberta not use any of the listed purposes if they intend to apply for registration as a charity. Instead, the organization should provide a clear list of its own purposes in the application.