CHANGE A LIFE
Thinking about fun ways to spend time with your friends and family over the upcoming long weekend? You already know the usual suspects: barbecues, beach days, woodland hikes and evening sunsets. But what about instead trying something truly unique? We’ve got the answer. This weekend, start your Acts of Local Love 31-day challenge! What is
Tracy Green is a civic-minded Bugs Bunny. She likes to know “what’s up?” in her community and she wants to know how she can give back. A long-time resident of the Tri-Cities, she currently calls Port Moody home, along with her husband Chaz and two children, Ella and Lucas. The diverse and unique character of
Sorriso. Osmijeh. ابْتِسَامَة. Glimlach. Ngiti. 微笑. Leende. ยิ้ม. Sourire. Any way you write it, it means the same thing: Smile. For Abbotsford resident Kathryn, it’s also the fastest way to get to know someone. “A smile is an immediate social interaction,” she says. “When I smile at someone, they will smile right back at me.
Do you believe in a world where everyone is proud of who they are? Where leaders encourage, empower and take action with others? Do you believe in the power of community? Every day, 15-year-old River helps build this reality for his classmates, his teammates, his family and his friends. A grade 10 student at Frank
How do you define the word ‘community’? For some, it may be the street on which they live; for others, it’s the people, programs and businesses that make up their city. For many, a community is made up of the people that they work with every day. After all, we spend more than 90,000 hours
For over 20 years, Linda Pringle has called a cozy Coquitlam neighbourhood, her home. “I love living here,” she says of Westwood Plateau, on the border of Burke Mountain. “You feel like you can get away from the city, even though you’re just five minutes up the street. We’re a friendly, multicultural community. Every day
It’s one of our most favourite times of the year: National Volunteer Week! We’re proud and excited to celebrate the 12.7 million volunteers (nearly 1 in 3 Canadians!) who give back their time, leadership, expertise and passion to build strong, connected and vibrant communities. In B.C. alone, every year 1.5 million volunteers contribute 114 million
Leadership comes in many styles. Leaders can be creative visionaries, supportive facilitators or clear-sighted commanders. But the most powerful legacy a leader can make is developing the capacity for leadership in others. For the past four years the United Way British Columbia has partnered with Dr. Steve Patty and Dialogues in Action to offer a
There are many things that make a community great, including accessible healthcare, inclusive transit systems and shared green spaces, just to name a few. Here’s one that may not spring to mind: art. Arts and arts organizations are integral to building strong connections in our community. Storytelling, art exhibits, musical performances and community gatherings are
Recently, we hit the streets to find out what we can do to make our communities better for everyone. The overwhelming response? Take care of each other and the spaces we call home. The Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley are homes to incredible natural beauty and it’s important that we work hard to keep it
A mountain range of menstrual products was on display at United Way’s head office March 20, the culmination of United Way’s 2nd annual Tampon Tuesday campaign. After tallying each tampon, disposable pad, reusable pad, menstrual cup and pair of menstrual underwear, the total amount of individual products donated surpasses 220,000, with many more still rolling
This past year, over 500 organizations and unions came together to support United Way and spark positive change in communities across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, impacting over 400,000 lives in the region! This amazing work wouldn’t happen without a high degree of local commitment and love for community, and for that we thank
Ask any local business owner or entrepreneur and they’ll agree: if you want to succeed and grow your business, offering the best product just isn’t good enough. Your business itself has to be good, too; good for your customers, for your employees, and for your community at large. In short, you need a Social Purpose.
We couldn’t do it without you! This year United Way will invest over $31 million to transform local lives, thanks largely to our community champions and their inspiring 2017 workplace campaigns. These funds connect over 400,000 vulnerable people across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley to vital community supports like United Way after-school programs and seniors’
The most important part of our community is love. And no surprise either – a community is a lot like love! It comes it all shapes and sizes. It isn’t defined by age or experience. It blooms through diversity and inclusivity. It thrives when reciprocated and supported. It has the power to change the world.
It’s for you. There’s a feeling you get when your plane touches down at YVR. That indescribable sensation that comes from somewhere deep inside. It’s the physical manifestation of the feeling, “I’m home.” I knew that feeling even before I lived here. It was some 30 years ago when I first travelled to this amazing
Nubia is the mother to two beautiful children – Kenneth who is eleven months, and Mikaela who is almost three. Originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil, North Vancouver has been her home for the past six years. The biggest difference between the North Shore and her home city? “It’s much smaller,” she laughs. “But there are
Diversity, inclusion, celebration, love – these are the elements that define our communities and neighbourhoods. They make our cities vibrant and beautiful. They provide strength to us all, no matter our age, gender, ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual orientation, or ability. This Family Day, however you define your family, you too can be a champion of
The bright green bookshelves are filled with new books. The walls are painted with palm trees, fluffy clouds and blue skies. Colourful comfy chairs await kids.The United Way Reading Oasis is ready for kids to have fun and learn! A gift from an anonymous United Way donor and a partnership with New Westminster School District