A connected community is a healthy community.
Strong connections increase our mental, physical and emotional well-being. They positively impact our quality of life and increase our overall happiness and satisfaction.
But what works in one community may not in another. Every neighbourhood is unique, and everyone – from individual citizens to companies operating in the area – have different contributions to make, so it’s important for all to be involved.
This is one of the reasons that Neptune Terminals is passionate about giving back to the Lower Lonsdale community in North Vancouver.
Giving back at home
Lisa with UWBC’s Seymour the Sea Otter at a Neptune fundraising event
“North Vancouver is our home,” says Lisa Dooling, Director of Community and Stakeholder Engagement. “Without exception, everyone who works at Neptune wants to contribute to making it a stronger and healthier place for people who live and work here.”
Neptune is a marine shipping terminal that has operated on the North Shore for 50 years. The company handles exports of Canadian steelmaking coal and potash bound for markets all over the world.
For many Neptune employees, Lower Lonsdale and the surrounding neighbourhoods of the North Shore isn’t just where they work; it’s also their home.
“We take great pride in being able to contribute economically and socially to the community, as well as operating responsibly and protecting the local environment,” says Lisa. “Being a good neighbour is one of our values, and we live by it in the way we operate and the decisions we make every day.”
This includes the launch of the North Shore Community Project, a unique place-based initiative developed in partnership with United Way, aimed at addressing unignorable social issues in the Lower Lonsdale neighbourhood. Neptune has generously donated $50,000 to fund this work, through to 2019.
Addressing the local need
According to the latest research, isolation and vulnerability are challenges facing residents of the North Shore.
- 39% of young children in the Lower Lonsdale area are vulnerable and not ready for school.
- This vulnerability rate surpasses the provincial average of 32%, with high rates of vulnerability impacting a child’s ability to succeed in school.
- 34% percent of North Vancouver residents also report they don’t feel a strong sense of belonging in their community.
- 56% of local residents say they have fewer than four or more people they can confide in.
These are just some of many reasons why Neptune and United Way are developing a truly community-led project in Lower Lonsdale, hoping to empower local residents to be a part of truly home-grown solutions.
Working together to create solutions
Working collaboratively with the City and District of North Vancouver, existing community organizations and local businesses, the North Shore Community Project will develop neighbourhood-specific strategies to build and strengthen connectedness in the Lower Lonsdale community, while addressing isolation and vulnerability among residents.
United Way staff Ryley and Ivy at a Local Love event at Fun Alley in North Vancouver.
“We can’t truly be a healthy community if any one of us is vulnerable,” says Lisa. “There are many fantastic non-profit groups offering services, and many caring people and companies on the North Shore. We need to create opportunities for people to feel connected and engaged, including helping them access the supports they need to thrive.”
At a recent event in Fun Alley, residents were eager to share what they love about their community, as well as ideas on how to make it even better.
“We heard from a single mom rallying parents to create an after-school program, several dog park and community garden enthusiasts, and many people eager to help seniors feel less isolated,” says Ivy Staker, Community Engagement Specialist at United Way. “We are incredibly excited to help community members bring some of these ideas to life.”
A strong partnership
For Neptune, working on the project with United Way is a perfect fit.
“United Way has the research to identify the real issues on a community-by-community basis,” says Lisa. “It has the knowledge and connections to create solutions and the ability to measure impact to determine what is working.”
A United Way banner hangs at Neptune Terminals during a past fundraising campaign
Lisa believes the project’s collaborative approach to community is what makes it truly distinct.
“We each have something unique to contribute. Whether that be local government and school boards, First Nations, non-profit organizations or businesses. We’re all focused on the same thing.”
Local love in action
Lisa herself is a resident of North Vancouver and she looks forward to taking part in the project.
“I love this place and feel connected to the people and groups who make it what it is,” she says. “It is rewarding to feel we can contribute to making life a little easier for people. We can foster that same sense of connectedness for others and keep North Vancouver the wonderful place it is.”
Neptune’s commitment to connected communities makes for great team-building – both inside and outside the company.
“It means sharing what we have to offer as a company and as people who live and work here in this community to help others thrive.”
This is local love in action.
Live on the North Shore? Love your community? Learn more about the Lower Lonsdale Community Project here.