CHANGE A LIFE
According to new research released today by United Way British Columbia, almost half (46%) of British Columbians say they sometimes feel lonely – but there is an upside. The same poll also found that giving back as part of a group, whether you donate time or money, makes us feel better than doing it alone.
Who doesn’t love a block party? They’re fun, simple, inexpensive, and a great way to get to know your neighbours! That’s precisely why residents of the Clayton Heights neighbourhood in Surrey took to the streets this weekend, for the area’s first Block Party Day. The more the merrier What helped make this weekend such a
Have you ever heard of “community care?” Earlier this year, an article on Mashable.com made waves among progressive do-gooders and community builders. In it, author Heather Dockray makes the provocative case that when trying to overcome burnout, relying on self-care may not be as helpful as it seems. She advocates for community care instead. What is community
Every business owner wants their company to become a pillar of the community. Lower Lonsdale entrepreneurs Anroe and Nicole Aserson, owners of O’Canadawg hot dog stands, are a great example. Community building through cleaning up Littering was becoming a growing problem in their neighbourhood, and Anroe and Nicole wanted to help. Along with a fellow
The beginning of a new season can mean many things: a fresh start, a time to reassess, and for many, a chance to try something new. It’s also often a time when individuals prioritize mental and physical well-being, with many signing up for gym memberships and meditation classes. The great news? Getting involved in your
Sometimes, it’s our earliest memories that stick. Experiences from childhood can shape our understanding of community. They can establish strong connections to our heritage and culture, and they can inspire us to help build beautiful, safe spaces for others. For Edmund Ma, the time he spent with his maternal and paternal grandparents as a young
January can be a hard time of the year. While the days are slowly getting lighter, the pink cherry blossoms of spring are still far away, and depending on the weather, the sun can set before 5 o’clock in the afternoon. This makes it hard – as both a family and an individual – to
Millennials these day get a bad rap. Like many younger generations before them, they’re often unfairly lumped together and stereotyped. But you don’t have to go far to find countless examples of millennials who are passionate about bettering our community, and who work every day to build better, safer and more empowered spaces for us
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
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
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
Today is Orange Shirt Day. Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake, BC, Canada, in the spring of 2013. It grew out of Phyllis' story of having her shiny new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school at the