What is community resilience?
Community Resilience is about strengthening our community’s response and adaptation to big changes and deep challenges. We create a stronger, more connected community where everyone’s basic needs are met, balanced with the planet’s needs. Building a greater sense of connection to the people and places where we live is important as we recognize and celebrate our interdependence and grow “local self-reliance.”
In resilient communities, people are more connected and better prepared to respond and adapt together to challenges such as a changing climate, social isolation, and other emergencies and stressors.
Building Resilient Neighbourhoods (BRN) has been working since 2012 to foster community resilience among neighbours across British Columbia. In collaboration with residents and a diverse range of partner organizations, we provide tools, training and support for strengthening connections and collective action among neighbours as a key foundation for growing community resilience.
BRN’s approach
Neighbour-to-Neighbour programs
BRN’s “Neighbour-to-Neighbour” (N2N) programs focus on strengthening social connections between neighbours as an essential pathway to enhance individual and shared resilience, and to contribute to the resilience of the broader community. Our three N2N program streams – Connect, Prepare, Help – all bring a common assets-based approach to facilitating and supporting resident engagement, capacity and leadership.
Connect & Prepare
Strengthen shared emergency preparedness through connections with neighbours.
Neighbours Helping Neighbours
Foster a culture where neighbours actively help and look out for each other.
Resilient Streets
Connect with neighbours where you live.
Feature news and stories
The latest news and stories of impacts.
“Let’s Talk Housing” BC Housing episode
Since 2023, BRN has been collaborating with BC Housing to strengthen Tenant Resilience and support creating more prepared and connected communities at BC Housing sites. Through the delivery of BRN’s…Connect & Prepare “Should be in every building!”
Collaborating on emergency preparedness fosters residents’ collective resilience—and lived experiences of disabilities can be valuable assets in the process. This is one of the key takeaways from a unique collaboration in Vancouver, British Columbia that resulted in many resident-participants—and also staff at the organizations involved—feeling inspired and transformed.Job posting: Facilitator of Programs & Partnerships
BRN is hiring a Facilitator of Programs & Partnerships. The ideal candidate is a flexible, adaptive, creative self-starter who also thrives working collaboratively with our team and a diverse range of community members and partners.
Feature resources
From ideas to action — get the tools and resources you need.
Be prepared for extreme heat and wildfire smoke – a collection of resources
Building Resilient Neighbourhoods and Hey Neighbour Collective have curated a list of resources, tools, and guides from BC and Canadian sources to prepare for extreme heat and wildfires (updated 2024).Prepare together for extreme heat guide
Are you and your neighbours safely connected and prepared for extreme heat? Try out our new neighbour-to-neighbour guide.Resilient Streets Local Resources Victoria
A roundup of resources from Victoria, including grants, emergency preparedness and community safety, placemaking, public art, gardens, and more!
