From Isolated Residents to Engaged Neighbours
Local Governments Can Both Support and Benefit from Connect & Prepare
In a crisis or emergency, neighbours are often the true ‘first responders’—they’re the nearest people to each other. That’s why local governments are finding that Connect & Prepare plays a complementary role in their own efforts to help improve community preparedness and resilience.
100% of participating partners connected to populations they wanted to reach, and expanded the reach of their services or programs.1
Tayna Patterson, VictoriaReady, City of Victoria
“Connect & Prepare has been “Connect & Prepare has been a very successful program… We were fortunate to be able to extend our own capacity and effectiveness in reaching residents by partnering with a non-governmental organization that brought complementary skills to the table” very successful program,”
Connect & Prepare is a series of workshops developed by Building Resilient Neighbourhoods (BRN) that brings neighbours together to learn about the value of social connections for strengthening preparedness and long-term resilience, and to collaborate on shared projects.
During 2022-23, municipal governments in Vancouver, North Vancouver, and New Westminster co-sponsored a “scaling pilot” of Connect & Prepare with nonprofit delivery partners in their communities. The involvement of local government planning, sustainability, and emergency preparedness departments helped significantly enhance the impacts of the program, while also benefiting local governments by supporting expanded outreach to residents—especially to those who are more vulnerable or isolated.
“It included everything and anything that you can think of that people need to be concerned about while living in a multi-family building,” said Julie. “The general message was, ‘If you’re safer, we’re all safer.’”
Caitlyn Swail, Connect & Prepare Facilitator, North Shore Community Resources
“…many of the most vulnerable are missing out because they’re unable to leave their building. Connect & Prepare allows the centre to come to them, and there are huge benefits in that.”
Extending government outreach
“Throughout the pandemic, many seniors experienced social isolation and weren’t accessing community resources,” said Kendra Taylor, a City of North Vancouver planner. “The need for a wider array of social connections and more proactive approach to emergency preparedness became very clear.” The City funded and partnered with North Shore Community Resources (NSCR), Silver Harbor Centre, and Lionsview Seniors’ Planning to deliver Connect & Prepare.
“A lot of the work NSCR does is with seniors who have mobility and are active in the community—people who come to our centre,” said Connect & Prepare facilitator Caitlyn Swail from NSCR. “But many of the most vulnerable are missing out because they’re unable to leave their building. Connect & Prepare allows the centre to come to them, and there are huge benefits in that.”
Enhanced engagement with government services
Program participants also became more connected to government and community services—through the workshops, residents learned about opportunities like city grants, library book delivery, digital inclusion supports, and meal programs.
“Connect & Prepare provides an opportunity for the City to connect directly with residents, learn more about their concerns and challenges, and share important emergency information and resources,” said Leila Darwish of the City of Vancouver Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction Department.
Swail invited a fire department representative to run a “virtual fire extinguisher” activity in one building—involving an iPad attached to an actual fire extinguisher. “It was like an attraction at a fair; people were lining up to use it,” said Swail. The game also ignited social connections. “It broke the ice and brought the neighbours together. People stayed, chatted. Kids loved it, older people loved it. It made emergency preparedness fun.” Using a small grant from the City, the neighbour-group then purchased starter emergency kits for everyone in the building.
Anur Mehdic, Social Planner, City of New Westminster
“The Connect & Prepare program can increase resilience in powerful ways.”
Social Planner Anur Mehdic said the City of New Westminster’s partnership on Connect & Prepare with Seniors Services Society of BC (SSSBC) successfully leveraged SSSBC’s existing relationships in the community to help foster preparedness among isolated, harder-to-reach residents.
And there was a spin-off benefit, says Mehdic. After participating in Connect & Prepare, several residents came to City Hall to participate in discussions about safety and resiliency in multi-unit buildings, and they provided insights that helped guide government changes. “This directly helped improve the quality of life for these tenants and their neighbours,” says Mehdic. “The Connect & Prepare program can increase resilience in powerful ways.”
Enhanced engagement with government services
Governments also found that Connect & Prepare resources can be helpful for their own engagement efforts. For example, the City of New Westminster incorporated some of the program’s messaging into the City’s heat-safety public education campaigns, and promoted the Connect & Prepare guide Prepare Together for Extreme Heat to their residents.
100% of participating partners agreed that they have new or stronger relationships that will continue as a result of working with others in this pilot.2
“We’re focused on a community outreach approach where neighbours are helping neighbours—not just during heat events but for any emergency,” said New Westminster Emergency Management Coordinator Cory Hansen. “By educating residents on how to be better prepared, we can increase community resiliency. And the Connect & Prepare guides are an excellent resource to support that.”
