Good Neighbour Kitsilano is based on three pillars: Connect, Care and Prepare. It aims to connect neighbours, build networks of care and support, and prepare for emergencies with your neighbours on a city block/apartment building/apartment floor. We have developed and curated an array of resources to make connecting easier!
The tools and resources here are meant to be used freely, adapted generously, and taken into your own hands. Use what’s here, make it your own, and let neighbourliness do the rest.
Connect Resources
Connecting with your neighbours is crucial for fostering a sense of community and enhancing overall well-being. Building strong relationships with those who live nearby creates a support network that can be invaluable in times of need, such as during emergencies or personal difficulties. It also contributes to a safer neighbourhood, as neighbours who know each other are more likely to look out for one another and report suspicious activities. Additionally, forming bonds with neighbours can lead to a more enjoyable and fulfilling living environment, with opportunities for social interactions, shared activities, and collaborative problem-solving. This sense of belonging and mutual support not only enhances individual happiness but also strengthens the social fabric of the community, making it a more resilient and cohesive place to live. However, neighbourly connections do not happen by accident. Explore ideas below on how you can help connect your neighbours!
Good Neighbour Poster
Post a Good Neighbour poster in your building lobby or in a central location on your city block to introduce yourself and let your neighbours know about the initiative.
Conversation Board
Easy way to encourage interaction among neighbors. Place a white board in the lobby of your building/central location on your city block, and write a prompting question for neighbours to answer.
Friendlevator
Avoid the long awkward silence when sharing an elevator with a neighbour! Use Friendlevator prompts to start the conversation and get to know your neighbours!
Boulevard Garden
The boulevard is the area between the street curb and the sidewalk that is typically planted with grass. Vancouver residents are encouraged to transform the boulevard adjacent to their home into well-designed and maintained gardens. Creating a boulevard garden is a great way to get to know your neighbours and build community! Good Neighbour can help you get started by pairing you with a local volunteer who has created many boulevard gardens, including a streetside community herb garden that is shared with neighbourhood residents.
Holiday Cookies
It all started with the cookies! One Holiday season, Ksenia decided to reinstate her childhood tradition, to share Holiday treats with the neighbours. She baked cookies, attached a hand-written card and knocked on neighbours’ doors, spreading Holiday joy and cheer! Everyone who opened the door was a bit cautious at first, then surprised, but then softened and was genuinely touched! It has now become an annual Holiday tradition that spread to other buildings and blocks!
Neighbourly Social
Invite neighbours to a Neighbourly Social hosted in the common area of your building/block.
Community Potluck
No common area to gather with your neighbours? No problem! Invite your neighbours to join you at the Community Potluck, hosted monthly at Kitsilano Neighbourhood House (2305 West 7th Ave at Vine) on third Wednesday, 6:00pm-8:00pm at Kitsilano Neighbourhood House. Everyone is invited to bring a dish to share (homemade preferred) and meet their neighbours!
Care Resources
Neighbourly care, mutual aid or networks of support allow neighbours to rely on each other for help with everyday tasks, such as borrowing tools, sharing resources, or taking care of pets. In times of crisis, such as natural disasters or personal emergencies, having a strong support network can be life-saving, offering immediate assistance and emotional support. Additionally, these networks foster a sense of belonging and interconnectedness, which can reduce feelings of isolation and enhance mental well-being. By building these supportive relationships, communities become stronger, more cohesive, and better equipped to face challenges collectively, leading to a higher quality of life for all residents. Explore ideas below on how you can help create networks of care and support among your neighbours!
Welcome Wagon
Welcome Wagon is a resource list (printed or digital format) of the essential and helpful community resources shared with those new to the neighbourhood. These resources include social services, local businesses, events and groups, useful links. It is a great way to extend a warm and genuine welcome to new members of our community, fostering connections and creating a sense of belonging from the moment they arrive.
Helping Hands
A mutual support system that recruits neighbours as volunteers willing to provide help with simple tasks to their neighbours, as well as neighbours needing help, e.g. pick up groceries, dog walking, plant sitting, small repairs.
Block Connector Cards
Distribute Block Connector cards to your neighbours to gather their contact information, as well as to learn more about their skills and needs and ideas on how they want to connect with their neighbours and get involved.
Prepare Resources
In an emergency, your first responder is not your first responder – it is your neighbour! While preparing individually is important, collaborative emergency planning enhances overall safety by pooling resources, skills, and information, creating a robust support system that individual households might lack. Neighbours who are familiar with each other’s needs, vulnerabilities, and strengths can coordinate efforts more efficiently, whether it’s sharing essential supplies, providing first aid, or offering shelter. This collective readiness fosters a sense of community resilience, where everyone knows their role and can act quickly to protect lives and property. Moreover, preparing with neighbours builds trust and a proactive mindset, reducing panic and confusion when an actual emergency occurs. By working together, communities can mitigate the impact of disasters, ensuring that everyone is better prepared to face unexpected challenges.
Grab and Go Bag Checklist
A Grab&Go Bag is a small emergency kit that’s easy to take with you, in case you need to leave right away during an emergency event, and is the first step in your emergency preparedness plan!
Good Neighbour volunteers curated the checklist below that contains the essential items you should include in your Grab&Go Bag!
Co-Create an Emergency Plan with Your Neighbours
Co-develop an emergency plan with your neighbours that outlines roles and responsibilities, communication channels, and resources available within the block/building, utilizing guides from PreparedBC, United Way BC, Map Your Neighbourhood or Building Resilient Neighbourhoods: Connect and Prepare.
Good Neighbour Kitsilano 