News Release Office of the Mayor

August 24, 2020

Mayor Linda Buchanan celebrates new projects aimed at building community resiliency and strengthening connection

NORTH VANCOUVER – Mayor Linda Buchan convened the “Mayor’s Healthiest Small City Social Resiliency Collective” in June to respond to gaps in the community’s social infrastructure that has been illuminated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Collective has developed 5 “quick-start” actions that will strengthen community resiliency, particularly among different vulnerable populations. 

“All people in our community need to feel welcomed and included,” said Mayor Linda Buchanan. “The quick-starts developed by the Collective will be geared towards serving vulnerable and socially isolated people. These initiatives will facilitate new community connections as well as create a space for people to have their voices and stories heard.”

The “quick-starts” that are underway in the community are: 

1. COVID-19 Community Connection Mosaic: individual story-telling through images, organized into a community public art mosaic that explores residents’ experiences.
2. CityAlive: ‘pop-up’ performances to animate outdoor public spaces.
3. NorthVanStories: captures and shares digital stories to foster deeper, more meaningful connections between individuals and communities across the City. 
4. Hello Neighbour: a postcard campaign that encourages City of North Vancouver residents to connect with one another and ‘say hello.’
5. Expanding Technology Access: strengthens connection and reduces isolation by improving access for those with limited access to internet hardware and Wi-Fi.

“Through COVID-19 we have seen unprecedented levels of hope, spirit, civic engagement, and generosity. We have also seen the veil lifted on the many challenges cities face, including poverty, homelessness, food insecurity and social isolation. How we respond as a community is important,” added Mayor Buchanan.

Establishing the Mayor’s Healthiest Small City Social Resiliency Collective was aided by a total of $22,500 in grant funding awarded by the West Vancouver Foundation and North Vancouver Foundation for project facilitation and management.

The Collective is a shared leadership model that allows members to act together to achieve common goals for a healthy city. Members of the Collective represent leaders from non-profit service providers, faith communities, public health, community members, and the arts and culture sector.

-30-

Media Contact: Tamara Connor  Office of the Mayor City of North Vancouver tconnor@cnv.org  778-836-4330