Partner Highlight: How Build Canada Homes can go beyond affordability
In September, the federal government announced the Build Canada Homes program, a national initiative to “build affordable housing at scale…
‘Age-Friendly Edition’ of the Building Social Connections toolkit
Homes can be designed to support wellbeing at all ages and life stages. Happy Cities and Hey Neighbour Collective recently…
Triathlon of Compassion 2025
When I participated in my first triathlon of compassion in 2014, I had just started taking testosterone. 11 years have…
What makes an age-friendy home?
A version of this article was originally published by Happy Cities in March 2025. My Uncle Pat moved into assisted…
Silver tsunami or golden opportunity?
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Designing Socially Connected Homes – small changes to make a big difference
This article, co-authored by Emma Avery (Urban Planner & Communications Specialist, Happy Cities) and Tara Fernando (Strategic Communications Specialist, Hey…
Webinar Recap: Design tools to support wellbeing in multi-unit housing with Happy Cities and Hey Neighbour Collective
On October 3rd, 2024, Hey Neighbour Collective hosted Housing That Connects Us #4: Design Tools to Support Wellbeing, as part…
Building Social Connections: Toolbox of design actions to nurture wellbeing in multi-unit housing
Our neighbours are our closest source of social support and connection. Socially connected homes and neighbourhoods nurture greater physical and…
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). …
How can denser neighbourhoods support wellbeing?
The Province of BC has announced wide-ranging housing policy changes over the past six months, including requirements for greater density…
What can we learn from the rental housing sector about social connectedness?
In our first three years of project work (2019–2022), HNC has engaged deeply with our Community of Practice members –…
Are you and your neighbours safely connected and prepared for extreme heat? Try out our new neighbour-to-neighbour guide
Summer has yet to “officially” begin, yet British Columbia has already been experiencing some unusually hot weather. Extreme heat events…
US Surgeon General highlights the need for more social connection
Recently, the Office of the US Surgeon General posted an advisory to warn against the impacts our increasingly isolated societies…
Impact report: Living Together Symposium
Living Together: Connecting housing, social health and resilience was a two-day hybrid symposium of engaging presentations and dialogues about tackling…
Announcing our phone line for community members
We’re happy to announce that we have a new phone line! The VCST pilot phone line is a resource for…
How does housing density really affect life in cities?
Canada is simultaneously experiencing a severe housing crisis and – like many other countries – a crisis of increasing loneliness…
SEXPO Resources
SEXPO has arrived!!! We are so excited for everyone to enjoy the incredible panels, workshops, vendor fairs, and entertainment that…
Practice Guide #2: Landlord- and housing operator-led approaches to growing community in multi-unit housing
Social connectedness has been demonstrated to strengthen health, well-being, and individual and collective resilience. Meanwhile, multi-unit housing such as apartments…
Reducing social isolation among older adults helps everyone
Efforts to tackle social isolation among older Canadians could produce a wealth of health and lifestyle benefits for the country’s…
More housing supply isn’t a cure-all for the housing crisis
Canada needs to build more homes, faster, according to a recent report by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The…
Learning from community housing movements: Unlocking the social potential of parking spaces
A version of this article was first published at Happy Cities on May 18, 2022. Parking is a resource-intensive feature…
New research: neighbourhoods matter
When the pandemic began, we knew little about its impact on the well-being of older adults. HNC collaborators set-out to…
Breaking ground in removing social barriers
In a pioneering effort, the municipal government of Barcelona, Spain in 2020 launched a ten-year strategy to reduce isolation and…
Mainstreaming ‘sociable design’ for multi-unit housing: mapping the path forward
In September 2021, Hey Neighbour collaborated with Happy Cities on an online workshop entitled Mainstreaming Socially Connected, Affordable Housing across…
