Vancouver Foundation

The First Word . . . Bridges connect, fences divide Gord MacDougall Faye Wightman Chair, Board of Directors President and CEO Vancouver Foundation Vancouver Foundation page 2 I Vancouver Foundation l Spring 2012 p2-3FW_TOC.indd 2 How many really close friends do you have? When was the last time you had a neighbour over? What stops you from being more active in community life? Vancouver Foundation has been asking people these questions – and more – as part of our effort to understand how people across metro Vancouver experience their personal friendships, neighbourhoods and communities, and the extent of their connection and engagement to the larger community. This comes from a consultation we did last summer. The majority of participants told us the issue that concerned them the most was a growing feeling of isolation and disconnection from each other and from their community. Throughout this summer, we'll release the results of our survey on just how connected – or disconnected – people in metro Vancouver feel, and what they need to become more engaged neighbours and citizens. On page 6 you can read more about this important project and get a peek at the survey results. Strong fences make good neighbours. That's true. We all need our space. And over the last 20 to 30 years, we've become very good at building fences – and not just the obvious ones that carve up our cities. Now it is the Internet, smartphones, condo living – the subtle fences that can isolate as much as they connect. We are also increasingly separated by barriers of ethnicity, language, age and income. The consequences of social isolation can include a corrosion of caring, a retreat into enclaves, and civic malaise. This year, Vancouver Foundation will continue to work to connect and engage residents of metro Vancouver. Our goal is to support projects and initiatives that connect neighbours to neighbourhoods, marginalized people to the life of the larger community, and people from different ages, cultures and backgrounds. We feel so strongly about this that we have dedicated this entire issue of Vancouver Foundation magazine to the theme of making connections and engaging people in their communities. This is our "connections" issue. Its pages are filled with examples of people and projects doing just that: • "Origami Kid" on page 8 is the story of how one 11-year-old boy's desire to share his passion for paper folding is helping turn strangers into neighbours. • Homelessness is one of the most isolating and lonely experiences a person can have. Read how our donors are helping connect young people to safe, supported housing in "A Way Home" on page 10. • It's hard to make friends and it's hard to find work, especially for new immigrants. "The Quiet Mentor" on page 17 is about a special project for skilled immigrants, connecting them to employment opportunities – and more. • And when you read the story of Paul Lacerte on page 22, you will meet a man who is "Walking in Two Worlds" and uniting them. We know that when people are connected and engaged in their communities, those people and their communities are healthier, happier, safer and more resilient. With your support, we will work to help build more bridges between our various communities, because bridges, not fences, will help people connect and engage for the greater good. One more item of note: Vancouver Foundation is among the first group of charitable organizations in Canada to be accredited under Imagine Canada's National Standards program. Accreditation demonstrates to the public and to all our stakeholders that we operate in a transparent and accountable manner, and that their trust and confidence in our work is well-founded. This is quite a coup, and something we are very proud of. Photo: Jaime Kowal 6/11/12 3:55:03 PM

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