Case Study Repository

Little Free Libraries in Victoria: Sharing Books, Building Community

The Little Free Libraries project in Victoria promotes literacy and community connection by encouraging residents to share books through miniature libraries placed throughout the city, part of a global movement to make literature accessible and foster neighborly ties.

How Workshops are Helping Men Get Connected: Pemberton's Men's Sheds

Pemberton Men's Shed is part of a global movement originating in Australia that aims to reduce loneliness and social isolation among elderly men.

The Feminist Bird Club: Fostering Inclusive Community Through Birding

The Feminist Bird Club is an organization that combines a love for birdwatching with a commitment to inclusivity and social justice, creating safe and welcoming spaces for all to connect with nature and each other.

Friendship Bench: Bridging Mental Health Gaps Through Community Connection

The Friendship Bench Project is an innovative mental health intervention originating in Zimbabwe, where community grandmothers provide evidence-based talk therapy on benches to reduce loneliness, depression, and anxiety, fostering social connection and well-being.

Intergenerational Phone Calls: How CompanionLink Connects Seniors with Compassionate Volunteers

CompanionLink is a Toronto-based organization dedicated to combating loneliness and social isolation among older adults by matching them with volunteers for regular companionship and emotional support, enhancing their quality of life and mental health.

Feeding Communities and Fostering Connection: The Impact of Feed It Forward and Pay-It-Forward Initiatives

Feed It Forward is a Toronto-based non-profit organization combating food waste and food insecurity through a pay-what-you-can model, providing nutritious meals to those in need and fostering social connection. Similar pay-it-forward initiatives across Ontario are also creating community bonds by offering free meals to those who need them.

Thecho Hiking Society and Thecho Baal Chautari

Thecho, a community in Nepal, has fostered initiatives like the Thecho Hiking Society and Thecho Baal Chautari to strengthen social connections and promote health and cultural well-being. These programs focus on outdoor recreation, youth engagement, and intergenerational support, contributing to social health at a local and national level.

Empowering Communities: Black-Focused Social Prescribing and the Afrocentric Approach

The Black-Focused Social Prescribing project integrates Afrocentric principles into social prescribing to address the unique health needs of Black communities in Ontario, fostering holistic well-being and reducing health disparities.

Building Community one Building at a Time: Hey Neighbour Collective's Multi-Unit Housing Programs

The Hey Neighbour Collective fosters social connectedness and neighbourly support in multi-unit housing, aiming to reduce loneliness and enhance well-being among residents in Vancouver.

Building Community One Block at a Time: Estevan's Neighbourhood Block Party Program

The City of Estevan introduces a Neighbourhood Block Party Program, providing residents with kits to host local gatherings aimed at strengthening community ties and promoting social interaction at the block and neighborhood levels.

Deepening Conversations with The Connect Deck by Happy Tears

Connect Deck by Happy Tears is a card-based tool designed in Toronto to foster meaningful conversations and strengthen relationships, helping to reduce loneliness and promote social connection

Measuring Social Health: Statistics Canada’s Canadian Social Survey as a Catalyst for Understanding and Addressing Loneliness

Canadian Social Survey (CSS), conducted quarterly by Statistics Canada, plays a pivotal role in measuring and monitoring social health and loneliness at the national level. By providing timely and detailed data on various social determinants, the CSS informs policy-making and prioritizes initiatives aimed at enhancing the well-being and social cohesion of Canadians.

Queers & Beers YYJ: Building LGBTQ+ Community Connections Over a Pint

Queers & Beers YYJ is a social meetup group in Victoria that brings together LGBTQ+ individuals and allies in a welcoming environment to foster community connections and reduce social isolation through casual gatherings at local breweries and pubs.

Bridging Generations: How My Folks App is Connecting Families

My Folks App is a Montreal-based mobile platform designed to help families stay connected and engaged with their older loved ones, reducing loneliness and fostering stronger family bonds.

Sidewalk Talk: Healing Communities Through the Power of Listening

Sidewalk Talk is a worldwide organization that promotes social connection and mental well-being by offering heart-centered listening on public sidewalks, transforming urban spaces into places of empathy and understanding.

Growing Connections and Cultivating Community: The Impact of Winnipeg's Rainbow Community Garden

The Rainbow Community Garden brings together 279 families in Winnipeg to grow their own food, fostering social connections, reducing food insecurity, and combating the effects of rising food costs.

Genwell: Generating Wellness Through The Power of Human Connection

GenWell is a human connection movement dedicated to fostering human connections within the wider realm of social health, recognizing its vital importance to the mental and physical well-being of Canadians and the society in which we live.

Victoria's "Meet a Stranger" Project: Building Community One Conversation at a Time

The "Meet a Stranger" project invites individuals in Victoria to engage in one-hour conversations with strangers, fostering social connection and reducing isolation through shared human experiences.

LampPost Victoria: Illuminating Community Connections in the Digital Age

LampPost Victoria is a modern events platform that centralizes information about local happenings in Victoria, making it easier for residents and visitors to connect with community events and each other, continuing the legacy of community bulletin boards and municipal event calendars.

Museums as Hubs for Well-Being: RAMM's Initiative to Combat Loneliness Among Seniors

The Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery (RAMM) in Exeter launches "Museum Meet Ups," a program designed to improve the well-being and independence of local residents over 50 facing anxiety and loneliness, showcasing the vital role museums and art galleries play in fostering social connection.

Building Connections Through Letters: Engage Nova Scotia's "From Me to You" Campaign

Engage Nova Scotia's "From Me to You" campaign encourages residents to write personal letters to foster social connections and reduce loneliness across the province.

Illuminating the Night: Ottawa's Night Mayor Revitalizes the City's After-Dark Scene

Ottawa's Nightlife Commissioner is spearheading efforts to enhance the city's nighttime economy by establishing a Nightlife Council, aiming to create a vibrant, inclusive, and safe environment after 6 p.m.