Hi Neighbour
Be a catalyst for community connection. Connect with your neighbours and build stronger, safer, more inclusive communities for everyone.
Connecting with others
You can do it, too!
Our Local Love Microgrants up to $1,000 can help make it happen.
It can be as simple as saying hello to someone on the street. Or welcoming newcomers at a farmers’ market, throwing a block party to support neighbours recovering from natural disasters, or building a community garden. We call these acts of local love!
Community building – we’ve got the tools for you
Community building is the practice of bringing people together to create stronger, healthier more connected communities where everyone feels a sense of belonging. It can be as simple as a conversation on a front porch, or as involved as organizing a neighbourhood event or regional project. What matters most is that it’s rooted in care, collaboration, and the belief that everyone has something to offer.
Here are some great tools to help you!
- Hi Neighbour Community Handbook shares stories, activities, and tools to help create and grow events.
- Hi Neighbour Building Together Community Starter Kit is a companion to the Community Handbook offering inspirational tools to help turn ideas into action.
- Hi Neighbour Community Champions’ Workbook for Community Engagement guides your successful community building journey.
- Hi Neighbour Community Engagement Toolkit offers tips, tools and worksheets to help make your project or event a success.
Get ideas from some of the exciting projects people have created to help make their communities more caring, healthy and inclusive.
Pop-up & farmers markets – Kamloops
In Kamloops, connecting with community and learning how people want to celebrate belonging begins in backyards, libraries, and farmers and pop-up markets.
Senior champions community – South Vancouver
In South Vancouver, seniors are an integral part of the community. Their wisdom and vibrancy are building stronger more engaged communities.
Inspiration from past projects
- Building Inclusive Communities Hi Neighbour Babich-Mill Lake Handbook
- Building Inclusive Communities Hi Neighbour Cedar Valley Handbook
- Building Inclusive Communities Hi Neighbour Merritt Handbook
- Building Inclusive Communities Hi Neighbour Princeton Handbook
- Building Inclusive Communities North Delta Community Handbook
- Building Inclusive Communities Hi Neighbour Sumas Prairie Handbook
- Edmonds Community Resource Guide
- Lonsdale Community Resource Guide English
- Lonsdale Community Resource Guide Farsi
- Sardis Community Projects Guide
Apply for a Local Love Microgrant Today
Get up to $1,000 to make your idea happen. It just takes ten minutes.
Connect with your Community Representative
Want to volunteer, get involved, or have an idea you’d like to share?
Thriving communities are built on connection and belonging. Kamloops is filled with talented, passionate people just like you, who care about your community. United Way BC’s Hi Neighbour Initiative helps you connect with them and works with you to create opportunities to make a difference in your community in ways that matter most to you. We call these acts of local love.
Hi Neighbour helps community members strengthen their communities by providing tools, resources and Local Love funding. By building community capacity, fostering leadership, encouraging shared ownership, and deepening meaningful connections, together we can create lasting change.
Contact your community representative to get involved.
Sam
Community Engagement CoordinatorAn advocate for arts, culture and recreation, Sam is a third-generation Kamloopsian passionate about supporting his community. He’s excited to foster a strong, vibrant and resilient community with you. Share your ideas today.
Thriving communities are built on connection and belonging. South Vancouver is filled with talented, passionate people just like you, who care about your community. United Way BC’s Hi Neighbour Initiative helps you connect with them and works with you to create opportunities to make a difference in your community in ways that matter most to you. We call these acts of local love.
Hi Neighbour helps community members strengthen their communities by providing tools, resources and Local Love funding. By building community capacity, fostering leadership, encouraging shared ownership, and deepening meaningful connections, together we can create lasting change.
Contact your Community Representative to get involved.
Hala
Community Engagement SpecialistWith a background in Early Childhood Education, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and working with refugees and newcomers, Hala’s unique skills help empower others toward unity and making a positive difference. Get in touch to learn how she can support you.
Since 2021, Hi Neighbour for Recovery has focused on engaging local community organizations and residents in areas of BC that have been impacted by evacuations during wildfires or floods to support ongoing recovery and resiliency work. In West Kelowna, this work followed the 2023 wildfire season. Residents and local organizations are invited to connect with United Way British Columbia’s Magda Kapp, our local Specialist for Emergency Response and Partnerships, to discuss ideas they have for bringing together their neighbours throughout their recovery and rebuilding of their community.
Let’s get started
United Way BC Local Love microgrants of up to $1,000 are available to support recovery and resiliency efforts. Funds help local champions like you to create projects and events to rebuild community and a sense of belonging. It might be hosting a community lunch, organizing an activity for neighbourhood children or organizing a holiday celebration to bring people together for healing. We call these acts of local love. We also partner with municipalities, Indigenous communities and their champions to help make it happen.
Magda
Specialist, Emergent Response & PartnershipsMagda lives in West Kelowna with her husband, golden retriever and ginger cat. She has lengthy experience in the not-for-profit world and loves being part of the United Way BC team and bringing a focus on emergency response and partnerships to her community.
Stories of change in BC neighbourhoods
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Local Love in Action: Bringing Healing and Connection to Kamloops
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Sumas Prairie – showing and shining with community spirit
Hi Neighbour celebrates community resilience in the Fraser Valley as initiative moves to legacy.
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Celebrating community spirit with United Way BC Hi Neighbour Cedar Valley
Projects, events and activities highlighting a vibrant Fraser Valley community.
