IS ISOLATION MAKING CITY UNHAPPY?

AStatistics Canada report not long ago found that Vancouver was the unhappiest city of the 33 Canadian municipalities it surveyed and commentators surmised that a lack of social connectedness was a major reason why.

A report released this week by the Vancouver Foundation confirmed that we have a lot of work to do when it comes to social relationships and community engagement. The foundation’s Connections and Engagement report found that one in five residents don’t know their neighbours well enough to call on them for help, and one in four found themselves alone more often than they would like. Compared with a similar survey in 2012, there were declines in the percentage of those who visited a local library or community centre, voted in the last municipal election, signed a petition, went to a cultural or ethnic event put on by a group different from their own, attended a neighbourhood or community meeting, participated in a neighbourhood or community project, or attended a city council or school board meeting.

Roughly half said they don’t have time for such activities, nearly a quarter said they did not have enough money to participate, and a third said they were not aware of the opportunities or events. Some argue that we have to rethink how spaces are designed to create a sense of belonging. For instance, half of people living in apartments or condos do not have a common area to socialize with neighbours.

The foundation’s inaugural connections and engagement report in 2012 was released the same year the City of Vancouver established the Engaged City Task Force to increase engagement. The decline in engagement since then suggests the plan has been unsuccessful.

Young adults and people in low-income households were most likely to experience social isolation, according to the report.

But beyond age and income, it would have been interesting had the report also included social relationships viewed through an ethnic lens, given that 45 per cent of the population is foreign-born and a majority is visible minority.

While civic leaders consider options for funding, organizing, designing and educating, we can do our part. The report found that three-quarters of people interacting with each other in a public space will muster a smile, and two-thirds will say hello. But fewer than half would respond to a question from a stranger and only 23 per cent would ask a question or initiate a conversation. Surely, we can do better than that.