Vital Conversations are facilitated conversations that allow us to collect insights, spark connections, and encourage collaborative actions. This summer we held two sessions with non-profits that support the North Shore. Here are some of the results.
Environment, Animals, and Nature
In July we held a Vital Conversation session with non-profits from the Environment, Nature, and Animal sectors.
Findings
We were pleased to see 14 organizations represented and participating in the session including:
1. BC Mountain Foundation
2. BC SPCA
3. District of West VancouverÂ
4. DWV CouncilÂ
5. Elements Society
6. Howe Sound Biosphere RegionÂ
7. North Shore Black Bear Society
8. Ocean Ambassadors Canada
9. Ocean Wise
10. Old Growth Conservancy Society
11. Pets and Friends
12. Seymour Salmonid Society
13. The Starfish
14. Wildlife Rescue Association of BC
What are some positives and some concerns ? Highlights were:
- Knowledge of microplastics
- More accountability
- Reduced concern around climate change
- Building code changes
- More interest in events: larger attendance and response
- Growing education
- Lack of funding
- Harder to resonate with audience
- Misinformation
- Hard to find unrestricted funding
- Need to inspire for change, not use fear
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What are your goals? Obstacles?
- Keeping our ocean clean
- Diversifying funding, stable funding
- Collaboration
- Reducing the number of bears killed each year
- More volunteers, with leadership skills
- Educating young people to become responsible leaders
- Growing programs, increasing awareness
- Obstacles: Bureaucracy, funding.
- Communication struggles
After the session, we surveyed participants and here is some of what we heard:
- It was wonderful being able to network with like-minded organizations and hearing the interesting presentations.
- Valuable to connect with other charity organizations in our sector and confirming that charity has several goals which overlap other organizations’ goals.
- Enjoyed networking and learning more about West Vancouver Community Foundation (grants)
- Want to see more events like this: networking, collaboration opportunities, social.
Health & Wellness, and Youth
In August we held a Vital Conversation session with non-profits from the Health & Wellness, and Youth sectors.
Findings
We were pleased to see 22 organizations represented and participating in the session including:
1. Aquatics & Youth Services Manager at DWV
2. Avalon Recovery Society
3. Board of Education at West Vancouver Schools
4. Capilano Community Services
5. CMHA North Shore
6. Enhance West Van
7. Health & Fitness Program Coordinator at DWV
8. Impact North Shore
9. Lionsview Seniors’ Planning Society
10. North Shore Community Resources
11. North Shore Keep Well Society
12. North Shore Women’s Centre
13. Pathways Serious Mental Illness Society
14. Red Fox Healthy Living Society
15. Sentinel Youth Services Foundation
16. Sport BC
17. Take a Hike Youth Mental Health Foundation
18. The Hollyburn Society
19. Vancouver Food Runners
20. West Vancouver Schools
21. Youth Services Program DWV
22. Vancouver Coastal Health
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Biggest well-being issue on the North Shore. Highlights were:
- Education & support for families who have a loved one with a serious mental illness
- Affordability
- People are not connecting in the community
- Iranian community struggling with stress related to war in Iran
- Loneliness + isolation, across different age demographics
- Affordability + housing
- More organizations are reaching out for food donations across the North Shore
Dorri Mahdaviani, from Vancouver Coastal Health presented data on the North Shore population. We then asked how the data compared to what the non-profits are seeing:
- Many are seeing worse experiences by clients than the data presents
- The increase in senior population is being felt, but supports aren’t keeping up
- Homelessness is bigger than the numbers
- Chronic social isolation is leading to barriers and harm
- Isolation is impacting seniors and young people
- Another group to watch is neurodivergent youth, and then as they mature into adulthood
What are effective actions going forward?
- We need an increase in ‘Third spaces’: place where organized or random, and voluntarily, connections can take place. Places for communities across generations can congregate freelyÂ
- Increase supportive, affordable housing
- Structure community of care and belonging (beyond organizations), enable a layer of community
- Gap in services for teens esp. when parents need to provide consent esp. because kids on the North Shore are more greatly affected by substance use
- Programs exist but challenge is helping people know they exist – awareness
- World events are impacting many different groups including their mental health and state of mind. What can we do about it?
After the session, we surveyed participants and here is some of what we heard:
- Valuable: Learning more about the current issues arising in our populations, and having the chance to connect with other services providers. These conversations opened up some potential collaborations that may be of huge benefit to the greater community.
- Appreciate networking opportunities like this
- Meeting so many like-minded people and organizations in one place was incredibly beneficial for me as someone not originally from the North Shore. I really valued the discussions around impact and mutual struggles/challenges/inspirations, etc.
- Great to connect with other nonprofits – we often don’t have the time to do this. Plus hearing about trends during the presentation.
Thank you to all of the participants and speakers for taking the time out of your busy schedules. The conversations were truly insightful and will benefit us in our work going forward. Thank you to our sponsors for allowing this work to continue and thank you to Hollyburn Sailing Club for hosting us in July at your beautiful venue.
We are using the findings and insights from these sessions to help us guide our 2027 Vital Signs report. These sessions helped reinforce issues we were aware of but also brought to light new concerns and celebrations. The 2027 report will be released in October 2027.