Interviews and Partner Snapshots
Our team– including our backbone staff, research assistants, partners, and collaborators– is constantly growing and evolving. Take a look at some of the incredible people and organizations that make up the Hey Neighbour Collective
Jean talks about the importance of qualitative research and why he writes poetry
What work are you involved in with Hey Neighbour? I’m working with a key partner of HNC, the Building Resilient Neighbourhoods team, to help them code qualitative data as part…
Tara Fernando shares her thoughts on amenity spaces and the importance of knowledge translation
How did you make your way to the Hey Neighbour Collective? When I was accepted into the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at SFU, I found a job post…
Olivia Tomlinson talks about the importance of meeting new people
During our conversation with HNC’s newest, Copenhagen-based, research assistant Olivia, we also chatted about her research and why being bad at hobbies can be liberating.
Observing the narratives of cities with Sreya Ajay
We caught up with one of Hey Neighbour’s Research Assistants about qualitative data analysis and her favourite foods from Delhi.
What is Neighbours Helping Neighbours?
A conversation with Molly Rose about Building Resilient Neighbourhoods’ new initiative.
Sogol Haji Hoseini on environmental gerontology and what it’s like to sleep in a desert at night
Our conversation with Sogol took us from her work with the Collective to her interests in researching older adult populations, and why camping in the desert is something everyone should try.
Rojan Nasiri on how urban design can facilitate walking among older adults, and why Kerman is her favourite city
During our chat with Rojan, one of HNC’s research assistants, we learned about what makes for walkable urban spaces and sociable common areas, plus some of her favourite things about Kerman, Iran.
Understanding the walking experiences of older immigrant populations with Farinaz Rikhtehgaran
In our conversation with research assistant Farinaz, we talked about her work with HNC and discussed the challenges and potential solutions for making walking more accessible for immigrant older adults in cities.
Ahad Kamranzadeh on the inestimable value of laundry rooms and what makes public common spaces feel inclusive and welcoming
In our conversation with Ahad, we learned about how he’s made connections between his engineering background and current work with the Collective.
Niloofar Hedayati on how better use of space in multi-unit buildings can improve social connectedness among older adults
Over a lively phone call, we chatted with Niloofar about her work in Iran and how she’s applying that experience to new research in Canada.
Callista Ottoni on community-engaged research, social connectedness and the magic of informal conversations
Callista Ottoni, PhD candidate at UBC and Mitacs Intern for Hey Neighbour, shares her thoughts on community-engaged research, her recent photography exhibit, and why she loves cycling around the city.
Building resilience and emergency preparedness through social connections: video
Workshop leaders and participants discuss how the Connect & Prepare program helps grow social connections between neighbours that support resilience and preparedness.
Benefits of community building for housing providers: video
Landlords and housing operators can help nurture relationships among residents, and the positive returns for everyone involved can be substantial.
The benefits of neighbourly connections for residents in multi-unit housing: video
Residents share why they became community connectors in their multi-unit buildings, what kinds of activities they helped organize, and what the benefits have been.
Dorin Vaez Mahdavi on finding friends and what makes a city vibrant
One of Hey Neighbour’s newest research assistants talks about her academic interests and what she loves most about travelling to other countries.