Webinars, Videos, and Podcasts

Thoughtful design and programming

As Canadian cities densify, multi-unit housing is becoming a dominant form for many – if not most – households. These housing types, however, sometimes offer lower levels of connection between neighbours and a reduced feeling of community. This is not a minor issue: our connections with neighbours – and with our immediate neighbourhood – impact our health in significant and measurable ways. 

But multi-unit housing is not inherently isolating: thoughtful design and programming can help to build community, neighbourly connections and resilience. Great examples exist but they are too often the exception, not the rule. 

This webinar series explores the designs, tools, and paradigms that planners and housing professionals can use to ensure denser housing also supports community resilience and social connection.

A team of people stand painting an outside mural at Westridge.

Webinars, video recaps, and videos

Benefits of community building for housing providers: video

People sit around a table at an event put on by a landlord of a multi-unit building.

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

Painters work side-by-side on the outdoor Westridge paint-in.

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.

How an 11 year-old helped connect neighbours through the pandemic

A young person sits at a laptop smiling and chat with community members from the comfort of her kitchen table.

In contrast to some claims that apartment living is lonely or isolating, the Community Connectors program shows that multi-unit buildings offer a wealth of social support at…

Extreme heat resource round-up

Extreme heat resource round-up

These resources can help handle the heat, whether you are an individual looking to support yourself, loved ones or neighbours, or a landlord looking for…

Day two session videos from the Living Together Symposium

A montage of videos screenshots over top of the Living Together Symposium wordmark.

Watch these three symposium sessions from June 8th, the second day of the Living Together Symposium.

Day one session videos from the Living Together Symposium

A montage of videos screenshots over top of the Living Together Symposium wordmark.

Watch these three symposium sessions from June 7th, the first day of the Living Together Symposium.

Mainstreaming socially connected, affordable multi-unit housing across British Columbia

Mainstreaming socially connected affordable housing illustration with people interacting with each other in the city scape..

On September 16, Hey Neighbour Collective and Happy Cities co-hosted an online workshop to explore cultural, financial, and policy-level challenges to building socially connected, affordable multi-unit…

Video: Building community into the bottom line

Webinar recording with logos from partners and some people talking on Zoom.

On June 22nd, Hey Neighbour Collective and co-hosts Happy City, Concert Properties and SFU Morris J Wosk Centre for Dialogue held a panel and webinar…

A summary of Being Kind: How much sociability matters

Being Kind webinar thumbnail

Panelists brought ideas, evidence and stories from their practice and research on what is at stake for the common humanity of our cities as we…