[Report] InterGenNS: Understanding Intergenerational Initiatives in the North Shore, British Columbia

See article here

Introduction

This community engaged research project, InterGenNS Project, aims to assess current intergenerational initiatives in the North Shore of Metro Vancouver, and identify challenges and opportunities associated with these initiatives. This project has been undertaken as there is significant interest about intergenerational programs and initiatives in various community organizations and community members in the North Shore. A local steering committee was formed that includes multiple organizations providing or supporting intergenerational activities. The members of the steering committee identified the need to enhance awareness and investigate the current state of intergenerational programs in the North Shore community. Moreover, the InterGenNS steering committee has a diverse list of representatives from a larger community group consisting of 20+ organizations, which includes North Shore Community Resource Society, HollyBurn Family Services Society, Silver Harbour Seniors’ Activity Centre, North Vancouver Library (also representing the libraries from the District of North Vancouver and the District of West Vancouver), Canadian Federation of University Women - North Shore Branch, and British Columbia Council for Families. This project’s findings can contribute to development of resource and support for existing intergenerational initiatives and potentially stimulate and generate new ones. The goal of such initiatives are reducing social isolation and loneliness, enhancing social capital, community capacity, cultural connectedness, social awareness, and social cohesion among various population groups in the North Shore community. The North Shore is essentially experienced as an island, as its geography is unique with two bridges for entry and exit from the core Vancouver Metro area. This geographical context has contributed to the community in being naturally close-knit and well-connected. However, the elevations in the natural landscape of the locale pose challenges for mobility, especially for older 2 adults. Nonetheless, there is a high concentration of older adult residents in the North Shore. In 2016, there were 35,385 people over the age of 65, or almost 20 percent of the population of the three North Shore municipalities demonstrating a large older adult population in this area (Coates, 2020).