Local governments have a critical role to play in making neighbourhoods healthy, vibrant, diverse and inclusive. Fulfilling this role requires a combination of direct municipal action as well as partnering with various organizations, government agencies and non-profit service providers.

The District’s objective is to foster a safe, socially inclusive, and supportive community that enhances the health and well-being of its residents. OCP policies related to social well-being contribute to the health and vitality of the District and strive to address the needs of all citizens, including those that are most vulnerable and marginalized. These policies are also aimed at empowering the community to develop services and supports to meet its own needs. 

2030 SOCIAL WELL-BEING TARGET: A community hub facility within easy access of every centre

Citizen engagement

Effective civic engagement builds strong communities, leads to greater public participation and interest in the things we share, and facilitates more responsive governance and better decision-making.

Reaching our citizen engagement objective

Our objective is to involve citizens meaningfully in civic affairs and community life.

We plan to achieve it by taking these actions: 

1. Provide opportunities for all citizens to meaningfully participate in civic affairs and community life
2. Utilize effective and leading edge communication tools and outreach efforts to enhance citizen engagement
3. Encourage and support community capacity building

Arts, culture, libraries, leisure, and recreation

Arts, culture, recreation and library services play an enormous role in building a healthy and creative community. They are vital to the fabric of our community and strengthen our identity.

Community spaces like libraries and recreation centres are heavily utilized and their effective provision along with delivery of associated services is key to community health. In addition to providing access to opportunities for learning, exercise and cultural expression, these various facilities also act as hubs for socializing and building community connectedness.

Reaching our arts and culture objective

Our objective is to support lifelong learning, active living, and cultural and artistic expression.

We plan to achieve it by taking these actions:

1. Foster an environment that promotes creativity and cultural expression and facilitates community access and engagement in arts and cultural experiences
2. Support the development and delivery of creative community events and activities that celebrate the full spectrum of diversity of the District, build on the District’s unique identity and engage local residents, artists and businesses
3. Foster the expression of cultural identity by further developing working partnerships with local First Nations
4. Promote healthy and active living and inclusive community participation in leisure and recreation activities throughout the District
5. Encourage and facilitate a broad range of leisure and recreation opportunities to match community needs and interests that are accessible through the development and coordination of public and non-profit services
6. Provide accessible library services and resources to facilitate lifelong learning for residents of all ages, backgrounds and abilities
7. Promote and provide technologies that improve access and efficiencies as part of the service continuum for libraries, arts, cultural and recreation services
8. Provide responsive and appropriate library, arts, cultural and recreation services to under-served and developing neighbourhoods

Community services, programs, and facilities

 Most citizens need community support and social services at some point in their lives. A strong network of community programs and services for children, youth, adults, families, seniors, at risk populations, and those with a range of abilities and means, supports individuals and a healthy community.

Reaching our community services objective

Our objective is to provide, facilitate, and support a range of community programs and social services that meet the needs of the community.

We plan to achieve this by taking these actions:

1.  Facilitate the delivery of accessible community services and social programs to meet the needs of all current and future District residents
2. Plan and support initiatives for an age and disability-friendly community
3. Encourage seniors and people with disabilities to function independently by facilitating the provision of accessible services, programs, and facilities
4. Promote the establishment and maintenance of affordable quality child care services
5. Support orientation and community services for welcoming new immigrants
6. Provide services to residents in a coordinated and cost effective manner by supporting the creation of a network of community hubs
7. Support the role of schools as neighbourhood centres of learning with comprehensive and integrated community facilities and services
8. Encourage the retention of sufficient space in surplus public facilities (schools, churches, recreation centres) to meet changing community needs (such as adult daycare, childcare)
9. Explore and pursue a variety of governance and partnership models regarding service delivery within municipal buildings
10. Enhance programming and service connections between outdoor and indoor community facilities
11. Support civic and community partners with resources, information sharing and collaboration in the achievement of District objectives
12. Encourage sustainable, local food systems through initiatives such as promotion of healthy, local foods and food production, and the facilitation of community gardens, farmers markets, urban agriculture initiatives in appropriate locations
13. Integrate opportunities for urban agriculture in planning Town and Village centres
14. Provide increased access to safe, nutritious food for all members of the community by collaborating with Vancouver Coastal Health and other community partners in their efforts
15. Develop a food policy that defines the District’s vision and commitment to facilitating a food system that supports long-term community and environmental health 

Personal and public safety

Personal and public safety means working proactively to prevent risks, and being able to respond to emergencies, crime and disorder in a collaborative and effective manner.

Reaching our safety objective

Our objective is to create safe and caring communities.

We plan to achieve this by taking these actions:

1. Ensure that effective and coordinated services supporting personal safety, including policing, emergency aid, fire safety, disaster response, and support services, are in place across the District
2. Support and advocate for coordinated programs and services to prevent and address crime, violence, and substance abuse
3. Address safety and security, crime prevention, education, victims’ rights and promote positive intercultural relationships by working with community partners, stakeholders and service providers
4. Review community policing models and Provide community policing as appropriate
5. Prepare a fire service policy to define appropriate service levels
6. Locate fire halls strategically to deliver effective service and contribute to the fabric of the community
7. Facilitate the development of safe and accessible community and public spaces and consider crime prevention design principles and accessibility guidelines in their design and retrofit
8. Assess the potential risk of chemical industries in the District and prepare an appropriate development permit area with guidelines to assist in protecting development from such risks
9. Review community notification and emergency response measures related to industrial chemical hazards and facilitate effective community preparedness

Heritage and archeological resources

Our rich cultural and natural history contributes greatly to the identity of the community and its sense of place. This means facilitating learning about our past, present and future while preserving our archaeological, heritage and cultural resources.

Reaching our heritage objective

Our objective is to ensure that the community has a clear sense of identity and place and a legacy that links our past, present and future.

We plan to achieve this by taking these actions:

1. Support the preservation of our community’s history and documentary of heritage in a publicly accessible repository of archival and cultural resources
2. Support the programs and services that enable people to understand and appreciate the community’s rich and unique history
3. Support community-wide facilities which connect people from different areas, groups and generations and allow them to learn about each other and explore ideas together
4. Encourage the protection and enhancement of buildings and sites which have historic significance to the community by exploring opportunities to use the tools and incentives available under the Local Government Act
5. Encourage and facilitate the protection of archeological and cultural sites in land development and management activities through coordinated efforts with First Nations governments, the Province and stakeholders
6. Support continued community involvement in identifying and advising on issues pertaining to District heritage resources and programming
7. Establish a Heritage Plan to implement the policies contained in the Official Community Plan