Healthy Communities Conversation on Community Connections: Summary

This is a summary of the conversations facilitated by Centre for Healthy Communities on September 22, 2022. The Healthy Communities Conversation focused on ‘How have people's connections to their neighbourhoods and communities changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic?'

Key Highlights:

• Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, people knew that everything was connected; however, during the pandemic, this relationship became clearer.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a light shed on the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), which allowed people outside of the public health sector to see and understand what this phrase really means.
• Many people experienced stronger connections between health promotion practitioners and urban planners because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity for reflection about how we design our cities, communities, and neighbourhoods to promote connections. This was building on the vibrancy felt in many communities during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic with so many people at home and out exploring their local neighbourhoods.
• Virtual opportunities for connections created throughout the COVID-19 pandemic opened doors for engagement among people who previously may not have been or felt part of the community.
• The importance of community resilience became evident during the pandemic. In particular, communities are finding an increased social gap between affluent and low-income neighbourhoods as capacity to support community resiliency differs.
• During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, some communities were better at organizing themselves to provide locally while waiting for support from the government. Neighbours realized their role and functions in communities and really stepped up. This illustrates the importance of local neighbourhood connections.
• There has been an interesting shift in trust in communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the early days communities really pivoted and showed a high degree of empathy and trust; however, as the pandemic progressed, trust shifted and divisions occurred. A challenge for many communities going forward is rebuilding this trust and connection.  
• Currently communities are at a tipping point, where people are reflecting on the positive experiences they had during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., neighbour connections) and identifying how to maintain these aspects going forward.