The Canada Healthy Communities Initiative (HCI) was a $60 million investment from the Government of Canada to transform public spaces in response to COVID-19.

Earlier this year, Community Foundations of Canada caught up with Cortes Community Health Association, Neighbours Mission for Kids and L’Association de Parc de la Montagne to hear more about how they support their communities as they continue to adapt and navigate through the impacts of the pandemic, and as they find long term solutions to build belonging in community.

Cortes Community Health Association

Cortes Community Health Association is an organization based in Cortes Island, British Columbia. During the pandemic, this community had limited access to public wifi and with support from HCI, Cortes Community Health Association was able to support its community by creating and adapting public spaces to ensure that the community could stay connected locally and globally.

Neighbours Mission for Kids

Neighbours Mission for Kids is a non-profit organization based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This organization was established in response to the increasing needs of immigrants and underrepresented youth in Winnipeg in 2017 – offering educational and recreational programming throughout the pandemic.

L’Association de Parc de la Montagne

Founded in 2015, the Association des résidents de Parc-de-la-Montagne (ARPM) supports residents in their efforts to engage and develop the neighborhood, creating a sense of belonging. ARPM is also involved in public interest projects and represents its members in dealings with political and administrative bodies.

Canadian Urban Institute

Community Foundations of Canada collaborated with multiple experts in building vibrant, equitable and livable public spaces – one partner being the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI). CUI creates programs, forums and initiatives that link city builders to effective solutions and ideas from coast to coast to coast. 

Through the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative, CUI created Canada’s Placemaking Community, an online space to foster togetherness, joy, and connection; a space to expand on the sector’s collective imagination around placemaking and continue learning and evolving together.

Canada’s Placemaking Community continues to share impactful stories of projects funded through the program. Below you can watch one of the stories that CUI has highlighted to showcase the value of the Healthy Communities Initiative.