Block Connector program
Block Connectors are residents dedicated to fostering face-to-face connections with the 10-20 closest households on their block or apartment floor. They get to know their neighbours, create a welcoming atmosphere, and strengthen neighbourhood relationships. By organizing social gatherings and encouraging neighbours to share their unique gifts, skills, and passions, Block Connectors help bring the neighbourhood to life and inspire a vibrant, connected community.
Become a Block Connector and join a larger community effort helping to build a greater sense of safety and connectedness on every street, apartment and condo complex in Kelowna.
EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST IN BECOMING A Block Connector
Every Wave Brings Us Closer Together.
What is a Block Connector?
Point Person - Be the link that brings neighbours together!
- Meet with your closest 10-20 neighbours.
- Share updates about neighbourhood life.
Party Person - Be the one that makes things happen!
- Plan one or more initiative each year to promote neighbourhood connections.
Listener - Be the voice of your neighboruhood!
- Ask neighbours for their ideas to improve the neighbourhood and discover their hobbies, skills, and talents to share.
The Block Connector program is a grassroots initiative with a simple but powerful purpose of helping neighbours get to know one another better. By having a dedicated person on the block to help build and maintain connections among neighbours, people are more likely to feel included, welcomed and connected with a sense of belonging within their neighbourhood.
Have you ever needed to borrow a ladder? Ask for help with a garden project? Needed someone to house sit while you’re away? The answer may be your neighbours. It can be a cost-effective way to support one another.
Interactions among and between neighbours can have profound effects on an individual’s sense of safety, well-being and belonging and help shape community identity and resiliency. When people know the skills, passions and talents of those around them, they feel more confident in directly connecting with neighbours for support.
Participants in the Block Connector program will have access to Community of Practice (CoP) sessions. These sessions offer valuable resources, including expert insights, workshops, tools, and innovative ideas to help build and strengthen community connections on their block. Additionally, Block Connectors will have the opportunity to share their experiences and collaborate with others in the program.
Some of the topics covered in past CoP sessions include:
- Building FireSmart communities
- Organizing block parties
- Neighbourhood-level emergency preparedness
- Crime prevention through environmental design
- Strong Neighbourhoods' grant program
- Social development
- Asset-based community development
In partnership with Community Safety Services, the Block Connector program also provides crime education and training to program participants. Residents learn to increase awareness and sense of safety within their neighbourhoods, utilizing prevention strategies that seek to reduce the risk of crime and victimization.
Visit the community safety webpage to learn more about:
- Bike theft prevention
- Frauds and scams
- Protecting your property
- Conducting a basic property assessment
