Connection often starts in small, everyday moments.
A shared conversation. A familiar face. A place where you feel welcome.
Yet across our city – and across all ages – many people are experiencing disconnection and isolation that affect not only their daily lives, but also their mental health, family relationships, and long-term resilience. These challenges impact individuals, families, and entire communities.
Below, we explore why social connection matters, what we’re seeing in Calgary, and how Carya is creating spaces where connection can grow.
Why Social Connection Matters
When people feel connected and experience a sense of belonging, communities become healthier and more resilient.
Connections and natural supports take many forms. From the families we’re born into to the friends and chosen family who support us along the way, meaningful relationships look different for everyone. Regardless of what they look like, these relationships are vital to our emotional and physical health. They provide a sense of belonging and community, which enhances our resilience to stress and adversity.
Canadian research shows that social isolation is one of the most significant predictors of poor health. Before the pandemic, 29% of Canadians described themselves as very isolated, and nearly one in five reported having no one they could rely on during a personal crisis.
Isolation is linked to:
- Higher stress and anxiety
- Increased rates of depression
- Cognitive decline
- Increased risk of elder abuse
- Poorer physical health outcomes
- Lower overall quality of life
These impacts look different across the lifespan.
For youth and emerging adults, disconnection can fuel anxiety, loneliness, and uncertainty. For families — particularly those facing financial pressures — limited support can heighten stress and burnout. For older adults, isolation can lead to profound loneliness and declining health.
What We’re Seeing in Calgary
Many Calgarians are navigating what we might call a growing “connection gap.” Changes in work patterns, housing affordability, family composition, and mobility mean many households have fewer informal supports, fewer intergenerational networks, and fewer welcoming community spaces than in previous generations.
In neighbourhoods like the East Village – where 65% of residents live alone – the risk of social isolation is especially high. People also face added barriers such as low income, language differences, limited mobility, navigating a new community as a newcomer, or age-related changes that make connections harder to access.
And yet, despite these challenges, we see a tremendous desire among Calgarians to build relationships — to cook together, create together, learn from one another, and show up for each other in meaningful ways.
Carya’s work is about creating the kinds of spaces, programs, and opportunities where those connections can take root.
What we’re doing:
Our work to strengthen social connections spans all ages and stages of life. Through food, art, wellness, social, and educational activities, we create a wide range of meaningful ways for people to participate. Our programs offer gentle entry points that make it easy for individuals to connect, engage, and begin building community at their own pace.
Here are some of the ways people experience connection through Carya:
Drop-In Connection Programs for Families
Through our Families in Community programs, parents and caregivers can attend drop-in and registered sessions that offer play, social support, learning opportunities, and the chance to meet others navigating similar experiences.
Research shows that parent-involved playgroups reduce stress, strengthen attachment, and increase social support networks for families—especially those with limited natural supports
Social Gatherings and Skill-Building for Mid-Life and Older Adults
Our Elder Friendly Communities programs create opportunities for older adults to strengthen relationships, build confidence, and stay engaged through:
- Conversation cafés
- Book clubs
- Cooking groups
- Art actitivities
- Community meals
- and more
Many older adults who participated in Carya programs in 2024, entered with low community participation scores, lived alone, or were navigating health or mobility challenges. For many, these programs were a first step toward improved mental health, safer living conditions, or access to other supports.
Research shows that structured, group-based activities — especially those built around shared interests — are among the most effective ways to reduce isolation in older adults.
Village Commons: A Community Hub for Belonging
Village Commons is a space designed with the community in mind, a welcoming “third place” where people can spend time outside of home and work, connect with others, and feel part of a neighbourhood. It offers space to build relationships, take part in activities, and access supports that strengthen wellbeing and help people feel a deeper sense of belonging.
Community hubs like Village Commons are increasingly recognized as essential to social wellbeing. They offer multiple entry points to connection, learning, and support — meeting people exactly where they are, without judgment or barriers.
It is a place where belonging feels tangible.
Our Broader Impact
Across our social connection programs, we are seeing meaningful improvements:
- 64–68% of participants with low community participation increased their involvement
- 80–90% reported forming meaningful new connections
- Families reported strengthened parenting confidence and reduced stress
- Older adults reported increased belonging and reduced loneliness
- Many participants were connected to additional supports and services
But beyond the numbers, the impact is deeply personal.
It sounds like someone saying, “I finally feel like I have a community.”
It looks like a neighbour offering a ride to a new friend.
It feels like shared laughter over a simmering pot of soup.
When people feel connected, they are:
- More resilient
- More confident
- More hopeful
- Better able to navigate stress
- More engaged in family & community life
- Better positioned to thrive
Strengthening social connection isn’t a side piece of our work — it’s foundational to building strong families and strong communities. Connection reduces vulnerability, increases resilience, and helps create a city where everyone belongs.
As social isolation continues to rise across Canada, our commitment remains clear: to provide barrier-free spaces where people can connect, feel welcomed, and build meaningful relationships.
EXPLORE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT FOSTER SOCIAL CONNECTIONSCanadian Mental Health Association. Canadians need more from their mental health system – CMHA Brief. May 15, 2023.https://cmha.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Pollara-Data-One-pager_Updated-May-15_EN.pdf
Statistics Canada. Mental disorders in Canada, 2022. Infographic (Catalogue no. 11-627-M), released September 22, 2023.https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-627-m/11-627-m2023053-eng.htm
Calgary Foundation. Quality of Life Report 2025. 2025. https://publications.calgaryfoundation.org/quality-of-life-report-2025/