Building compassionate communities that are inclusive and responsive to the needs of older people living with declining health, including those living with dementia, starts with a focus on people—seeing neighbours, friends, and colleagues with dementia not as cases to be treated, but as individuals with unique strengths, passions, and contributions. In a country facing economic strain and an overstretched health-care system, projects like the Compassionate Dementia-Inclusive Community (CDIC) Initiative and the Compassionate Communities Volunteer Navigation (CCVN) Initiative remind us that social health—connection, empathy, and belonging—can be just as vital as medical care. And driving that message forward are countless volunteers whose compassion is fueling awareness and change across British Columbia.
To honour these change-makers (and to mark International Volunteer Day on December 5), we spoke with CDIC and CCVN coordinators from BC about the pivotal role volunteers play in their work.
Extending Community Compassion through Intergenerational Connection on Quadra
On Quadra Island, the Quadra Circle Community Connections Society and Way to Go group are working together to include the younger generation as a short- and long-term support for older people living with declining health — a theme revealed from the results from the Compassionate Community Index Survey completed for the CCVN project. Jude McCormick, one of the CCVN co-leads, explains that the Simple Sharings program, “came from the work of four dedicated volunteers who saw the need for relationship building between children and older people as a way of instilling compassion through lived experience – simply by sharing.”
These volunteers connected the after-school program with seniors housing to bring together young students and residents weekly to engage in activities for the remainder of the school year. According to McCormick, after the first session, one child was surprised that older people liked playing games with them. Even a very shy student got into making rhythms and sounds with a ball and stick (made by one of the older participants) on bowls, aluminum foil, and other materials provided for experimentation. While the program is still in its early stages, the children and older people are already making connections through shared interests in music, airplanes, baking, and storytelling. Conversations are sparking and plans are underway to share pictures and bake cookies.
The immediate results can be felt by the joyous interactions and smiling faces of the participants. The hope, according to McCormick, is for these moments to become lasting positive beliefs of the younger generation about the value of older people and for a sense of personal value for each older person as they share themselves with the children. “The foresight and willingness of our volunteers to make this idea a reality is to be celebrated!”
Sharing Stories, Building Safety in Trail
On the other side of the province, CDIC Coordinator Maggie Shirley from the Greater Trail Hospice Society has seen firsthand how storytelling transforms communities.
“When someone living with dementia shares their story, you might have other people living with dementia who hear it and then feel brave enough to share their stories too,” she said. “It’s empowering for the storyteller—and eye-opening and deeply moving for the listener.”
Shirley believes storytelling creates a ripple effect of safety and connection. “A lot of health issues are related to isolation, so connecting in community—building bridges—is so important.”
In mid-October, the Greater Trail Hospice Society and Beaver Valley Recreation hosted a five-hour dementia training workshop for community members, volunteers, and care partners, that did just that. The event drew a total of twelve participants: volunteers from places like Columbia Seniors Wellness Society and Trail Better at Home, as well as interested community members and care partners for people living with dementia.
The workshop explained the different kinds of dementia and their symptoms, then offered a candid discussion about the stigma associated with the condition and how communities can challenge it. After lunch, participants took part in a sensory deprivation simulation to better understand the daily challenges faced by people living with dementia. The day wrapped with some practical guidance on communicating effectively and respectfully with people with lived experience—making connection safe and inclusive.
For many, the most meaningful part of this training was hearing from care partners. Their lived experiences offered a deeper layer of understanding and authenticity to the course content that allowed everyone to listen with compassion, ask honest questions, and validate each other’s experiences. Their stories became the bridge Shirley talked about — the kind that fostered the connection and inclusion all communities should aspire to.
Connection and Companionship in Prince George
In Northern B.C., Laurie De Croos of the Prince George Hospice and Palliative Care Society and Gagandeep Kaur from Prince George Council of Seniors are focused on bringing people together through their CDIC coordination team.
Their initiative matches volunteers with clients for engaging, shared experiences like walks, football games, or museum visits. “It’s about companionship,” said De Croos. “Those moments of connection can change someone’s week.”
To include folks who prefer group interaction to a one-on-one experience, they host paint nights, picnics, and other activities that make the community feel accessible to everyone.
Kaur adds, “We also match volunteers with care partners who need someone to listen, to help them feel seen and supported, too.”
Through empathy, storytelling, and shared experiences, these volunteers are proving that inclusion doesn’t start with policy—it starts with people. And that is truly something to celebrate!
To all volunteers, across every field, initiative and cause, we salute you today and every day… Thank you for the change you create, the connections you foster, and the way you make the world a better place!
