Social & Community Wellbeing
Community wellbeing is the combination of social, economic, environmental, cultural, and political conditions that are identified by a community as essential for them to flourish.
When we look at a thriving community, we find three attributes that play a large role in wellbeing:
- connectedness
- livability
- equity
Integrated Services Collaborative (CISC)
The Castlegar Integrated Services Collaborative “The Collaborative” was established in 2019 as an opportunity to connect organizations, businesses, institutions, elected officials, and other individuals with an interest and stake in serving and supporting Castlegar’s vulnerable populations, in particular people living without homes. The Collaborative is intended to support the sharing of information, cooperation, and collaboration amongst members on agreed-to plans, actions, and advocacy with other stakeholders and decision makers.
There are currently over 40 active members representing 24 local and regional social service organizations. Membership is open to all groups and individuals who have an interest and role in supporting Castlegar’s vulnerable population, and a willingness to work collaboratively toward shared objectives. The Collaborative will strive to maintain cross-sectoral representation, including people with lived and living experience. Effort will be made to ensure broader regional representation at meetings to build awareness between City of Castlegar, City of Nelson, and City of Trail on shared issues and opportunities where appropriate. The Collaborative meets once a month and in person quarterly.
Key successes include:
- Collaboration on a new 20 bed emergency shelter for unhoused individuals under renovation
- Annual support for Community Connects Day, an event that showcases available services and builds connection and a sense of belonging
- Public toilet task force and pilot program
- Street outreach programming and Community Connection Center programming
- Regional collaboration with City of Trail and City of Nelson to share successes and challenges
Key actions identified for the 2025-2026 year include the following:
- Creation of a methodology to define and measure community members that are living without homes or are precariously housed on an annual basis through the sharing of information in a respectful manner that preserves confidentiality, dignity, and respect.
- Build community understanding and empathy through provision of support to residents and business owners in how to navigate interactions in a constructive and safe manner.
- Develop an inventory of available resources and services for distribution and access by community members, ensuring that the information provided is kept up to date and relevant. Ensure this information is easily accessible through an on-line portal or guide that can be made available at key community locations.
- Continue to support Community Connects Day on an annual basis as an effective means of showcasing available services and building a sense of community and belonging.
- Continue to support Street Outreach and the Community Connection Center as important programming of benefit to the broader community.
- Investigate options for public washroom and sanitary facilities that can be kept open and available in centralized locations.
- Advocate for the expansion of the Housing Outreach Program (HOP) and for Coordinated Access programming to better serve community needs.
- Continue to pursue opportunities to expand available housing and support for those whose needs have not been met in alignment with the City’s Housing Needs Report.
- Take opportunity to learn from others by inviting guest speakers and presenting effective practices used elsewhere.
- Strive to collectively determine how to respond effectively to emerging situations and circumstances as they arise
2023 Social and Economic Wellbeing Assessment
In the Spring of 2023, the City undertook a Social and Economic Wellbeing Assessment to develop a better understanding of the lived experiences of those struggling within out community. This project was undertaken in partnership with several community partners. The final report was adopted by Council in January 2024.
The City would like to extend a thank you to Resilience Planning for coordinating this project and the following key partners:
- Selkirk College Nursing and Social Work Program
- Selkirk Innovates
- Kootenay Career Development Society PEERS Program
- Kootenay Family Place
- Castlegar and District Community Services Society
- School District 20
- Circle of Indigenous Nations Society
- Community Harvest Food Bank
- ANKORS/REDEN
We would also like to express our gratitude toward those residents of Castlegar who participated for their honesty, courage, and vulnerability. The Castlegar Integrated Services Collaborative and other community partners will be tasked with implementation of some of the recommendations of this report.