What鈥檚 on your table Sept. 26?

Lidia Kemeny, from the Vancouver Foundation, hopes there鈥檒l be a little food, a few refreshments and a lot of great conversation!

Spearheaded by the Vancouver Foundation, the second annual BC-wide event is a chance to build community over conversation.

鈥淔or the last six years, we鈥檝e been really exploring how people are feeling disconnected and isolated from each other, and trying to find ways to connect people,鈥� Kemeny says, pointing to a 2017, survey of almost 4,000 people that revealed many Metro Vancouver residents feel disconnected from their community.

In fact, one-third of those between 25 and 34 felt alone more than they would like, another one-third said they have trouble making friends. Further, 40 per cent of high-rise dwellers felt lonely, almost twice the number living in detached homes.

Crucially, the research found the loneliest people also reported being in poorer health.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not that they don鈥檛 want to connect with people, it鈥檚 that they don鈥檛 know how,鈥� Kemeny says.

Connecting through conversation

Last year, in honour of the Vancouver Foundation鈥檚 75th anniversary and celebrating their work across the province, the offered a chance to bring together friends, colleagues or even strangers to enjoy good food and conversation about a particular topic. In all, 361 hosts and more than 4,500 guests gathered in places like living rooms, lunchrooms, local restaurants and community spaces to meet, talk and connect.

This year, organizers hope to expand the program鈥檚 reach even farther. To host an On the Table event, simply come up with a food, a drink and a conversation topic. 鈥淚t can be as simple or as involved as you want. Just inviting a few people out for coffee and doughnuts is all it takes,鈥� Kemeny says, highlighting some of the events registered already this year, like 鈥淪oup, Bannock and Real Reconciliation,鈥� and 鈥淪amosas, Chai Tea and Cultural Networking.鈥�

Here in the Okanagan, Grist Mill and Gardens Historic Site hosts 鈥淐offee, cinnamon buns and encouraging volunteerism,鈥� Okanagan Child and Youth Services presents 鈥淲ine and Autism and Friendships,鈥� and from Beckman鈥檚 Fine Foods comes 鈥淪easonal grub, Local wine and Community building in small towns.鈥�

鈥淥ne of the things we鈥檝e discovered is almost everyone is longing for real connections, but people struggle finding places to connect with each other,鈥� Kemeny says. 鈥淲e have to take the time to get to know each other and that happens through shared conversations. This can be a low-barrier way to get to know people with similar interests.鈥�

There鈥檚 no cost to participate 鈥� and invite as few or as many people you want to join the conversation. Registrations are used to help the Vancouver Foundation tell the story of the initiative and learn what people are talking about 鈥� what鈥檚 important to them.

Top topics last year included:

• Inclusion/belonging
• Social/environmental shifts
• Community engagements
• Well-being and vitality

鈥淓verything is going to start with a conversation and our understanding of how we can be involved in our community.鈥�

Learn more at a and .