A lack of public spaces that don’t exclude people based on culture or religious belief aggravates social isolation in Vancouver. It also contributes to maintaining long-term connections with people.
When people feel isolated, they don’t participate in their local government or give back to their community. These behaviours are believed to contribute to mental health issues. With over 35% of the population in Vancouver saying they felt lonely in the last year, it is a topic that needs to be addressed.
Through research we recognized sharing meals is a great ice breaker for meeting new people and reducing isolation within a community. We also recognized people do not want to download another app when they already have so many.
