Designing Interventions that Align with Your Community’s Culture

February 9, 2026

This article is part of a series following two multi-year projects that bring together social movements to improve quality of life for those facing health challenges. The Compassionate, Dementia Inclusive Communities (CDIC) project, supported by a contribution from Health Canada, brings together Compassionate Communities, Dementia-Inclusive Communities, and Nav-CARE in six sites across Canada with the aim of reducing stigma, raising awareness, and offering empowering supports for people living with dementia to age in place. The second project, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, builds on the strengths of two social innovations, (Nav-CARE and Compassionate Communities), to create a new model of volunteerism called Compassionate Communities Volunteer Navigation (CCVN). This involves implementing a Compassionate Communities approach in four rural communities in British Columbia that already have an existing Nav-CARE volunteer navigation program.

Completing the Compassionate Community Index (CCI) Survey gives your community a clearer understanding of its strengths and challenges. From there, as you strive to make your community a more compassionate place, you can shift your focus to designing interventions that align with the culture of your community. That means reflecting on the vibe of the place and what kinds of initiatives and engagement approaches its people would respond to best.

Is the community you live in shaped by constant movement, like a tourist destination where residents come and go? Is the population predominantly made up of retired folks with disposable income and free time, or is it more heavily weighted toward younger families and youth busy with activities, brimming with energy? Is it close-knit and relational, or stoic and independent? Are neighbours waving at each other in housecoats while they roll garbage cans back up the driveway, or greeting each other once a month when they make the trek into town for groceries?

These questions invite communities to look beyond infrastructure and services and reflect on how the people where they live choose to connect, communicate, and care for one another. Becoming more conscious of these dynamics helps ensure compassionate, dementia-inclusive interventions aren’t imposed on a community inefficiently, but that they emerge naturally from the rhythms and values of the people themselves.

Prince George

As part of their implementation process, Prince George’s CDIC team engaged in this reflection activity, describing their community as self-reliant, proud, and deeply connected to the natural environment. Locals value spending time outdoors and pursuing independent activities, a defining feature of life in the central interior.

Alongside these strengths, the team identified practical infrastructure challenges that affect both autonomy and inclusion. Poor sidewalk conditions that make mobility difficult for people who rely on scooters, and inconsistent street lighting for safe evening outings were just a few examples of the kinds of challenges they face. The North also struggles to fill long-term staff positions. It’s a university town that attracts students who stay for a few years but don’t always put down roots.

Despite these barriers, the community’s strengths shine through. Their pragmatism underpins much of the local work being done to unite the community and make services more accessible in the region. This is evident in the strong organizational partnership developed between Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society and Prince George Council of Seniors. For the CDIC project, the two community-driven organizations offer complementary supports—the former serving persons living with dementia, and the latter working alongside care partners. Their collaboration reflects a community that values practical solutions grounded in respect and autonomy.

The major initiative they co-created, called, “Connecting Minds Through Compassionate Hearts,” is a special kind of group program tailored to families living with early stage dementia. Grounded in four critical dimensions—cognitive stimulation, physical well-being, emotional and social connection, and preservation of identity and purpose—the initiative connects individuals to each other, and everyone to meaningful activities they can enjoy in community.

An initiative like this required substantial groundwork to raise awareness about what was in the works. So, initiative leaders hosted many inclusive community events in partnership with other local societies, bringing people together, facilitating connections, and making space for inclusion on a larger scale.

This awareness raising campaign has sparked generosity and enthusiastic engagement from a variety of local associations who have stepped up to support them. Hockey teams are donating game tickets, the Prince George Railway Museum donated free entrance and tour, and paint night the pizzas have been donated. Businesses and community members seem to understand the importance of building dementia inclusive culture into their local fabric, and in doing this, are helping dismantle the stigma of early onset dementia, and dementia in all its forms more broadly. Folks who have donated products and time to the initiative have, in turn, learned more about the condition, so that together with the creators of “Connecting Minds”, they have cultivated an environment that’s receptive, accepting, and safe for persons with dementia to show up and get involved. Connecting Minds Through Compassionate Hearts has become the best kind of continuous positive feedback loop, leaving everyone wiser and feeling they belong.

Columbia Valley

The Columbia Valley presented a very different context in which to develop compassionate community interventions. Made up of multiple small, interconnected communities stretched along a 100-kilometre corridor from Spillimacheen to Canal Flats, the region changes dramatically with the seasons. Winter brings an influx of skiers; summer draws vacationers and second-home owners. During peak seasons, the population can swell from roughly 3,500 to as many as 40,000 people.

These dramatic ebbs and flows create unique challenges. Advisory committee members in the region explained the difficulty of fostering a consistent sense of community when many residents are only there part-time. “You might have seniors on your block,” one member noted, “but if half the houses are empty [much of the time], it’s hard to look out for one another.” The reality of part-time occupancy can limit the continuity needed for strong neighbourhood relationships and collective caregiving to take root.

Geography adds another layer of complexity. Long distances between communities, limited transportation infrastructure, and harsh winter conditions can make outreach and participation difficult—particularly for people who are already isolated or underserved.

Yet alongside these barriers lies a deep well of community strength. Many committee members emphasized that the Columbia Valley is, at its core, a caring and responsive place. When someone asks for help, people tend to step forward. The region is rich in community partnerships, with organizations like the Hospice of the Columbia Valley, Family Dynamix, service clubs, faith groups, and food recovery programs forming a strong network of support. And as one team co-lead observed, people know one another. That familiarity creates fertile ground for collaboration.

To build on these strengths, leaders from the Compassionate Communities Volunteer Navigation (CCVN) team have taken a deliberate, inclusive approach. Representatives from smaller towns were invited to sit on the advisory committee, ensuring broader regional voices would be heard. One of the planned interventions focuses on the creation of a program called W.E.C.A.R.E whereby trained volunteers provide timely emotional support and community connection following life-changing diagnoses, supported by presentations throughout the valley and engagement with local councils. Partnerships with local doctors and nurses, outreach organizations, centralized volunteer recruitment and training, and support from the local newspaper have further strengthened momentum. As one advisory committee member put it, “When people see others getting involved, they want to join in. It becomes a shared initiative.”

Compassion In Action

Across these diverse communities, one lesson from this work emerges clearly: compassion does not take a single form. It must be shaped by local culture, geography, and social realities. Whether in a proud northern city, or a seasonally shifting rural valley, successful dementia-inclusive and compassionate initiatives grow from careful listening and reflection. By recognizing both barriers and assets—and by working with, rather than against, the character of a community—these projects demonstrate that meaningful inclusion is not only possible, but sustainable when it is rooted in place, partnership, and shared purpose.

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