FAQs
What is a Neighbour Hub?
Neighbour Hubs support community resilience with increased opportunity for neighbourly connection, interaction, and emergency preparedness. They provide public gathering and seating areas and can include features such as solar charging stations, bulletin boards, local emergency information, and storage for emergency supplies.
What is the purpose of a Neighbour Hub?
The purpose of Neighbour Hubs is to create vibrant public spaces that strengthen neighbourhood resilience by providing a space for conversations and community connection. A resilient community is socially connected and has plans and resources in place to withstand emergency events and foster community recovery. Neighbour Hubs act as placemaking features on streets and provide a physical place to get together before, during, and after an emergency.
Why is community resilience important?
Community resilience, or the ability to proactively respond and adapt to challenges, is strengthened through increased community connections between neighbours. Whether the challenge is a heat wave, a food shortage, or acts of daily living, like needing a ride to the doctor, our neighbours are often the first line of support during challenging times.
Public Spaces, including parks, seating areas, benches and tables, are important places in a resilient and connected city. By bringing neighbours together to activate under-used places in the city, we can create vibrant public spaces where conversations, community, and connection can occur spontaneously, and in turn help strengthen resilience.
When will more Neighbour Hubs be installed?
The City already has three neighbour Hubs – two are outdoors on Leonard Street and Harbour Road and one is indoors on Douglas Street at Crystal Garden. The goal is to expand outdoor Hubs across the city. Hubs will typically be installed in association with major transportation projects that improve road safety.
Where will Neighbour Hubs be installed?
Neighbour Hubs will be installed in the city over time, with the goal of one Hub in every neighbourhood. Once we have created design templates, we will be working with Community Associations to select locations and build Hubs in coordination with major transportation projects.
Neighbour Hubs are designed to be accessible, welcoming, and located on local streets for everyone to use. All sites are reviewed in coordination with the City of Victoria, Victoria Police Department and Victoria Fire Department.
Will the Hubs store food supplies?
No, the Hubs are not intended to store food. In an emergency, Hubs may be used as a site for distribution.
How will Neighbour Hubs be built and maintained?
The City is continuing to renew old infrastructure, improve road safety, and support placemaking through its capital investments. In partnership with community associations, we will be looking for locations to install Neighbour Hubs over the next several years.
Neighbour Hub structures will be built and maintained by the City. The community plays a key role in animating and stewarding the Hub through activities and events. Some features will require agreements to maintain special features like vegetation and greenery or community bulletin boards.
How can my neighbourhood get on the list for a future Neighbour Hub?
If you would like to see a Neighbour Hub installed in your neighbourhood, we encourage you to get involved with your community association. Learn more about local community associations here.
How big are Neighbour Hubs?
Typically, Neighbour Hubs will be no wider than 2.5m and no longer than 10m. They have built-in storage compartments for emergency supplies.
Will Neighbour Hubs be accessible for people with disabilities?
The City will use Universal Design principles to inform how Neighbour Hubs look and feel. We will also continue to use Accessible Design for the Built Environment standards for features like seating, tables, and access.
How can I be more involved in the design of a Neighbour Hub?
If you would like to be more involved in this placemaking project, register for the virtual design input session happening on Wednesday, April 6 at noon. Register here