How Neighbourhood Small Grants Are Bringing Squamish Together

What if a few hundred dollars could bring a neighbourhood to life?

In Squamish, it happens every year.

Through the Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) program, simple ideas—often sparked by just one person—turn into moments of connection, celebration, and shared experience. It’s built on a powerful belief: that everyone has something valuable to offer, and that strong communities start at the neighbourhood level.

Small Ideas That Bring People Together

You don’t need to be part of an organization. You don’t need experience in event planning. All you need is an idea that brings people together.

That idea might look like:

• A block party where neighbours finally meet
• A community garden that grows both food and friendships
• A bike workshop where skills—and confidence—are shared
• A cultural gathering that celebrates traditions and stories

What begins as something small often becomes something much bigger.

Because when people come together, connection grows.

From Ideas to Impact

The Neighbourhood Small Grants program offers small grants that help bring community ideas to life. Delivered locally by the Squamish Community Foundation in partnership with the Vancouver Foundation and the District of Squamish, the program is designed to be simple, accessible, and community-driven.

Since launching in Squamish in 2017, more than 300 projects have been funded—each one contributing to a more connected and resilient community.

What makes NSG unique is that decisions are made locally. Community members review applications, ensuring that the ideas funded truly reflect the people and priorities of Squamish.

These projects may be small in scale, but their impact reaches far beyond a single gathering.

• A shared meal becomes a new friendship.
• A workshop becomes a sense of confidence.
• A neighbourhood event becomes a stronger sense of belonging.

These are the moments that shape a community—not through large programs, but through everyday connections between people.

Building a More Resilient Future

This year, the Neighbourhood Small Grants program includes a focus on climate action. All applicants are asked to incorporate a small climate action element or activity into their project—it could be as simple as reducing waste at an event.

It’s another way that small, local actions can contribute to a larger, collective impact.

Have an Idea to Bring your Neighbours Together? –  Now is your Moment

Applications for Neighbourhood Small Grants open April 1. Whether your idea is big or small, simple or creative, what matters most is that it brings people together.

Because sometimes, the smallest grants create the biggest impact.