Building a Different Kind of Business Community on Vancouver's North Shore
We believe that thriving people and thriving businesses go hand-in-hand. Inspired by the City of North Vancouver’s 2024 Wellbeing Strategy, we are a collective of local business owners moving beyond our respective products and services to focus on the bigger picture: physical, mental, emotional, social, and financial wellbeing in everyday North Shore life.
Our Goal:
To raise the profile of values-forward businesses and collaborate on meaningful local projects that make our community more resilient.
The Launch
The first meeting of the North Shore Wellbeing Collective was held earlier this year, on February 20, 2026. We launched with a small group, and a lively conversation unfolded. People spoke about wanting a stronger sense of community, more transparency and honest dialogue with municipal governments, and better ways to support our businesses, our staff, and the people who call the North Shore home. It was clear: we’re all feeling the pressure of doing business here – from hiring and retaining good people, to keeping customers engaged, to finding ways to thrive in a fast‑moving, expensive region. At the same time, we live in a community where people love to be active and healthy, and want to feel connected and supported. There’s an opportunity in that tension.
Next Steps
The question we’re leaning into now is this: What would it look like if North Shore small businesses became some of the key problem‑solvers for local wellbeing, in ways that also make solid business sense?Imagine:
- A first‑time homebuyer, totally overwhelmed, walking into a room where a few trusted local businesses have teamed up to help them feel secure and informed, instead of alone.
- A tired parent discovering, in one simple evening, that a handful of neighbourhood businesses can help them feed their family, move their bodies, and manage stress in a way that actually fits their life.
- A long‑time resident – a senior, a rec‑league player, a new immigrant – realizing that the shops and services they pass every day are quietly working together to help them stay active, independent, and connected.
None of this is “woo.” It’s about small, practical shifts where businesses collaborate, reach new audiences, and become known as the ones who are helping the North Shore work better for the people who live and work here.
At our second North Shore Wellbeing Collective meeting, we’ll:
- Clarify what we mean by wellbeing in a business context (beyond wellness perks) and why it’s directly tied to performance, retention, and customer loyalty.
- Build on our last discussion about stronger community, better conversations with local government, and new pathways to support our businesses and staff, and turn that into concrete possibilities.
- Start imagining locally flavoured scenarios where “business supports business and the community,” so that what’s good for the North Shore is also good for your bottom line.
- Establish the founding circle of diverse businesses in the Collective.
Our Next Meeting
Date: Friday, April 24th, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Location: Moving Spirit Pilates, #205-38 Fell Avenue, North Vancouver, BC.
RSVP: by Friday, April 17th to Susannah Steers / sue@movingspirit.ca
(Please note - the exterior doors to the premises lock at 6 pm. Please plan to arrive a few minutes early!)
This evening is for small business owners across diverse sectors who:
- Care about the long‑term health of their business and the community.
- Are curious about collaboration, even if they’re skeptical about “wellbeing” language.
- Want a space to talk honestly about what’s hard right now – and to explore practical, partnership‑driven ways forward.
You don’t need to arrive with a polished idea. Just bring your experience, your questions, and your imagination about what could be possible here on the North Shore if we stop trying to do it all alone.
Click here to download a PDF Flyer about the North Shore Wellbeing Collective!