Harrison: Community is for all, building belonging through volunteering

A strong community is built on more than shared postal codes, it thrives when every person has a place and a purpose. Whether long-time resident or new neighbour, anyone can volunteer. Coach a youth team; help at the food bank; assist a senior; or lend a hand at a neighbourhood festival.

Volunteering creates more than good deeds. It fosters belonging, a key ingredient for mental health and personal resilience. Human beings are wired for connection; working side by side toward a common goal lowers stress, strengthens relationships and reinforces the sense that we matter.

This week’s Carp Fair offers a vivid example. From parking attendants to pie-bakers, hundreds of volunteers make the tradition possible and every helper shares in the quiet satisfaction of being part of something larger.

Opportunities are everywhere: check the bulletin board at the West Carleton library; join the craft groups in Constance Bay; or try pickleball in Fitzroy Harbour. From church halls to weekly Euchre games, these gatherings reveal how shared effort knits trust and strengthens the fabric of community.

As a therapist and long-time West Carleton resident, I see every day how connection shapes our well-being. I’ve experienced it myself, each time I show up to help at a local event or chat with neighbours over a simple community project, I’m reminded how vital these bonds are for all of us.

Belonging does not require special skills or a lifetime commitment. One evening of helping at a fundraiser or a single morning at a clean-up can spark friendships and deepen our connection to the place we call home. In an age when loneliness and mental-health challenges are on the rise, community is not a luxury, it is essential. By volunteering and working together, we not only strengthen West Carleton, we nurture the well-being of every neighbour, including ourselves.

Take one step toward your community this week, volunteer, join a group, or simply show up and experience how giving your time strengthens both our neighbourhood and your own well-being.

Christine Harrison is a registered psychotherapist, founder and clinical director of Focus Forward Therapy Group, and a dedicated community leader with more than 15 years of experience serving West Carleton. She previously held a leadership role in mental health programming at the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre (WOCRC) and currently serves as a director with Carp Health Access, where she works to bridge clinical care with grassroots support. Through her work, Christine has championed accessible, evidence-based therapy and advocated for holistic wellness across rural communities. A committed volunteer, healthcare innovator, and proud mom of three, Christine is passionate about building stronger, more resilient communities through collaboration, compassion, and forward-thinking care.

To read all Christine Harrison’s columns, click here.