Inside each of us is a powerful, universal need: the need to belong. It’s what drives us to seek connection, to share experiences and to feel part of something bigger than ourselves.
At BCLC, we’ve always understood this. Over 40 years, we’ve delivered more than $30 billion in net profits to the Province of British Columbia to support communities, provincial programs and services, local employment, charities and major events that have helped shape B.C. That desire to connect and give back to others – it’s in our DNA.
But as a social purpose company, we asked ourselves: how can we do more to foster belonging? How could we leverage the core of our business and presence in communities to raise awareness about the importance of human connection with our players, our people and our partners?
In this next step of our journey, we’re collaborating with GenWell, Canada’s Human Connection Movement, as we launch the BCLC Human Connection Project: a new purpose-driven initiative focused on sparking meaningful moments of connection across British Columbia.
From the way we show up in communities to the partnerships we build to how we enhance our internal culture – we’re starting to weave human connection into the fabric of everything we do. This means working with communities and business partners to look for new opportunities for people to come together in ways that feel authentic, joyful and inclusive.
This work is how we bring our social purpose – to generate win-wins for the greater good – to life. We know there are ripple effects to creating spaces where people feel seen, heard and valued. Whether it’s a group of friends cheering at a hockey game, a neighbourly chat sparked by something in common or a community coming together to support a local cause, these are moments that matter. We believe that when we feel more connected to each other, our communities and our province, together we win.
As part of the BCLC Human Connection Project, we’re developing new programming and adding new elements to our partnerships – such as the Vancouver Canucks, the PNE, Minerva BC and many others – to promote human connection. We’ve also kicked off a new approach to how we show up in communities. Through this approach, we’ll leverage our sponsorship program and community partnerships to build understanding around why human connection matters and foster purposeful moments for people to come together.
Starting in our hometown of Kamloops, we’re partnering with community organizations to promote intentional opportunities for human connection – like the Kamloops Christmas Market – and with the help of well-positioned organizations like United Way Kamloops and GenWell, we’ll continue to co-create new ways to bring people together. As we do this, we’ll be working to educate and engage our community so that when we move to new communities in the future, Kamloops can build on the momentum of what we helped start there.
We’re grateful for our growing network of partners for helping us build this movement – but we need you too.
So, here’s your invitation to join us. Let’s make connection catching. Let’s build communities where no one feels left out, where everyone feels like they belong.
Want somewhere to start? Read about the 5 Benefits of Human Connection on corporate.bclc.com to learn why it’s so important that we don’t go it alone.
