REGINA — It’s a goal of building connection in the community.
Members of Regina-based Better Together walked around Victoria Park earlier this week to remind people that no one is alone. Local ambassador Erin Christiaens was among those taking part in the walk.
The Regina and District Kin Club has led the local branch of the organization for the past four years. Meanwhile, Better Together first started in 2019 in the wake of eight people passing away from suicide in North Battleford the previous year.
“As the local community pastor, I attended and officiated five of the eight services. And at that time, it was tragic. I had noticed a Grade 11 student, Alyssa Woodrow, who eventually became a co-founder of the project, and I reached out to her,” said co-founder of Better Together Deb McNabb.
The pair met and decided to start an initiative to create greater mutual understanding.
“We were concerned about our young people. We gathered together as leaders, and we knew that they needed to know that they were loved enough, beautiful, worthy, and irreplaceable, and somehow we had to create something that would help them to be reminded of that,” said McNabb.
The initiative began with 300 seniors and youth wearing shirts with the wording “better together” every Tuesday for several months to promote the importance of connected communities.
Since then, the movement has grown, with more than 100,000 Canadians sharing the message as of May 2025.
“We never dreamt that it would get to where it's at today, but we realized that people need each other, and when we're not connected, we suffer,” said McNabb.
That suffering is evident in the number of youth experiencing loneliness.
“The stats show that loneliness is greatest among 16 to 25, so the main treatment for loneliness is actually meaningful social connection.”
But Christiaens feels those struggles are apparent among all age groups.
“The struggles are with everybody of all ages, and I think you go to a restaurant and you look at a table and everyone's on their own phones and not connecting.”
From these challenges, Christiaens said the focus shifts to finding more ways for the organization to foster connections, which is something she hopes the next generation will continue to build on.
“I want people to take it and run with it and continue to spread the message that connected communities are healthy communities.”
Meanwhile, McNabb said she is hopeful social changes will happen to address loneliness.
“Every citizen can make a difference through simple everyday choices like reaching out to a friend in need or, uh, putting away our phones to be fully present in conversations or greeting neighbours or strangers, joining social groups or volunteering.”
