Patrick Evans writes in the Toronto Star about a Statistics Canada report connecting strong community feelings with health and longevity. The article reminded me of the book Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam. In that book Putnam suggests that North Americans have become increasingly disconnected from family, friends, neighbours, and our democratic structures.
The StatsCan report suggests that people in urban centres have a weaker sense of community than those in rural areas. A recent New York Times article presented an alternative view of urban social relationships. The Fleeting Relationship talks about research that led to the book Together Alone by Morrilll, Snow & White. In Together Alone they discovered that public spaces are not only places of passing strangers; they are also places where people can and do find real connections. Some of these are fleeting, while others evolve into more enduring relationships. Whereas Bowling Alone sees group membership as the defining source of community Together Alone sees urban spaces as the primary site of community. The research reinforces the importance of public space in urban life and our need to connect with our urban community.
