Last week, I read a recent Statistics Canada report on discrimination and the protective power of connection.

While it’s an stark reminder of the hardships many racialized people in Canada face, it’s also a hopeful message about the strength found in belonging.

The report states that nearly half of racialized Canadians, whether born here or immigrants, have reported experiencing discrimination in the last five years and most have faced it many times over. The incidents happen everywhere—on the street, at school, in workplaces and in stores. And the impact runs deep. The study found that those who face discrimination are twice as likely to report poor mental health and far less likely to feel hopeful about the future.

But here’s where the message shifts. Those with strong personal relationships—supportive family and friends—are dramatically less affected. Among the people who experienced discrimination, only 13% of those with strong social connections reported poor mental health, compared with 42% of those without those relationships.

Their life satisfaction was also far higher. Even their trust in democracy, unity, and economic opportunity improved when they had solid social ties.

And that’s where volunteerism comes in.

Volunteer programs, when run well,........

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