While 3 in 5 Canadians agree a great neighbourhood is one where everyone knows each other, only 34 per cent feel connected to their neighbours

Sharing a meal together can be one way to connect with your neighbour

TORONTO, June 15, 2017 /CNW/ - It's no surprise a recent study commissioned by Whirlpool Canada suggests Canadians feel the most connected to their immediate family (82 per cent). What's unexpected is who respondents feel the least connected to: their neighbours. In fact, more Canadians feel connected with the people they interact with on social media (40 per cent) than they do their own neighbours.

Despite this lack of connection with their neighbours, Canadians see many benefits that arise from living in a connected neigbourhood. Some of these benefits include: feeling safe (78 per cent), asking for help (71 per cent) and a good environment for raising children (68 per cent).

"This research puts into numbers something we inherently know in our hearts – there are so many reasons why it's great to know our neighbours," says Michelle Domet, senior marketing manager at Whirlpool Canada. "In today's busy, technological world, sharing a meal can be a great way to connect.  While food preparation may feel like a small act in itself, it's these small acts of care that we believe have lasting impacts and have inspired our product innovations over the past 100 years."

Whirlpool Canada has enlisted the help of food and lifestyle expert Pay Chen to share tips about how preparing and sharing food can help grow relationships within communities.

1. Share something that you enjoy making: If you know someone is new to your neighbourhood, or new to Canada, make and share something that reflects you or your background. Sharing new foods is a great way to get to know a neighbour as you can bond over the ingredients, cooking techniques or the preparation of the meal.
   
   
2. Spread the bounty by offering extras: Summer is a great time to grow fresh vegetables or herbs in your own garden, or buy in abundance from the local farmers markets. Often these hauls of leafy greens or fresh tomatoes are more than you need in a week, why not offer this farm-fresh produce to a neighbour?
   
   
3. Try new ingredients: Being exposed to a different culture's cooking techniques, gives us the opportunity to try many new foods and flavours. Accompanying a neighbour to their favourite local store, or in return, inviting a neighbour to join you on your weekly trips, is an easy way to learn of new ingredients to try. Ask your neighbour to even teach you how to use that ingredients while they prepare this meal in their home.

Further interesting survey data includes:

• 44 per cent of survey respondents said some of the "best conversations" they've had were over meal preparation.
  
  
• Respondents under 35 are the least likely to feel connected to their neighbours (21 per cent).
  
  
• 4 in 10 Canadians say they "hardly know" their neighbours.

Whirlpool Canada will continue to share further insights gathered from its survey on its social channels in the coming months. The public is encouraged to join the conversation with the hashtag #EveryDayCare.

About the Survey
The national online survey of 1,809 Canadians was conducted from May 12^th to 23^rd, 2017. The data was weighted to Census population figures to achieve representation for age, region and gender. The margin of error associated with a probability based sample of 1,809 is  2.3%, 19 times out of 20.

About Whirlpool Brand
For more than one hundred years, Whirlpool brand has been inspired by how people care for their families.  Whirlpool brand is designing home appliances that are focused on improving how families give and get the care they need with the latest technologies and innovations – whether that means flexible refrigerator storage for all types of family needs, induction technology for efficient cooking and easier cleaning, or laundry pairs that sense and adapt to clothes with the latest in connected technologies. Whirlpool brand is part of Whirlpool Corporation, the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances. Whirlpool Canada is also a corporate sponsor of Habitat for Humanity, donating a refrigerator and range to every new Habitat for Humanity home built in Canada. For more information on Whirlpool, please visit whirlpool.ca/everydaycare or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/whirlpoolcanada or Twitter at @Whirlpool_CA.  Additional information about the company can be found at whirlpool.ca.

SOURCE Whirlpool Canada LP

Jade Hunter, Hill+Knowlton Strategies for Whirlpool Canada, 416 413 4635, [email protected]