Thank you! The Sharing Project's indiegogo campaign is now complete!

If you live in Vancouver, opt-in to our public survey here: http://thesharingproject.ca/opt_in.html

BIG NEWS on The Tyee: "The Sharing Project Wants to Connect"

See full article here: http://thetyee.ca/News/2013/04/11/Sharing-Project/

"When the study's findings are published later this year, the team intends to make it available as a resource to entrepreneurs, but also to present the information, and use it to facilitate discussion with the neighbourhoods themselves."

-Jesse Donaldson, The Tyee, April 11, 2013

UPDATE: WE MADE FRONT PAGE of THE NATIONAL POST!! There is a demand for sharing - now we need your support!

"People are increasingly looking at whether ownership is really necessary, or whether they just want the end result," said Chris Diplock. 

"Sharing, once largely the domain of public libraries and hippie co-ops, is increasingly spreading its tentacles into the mainstream, attracting the attention of major corporations and deep-pocketed investors."

- Tristin Hopper, The National Post, Monday April 8, 2013

UPDATE! CBC NEWS COVERAGE FOR THE SHARING PROJECT!

"We see it as an opportunity to help meet our greenest city goals - reducing material consumption and waste," said Sean Pander  the city's assistant director of sustainability.

"It's also very effective to help non-profits or businesses expand and meet community and societal goals without needing taxpayer money."

In growing numbers Vancouverites are turning to the sharing economy to save money, reduce consumption and connect with their community.

Initiatives like the Vancouver Tool Library, MODO Car Co-Op and The Hive workspaces have proven demand for shared skills and resources, and demonstrated the environmental, economic and social values of sharing. Our only question now is: “what next?”

The Sharing Project is producing groundbreaking research to empower citizens, shape policy, and identify new opportunities for sharing in Vancouver. Through focus groups, interviews, and surveys, we are determining what you want to share and how you want to share it.

With 60% funding from the City of Vancouver and VanCity Credit Union, we’re satisfying the demand of policy makers, financial institutions and entrepreneurs for data on how to best shape the growth of our sharing economy. While Vancouver is the focus, our findings are public and relevant to communities worldwide.

When you fund The Sharing Project, you’re funding a more inclusive, interactive, and empowered civic life.

YOUR FUNDS WILL ALLOW US TO:

• Create and implement an interactive public engagement website
• Mobilize citizens and members of the sharing community across Vancouver to participate in our open survey.
• Hire the best data analyst to help summarize our research
• Prepare a groundbreaking hyper-regional report on opportunities for Vancouver’s sharing economy

In return for your support, we’ve partnered with great organizations to give you a taste of what Vancouver has to share. For contributing, you'll be able to sample bike and car-sharing, share work space and creative space, and much more! See our list of perks on the right for more details.

Where did this idea come from? Glad you asked!

Two years ago, Chris Diplock and his partner Caitlin wanted to build a chicken coop in their backyard. They quickly realized how expensive it would be to purchase all the equipment they needed, and started knocking on neighbors’ doors instead. After saving money, storage space, and sharing an omelette with their neighbors, the pair realized that other folks in their community might also benefit from tool-sharing. After a bit of research, they noted the demand for tools in their community and founded the Vancouver Tool Library (VTL)

Today The VTL has rented over 3000 tools to over 600 members, offers monthly educational workshops, and has been part of countless community projects. It was featured in The Vancity Community Foundation’s 2011 Annual Report, and Chris has been recognized as a city-shaper through talks at SFU Public Square, Raincity Chronicles, and Pecha Kucha Vancouver.

Listen to Chris' story from Raincity Chronicles' "Extraordinary" storyteller's night here.

Looking forward, Chris realized the void of information to guide entrepreneurs, grantees and government interested in developing the sharing economy. So, in November 2012, he founded Collective Research Group (CRG) as a company to oversee The Sharing Project. CRG is a community research firm dedicated to using research tools to improve neighborhood dialogue in Vancouver.

With The Sharing Project, we are investigating ways to increase the capacity for shared goods and services and empower community leaders to step forward and create much-needed sharing projects in their neighborhoods.

1. LIKE & SHARE The Sharing Project on Facebook

2. SHARE A TWEET with your followers about @Sharing_Project

3. SHARE DINNER with your neighbors... and tell them about The Sharing Project!