You can be the change you want to see in your neighbourhood!
When we talk about great neighbourhoods many things come to mind. The environment: what amenities does the neighbourhood have? Trees? Parks? Beauty and design? Is it clean? Does it appear loved or is it full of litter and graffiti? The livability component; how walkable is it? How accessible? Are there public spaces?
But in my opinion, the most critical component of great neighbourhoods is community. Is the neighbourhood friendly and inclusive? Do people care? Are there great programs for neighbours to meet each other and things to do? Do I feel a part of where I live?
We all want a strong community – but how does that occur?
Many of the great activities and placemaking changes that happen in Hillhurst-Sunnyside are due to the volunteer efforts of a handful of people.
I used to live in Saskatchewan on a farm. Even though people lived miles away from each other, we were a very close-knit community. If someone needed help delivering a calf, a neighbour would be there. If someone’s family was going through hard times, other neighbours would pitch in and harvest their crops for them. The community maintained a small community hall, with only the resources of a few hundred people. They held dances and weekly coffee times, yoga classes and cooked for family reunions all on volunteer efforts. The small rural community of only a few hundred people rolled up their sleeves, fundraised and built a huge hockey arena and two rugby pitches. Everyone knew each other and looked out for each other. Together they accomplished great things.
Fast forward to city living…although you can see into your neighbour’s kitchen window – or share an apartment wall, some people don’t know their neighbours. Isolation in urban environments is increasingly becoming a topic in the media. Even with the advent of social media and more people than ever connecting with ease, some don’t feel authentically connected. COVID has certainly not helped this! Are people attached to the place they live or just their own insular world? But it is possible to feel a sense of community and connectedness, even in the midst of a big city… and its through getting involved!
For me, building community means connecting with the place I live. Community work is rewarding for me because I enjoy the social connections it brings. I can see the fruits of my efforts in tangible community improvements and meet neighbours doing it! It builds pride in my community and makes me feel a part of things.
Here are some quick ways you can get involved this fall to help grow our community spirit…
- Volunteer to help some of our community programs such as the Farmer’s Market or Sustainable Food Program. Opportunities are listed on the hsca.ca website here, https://timecounts.org/hillhurst-sunnyside/opportunities/assignments.
- Participate in Planning Committee. Monthly meetings are on the first Wednesday of each month – contact [email protected] for more info – or check out the planning links on our website!
- Offer to take pictures or write an article for the Newsletter highlighting something interesting in the community. Email [email protected] if you can help or check out our resident submissions page for ideas: https://www.hsca.ca/resident-submissions.
- Take your own initiative to beautify a corner of the neighbourhood – pick up litter, paint a rock and put it out, make a windchime and hang it in a neat spot – get creative, have fun!
- Take on a resident-led initiative – for example the Sunnyside Art Walk and Garage Murals, Water for Riley, Bow to Bluff, Neighbour Day, and so many more were all started by residents! If you have an idea how to make the community better contact [email protected] and we will share our resident-led resources with you! Visit https://www.hsca.ca/resident-led to look at our digital Resident-Led Initiatives Handbook!
