by April Vande Beek
As the City of Calgary explains it, “Neighbour Day is an annual event celebrated in Calgary on the third Saturday of June. The event encourages Calgarians to get to know their neighbours and build stronger, more connected communities. It was first introduced in 2014 as a response to the devastating floods that hit the city the previous year, as a way of bringing people together to celebrate the community’s resilience and strength. Since then, Neighbour Day has become an important tradition in Calgary, with neighbourhoods hosting a wide range of activities and events, such as block parties, BBQs, community cleanups, and more.”
For a block of us in Bridgeland, this year that ‘and more’ consisted of a dunk tank, egg toss, patio playlist, pizza, and a parrot attendee, to name a few. Our mission was two-fold: connect our Bridgeland community block and also raise money for the Calgary Food Bank.
Even before we got the chance to start target practice on the dunk tank or meet soon-to-move-in neighbours (hey there, Lauren and Stuart!), the opportunity to team up and dream up the day fostered the Neighbour Day spirit. While Bridgeland is too inner-city to get together for a barn raising, it’s fair to say that the lawn-tent hoisting achieved a similar sense of shared purpose.
Amidst all the excitement, the true impact of our collective efforts became apparent as we raised over $3,500 for the local food bank, showing the strength of what we can do when we come together to support our neighbours in the city who are experiencing food insecurity.
The success of our efforts would not have been possible without the tremendous support of our local sponsors with food, drink, and raffle prize contributions. Thanks to: Toto Pizza, Baya Rica Cafe, Bike & Brew, Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, Junction 9, Bridgeland Sport & Spine, Maud Medical Clinic, Village Brewery (thanks, Steve!), Bridgeland Vet Clinic, Sierra Dental, YYC Sport & Spine, Bridgeland Crossings Dental, Doodle Dogs, Bridgeland Distillery, Peace Beauty & Cafe, Village Ice Cream, Lukes Drug Mark, Jarman Flower Shop, TO Cigar Boutique, Elite Brewing, and Starbucks Coffee. Your contributions highlight your commitment to our community and neighbourly connections.
Let’s make everyday Neighbour Day. Whether it’s borrowing a cup of sugar, lending a hand on the tools, receiving deliveries for next door, or popping by with some food during a hard time, having kind and connected neighbours makes daily life a little less stressful and a lot more fun.
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