On the cover of this month’s Bridges (featured above) is a photo sent in by Susan Mulholland, one of BRCA’s directors, and a big contributor to our Beautification Committee’s efforts. The hoops in the photo were leaned against the fence one day this past summer when, with the support of a TD Parks grant, kids from the Wee Wild Ones local day care were treated to some storytelling, music, crafts, and games, and also learned about flora/fauna along the Bow River. I wasn’t on hand the day of the event, and so I won’t venture out too far, and won’t comment upon what exactly the kids learned and heard that day about (among other things) First Nations cultures, while they enjoyed some time outside, but even without going so far: what a striking photo, don’t you think? So much colour and life and energy poised to change, and yet at the same time all held in balance. So pretty. I’ll bet the kids had fun.
The daycare event in July was held in Riverside aka McDougall aka Riverside Park—you can read more about the Park’s back-and-forth name changes within this issue. Even better than that, and provided this issue of Bridges reaches you in time, you can wander down the Park on September 7 for the “Play in the Park” event (details within), which is the third of three events held in that Park this summer, all with the support of that same TD Parks grant. The first involved the Connecting Back to the Bow mural installation on the Park’s fence. The second was the afternoon of activities mentioned in the paragraph above, and the third will be a sort of celebration—a grand opening, the inauguration of interpretive signage, and also a chance to enjoy a moment while recognizing a new (old) Park name.
There seem to be so many small-yet-big initiatives underway in the community these days—more, actually, than most of us can keep track of, truth be told. People often describe the best communites as being vibrant, which means something like: full of energy and enthusiasm, dynamic, bright, and striking. Have a look at that front-cover photo again—and then flip through this month’s newsletter to read about the some of the many goings on in the great and vibrant community of Bridgeland-Riverside.
Brian Beck
