More Than a Block Party
36B
Street held its 16th Block Party on July 18. Each summer, with city approval,
we block each end of 36B, allowing the safe movement of everyone on the street.
Tables are set up on one of our neighbours’ driveways for the different potluck
offerings from each household — always a great mix of foods. People bring
chairs. Adults mingle or chase kids around. Usually, hoses are out and water
fights. Kids draw with chalk and ride their bikes up and down the street. Older
kids often eat and disappear together into each other’s homes to play. On
wetter days, the group has hung an enormous tarp between trees and posts, and
our neighbours open their garage for setting the food out. A fire cauldron is
often brought out and lit as the evening gets cooler. Chairs are drawn closer
together, and the visiting continues. Such a wonderful way to spend time
together and catch up.
Other
gatherings include a Halloween Potluck and bonfire, where bowls of candies from
each household are lined up in a row for ‘one stop’ dispersal and everyone can
visit and warm up on cold nights. In early December, interested neighbours
gather and make seasonal wreaths and containers. When not face-to-face,
neighbours communicate using our chat group “36B St Friends.” Posts range from
invitations for drinks on a sunny deck, requests for food ingredients, to
broader neighbourhood information.
How
did this all get started? I’ll admit to being a primary instigator. Having
grown up on a homestead ranch, I was used to knowing and helping out my
neighbours. Newcomers were warmly welcomed and often invited over for supper. As
such, I replicated this behaviour when I moved to the city, doing things such
as exchanging child minding for date nights, visiting with neighbours (having
children and a dog were great ice-breakers), making a community garden with a
neighbour, exchanging a vacation house, cat or dog sitting, and even putting
out everyone’s bins (it only takes a few minutes longer to put them out when
you’re doing your own).
Throughout
these years, we’ve seen young couples have children, watched the young grow,
move away, and start their own lives. We’ve had new people and families joint
the group. Those of us who’ve been here a while have matured, going through our
own life transitions, facing end-of-life concerns and losses—all of which we
get to share, giving and receiving support to each other in our little corner
of Parkdale.
It’s easy to hold a Block Party. The
application is now free, and process simple. https://www.calgary.ca/roads/permits/block-parties.html.
We also borrow the two blockades from Parkdale Community Association to block
off the end of the street.
Joyce
Buzath, with input from 36B neighbours
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