Neighbour Day: Neighbours Activating Neighbourhoods
What is Neighbour Day!?
CDLI went out to various neighbourhoods across Calgary to celebrate Neighbour Day. Neighbour Day is a City of Calgary specific initiative that encourages neighbourliness in many forms. . Held each year on the third Saturday in June, Neighbour Day is a step toward creating welcoming and inclusive communities where neighbours connect and belong every day of the year. To support this initiative the City of Calgary supports neighbours with micro-funds, permit approvals and providing connections with City services and special guests like the Mayor. To learn about the perks of Neighbour day, Block Party Guide by the City of Calgary. Here at CDLI we are big advocates for Neighbour Day to be an event to practice community development.
CDLI Celebrates the 13th Neighbour Day Celebrations
On Saturday June 20th, in the midst of a rainy forecast we went to the three neighbour day celebrations to find out how neighbours are practicing community development. Here are the stories and people behind the the events
Neighbourhood: Dover
Hosted by Ariana Kippers, a resident of Dover worked with the Community Social Worker to put on a learning event and community clean up called Taking Cate of Na’a which is the Blackfoot word for Mother or Mother Earth. We hatted with Ariana about why she decided to host this workshop.
The opportunity to walk and talk with other neighbours about why we’re cleaning up the neighbourhood. Other residents were appreciative. Ariana used her skills of plant teaching, knowledge on native plants and foraging to share with other participants. These skills participants learned was to identify certain plants and what qualities they have. Experience their neighbourhood and how to keep it clean. Elder Adrian Wolgleg was present to share his wisdom and care while we all had a meal together.
Neighbourhood: Hillhurst-Sunnyside
Every neighbour day since the 2013 floods, Hillhurst-Sunnyside puts on a parade to honour and celebrate the community spirit of the floods that impacted many residents in the area. I really enjoyed the parade and community pride. To get the vibe of the parade, Jeremy Klaszus, editor of the Sprawl captured the essence of the parade well on his Instagram. Tyson, talked with residences about their experience of the parade.
Long time residences and new, get to imagine how they show up, how they want to express themselves from what they wear, promote to a skill. Wanda has been attending the parade, for her she gets to run into her neighbours and catch up, know what they’re getting up for the Summer and learning about how to be more involved. James and his family enjoy the parade and it’s a highlight of their families Summer outings. The parade feels like the kickoff event of Summer holidays.
Neighbourhood: Bridgeland
Lee-Ann went to a housing complex in the neighbourhood of Bridgeland who were hosted by the organization Roots of Arnica a grassroots organization co-created by three immigrant Women to alleviate food insecurity and provide culturally appropriate foods. Lee-Ann spoke with co-founder Smriti about their neighbour day activity.
Smriti organized the event at housing complex, Bishop Manor. It was an opportunity for neighbours to plant and get ready for the growing season. Smriti knew about Neighbour Day as it gets wide promotion. Residents in the Manor came out to plant, connecting neighbours who like in the Manor with residents who live in other areas of the neighbourhood.
A small group came together (Joanna, Micheal and Riki) and touched on some key elements of their experience of the event and neighbour day. They expressed how funding was a huge bonus to allow for others to connect. Also, this conversation noted all the potential ‘dismissed’ neighbours like those who may be unhoused and struggling.