This summer, our Social Committee in our complex hosted a celebration to bring our neighbours together. The idea came from learning that, years ago, gatherings and celebrations here were held on a regular basis. Some of our long-time senior residents, along with children of those original families who are now adults, shared stories of those gatherings, which inspired us to bring back that tradition.
In planning the event, one of our challenges was making sure that everyone felt welcome to attend. We didn’t want anyone to feel excluded if they couldn’t contribute, so we made it a priority to use this grant to cover all the snacks, drinks, food, and supplies. This way, the event was barrier-free, and everyone could simply come, relax, enjoy, and connect with one another.
We also partnered with a local pizza business in the neighbourhood, sharing our purpose and goals for the gathering. They generously gave us a huge discount, which helped stretch our budget even further.
The event was a huge success, with almost 50 participants of all ages, from babies to seniors. Everyone enjoyed lawn games, face painting, a friendship bracelet station, dance-offs, a group music trivia challenge, and simply reconnecting with neighbours. By the end, many were already asking, “When is the next gathering?”
We learned that these kinds of events help strengthen relationships with our neighbours, which is vital to building a healthy and connected community. We hope to make gatherings like this a regular part of life in our complex.
