This year’s Soup Night project grew from a simple idea: that sharing food creates space for real connection. Inspired by last year’s community croquet tournament—and especially by the meaningful conversations that happened around the barbecue beforehand—I wanted to create something more frequent, more intimate, and more focused on bringing neighbours together. With support from the Neighbourhood Small Grant, I was able to host a series of Soup Nights that became a cherished community ritual.
Over the course of the project, we hosted five Soup Nights, each welcoming 20–30 attendees. The planning was intentionally simple: one big pot of homemade soup, tea, bread, and a cozy space to gather. I spread the word through social media, posters, and word of mouth. Very quickly, Soup Night took on a life of its own. People showed up early, stayed late, and brought incredible openness and generosity with them.
A key part of the planning was making sure the space was welcoming to everyone—accessible, sober, inclusive, and free. I prepared vegetarian and gluten-free options, used reusable dishware, and added small touches like conversation cards and a community gratitude table. These gentle prompts helped people who didn’t know each other find common ground.
One challenge was simply trusting that people would show up. Hosting the first Soup Night felt like a leap—but the response was immediate and heartwarming. Another challenge was managing food quantities; I learned how to scale recipes, stretch ingredients, and accept help when neighbours offered to bring bread, cookies, or an extra pot.
The most surprising part of the project was the emotional response. Many attendees expressed that they had been craving exactly this kind of gathering. Newcomers to Fernie said Soup Night helped them make their first real friends. Others shared that it was the only event where they felt fully comfortable attending alone. Several people told me it became their favourite night of the month.
What I learned is that consistency matters. By hosting Soup Night multiple times, trust and familiarity grew. Faces became familiar, inside jokes emerged, and people began to look out for each other. The warmth and openness that developed was beyond anything I expected.
This project reinforced my belief that small acts—like cooking a pot of soup—can create big shifts in community connection. I’m deeply grateful for the support that allowed this to happen, and I hope to continue hosting Soup Nights as a meaningful, recurring tradition in Fernie.
