People wonder what makes a community great to live in. In our little strata, we’ve come to learn that community is all about connection and resilience, and we’re doing what we can to build that. One of the ways we foster this co-operative spirit is by inviting all our owners to gather for some fun, fellowship, and good food during the summer. It gives us a chance to connect with those we don’t see as often and to deepen friendships with our neighbours.
We’re a small strata with units of varying sizes built in the 90s into the hillside looking out over Hammond Bay in Nanaimo. While not a 55+ strata, there is a strong appeal for many edging into their senior years to locate here, as many (but not all) of the units are on one level, making aging in place an inviting option. In fact, until recently, we had numerous original owners still living here, a testament to the development.
This year, we wanted to have a picnic that had a Red & White theme, celebrating not only our community, but Canada, the country we are blessed to live in. An organizing committee was formed, and plans began about 3 months out from our late-July celebration. Five women put together the ideas for décor, a compelling all-Canadian menu featuring delicious and seasonal items locally sourced and only available here in Canada.
Décor was Canadian-themed too, and for fun, we played a Canadian trivia game with prizes. We divided up all the responsibilities and tasks between us and invited all our neighbours. At the same time, we decided to apply for a neighbourhood small grant, and partway through our planning, we were informed our application was accepted!
Everyone had a marvellous time and participated in some way…we had a terrific setup / take down crew, people donated tables and chairs to use, many hands helped with the decorating, shopping, baking, and preparing our delicious meal. One of our owners gave a meaningful Land Acknowledgement to kick things off, and another owner, who is an accomplished musician, played his guitar as we all sang Oh Canada. We laughed, sang, played games, and enjoyed each other’s company. A fine time had by all.
So, if you are thinking about what makes a great neighbourhood, consider what we have learned…get connected and be social! Build community and resilience within your neighbourhood. It’s so worth it!
