Our original Neighbourhood Small Grant application proposed to bring together residents of a seniors’ (55+) mobile home park to support each other in preparing for emergencies such as earthquakes, flooding, etc. Though the Park Manager indicated there are emergency plans in place, most park residents were uninformed about them and many were not personally prepared (including me!). To prepare for a residents meeting, I contacted the local district Emergency Planning Dept for info and met with the Park Manager who, unfortunately, was somewhat resistant to resident involvement. However, I went ahead with an information sharing meeting in August which drew about a dozen residents representing eight households. Participants had a chance to share knowledge and questions, and I offered resources on personal emergency planning from the province, along with a one-sheet with other useful website links and information for seniors and pet owners. Residents enjoyed refreshments and a lively exchange about emergency planning for the park.
An upshot of raising this issue was that the Park Manager distributed a newsletter to each household providing updated information about the park’s Emergency Evacuation plan. A few of those in attendance agreed to follow up on improving communications and addressing other issues that were raised. There is more work to do, but it was a good start enabled by the grant.
As this activity used up only part of the grant, I sought approval to spend the remaining funds to host an event for Dia de los Muertos on Nov. 2. The mobile park does not get Halloween trick or treaters, and the residents are seniors who have all experienced the loss of loved ones, so this seemed like an appealing way to mark the season. The invitation poster explained the Mexican tradition of Dia de los Muertos and invited people to participate to the extent they chose.
The outdoor space was decorated with string lights and papel picada. I created an ofrenda (shrine to the dead) with room for people to add photos of loved ones who have passed on. Coloured paper, ribbons, and felt pens were provided for people to add memory “name tags” to a Memory Tree beside the ofrenda.
Food was served on an outdoor deck while participants gathered around the ofrenda in a covered driveway with a propane gas fire ring for warmth. Refreshments included Mexican hot chocolate, spiced coffee and a pot of chili, along with various sweet treats – including decorated sugar cookie skulls. A few guests even arrived with painted faces and flower garlands in their hair, in the spirit of Catrina figures that are part of the Dia de los Muertos tradition.
As guests relaxed with food and drinks, they added tags to the Memory Tree and began to share stories about lost loved ones or experiences of a loved one’s presence after death. The event brought together park residents and other neighbours and enabled some reconnections between park residents who had been estranged. This is sure to become an annual event!
