I originally planned to host Neighbours in Nature in the summer, but as the season unfolded, I moved the event to early fall.
The event took place on a sunny Saturday morning at Josette Dandurand Northeast Latimer Park in Langley. The gathering area is surrounded by large trees, creating a small forest-like space while still being in an urban neighbourhood. I intentionally scheduled the event for the morning so the space would be quieter, particularly because there is a playground nearby. I brought a small Bluetooth speaker with soothing music to create a peaceful atmosphere and soften the surrounding sounds. We were also accompanied by birds singing and the warmth of the morning sun, which made the experience especially grounding.
I promoted the event through Eventbrite, local WhatsApp and Facebook groups, an online community of women I am part of, posters around the park, and personal invitations to friends and acquaintances. One of the challenges I encountered was realizing that my own community reach in Langley is small. This became an important part of the project for me: getting outside my usual social bubble and creating opportunities to meet people face-to-face.
I had originally planned to facilitate the event with a friend, but she became ill the day before, so I facilitated the gathering on my own. We began with grounding and guided meditation, followed by quiet personal reflection and journaling. There was no pressure to share or speak about anyone’s experience. Afterwards, we shared snacks and refreshments and had time to connect and mingle.
Some people registered online through Eventbrite, while others joined as walk-ins. Parents brought their children, who moved between the meditation area and the playground. As we began mingling, other people walking through the park also stopped to chat and share snacks, even if they had not participated in the meditation. Children of different ages began playing together, and adults exchanged contact information to stay connected.
I was also intentional about making the refreshments as inclusive as possible. Since I did not know the participants’ dietary needs, I chose vegan foods and avoided common allergens such as nuts, dairy, and gluten.
The biggest lesson I took from this project is that community is built through presence and connection. The experience reminded me that I want to continue expanding my local community, nurturing in-person relationships, and creating more opportunities for people to slow down, connect with themselves, nature, and one another. Participants expressed interest in future gatherings, which made me feel that this was only the beginning.
