You may have noticed information in last month’s newsletter about our new Block Connector Program. Or maybe you received a slip in your mailbox about the program. Or maybe you saw something on our website or Facebook page about it. We hope so, but even if you didn’t, this is a pretty cool initiative we have launched in Highland Park that is unique in Calgary and we’d love you to participate!
The Block Connector program is being undertaken by the Highland Park Community Association, in partnership with our City of Calgary Social Worker, Jennifer DiMarzo, and Lauren Mangion from Carya. It is intended to connect community residents on a hyper-local level, such as on the same block or adjacent blocks. We are pleased to introduce you to some of our brand-new Block Connectors elsewhere in this newsletter. They are community residents like you and are looking forward to connecting with their neighbours to share information, resources, and ideas for community-building activities in Highland Park. If you are within their block area, you may already have received a notice delivered to your mailbox from them that introduces who they are and provides you with their contact information.
Each Block Connector selected has been interviewed, passed a Police Check, and has received some training from our organizing team. We are still looking for more Block Connectors and for more residents to just sign up to participate in the program. You can sign up for either role using our secure survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MG7886V.
You can also reach out to our organizing team for more information. Contact Anne or Roz from the HPCA at volunteer@hpca.ca, Jennifer from the City of Calgary at JDiMarzo@calgary.ca, or Lauren from Carya at LaurenM@CaryaCalgary.ca.
We have been discussing some possible ideas for block-level activities we can do that meet the public health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some things we thought of were scavenger hunts (looking for things around the neighbourhood), themed window decorations, curbside talent shows (what are your talents?), outdoor workshops (can you teach people how to make a birdhouse, or take better photos?), pen-pal letter-writing exchanges to connect with isolated seniors, email exchanges of jokes of the day, online games or trivia events, and front yard Happy Hour events or picnics. We’d love to hear your ideas too! So, please sign up and connect with us!
We are excited about this new program in Calgary and are proud that HPCA gets to try it out first. Who says you can’t launch a new program during a pandemic? Not us. Let’s do this thing!
Hello, my name is Kiren Pandher and I signed up to become a Block Connector to stay connected with my community, get to know my neighbours, and build lasting relationships. What I love about Highland Park are the Little Free Library’s around every corner, the variations of homes and architecture, the parks and pathways we have easy access to, and proximity of our community to other parts of our City. I love going for walks, biking, heading to the mountains, and reading a good book in the sun. I enjoy being outdoors in both the summer and the winter and especially like the company of others. I hope to get to know you soon through the program!
Best Regards,
Kiren
I’m Monica Truong and have lived in Highland Park for ten years. I signed up for Block Connector because have been lamenting the fact that I don’t know many people in my community, and this is the excuse to meet them! I spend my days homeschooling my two girls, Octavia, 11, and Unity,7, learning to code, volunteering at Grow Calgary, facilitating at Chinook Free Learners (a learning co-op for homeschoolers), and thinking about all the DIY projects around the house that I could do if I had the time. My husband is an avid gardener and this year, we will be out in the yard more than ever, expanding our garden in the side yard, and starting a food forest in the front yard. (Please excuse the mess. It will be beautiful when the foliage comes in. And even better when we can start eating from it!)
Regards,
Monica
My name is Adam Sullo. I have been living in Highland Park for 2 years after relocating back from southwestern Ontario. My family and I have enjoyed living in Highland Park because we enjoy the feel of an established community while still having the ease of access to the rest of the City. When I am not working or doing projects around my house, you will find me working on my car or at a racetrack somewhere. I signed up to be a Block Connector because I feel that the community is important, and I wanted to support it.
Thank you,
Adam Sullo
I am pleased to be a Block Connector in Highland Park because I love the community and look forward to meeting my neighbours. I’ve lived here for five years and I’m hoping we can work together to develop a strong sense of community. Do you have any talents, skills or ideas that can inspire our block or community during these times of social isolation?
Cory Beath
My husband and I have lived in Highland Park for 11 years. We have three boys and our family enjoys biking, walking, and scooting around the community. I grew up in Mount Pleasant and I still love living so central. When I am not busy with our boys, I also enjoy gardening, baking, and crocheting. I am looking forward to getting to know more of our neighbors and creating more connections in our community.
Carla Rae
