Neighbour Day
On the anniversary of the 2013 Alberta Floods, the costliest natural disaster in Canadian history, Mayor Nenshi has declared June 21 a day of celebration of the spirit of volunteerism in Calgary
Kaity Brown, Publishing Editor
After the City of Calgary Pathway and River Clean-up, an annual tradition that had more weight this year after the devastation left in the wake of the 2013 Alberta Floods, mayor Naheed Nenshi declared June 21 as Neighbour Day – a day to celebrate and remember how Calgarians stood up to the challenge of taking back their city after the costliest disaster in Canadian history.
The day is meant for people to gather in their neighbourhoods, spending the day together. It’s reminiscent of the multiple volunteers who, with mass BBQs, feed armies as of workers and volunteers as they trod through the wreckage to help affected homeowners try and regain their homes.
“We’ve had a tough year,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi. “But it’s also been a year of triumph as we showed the world who we are and how we help each other.”
This time last year, around 100,000 people were displaced from their homes. The disaster caused an estimated $5 billion dollars in damages, not including the estimation for future flood mitigation projects and plans in place for flood redirection and community protection.
The event is also to encourage community cleanups – with the floods, countless amounts of debris and garbage emerged riddling communities and public parks and pathways. The Calgary Pathway and River Cleanup this year required around 7,000 volunteers around the city to help Calgary’s beloved parks and recreational pathways.
Here are some of the events happening around the city in honor of Neighbour Day:
SATURDAY, JUNE 21
Downtown 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
313 – 3rd Street S.E.
Block party featuring free food and live entertainment for all Calgarians.
Beddington Heights 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Beddington Blvd. from Beddington Trail to Berkshire Blvd.
Repairing and repainting the fence along Beddington Blvd. with a BBQ to follow.
Bowness 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Bowness Crescent
Boots and Hearts thank you party open to all those who helped with the flooding. Family fun zone, beer gardens and live enterainment.
Canyon Meadows 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
844 Cantabrian Drive S.W.
Face painting, balloon tying, bouncy castle and community walkabout and food.
Chaparral 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
225 Chaparral Drive S.E.
Stampede kickoff with food, games and a horse ‘n carriage ride.
Cliff Bungalow- Mission 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
2201 Cliff Street S.W.
Mission Possible 2 with free BBQ, live music, face painting and games.
Crossroads 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Crossroads Furniture Mart parking lot
Vista Heights community cleanup. Residents are asked to help clean up a local area and drop off refuse as as well as hard to recycle items.
Erlton 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Talisman Centre
Community BBQ with DJ, beer gardens and family activities.
Haysboro 5 p.m.
Haysboro Community Centre
Community parade followed by sports games, live music, food trucks and dance, all at the community hall.
Hidden Valley 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
10504 Hidden Valley Drive N.W.
Run the Loop fundraiser followed by Sports Windup BBQ with bouncy houses and music.
Highland Park 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
3716 – 2 Street N.W.
Community breakfast, community cleanup and BBQ celebration at Buchanan School (3717 Centre Street).
Lincoln Park 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Park on Lincoln Way
Cultural diversity celebration with potluck meal, traditional clothing and music from residents’ home countries, street hockey, sidewalk chalk competition and talent show.
Marda Loop 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
3130-16th Street S.W.
Community BBQ to say thank you for resident support during the flood.
Montgomery 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Shouldice Park
Community hot dog roast
Scarboro – Sunalta 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
134 Scarboro Avenue S.W.
Coffee and muffins at Scarboro United, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Clothing and toy drive from 11:30 A.M. to 2 p.m. and BBQ lunch at Sacred Heart Church.
Thorncliffe-Greenview 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
5600 Centre Street North
Community breakfast, community cleanup and BBQ at Buchanan School.
Tuxedo Park 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
202 – 29th Avenue N.E.
Community breakfast and community cleanup, followed by BBQ at Buchanan School.
SUNDAY, JUNE 21
Capitol Hill 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
1531- 21st Avenue N.W.
Community garden build from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with BBQ to follow.
For more information about neighbour day or to pick up your own TLC (the litter clean-up kit) or a Block party package, check out The City of Calgary webpage.
