On this Earth Day I recall a community event some neighbours and I hosted several years ago. This event was held in a nearby park and invited people to write, draw or paint how they spent “a great day in Vancouver.” “My Great Day in Vancouver...
Something To Cultivate
In a nearby neighbourhood I discovered a free seeds container. I stopped and checked it out and there were seeds for all kinds of vegetables and flowers. I met a woman who had picked up some seeds for green peppers and also lettuce. I didn’t need any see...
Mending
The Yoko Ono “Mend Piece” exhibit was an interactive exhibit. You were invited to sit a table with others and mend or create something from a table full of broken pieces and some string, scissors and tape. A person at the table with me almost perfe...
Politics Aside
I wrote this several years ago but seems more relevant today. I had completed a week of work and was happy to be on a flight home even though it was a long cross-country flight. It was also happening in the midst of a tense presidential election campaign in th...
It’ll Look Like This
I met a street artist last week in the nearby skate park and he was holding a can of spray paint and evaluating the start of his painting. There was a can of white spray paint in his hand and several other colours art his feet. I glanced at the artwork and ask...
Get Outside
This is a post I wrote 2 years ago, but seems even more a timely as we have been navigating through 2 years of pandemic restrictions. Jump in a puddle today. Meander across town. Go for a stroll. Roll among the world. Pace off your frustrations. Tread, stomp, ...
Where Do You Go?
I met an evaluator several years ago who spoke of an idea to explore the relationships in our lives. His idea was to have a person carry a tiny GPS tracking device in a pocket that would record the path of the person. It could then produce an image of the plac...
What a Transformation
I visited this white building last when I was 7 or so years old. Then it was an auto repair shop where my Dad worked. I tagged along when he went to drop off and pick up his uniforms. I liked that this shop was nestled in the middle of a neighbourhood and the ...
A Beautiful Portfolio
I wrote this story 5 years ago while visiting Northern Wisconsin. I was reminded of it recently as groups imagine what the impact of their work in community could be. “We received a grant and realized we had no clue how to do a mural,” said Susan Martinsen...
What Do You Collect?
Some community connectors I know collect interesting questions. These are the questions that help tap into what we care about. I have a tin box where I keep ticket stubs from memorable events. In this container are stubs for all kinds of events. They are from ...