I recently volunteered to be a co-chair on my neighbourhood land-use committee, that facilitates dialogue between developers and the neighbourhood. In Victoria, most all neighbourhoods and/or communities have their own land-use committee; aka Community Association Land-Use Committee (CALUC). The land-use development approval process is a terrific avenue to involve citizens in a meaningful ways; i.e., […]
Foster Civic Collaboration Through the Land-Use Development Approval Process
July 12, 2016 by · Leave a Comment
Public Art: A way to increase local interactions, connections and conversations
July 14, 2014 by · 2 Comments
Do you know your neighbours? Anything that increases interaction opportunities with neighbours, or strangers, I figure is a good thing. Public art is such a thing. From silos to interactions Even in dense urban places, our life can feel like a silo. Yet, once we get past our inward-looking tendencies, and open up to interactions […]
A Thanksgiving Story
November 9, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
[There’s a place in my neighbourhood called Mitchell House. It provides transitional, semi-independent residence, for young men aged 16-21. Graham Kelly is the manager of Mitchell House, part of the Threshold Housing Society. This is his story. I first read Graham’s story in my neighbourhood’s monthly newsletter, dropped off at my door this week. I […]
Bruce Saunders and Movie Monday: Bringing Community to my Neighbourhood
October 11, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Watching a movie can be so much more. I’m a huge fan of Bruce Saunders weekly Movie Monday showing at the Eric Martin Pavilion Theatre, here in Victoria. I’m a fan not just because of the movies shown at Eric Martin, though they tend to rock. It’s a community event, where neighbours and nearby citizens […]
Who Are You?
December 23, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Last night, I was out caroling in my neighbourhood. It was great fun. First we broke bread, i.e. sweets, and hot, spiced apple cider, at the organizer’s house. Someone brought Christmas carol song sheets. We headed out, about 20 of us, young and old. We worked the neighbourhood, looking for houses with lights on, the […]
