Event boosts sense of community, inclusion, Asia Hollingsworth says
Natalie Hamilton

From families stopping by to get their children’s faces painted to a neighbour with a harmonica who spontaneously joined the band, a recent block party helped bring community together and promote inclusion.

PosAbilities’ Lakeside House hosted a neighbourhood party at the Copley Community Orchard in Vancouver from 1 to 4 p.m. July 6.

It was an opportunity for residents of the Lakeside House and their neighbours to become acquainted, mingle, play games and enjoy the summer weather together, says Asia Hollingsworth, Lakeside House senior support worker.

Neighbourhood children get their faces painted.

Neighbourhood children get their faces painted.

The idea for the block party emerged earlier this year during a Lakeside House community engagement planning meeting. Asia says while some of the neighbours are familiar with each other the party seemed like an ideal opportunity for all community residents to make connections and establish new relationships.

“It was a great success,” she says, noting between 50-75 people stopped by the event. “With a block party and no RSVPs it’s hard to know numbers but it was a really great mix of families, kids and adults.”

The best part was watching the mingling come to life, Asia notes.

The party featured face painting, a band, lawn games, a potluck barbecue and massages by donation.

Lakeside House received a $250 grant from Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House to help fund the event. Volunteers were also an integral part of the party’s success, Asia notes.

She’s hopeful relationships will flourish organically as a result of the barbecue and the event becomes an annual affair.

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