A few weeks ago, I was helping a friend of mine move into her new place. We were standing in her kitchen, unpacking her dried goods when she started telling me about her memories of her grandmother’s kitchen. Growing up in a rural community on the east coast, she explained, her grandmother’s house served as a sort of unofficial community hub. People from ‘up’ and ‘down the road’ would pop in—unannounced—have a cup of coffee and cookie and socialize. At the centre of her grandmother’s house, she explained, was a cast iron stove with a perimeter of endless seating: a rocking chair, a loveseat, and a few mismatched kitchen chairs. The hum of conversation, kids playing, stories being told, plans being made, and a place to warm your toes.
“Anyone could stop in—the door was always open. That’s what made it so special.” she said as she consolidated two jars of dried kidney beans. For my friend, these moments around the cast iron stove in her grandmother’s house was a place of community. Sure, cookies, coffee, and a roaring fire are all very nice but what makes a community space is the people that fill it: the energy they bring to the space, whether it’s making plans to mobilize or just socialize.
For me, HSCA provides this same sense of community. A space to gather, pull up a chair, engage with each other and stay informed about our neighbourhood. But HSCA is only a building without its people and the possibilities they bring. It’s truly the members within this community that define the space, what it means, and how it can best serve and support the needs of Hillhurst Sunnyside residents.
This March is Community Association Awareness Month and we encourage you to take a closer look at HSCA and see how you can become more involved. Whether it’s checking out some of our Community programs, popping by our Wednesday Farmers’ Market, attending the monthly Community Planning meeting, trying our new Karma Yoga class, or shopping the Sunday Flea Market—HSCA is truly a space for everyone.
How can I get more involved with HSCA? Here are just some ways you can get more involved this Month:
Sign up for our e-newsletter for monthly updates and community events (this month you won’t want to miss our new Skillz ‘N’ Stuff: Zero Waste Evening at HSCA)
Purchase an HSCA Membership (a win, win because you’ll be supporting HSCA programming and getting great Membership perks! Visit www.hsca.ca/membership)
Try our drop-in Badminton, or sign-up for one of our Art classes!
Volunteer! There’s so many roles and opportunities available with various commitment levels at HSCA (visit www.hsca.ca/volunteers) . There’s some great volunteer opportunities with the Water for Riley (W4R)— a 5-year multi-stakeholder and interdisciplinary fundraising project to install a work of art, accessible drinking fountain at the southwest corner of Riley Park near the children’s’ playground. Help plan the W4R celebration and take a look at the list of opportunities here.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date on events and information in our community.
Submit content to the Voice or our blog. We welcome residents to share their unique perspectives and voices relevant to our community! (Have an idea, content or questions? Email: stephanie.c@hsca.ca)
Visit our website for a full list of events. Stay tuned for updates on May’s Jane’s Walk, the annual Neighbour Day events in June, and other awesome resident-led initiatives in our community!
Attend our Annual General Meeting this year! We encourage all Hillhurst Sunnyside residents to attend on Monday, April 27th 7-9pm. This is a great way to learn what the HSCA Board of Directors and Committees have been up to! Note: if you wish to run and vote for Board positions, you must have a valid HSCA Memberships purchased 30 days prior to the AGM.