This month is National Volunteer month and the theme for 2022 is “Empathy in Action”. It has been a challenging two years and our volunteers at HSCA have certainly embodied this quality.
Despite the changing COVID-19 environment, Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association has had community volunteers step up to support our neighbours through our various programs. Empathy is defined as “the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.” Neighbours in Hillhurst and Sunnyside have demonstrated they are here for each other in challenging times, and we are all in this together! We are so grateful to live in such a special neighbourhood with so many generous volunteers.
For National Volunteer Month we would like to celebrate these wonderful neighbours amongst us who give their personal time to make life better in our community! Apologies if we missed anyone unintentionally.
FARMER’S MARKET
Our Farmer’s Market and Flea Market continued to run throughout the past year, keeping the local economy and small businesses supported. Volunteers greet the community patrons at the door, keeping our market safe and friendly. To get involved email tolu.o@hsca.ca
Thank you to our volunteers: Michaela, Albert, and Helen
SUSTAINABLE FOOD PROGRAM
The Sustainable Food Program continues to support our community with fresh, local, and affordable food options. Our dedicated team of volunteers prepare food and set up the market each week, greeting and serving our community in an inclusive, positive, and welcoming environment. Many of our volunteers build relationships with community members and familiar faces each week helps our community connect. These programs are supported with our amazing volunteer drivers who pick up donated goods and bring them to HSCA for the market. These critical and important roles have all been performed by our dedicated volunteers, whose efforts support others in our community. To get involved email Shaye.r@hsca.ca
Thank you to our volunteers: Daryn, Cathal, Julia, Janet, Eugene, Catherine, Rebecca, Michaela, Ronald, Kye, Leizel, Cher and Craig!
SENIORS’ SUPPORT
Our Seniors’ programs have been running mostly online through Covid but events like Chair Yoga allow neighbours who have been more isolated than usual to share experiences and stay healthy. Many volunteers assist seniors in our community with deliveries, snow shoveling, phone calls and other supports. Covid has been particularly isolating for some of our older neighbours. We are lucky to have community volunteers who have stepped up to lend a hand. To get involved helping seniors' email Debbie.o@hsca.ca.
Thank you to our volunteers who have provided support over the last two years:
Joyce, Jo, Lauren, Katie, Regan, Jeramy, Sammy, Arturo, Carolyn, Elsa, Christine, Anna, Manny, Susan, Molli.
We would also like to include a thank you to the community residents who have helped neighbours during the last two years. You saw a need and responded, showing that our community is not just defined by location, but by the connections and supports you provide to neighbours when needed.
CASINO
Our casino fundraiser was held on January 25 and 26 at Cash Casino and while it was a challenge during COVID, we had 26 volunteers come out and help us with this important fundraiser, which provides funds to help keep the Community Centre Building available with upgrades and improvements, which is an ongoing process. Some of the volunteers who helped came from other communities to help us out, and some volunteers worked more than one shift.
Thank you to each volunteer who helped, by sharing your time with us. I hope you all know how grateful we are that you were able to help make this casino a success, especially with all the COVID challenges.
Cindy, Mary, Deanne, Bob 1, Bob 2, James, Sandy, Deb, Brian, Rita, Darol, Patti, Arelene, Carol, David, Pam, Jim, Joy, Sarah, Shaye, Yasmeen, Bekah, Kat, Joe, Linda.
NEWSLETTER
We have been keeping the neighbourhood up to speed with information and events through the Voice Newsletter. Residents can contribute articles on varying topics of interest. For example, volunteer Tim S has been contributing regularly on cycling education and issues. If you have a topic you would like to write about and share with the community contact ian.l@hsca.ca. We welcome community submissions!
Thank you to our volunteers: Tim S., Lorna C, Christie P.
PLANNING
Our volunteer planning committee meets monthly to review planning applications in the community and others volunteer to drop notices about planning info to neighbours. We have a dedicated group of residents who have educated themselves on planning matters and contribute significant time, expertise and energy to ensuring the community maintains its livability, affordability and high-quality urban design. This community is grateful to have such a committed group of smart folks to provide this role. Our planning team’s volunteer time is greatly appreciated!
Thanks to our volunteers:
Lorna C, Ben V, Christie P, Maddie S, Mark B, Andrew H, Decker B, Eliot T, Hayley R, Peter L, Tom D, Kimberly R, Rachel S, Patti D, Daria M, Chris A, Jim H, Elicia C, Tao J, Michael P, Hilary M, Sarah G.
SUNNYSIDE BRIGHTENING COMMITTEE
The Sunnyside Brightening Committee is no longer active in 2023
The Sunnyside Brightening Committee (SBC) was a group of neighbours seeking to "brighten" Sunnyside via recreational, artistic, and environmental improvements.
Originally established to focus on aesthetic aspects of flood mitigation projects, this resident group’s scope has expanded to include all recreational, artistic, and environmental opportunities in Sunnyside. This winter they activated New Edinborough Park with firepits, seating, skating rinks, etc. They build and maintain the Bike Track, public art in the area, host events, and add vitality to Sunnyside in so many tangible ways!
Thanks to our volunteers:
Jim B., Cheryl and Jared S., Gerald W, Tim K, Tim P, Kerri T, Sarah J, Daniel K, Mike J, Ian R., Christie P, Mindi S, Dexter B., David S. Brad P., Curtis, Mike H, Holly Anne, Peter A, Kate V, Richard and Buff, Christy S, Dirk B, Aaron S, Christie H, Jon M, Angela P, Eugene S, Peter B, Noel K, Charlie L, Anne C, Stuart J, Dennis S, John R
HERITAGE
This committee is focused on the preservation and celebration of Hillhurst-Sunnyside's architectural, cultural, and natural history. A large initiative this year was working on a Historical Context Paper for the neighbourhood which extensively researched and recorded the history of Hillhurst-Sunnyside. Interested individuals should contact Lorna Cordeiro via volunteer@hsca.ca
Lorna C., Lisa C., Patti D, Kathleen K, Diana P., Alan Z., John G.
FLOOD COMMITTEE
The Infrastructure (Technical) Committee is part of our emergency preparedness, disaster mitigation and liaison between residents & The City of Calgary on infrastructure. This committee has been led by volunteer extraordinaire Charlie Lund and has been tirelessly advocating for flood protection for the community for many years. We are fortunate to have volunteers educated in these very technical matters advocating on our behalf – it takes up a LOT of time but is so essential for the future safety of our community! For more information or to get involved email volunteer@hsca.ca
Thank you to our volunteers:
Charlie L, Brian B, David B, Harlan T, Kerri T, Mike B, Noel K, Pat J, Peggi M, Preston W, Reg J, Richard B and Tim T
HILLHURST PLACEMAKING
This committee was founded around the winter 2022 pop-up activation of West Gladstone Park and has since built a network of fun, creative and engaged neighbours who want to continue to beautify, improve liveability and add vitality to the Hillhurst area. To get involved email volunteer@hsca.ca
Thank you to our volunteers:
Jane E, Kevin J, Bill L, Heather H, Paul M, Ellen B, Tom D, Lorna C, Deborah S, Carole B, Stan P, Deborah S (and more joining all the time!)
MOBILITY COMMITTEE
This committee educates, provides information and advocates for the community on traffic safety, parking, mobility issues.
Thank you to volunteers:
Christie P, Tom D, Tim S, Anne C
HSCA BOARD/ AGM
Board members are primarily responsible for the governance of HSCA, an organization with a breadth of impactful programming and activities in one of Calgary’s most vibrant and diverse communities. Our AGM is coming up on April 20th, 2022. If you would like to give back to our community and join the Board email kate.s@hsca.ca.
Thank you to our 2021/ 2022 Board Members:
Laila A, Mary M, Bekah C, David F, Andrew R, Elicia C, Joanne G, Kathleen K, Miranda J, Ryan M, Sandra W.