Toss a few horseshoes and get to know your neighbours.
The Victoria Horseshoe club is playing host to a community meet-and-greet, where people from all corners of Saanich can chat with other residents, while having lunch on the horseshoe pitch.
B次元官网网址淲hen I was a child we used to have block parties and everybody knew each other,B次元官网网址� said Janet Lum, the event organizer and Royal Oak resident. B次元官网网址淭hat doesnB次元官网网址檛 happen any more and not many people know their communities.B次元官网网址�
Lum, a client relations employee for HP Advanced Solutions and member of the Victoria Horseshoe Club, created the event to revive the notion of a community block party, but also as an assignment set out by her Landmark Education leadership program.
She was challenged to impact anywhere from 20 to 200 people in the community.
B次元官网网址淲hat I hope to accomplish is to promote a well-connected, safe and prosperous community,B次元官网网址� Lum said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 very proud to live in this community and want to give back.B次元官网网址�
The event format will have vendor booths from Saanich businesses, and attendance by the Victoria RoyalB次元官网网址檚 Marty the Marmot, Bob Alexander the Town Crier, Saanich Fire Rescue and organizations such as Block Watch.
B次元官网网址淪aanich always likes these groups, be it lawn bowling, canoe and kayaking, or horseshoes. These groups are a terrific part of the social fabric of the community,B次元官网网址� said Saanich Coun. Paul Gerrard, who plans to attend the meet-and-greet. B次元官网网址淎nything that gets people outside into the community is a great thing.B次元官网网址�
About 100 volunteers from the all-volunteer horseshoe club are making the event a reality, said club president Cheryl Cliche, from cooking, to event setup to showing people how to play horseshoes.
B次元官网网址�(This club) is one of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 best kept secrets,B次元官网网址� Cliche said. B次元官网网址淭his event is a great opportunity for the community and the club. We can showcase what we have.B次元官网网址�
Lum will use the event to launch VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 TheSharehood.org website, which promotes connecting and sharing between neighbours.
Through the website, people can offer up their expertise, skills or equipment B次元官网网址� such as carpentry, or tools for home or auto repair.
TheSharehood.org site is based in Australia and has a growing following around the world. Lum plans to launch a Victoria B次元官网网址渉oodB次元官网网址� within the site.
B次元官网网址淭he idea is to promote local interactions. If you need a ladder, you can go onto the site and find somebody nearby to borrow from,B次元官网网址� Lum said.
The Saanich community meet-and-greet is Saturday, Oct. 20, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Victoria Horseshoe Pitching Association, 620 Kenneth St. See .
editor@saanichnews.com
