by Carla Obuck, Sports and Events Director, Auburn Bay Community Association (ABCA)
It is hard to believe that we are already heading into October, this year has seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. I am grateful that my kids have graduated and are able to attend post-secondary, even if it is online. The only issue is that our son’s return to SAIT is that much of his program requires that he works with very expensive equipment, so I am sure that next semester he will have labs at the school that he will need to attend. I know that the return to school/homeschooling has been a difficult decision for many families in our community and we are so excited to share all the great photos of the families. I believe that together we will make it through. Please remember that calling 2-1-1 will get you access to various provincial/city services.
Our family games day on August 29 went well, considering the weather seemed to be the biggest issue. We appreciated all the families that braved the wind and cold to try a round of disc golf, everyone seemed to have a great time. We had hoped to set up our new party tent, but the wind was a concern. Thank you to the TD Parks Grant for sponsoring this community event. The food trucks from the Games Day asked us to host a CA fundraiser event, which was done on September 12 at the Prince of Peace school parking lot. I was so glad to see the event come together and everyone that came out to enjoy the food they had to offer. It was the second time we had the opportunity to use the school parking lot, and we are looking to host another food truck day at the beginning of October for those who missed it.
We are currently in the planning process for the informal Community Clean-Up to be hosted September 26, more details to follow in the next edition on how the event went. Currently the plans are to have donations (W.I.N.S.), electronic recycling, metal recycling, and some form of garbage removal by donation on hand. A huge thank you to A&W Auburn Station for donating food for our volunteers.
Youth Central will be donating some decorated birdhouses that we will be offering up for a community draw in the next couple of weeks. They are a great organization that offers youth opportunities to get involved within the city. Please check out their website at http://www.youthcentral.com for more details.
We were going to host our October meeting in person and turn it into a bit of a tenth-year celebration for us, but due to rental restrictions, we have postponed it to November at this time. If you are looking to attend the online CA meeting, all the details will be posted on the CA website and Facebook page. Everyone from the community is welcome to attend.
We have been discussing this year’s Parade of Lights and what it would look like, but with the current AHS regulations in place, we are unable to finalize it. We have set the middle of October as a deadline in order to proceed/cancel this event. We have been working on an exciting alternative to the Christmas festivities, but will be waiting to make that announcement. Please make sure to follow us or check out our website on how to sign up for the monthly email updates.
The community has been pretty quiet, with the exception of a couple of break and enters in which the individuals access the homes via the garage. The criminals are getting more brazen and seemingly desperate to steal anything that is not secured. Please remember to report any suspicious behaviour, as it may mean that the police can apprehend the culprits or at least let them know that people are watching them.
If you are having issues with a neighbour, please note that https://www.communitymediation.ca/ has a free service that you can utilize. We know it can be hard to have a conversation and they can help with the dialogue.
We are just awaiting the delivery of our most recent Community Kitchen, Good Food Box. More updates on what comes in for the next edition and form which can be found on our website and I will update the photos.
Remember to check out the various social media groups that relate to almost every interest you might have, from seniors to gardeners to Good Food Box. We have been asking for feedback on various community projects. Please remember we need your input to help us understand what concerns/issues you feel we need to work on.
My favorite quote is “Volunteering is the price you are willing to pay for the community you want to live in”. What does your community look like and have you paid the price to live there? Our next online meeting will be on October 7, 2020, and we look forward to having you there for your input.
