Calgarians invited to get together at events across city

Nearly four years after the flood that ushered it in, Neighbour Day organizers are stepping up efforts to connect Calgarians.

More than 200 events are already planned around the city on Saturday, bringing together Calgarians who live in close proximity with each other.

But those who oversee the day proclaimed by Mayor Naheed Nenshi to fortify the city’s spirit of unity on the third Saturday of June say they’re looking to expand it this year.

“We need to be inclusive and welcoming of everyone and when we do that, we feel safer as communities,” said Leslie Evans, executive director of the Federation of Calgary Communities (FCC).

It has printed 100,000 cards used by residents to distribute on their street as an icebreaker in organizing neighbourhood activities.

It’s also spearheading the Activateyyc program, which disburses microgrants averaging $ 750 aimed at encouraging neighbourhoods to adopt a shared activity.

“It’s a program to get neighbours walking, playing and interacting,” said Evans.

Neighbour Day participation has grown steadily since its beginning, she said, and can’t be fully calculated.

While more than 200 larger events are planned, many other smaller, informal get-togethers sprout up along streets and culde-sacs, said Evans.

“It’s not just about big organizations doing things, it’s about neighbours being neighbourly, organizing a front lawn party,” she said.

“Every year it gets bigger by more people participating.”

More information on Neighbour Day and Activateyyc can be found at calgarycommunities.com.