Week 3.
Celebrating the Social
In the third week the participants were asked to reflect on .... [more text here]
Questions posed to the participants included:
What does community / communities mean to you?
What is your community / are your communities?
What does community inclusion look like? What does community inclusion feel like? What emotions do you experience?
What does community health look like? What does community health feel like?
What does community well-being look like? What does community well-being feel like?
Garden Party
By Janice
Another birthday party and people gather and drop in to give their regards.
Gathering places reinforce the sense of community. These festive interactions are the glue to a happy home environment. I love the way our backyard garden encourages interactions by providing a variety of group settings to assemble, enjoy a drink or two, and connect with friends and neighbours.
Together we have created a vibrant network for a quality of life that embraces the spirit.
“Tommy”
By Jan
We try to utilize the backyard for birthday parties. Occasionally they come to our place and they spend a few hours and then we have to clean it for two days! It is much more convenient to do it outside and so we do it every year. The chance to do it in the backyard is very good and convenient and so we appreciate the set-up of the building, with the backyard and all of the tables and chairs.
We do this get-together every year, and hopefully we can do this for a bit longer. Hopefully.
Our grandchildren love it here as well.
“Amy”
By Jan
This is my wife celebrating my granddaughter’s graduation from elementary school.
It is amazing, we remember her as a baby and all of the sudden she is almost an adult.
I am a little bit worried about the future for kids these days; what’s going to happen in a few years, so let us keep the memory fresh somehow.
What inspired me to take this photo is gratitude. Gratitude that I live somewhere so perfect. That I’m able to get to any part of Vancouver within a little while using public transit without worrying about driving. And, of course, it’s really something to be a 5-minute walk from Granville Market, all its hustle and bustle and all its delicious food. You bet I’m grateful for that.
People come from all over the world to see this place, and I’m lucky enough to have it in my backyard.
Help People in Distress
By Romana
Hana and Michael have a fishing resort in Ontario and usually leave in May or June. They were scheduled to have their kitchen replaced late spring, early summer, but Hana was not aware of the timing. She cleaned all of the cabinets and contents of the kitchen and asked me to watch out for when the renovation work would be done. While we communicated together during the summer, I was advised by the Maintenance Committee that the kitchen work would not take place until late fall.
Hana called at the end of August, telling me that their log cabin north of Lillooet had burned down to the foundation. The first thing to come to my mind was to contact the Maintenance committee and ask if we could help people in distress and make an exception for the date of the kitchen installation. Everything was done just days prior to their arrival back home.
In the photograph one can see the cake I brought to share, and the three of us together in the new kitchen.
6th Floor Troop
By Janice
This is a photo of a few of my immediate neighbours that I have grown to know over the years.
They are a supportive bunch, living their own lives, single, retired, or raising a family. Although we are diverse, I feel supported in their company. Even if it’s only to borrow a cup of sugar or discuss a concern.
There is a feeling of belonging and acceptance from this troop which dissolves that emptiness of anonymity and enhances accountability. I sense an immense gratitude, appreciation, and well-being, living and participating in Creekview due to the open comradery that is encouraged in Co-op living.
Neighbours
By Romana
Here we see our amazing garden setting, with enough space for children to play, and for people to meet and have fun with their neighbours. When our children were small, they played in our garden as well.
The co-op garden area is considered a safe place to stay and play, even though we are located in the middle of the city. I feel the tranquility all the time when I am outside of our building.
“The Circle”
By Carlina
This is where I got married.
Joined by our friends and family. It was the fall of 2019 and it was a lovely day, with crisp air and coloured leaves.
I will always honour this location and remember the new chapter that started here.
A Circle of Muddy Magicians
By Paivi
In a co-op, every adult member does volunteer work to help our shared home flourish. Most of us belong to one committee or another, to take care of the finances, maintenance, and security of the building, to decide who is a good fit to join our community, and to organize social events for all to enjoy.
I have been part of the gardening committee since I joined the co-op. Together, we maintain a relatively large area surrounding our building, including a back-yard with a lawn and a small, shared food garden. We each have our little plot of land to care for, but also take part in garden “parties” that require back-breaking hours of weeding, wheel-barrowing mulch and woodchips, raking, and so on. The membership of the gardening committee tends to be stable in that those of us who love to dig in the dirt to try and coax greenery to emerge stay in the group as long as our backs bend and knees hold up. I have been part of this group now for seventeen growing seasons. I have learned and keep learning from those more experienced and knowledgeable than I am. I enjoy our muddy, wry camaraderie in the face of cold spells, droughts and pests. I am very fond of our gardening ensemble and feel joy and pride when I walk in or out of our building, sit in the back yard, or look out of my windows to admire this oasis that we have helped grow among the urban concrete desert.
Christmas
By Jan-Erik
This week I used a couple of old photos that my family had around.
As somebody who grew up in the co-op and has been here my entire life, I thought it’d be interesting to draw on some photos that weren’t necessarily taken recently.
This one was taken on Christmas, maybe 2002 or 2003-ish. I spend virtually every Christmas exactly the same way, opening presents with my family. This time of the year is very important to me – however the year goes, good or bad, I can count on enjoying the holiday with my family.
“Playground”
By Jan-Erik
This is a photo of myself and my father.
I’ve been here at the co-op my entire life. I grew up playing in the very same daycare playground that’s still here today. It’s hard to remember this part of my life, but I enjoy how different I look in this photo. I feel like this version of me would approve of who he grew up to be.
Cecylia
By Danuta
I took this picture of my good friend and fellow co-op member, Cecylia.
Cecylia and I spend much time together, doing many things. We go to the swimming pool together and go camping together, and many, many more activities.
This photograph depicts a nice Christmas moment where everyone is commenting upon how awesome Cecylia’s cooking and baking are and how we all love her food!
Every year we celebrate Christmas with Bogdan’s family. We all share the same ethnic background and similar food at this time of year.
I am fortunate to have friends in the co-op who remind me of home in Poland. I am far away from family, but these gatherings keep family spirit alive.
“Norma”
By Danuta
This photo was taken because our friend Norma was celebrating her birthday. She lived in our building for many years, and was known to every resident. Bogdan tried to organize a surprise for her every year.
It was a beautiful day and so the party took place in our communal garden.
It is good to be reminded of the memories of somebody and that is why I cherish this photograph very much. It reminded me that almost every week we met with a group of friends from our building at Bogdan’s. It was always very nice and fun. With a glass of wine, we shared interesting memories from our lives and planned many trips together.
Living with a group of friends is easier and more pleasant as one gets older. I think these memories add a little more joy to my future life.
There was also the arcade, and I kept diligent track of pretty much everything that was going on there. Whenever the arcade would add new machines, I’d be there with a pocket full of quarters and a few free Saturday hours to test them out.
The Kids Market has always been this place that I can look back at very, very fondly, and it makes me appreciate how stable my childhood was. This photograph commemorates one of the nicest parts of my early life, and one that was greatly improved by living so close by.
“Creekview Anniversary
By Angie
I have always imagined a garden party for Creekview every time I look out at the garden because of the natural beauty of our backyard.
These photographs show all of the hard work and the collaboration of our membership and the Gardening and Social Committees in putting on a very successful party. It brought out a lot of people. It was a nice setting. There were places for the children to run around and the round tables on the lawn where people gathered. People brought food and there was barbeque.
It was a good way to celebrate our home; a very stable home, up to this point. Members came together to celebrate and honour our home’s birthday. Laughter, storytelling, music, meals and drinks were shared.
I have heartfelt gratitude that I am blessed and privileged to live in this beautiful, safe and stable setting.
“Chili Out Back”
By Carlina
This was a lovely evening with friends that are also members of the co-op. We gathered together for chili in the backyard. We enjoyed a great meal and also got to watch our children play and connect with one another. It is amazing watching our children grow up together and form such great connections so young.
I am grateful to have neighbours who are also friends with children the same age as my own.
Growing up in a community is such a blessing and I will always cherish these moments.
“Unexpected Friendships to be Found”
By Danielle
This is a precious moment shared between my son and a co-op member, showing a new friendship forming.
Friendship can come between any age classes. Our co-op has a diversity of family matrix and member backgrounds. We have a safe place where there is little to no judgment of members. Relationships may form between unexpected people and it is always nice to see new friendships forming every year.
Relationships between young and older members are precious. It shows support, compassion, learned moments from the old members, and the young help build patience, understanding, and create fun, happy memories to be cherished.
I experience feelings of happiness and joy from this image, in addition to peacefulness and a recognition of the support that is here.
Many Hands
By Suvarna
I wanted to photograph people working in the co-op because of the idea that we all share this space and we all participate to keep it running. This is Lawrence doing the hallway cleaning duties.
Many Hands 2
By Suvarna
I wanted to honour Bogdan’s contribution because he works so hard to keep everything functioning and he always keeps things clean.
I asked him if I could photograph him as part of our project and he agreed. I said I wanted to photograph him working and asked him to bring tools and he said “I’ll bring the leaf blower!”
I am super privileged to live here and we have so many dedicated people who contribute to the running of this building! I extend my gratitude to them.
“Laundry Room Friendships”
By Danielle
Most of the people from the co-op that I met for the first time took place in the laundry room.
There are so many conversations that have been had in the laundry room and so many more to come. This is a space where friendships form and where we learn about our neighbours; their experiences and their stories. It is also a space where support is seen and given to one another. Here we unload and clean off more than just laundry.
I experience mixed feelings when I reflect on this space. There is both happiness and sadness from the stories shared in our laundry room, and a large amount of support.
“Bogdan”
By Angie
This photograph is to celebrate someone special to me. It is my way of expressing my sincere thanks for his friendship and for all of the work he does for each of us individually and for Creekview Co-op as a whole.
Although we only see Bogdan in this picture, I can see his whole family in it, and the special friendship we have and that I will always cherish. I am grateful for all of the support and kindness they provided while I raised my daughter, Chelsea, especially around the elementary school years and all those years I was working 12-hour night shifts. Thirteen years, to be exact. I don’t know how the heck I did it, but with the help of Bogdan and family, Debra, and other people in the co-op, but most especially with Bogdan and his family.
There were times when I would rush home from a 12-hour night shift. Somebody would be staying with Chelsea overnight but when I got home she was all ready to go to school. I would just walk in, get whatever she needed for school, and get on the bus and drop her off at school. Bodgan and Liliana were watching this happen and they approached me one day and said “Why do you have to do that every morning, Angie? Johnny and Chelsea go to the same school. Bring her down to the parking lot and we will take her to school, you go to bed, and we will bring her back.”
I think this photograph celebrates Bogdan and the whole family. I owe a lot to these guys. He is a good friend, a good man, and a good family, and I thank them.
My Wonderful Neighbourly Friend
By Paivi
My neighbour has been my friend for 18 years, since I first moved into the co-op.
It started from discovering that a mere four doors from my new home there lived a couple with the same culture and language as the one I had left overseas. This discovery led to much coffee, conversation, support, and laughter.
During our Monday morning power walks to the Science Centre and back we chinwag to ensure that the world – or at least our little worlds – will manage to chug on for another week. When the walk is not long enough, or if the world is in a particularly complicated mess, coffee and blueberry tarts help extend the “administrative” session. Once, after a summer vacation, it took us a six-hour meeting to sort through outstanding matters.
We particularly enjoy summer afternoons over coffee and a treat in the backyard garden. We keep our mother tongue fresh by speaking in it. We share books in two languages, as well as bakes, food, and reminiscences from the culture of our childhoods and youths. We go see every movie from our country that makes its way to Vancouver. We garden together – weeds practically pull themselves out when there is company, and we volunteer together – this makes our toil more efficient.
We help each other out. We water each other’s plants and pick up mail during holidays. She has acted as honorary grandparent for my children who have missed their faraway ones. I hauled furniture and boxes during her move floor-to-floor and gave weighty opinions about the best place to stand a bookcase or to hang a painting. She has cared for our cats even though she doesn’t particularly like cats. I offer technological support when smart phones, tablets and laptops act in mysterious ways. She has let both my sisters-in-law stay at her place when she has been away. I recently borrowed fancy shoes and a fascinator hat for my child’s wedding.
We share joys, sorrows, fears, hopes, opinions, and we listen. We don’t always agree, or like the same things, but we respect each other and compromise. Thank you for all that, and more.