Week 4.
Strength in Numbers
In the fourth week the participants were asked to reflect on the concept of strength in numbers…. [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?
Co-op Framework
By Danielle
I really like the way that our co-op’s name is framed by the building and trees.
A co-op’s framework is cooperation and working together. By applying and living in a co-op, you make a commitment to help manage the co-op, and a commitment to get to know your neighbours and work together.
Living in a co-op with a young family makes me feel safe. A safe environment to raise my family in the heart of a busy city. I also know that help is not very far away if needed unexpectedly. Members are happy to help one another.
I also feel lucky, happy, and proud to help contribute to co-op living. I am the type of person that likes to be involved and contribute. Co-op living allows me to do this and to feel part of a community.
“Picnic Under the Umbrellas”
By Carlina
This picture makes me think of the community spirit and connectedness of False Creek.
Picnic tables allow for people to gather together and enjoy a rest stop or picnic with friends and family.
It is a welcoming space, wonderful for children and community, encouraging sociability and a sharing of experiences with others.
Ecosystem
By Suvarna
I was thinking about how working together makes us strong - that made me think about forest ecosystems, and how each plant, insect, fungi, and trees, all work together to form the forest.
The forest is a place I like to visit often because it recharges me - providing me with feelings of peace, tranquility, and energy. I like my alone time but I also like being a part of a group. My family, the co-op, and my friends are my ecosystem.
Seven Sisters
By Suvarna
Peace, strength and solidarity.
I took this photograph to show that, separately, the trunks of the tree seem small and vulnerable to the wind and elements. However, at the base where they form together, they are strong.
In my own life I feel stronger and happier when I’m supported by friends and family, and when I give support to them.
Birds of a Feather
By Romana
I am always mesmerized by flocks of birds. Just observing them, it seems that as they gather together “maybe” they are having complex conversation and relationships with one another, just like we humans do.
I am reminded that we live in an inter-connected world.
Each of us can make a difference. Together we can make change.
Scary Crows
By Romana
Crows are amazing. I don’t really like them but must appreciate them. They are very intelligent.
Why do crows gather and caw?
There can be a number of different answers to this question, but the most common reason for a large gathering of crows is to form large communal roosts.
Although little research has been done on the communal roosting of crows, this behavior is thought to play an important social role for crows, helping them exchange information, look for mates, and generally socialize. There may be other reasons for crows to gather as well, including funeral behavior, feeding, and social gatherings.
One of the common names for a group of crows is known as a murder. The name seems especially fitting for the behavior crows display when a death occurs amongst their number. Very few animals have what is known as a grieving ritual, other than humans, of course, so the behavior of “holding a funeral” that is sometimes observed in crows is particularly intriguing.
Crows are incredibly intelligent and may be trying to learn from the situation at hand. As the incredibly clever birds they are, crows also share information and use these funerals as a way to both gather information and redistribute it amongst the group, allowing individuals to respond and adapt to environmental changes immediately. Their ability to categorize the information gleaned from a crow funeral, or grieving, is critical to their survival that depends on differentiating friend from foe.
The socializing of these birds should be a good example for how humans not only communicate with each other, but also hold together as a community.
One Drop
By Angie
Individually, we are one drop.
Together we are an ocean!
Alone we can do so little.
Together we can do so much.
We need to organize, collaborate and co-operate.
Bee Stronger Together
By Danielle
My son, Isaac, and I came across several bees pollinating these flowers.
The way the sun hit the flowers was so beautiful.
We sat and watched them for several minutes. Bees are social animals and work together to help their colony survive. It made me think of all the co-op committees and members coming together for the sole purpose of having a great place to live. Co-op members work together, co-operate together, help each other, lean on each other, and/or support one another.
I feel grateful to have such beautiful gardens around our co-op.
These grounds allow me to appreciate the hard work of others and also allow me to teach my sons to respect their hard work as well. It allows me to teach my family what is it to be part of a community that supports and works with each other to create a beautiful home for all of us to appreciate.
I feel proud and honoured to have been selected to be part of this community.
The Ties that Bind Us
By Janice
We live in a hub where the transportation system is amazing.
As I stand waiting for the Aqua bus, I see myself between two bridges. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people are brought to and from the area on a daily basis. The seawall is pedestrian / cycling compatible; transit and shuttle ferries are all an integral part of our connectedness to the workplace, family, friends, and appointments.
This accessibility helps us economically and socially, especially for those who don’t have the luxury of owning a car. Metaphorically speaking, I see this system as the nuts and bolts to keeping our community vibrant and connected.
From Ruin to Splendour
By Paivi
From October 2011 until October 2012, our building was hooded in green and blue tarp while the building envelope was repaired. The entire back yard, along with carefully tended, beloved gardens, were trampled under scaffolding and workers’ boots. It was a sad year for our horticulture enthusiasts.
Yet the gardening committee rallied and began anew. In the spring and summer of 2013, we made plans and began to build. Some of the larger shrubs, like rhododendrons, required machinery to move, but the soil was brought in one wheelbarrow and then shovelful at a time. Many non-gardeners joined in these herculean efforts, recognizing the importance of the gardens for all co-op members.
We bought new plants, tended them carefully, and over the past decade have built a new backyard that grows not only flowers but fruit and vegetables, and invites bats, bees, butterflies and birds – and, lately, bunnies – to enjoy with us. In our small paradise of colour, scent, taste, birdsong, and social life we need to remember that we built it up together from the ruins of packed earth, glass shards, and abandoned hardware.
“Family Hands”
By Carlina
This photograph means everything to me.
My family’s hands. The four of us.
Family brings me all of my strength and power.
I see dependence, security, connectedness, love, and family purpose and growth.
Growing Together
By Jan-Erik
In this image, there are two levels of co-operation.
The plants all work together to form an ecosystem, just like the people who planted them worked together to build a garden. Both took time and effort to build something that’d last, and in both cases the effort was successful.
Love Is
By Jan-Erik
This graffiti is on a building near the tennis court, by the Community Centre.
One can see evidence of co-operation thanks to the many different people involved in writing on this space. There is also the sentiment of love, and that is something that is inherently very social and requires a lot of connection between people.
There’s an almost discordant variety to the writing, especially towards the right edge, but personally I think that lends the piece a certain authenticity. Just like our co-op, there’s a lot of variety to people’s expressions of themselves - and yet they manage to work well together and collaborate in a way that lets their differences shine. The varying colours of chalk used really added to this as well, I think.
The way it’s clearly been a while since some of the words were written is also interesting, since it brings the variable of time into consideration. I think of Creekview when I look at this – namely, how the building’s residents vary so much in how long they’ve been here.
Elements
By Danuta
I took a photograph of my painting because the elements of this painting symbolize many people who work together to build one structure that can be defined and closed into one whole.
Each of these elements differ in form, colour and spirit, yet they come together as one unified whole.
Together, from all different cultures, creeds and ages, we can build a better, more beautiful life on our planet.
I can identify myself with one of these elements in the painting.
I get lost in the crowd but like each of these elements, I have my own value, my own distinctiveness and colour.
These different elements come together into one group, and they work together. My life is like that.
Sometimes we work separately, but our ideas and projects work for other people. That is what connects us every day.
Building the New Skytrain
By Danuta
These heavy pipes are a symbol of how, in a group of people, as a team, it is possible to reach one goal.
Hard work, rain or shine, workers come together towards one powerful, strong construction.
I have seen the construction of houses many times, but I have never had the opportunity to see the underground construction of the subway, and it is happening close to my house. It’s fascinating for me to see a group of people drilling a canal underground through which a train will run; a structure that will stretch for several kilometres.
It is not just technology; it is also people who are talented and hard working. I am excited and appreciative and thank the workers for their labour. My everyday life will become more comfortable through the ease of travel the subway will bring.
When making the decision to start my life in a new country, I had to take into account the consequences of losing what I had already achieved. But I also did not lose faith that I could build it again. It was not easy, but thanks to the people I met on my path, many goals became possible to achieve. I think that we are not alone on earth, and that as one big collective and working as a group, we can achieve a lot.
Balancing Act
By Jan
I call it balance. If one person fails, the whole structure fails. People have to rely on each other.
It is inter-dependence. Very well balanced.
It is very nice to look at for people viewing the performance, but it is very difficult for the people performing this type of show.
This interesting performance took place on Granville Island during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Tandem
By Jan
This picture was taken by my daughter when we are biking to Jericho Beach.
Getting stuck with my wife even on the bike!
Romana, my wife, cannot ride a single bike, so this is our opportunity to cycle. We are dependent on one another. The tandem bike requires teamwork and co-operation; we have to work together.
It is more fun to ride double than single, even if we sometimes argue over who pedals more!
Hopefully this activity will last for a few more years.
Coming Together
By Janice
It was really comforting to see all the familiar smiling faces come into the courtyard to have the group photograph taken.
I have gotten to know many people over the years, working on committees on behalf of Creekview. Together we have overcome challenges and implemented ideas. These alliances have turned into friendships. I think this type of relationship-building builds confidence, a sense of well-being, reliability, and caring amongst the members. So, it is warm and fuzzy!
Our courtyard garden provides welcoming spaces to gather and enjoy these relationships that have been forged over the years, just as our fellow crows fly over every sunrise to mark their territory and claim their perches. There is consistency here and that contributes to safety and security. It is a predictable environment.
If You Need Help, Go Knock on the Neighbour’s Door
By Paivi
Young children want to be independent. Parents of young children want to keep their kids safe. This, inevitably, leads to conflict.
Those of us old enough to remember growing up in the 60’s and 70’s recall a time when we left home in the morning and knew to return when it got dark. In my North European home, someone walked me to school on the first day, but after that I was on my own for the next twelve years. In the 2020’s North America, of course, my family would end up getting a visit from Social Services for this kind of neglect. For my kids, I searched for the middle path: not deserting, not hovering.
Allowing young children independence is made easier by the connectivity of a co-op. Members know each other and the children by face, if not always by name. There are always caring, familiar adults nearby. For example, Halloween comes on the darkest of autumn nights, where a parent feels uncomfortable allowing small children to wander unescorted from a stranger’s house to another stranger’s house. Yet, at the co-op, kids meander floor to floor with their friends from the building, the youngest in tow of the older ones, visiting neighbours. Within the security of the community, parents can calmly allow this freedom. The candy hunters experience an evening of autonomy, with the thrills of black cats, ghosts, and witches along the way. This caring safety network is present all year round, but for me was always most poignant on All Hallows’ Eve.
Co-op Group Photo
By Romana
This event was amazing because it was the first time in twenty-five years of our living in the co-op that there was a staged group photograph. It brought a lot of people together to participate. It touched me very much.
You do realize that you live in a building where you know everybody, and if you need eggs, onion, or milk, that you can go to your neighbour.
I have a few friends who live downtown and they do not know their neighbours.
Here, at our co-op, I feel really secure, and I really feel that we are a community here. I love living here and cannot imagine to live in another building where neighbours do not know and help each other.
This picture tells everything of co-op housing. Totally self-governed and affordable housing creating a safe community for families and individuals.Recently my family had the second leaky pipe incident in six months, which created chaos in our daily lives. Both times the water running outside of its intended channel was discovered very late in the evening. Yet by the next morning, neighbours were caringly inviting details and offering help. Weeks after, I still get asked whether everything has been resolved. We had turmoil and crisis in our home, and there was a community that supported us. In the midst of an urban metropolis, I feel seen, known, buoyed. This is somewhere I belong.