RAD May Weekend

This is a two-day course that runs on a Saturday and Sunday, from 9am-4:30pm.

• May 18-19

• June 15-16

• More dates and registration here.

Who is delivering the courses?

RAD is an international non-profit organization that offers affordable and practical self-defence for women ages 12+. This course is for all abilities and available to those who have already taken RAD (free of charge).
The Edmonton chapter coordinators is collaborating with the Ritchie Community League and City of Edmonton to ensure an affordable and impactful course.

The RAD coordinators volunteer their time to screen and vet volunteer instructors. Volunteers are Edmonton Police Service civilian staff and officers and other front line emergency responders.

What to Expect

Saturday

• The first part of the course is to build understanding and awareness of personal safety and knowledge in what to look for.

Sunday

• The second part of the course is teaching skills, fit-to-participant that will get themselves out of a harmful situation.

• The skill building part of the course is tailored to the individual meaning there are multiple tools available and can accommodate most mobility issues.

• There is also an optional scenario part of the course where skills are practiced in meaningful practice. The scenarios teach women how to get passed the panic state of mind and into action.

• There are always female instructors in each course. Male volunteers in the scenarios wear a fully padded suit so you can unleash your full potential.

Ages and Requirements

• For ages 12-15 year olds, a participating guardian must also be enrolled in the course.

  (This is because of the content being introduced.)

• For ages 16-18 year olds, participation requires guardian approval but the guardian does not need to enroll

• Suitable for different ages and abilities

Cost: $41.50

Registration:

Sign up to get a notification when the registration is open. For Ritchie members, a minimal number of spots be reserved per month and then released a week prior to the course start date.

Visit RAD homepage for more information or email Jennalea.Dermott@edmontonpolice.ca.

Ritchie Volunteer Meetup

2nd Sunday of the Month from 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm

• April 14

• May 12

• June 9

Join us on on the 2nd Sunday for our monthly Ritchie Volunteer Meetup, hosted at the Ritchie hall. We LOVE our volunteers, and we want to match your interests and skills with the right tasks and responsibilities.

Come hang out with your neighbours on Sunday afternoon, meet our Volunteer Director, and help your community with a simple - but important - task. Tasks change each week - See below for the schedule.

The snacks will be flowing, and we'll have some tunes to keep us inspired. First one here gets to make the playlist!

Kids are WELCOME! Let’s make this a regular family thing.

Bring your lunch and/or bring a snack to share!

Here is a general listing of some of the things we have done together in the past.

• Changing the Hall sign

• Putting up posters around the neighborhood

• Planning future events

• Cleaning, organizing, and maintaining things

• Preparing and delivering Ritchie Crew swag, welcome packages, and memberships

• Event planning

• Ritchie Swag inventory management

• Committee meetings

For more information on volunteering visit our Volunteer pages.

Ballet with your neighbour

Thursdays 7:15 - 8:15 pm

Spring Session REGISTRATION OPEN for: April 25 to June 13 (8 classes)

Join our family-friendly Adult Beginner Ballet Class!

In this class you can learn the basics of ballet or get back into it for fitness, fun and artistry. And you can bring your kids 7- 16 years old to dance too!

Class will include a dynamic warm-up, some up-to-date progressive conditioning, barre and centre work and some accessible, satisfying choreography. While doing an out of the ordinary activity with your children and teens!

Class is also:

• inclusive

• respectful of your pace and body

• using imagery to improve your posture and alignment

Fee: (8 classes)

Registration fee: $135

Ritchie discount: 10% off for Ritchie members

Early bird discount: 10% off (Ritchie members get an additional 10% off!)

*Minimum participants required to run the program: 10 adults or 12 adults and children

Register before April 7th for the early bird pricing! Gift certificates are available and make a great Christmas gift!

For Questions email: irousseau.moveandbemoved@gmail.com

Men’s Shed

Saturdays 10:00 am

Visit us for coffee, conversation and projects.

The Ritchie Community League Board hosts a Men’s Shed at the community hall. We gather weekly over coffee to share stories, bounce around ideas for community projects that need doing, and build or fix something!

QUESTIONS? Contact Dan Desnoyers: ddesnoyers1@gmail.com p. 780-920-4587 or Doug Hartman: hartmado@shaw.ca p. 780-919-3696

WHAT IS A MEN’S SHED?

Men’s Sheds started in Australia 30 years ago when a few retired guys got together to restore furniture and fix lawn mowers. There are now thousands of Sheds across the world, including eight in the Edmonton area. Each one is unique in that the men decide what they want to do. Many start as informal coffee gatherings and grow into collaborating on projects for companionship, training, teaching, mentoring, and to improve their community.

Find us on Facebook @MensShedsEdmonton

WHY A RITCHIE SHED?

In Ritchie, there have been few opportunities for guys to gather together and share stories. Our Shedders do that and also put their combined experience to good use, helping to maintain and improve our community facilities. 

Our Shed is led by two community members, Dan and Doug, who have been with our Shed since the beginning. As a very experienced certified carpenter, Dan regularly brings his youthful community insights, professional guidance, job safety and quality control skills to our Shed. A retired banker, Doug loves coffee chats and herding the guys to dive into hands-on projects. Each week is different.

Please feel free to contact either one of them at their numbers above.

MEN’S SHEDS BENEFITS THEIR MEMBERS: 

• By having fun! They enjoy activities they have always loved or discover new ones.

• By making friends. 

• By getting involved in their community. 

• By having a chance to share their own knowledge or skills, and learn from others. 

• By being in a place where they can be themselves.

• By experiencing support that can enhance mental health.

• By reducing isolation. 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE 

Since we began in April 2023, these have been some of our activities.

• Held weekly Saturday Shedder meetings 

• Assembled 3 insulated dog sheds for Second Chance Animal Rescue Society

• Co-hosted evening presentations to the community

• Learned how to play pickleball

• Refurbished children’s games

• Performed numerous maintenance, building and repair projects for the Ritchie Community League hall, inside and outside

• Modified space in the hall to become the home of our Ritchie Men’s Shed

• Partnering to assist with the West Ritchie Community Garden

Fit for Life

Mondays 10:30 am

April 1 - June 24

Move to the oldies in this mixed-level class offering exercise for every body! The workout includes components of low-impact cardio, strength training, balance and flexibility for a well-rounded one-hour workout! 

Bring your own chair if you need one for stability or to complete the workout seated.

Questions? Contact Deb: debproc72@gmail.com

Start to Play by FreePlay

Tuesdays

Ages 6-7: 6:00 - 6:50 pm (4 spots available)

Ages 8-9: 7:00 - 7:50 pm (6 spots available)

Ages 10-12: 8:00 - 8:50 pm (7 spots available)

Multi-sport skills and fun by FreePlay

Join other neighbourhood kids at Ritchie for a weekly sport/active program. Join anytime, if there is room.

From now until the end of June, kids will learn multiple sports with trained, skills based coaching. Learn more about FreePlay.

Note: There is some flexibility regarding age pending skill and may be discussed with coaches when program starts. Contact inquiries@ritchie-league.com with ‘Start to Play’ in subject line for any questions.

Sport skills include:

• Flag Football (completed)

• Soccer (completed)

• Learn to skate, Ball & Ice Hockey (completed)

• Handball (in progress)

• Basketball (May-June)

Registration

There is no cost to join but registration is required

For more information, email inquiries@ritchie-league.com.

To APPLY you will need:

• Participant Information: Name, age, gender, medical considerations.

• Guardian information: Name, email, address, phone.

• 2 Emergency contact’s information: Names, phone numbers, relationship.

• The ‘FreePlay’ signed consent form: DOWNLOAD INFORMED CONSENT FORM, sign, and email it to inquiries@ritchie-league.com or drop off at the hall in our secured mail drop next to front door.

Bridge

Playing Bridge

Every Friday at 11:00

Doors open: 11 a.m.
Games start: noon

Just $3 per person.

Contacts:

Lynda

• Phone 780-437-3819

• Email lyndacalarco@gmail.com

Dawn (Treasurer )

• Phone 780-705-8950

Girl Guides

Wednesday Evening

No session during spring break (March 27)

4th Edmonton Spark Unit

ages 5-6 Wed @ 6:15 PM - 7:15 PM

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2nd Edmonton Ember Unit

ages 7-8 Wed 6:15 PM - 7:30 PM

2nd Edmonton Pathfinder Unit

ages 12-14 Wed 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Commonwealth Rec Centre (Free Access)

NOTE: Due to the Elks football schedule and the IFAF World Football Championship Games, our free swim location has been moved to Bonnie Doon Leisure Centre on May 25, June 8, June 22, and June 30.

SATURDAYS, 3 - 5 pm
SUNDAYS, 1 - 3 PM

Show your Ritchie membership card on entry.

What can you do at Commonwealth?

• swim in the pools

• run the track

• work out on the equipment

• shoot some hoops in the gym

• kick a soccer ball around the field house.

PLUS…discounted admission to ALL city rec centres

Use the Community League Wellness Program to purchase memberships and passes to city recreation centres at up to 20 per cent off regular prices.

Skateboarding Club

Skate Club

UPDATED: APRIL 25

Indoor Skateboard Club has ended.
TBD for next year!

Join By Skaters for Skaters at Millwoods Skatepark.
Thursdays, at 7pm April - June

Skate sessions may be at Ritchie Rink for July and August. Sign up for updates below.

Cost: Free. Indoor is for League Members only. Outdoor skate session for any league member.

Skateparks are City of Edmonton so open to all.

Indoor Skateboarding Club 2023-2024

Questions? Contact Hunter by email, hunterjpaton@gmail.com.

Who is Hunter? He is part of By Skaters For Skaters which helps promote the sport of skateboarding and creates a safe space for anyone to learn or develop their skills in skateboarding. The learn to skate program launched in 2015 with the funding help of JumpStart! We have a full Freshpark skatepark that we are able to pop up in any venue to create these spaces. With a team of skate coaches we are able to help teach tons of different skills from the most basic of balancing on a skateboard to hitting some ramps/rails. BS4S not only teaches the skills of skateboarding but we help teach what skatepark etiquette looks like, we help people understand the culture of skateboarding better and overall we just want to have fun with the community that surrounds us!

Grindstone

The Grindstone Theatre School winter classes are now open for registration!

Spring Term April - June 2024

Start your 2024 off right by trying something new in Grindstone Theatre School  classes! With a range of acting, writing, and movement classes for kids, teens, and adults, there is something for everyone. Tickle your funny bone, enter your main character era, and get in the spotlight!

RCL members get the early bird rate of $50 off at any point in registration, but are still encouraged to sign up early as spots fill up!

All classes run for 8 weeks, finishing with a final showcase at The Grindstone Theatre. The showcase will occur 7-14 days after the 8th class.

Adult Classes at the Ritchie Hall

Improv 101: Mondays 6:00 - 8:00PM (April 15 - June 10)

Learn the fundamentals of improv in a fun and supportive environment. Students will build a strong foundation of self-acceptance, spontaneity, and playfulness as they learn to make up scenes on the spot. This class will focus on the basics of improv and how to get started as a performer. Join long-practicing improviser and teacher John Battye for an engaging and high-energy experience.

Kids and Teens Classes at the Ritchie Hall

Drama Discovery 2: (AGES 9 - 12) Sundays 11:30AM - 1:00PM (April 14 - June 9)

Whether your child is the larger-than-life performer or the quiet and curious creator, they will love this class! Students will explore performance and character through physical and vocal exercises allowing them to create anything they can imagine! They will work together with their instructor, Michaela Demeo who is an experienced performer and aims to create a safe space for everyone to explore Drama, and their class pals to create a fun and imaginative show to perform for their friends and family.

No experience necessary! This course is designed to be repeated as the material changes each term.

Drama Discovery 3: (AGES 12 - 15) Sundays 9:30AM -   11:00AM (April 14 - June 9)

Step into the limelight in this playful and supportive class! Whether you are the larger-than-life performer or the quiet and curious creator, you will love this class. Students will explore performance and character through physical exercises which will lead them into creation! They will work together with their class pals to create a fun and imaginative show to perform for their friends and family.
 
No experience necessary! This course is designed to be repeated as the material changes each term.

NOTE: Not all Grindstone classes are held at the Ritchie Hall. Visit the Grindstone Class Schedule for a complete list and registration information.

For more details visit the Grindstone website: grindstonetheatre.ca/

Questions about our programming? Get in touch with Jules Pepin, Education Manager at jpepin@grindstonetheatre.ca.