Thursday, May 16 7:00 to 8:30 pm

• Doors open at 6:45, presentation begins at 7 pm

• Free event, no registration required.

• Residents from across Edmonton are welcome to attend.  

Worried after hearing of another dry summer? Looking for ways to make environmental improvements in your garden? This is for you. In this two-part presentation, first learn about the City of Edmonton's Neighbouring for Climate program and toolkit. Then, the focus will shift to specific information about how we can manage our spaces for drought conditions, including how the city manages its urban forest. City staff will present and answer questions to help you get started on climate action in your own garden! Find out how we can work together for the planet, for your garden, and your community. The best climate action is community climate action.

agenda

6:45 | Doors Open
7:00 | Welcome & announcements - Hanna @ Ritchie League
7:10 | Climate Projections and Neighbouring for Climate (Heather @ City of Edmonton)
7: 25 | A quick look at the kit contents
7:30 | Q&As
7:40 | Urban Forests and Planting for Drought (George @ City of Edmonton)
8:05 | Q&As
8:15 | Wrap-up Register to participate in the Neighbouring for Climate program / pick up a kit .
8:30 | END

Presenter Bios

George Szilagyi is an ISA-certified arborist with a Municipal Specialist qualification who is part of the City of Edmonton Urban Forestry, working in the Community Forestry team. Community Forestry is a regular advocate for trees as part of the response to the climate crisis, and believes that community and individual actions are an indispensable part of the solution.

Heather Wheeliker’s formal training in environmental science, adult education and community development have grounded her approach to her work in mobilizing Edmontonians to take climate action. As the current lead for Change for Climate at the City of Edmonton, she works on both climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. 

This is a drop-in information session in the small hall.

Information will be available to members of the community in a self-guided walk-through and committee members on had to answer questions. There will be information on the following:

• The hall layout and design features that were considered for decision-making

• The Kitchen layout and features

• The site plan, the considerations that were made, the impact to operations, trees and amenities.

• The Energy Efficiency of the hall

PERMITS

In February, we successfully obtained approval from the City for our development permit, marking a big step forward in the Ritchie Hall Revitalization Committee efforts. We couldn't be more thrilled with this achievement, and we invite you to learn more about the design and site plan

news on funding

Unfortunately, we did not receive the federal grant we had applied for, which would have covered 60% of the project’s cost. Despite our best efforts and meeting all qualifications, we were left disappointed to learn we were not awarded the grant and disheartened by the lack of explanation provided. These funds, along with available City and Provincial grants would have had us starting the construction in January 2025.

We also learned that our project was not selected for funding under the Alberta Capital Plan for Federal Capital Plan, despite aligning with several mandates and important targets for the Government of Alberta and Canada. For the Alberta Capital Plan, the Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women wrote Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues to encourage leagues to apply. Well…no league received funding through the Alberta Capital Plan.

On May 12th the Ritchie Volunteer Meetup crew will take on the litter in Mill Creek! Come and join us.

Area: west side of the ravine from Whyte Ave to 72 avenue

As all Ritchie neighbours know, we love our local creek for early morning runs, playing with family, and exploring with our pups. We are all also familiar with the amount of garbage it accumulates over the winter. Come lend a hand in our annual spring cleanup to help tidy up Mill Creek Ravine so we can all continue to enjoy it!

The league has some supplies to share, including garbage bags, gloves, and grabbers.

Please dispose of all garbage properly in your personal garbage bin. Do not leave it in the ravine.

If you find large or hazardous items, please call 311 to inform the city. Stay safe out there!

Or just show up!

May is spring cleaning season! Like you, we can’t wait to clean up our yards, sheds, and junk drawers.

There are THREE easy ways for you to participate in the Ritchie Community League Rummage Sale and FreeCycle event on May 5.

1) Residents can register for one of 22 tables to sell their items (or leave an appropriate item at the FreeCycle table). See terms and form below.

2) Volunteer to help out - a variety of roles are available and no previous experience is necessary.

3) Anyone is welcome to drop-in and snag a new-to-you item.

Ritchie league will have a table there as well! We will have pop-up tents, chairs, toys, sports equipment and more!

Volunteer to help out

Could you help set-up or take-down tables? Click the sign up button and choose a spot to help out.

Register for a table (full; waitlist only)

There are ~20 tables available - you can sign up to save a spot for selling household items that are still functional or you can add to the community FreeCycle table for items you are interested in giving away. Not enough for a full table? Join up with a neighbour and have a table together.

The registration is for Ritchie residents, not for licenced vendors.

Items must:

1. Completely fit onto the table or directly under the table. Table size is 244cm (8 feet) long and 76 cm (30 inches) wide.

2. Be in working condition and functional.

3. Be tested before arrival, if the item requires power.

4. Not contain fuel, not be paint, and not be or contain chemicals.

5. Not require a licence to carry and not be illegal to carry.

6. Not be clothing or linens (outdoor attire is welcome.).

Please note the league volunteers reserve the right to refuse entry of an item if the item is too large or inappropriate to display. Decision will be final at registration table. If you want to confirm ahead of time, you are welcome to email programs@Ritchie-League.com.

For waitlisted households, if a table becomes available, you will receive notice the evening prior or morning off.

Let’s gather together and share a meal and great company

RITCHIE MEMBERS ONLY*
All ages, connect with your neighbours and try new foods.
bring your own food and food to share.

Bring a dish to share with at least 5 other people besides your family.  (10 servings)

• Main dish

• Side dish

• Salad

• Appetizer

• Dessert

• Snack/appetizer

• Your speciality!

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Please use the Alberta Health and Safety Guidelines when preparing your food.

2. Print out your POTLUCK FOOD CARD to bring with you. (Or You can fill one out at the event.)

3. Confirm your Ritchie membership. Here are instructions LOOK UP YOUR MEMBERSHIP (OR you can purchase a membership at the event)

*Due to Alberta Health Services guidelines and our insurance coverage we must restrict this event to Ritchie Members only. You will have the opportunity to lookup or purchase your membership at the door.

Other Volunteer Needs:

• Set up

• Check in

• General assisting

• Clean up

In leu of bringing a dish or in addition to

SAVE THE DATE!

Join your Ritchie neighbours on April 18 for a documentary film screening followed by a community discussion on the topic of community!

Join or Die is a film about why you should join a club—and why the fate of America
depends on it. Follow the story of America's civic unraveling through the journey of Robert Putnam, whose legendary "Bowling Alone" research into American community
decline may hold the answers to our democracy's present crisis.

This film is American-based, but we have seen similar issues pop up across Canada - social isolation, disconnection from our neighbours, widening gaps between empowered and disempowered folks. Community leagues offer a unique solution to the civic unraveling described in the film, and we will hopefully explore that in our post-film discussion!

Doors open at 6:00pm, with the film starting at 6:30pm. Come early and mingle with your neighbours, grab a snack and a seat. Following opening remarks, we will show the film in its entirety, then our volunteers will facilitate a community discussion.

Presented alongside Ritchie neighbour, Not Ladylike Community.

ABOUT THE FILM
Join or Die is a film about why you should join a club — and why the fate of America depends on it. In this feature documentary, follow the half-century story of America's civic unraveling through the journey of legendary social scientist Robert Putnam, whose groundbreaking "Bowling Alone" research into America's decades-long decline in community connections could hold the answers to our democracy's present crisis. Flanked by influential fans and scholars as well as inspiring groups building community in neighborhoods across the country, join Bob as he explores three urgent civic questions: What makes democracy work? Why is American democracy in crisis? And, most importantly... What can we do about it?

ABOUT ROBERT PUTNAM:
Harvard professor Robert D. Putnam is America’s preeminent political scientist — and
one of the most widely read and cited social scientists living today. Author of fourteen
books, translated into twenty languages, his work focuses on asking big questions about American society and deploying immense, creative studies and analyses to unlock answers. His groundbreaking “Bowling Alone” research — which demonstrated that levels of American community connections were in decline over the past half-century — rocketed Putnam to national fame in the late 1990s. As more Americans turn on to the reality of our social isolation crisis, a consistent drumbeat of media interest in revisiting Putnam’s work has grown.

Let’s gather together and share a meal and great company

RITCHIE MEMBERS ONLY*
All ages, connect with your neighbours and try new foods.
bring your own food and food to share.

Bring a dish to share with at least 5 other people besides your family.  (10 servings)

• Main dish

• Side dish

• Salad

• Appetizer

• Dessert

• Snack/appetizer

• Your speciality!

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Please use the Alberta Health and Safety Guidelines when preparing your food.

2. Print out your POTLUCK FOOD CARD to bring with you. (Or You can fill one out at the event.)

3. Confirm your Ritchie membership. Here are instructions LOOK UP YOUR MEMBERSHIP (OR you can purchase a membership at the event)

*Due to Alberta Health Services guidelines and our insurance coverage we must restrict this event to Ritchie Members only. You will have the opportunity to lookup or purchase your membership at the door.

Other Volunteer Needs:

• Set up

• Check in

• General assisting

• Clean up

In leu of bringing a dish or in addition to

SAVE THE DATE!

Are you concerned about a repeat of last year’s fire season?

Do you have questions about how wildfires impact you and your family’s health?

Do you value dialogue with your neighbours on how we can advocate for better preparedness?

This event is open to all Ritchie members, and friends of Ritchie. There is no cost, and no need to RSVP. See you at the hall on March 21!

The 2023 Alberta wildfire scenario has been described as “unprecedented”, with over 2.2 million hectares of forest burned, extensive damage to human and non-human life and property, along with record negative air quality readings.  Unfortunately, experts claim that this scenario may be similar or worse in 2024. 

We hold our breaths nervously about another predicted long and intense Alberta wildfire season in 2024. Alberta Forestry and Parks maintain that they are prepared. However, there is a lot of doubt about that among experienced Alberta wildfire personnel, municipalities, and other experts.

Please attend this public event to:

• hear the basics of wildfire in Alberta – damage, causes and responses

• express your own views on the question of “what should we be doing to reduce the extent and damage of Alberta wildfires?”

• contribute to public conversation and citizen oversight and input on the management of Alberta wildfires in 2024 and beyond

DOORS: 6:00pm

PRESENTATION: 6:30-8:30pm

Cost: $0

PRESENTED BY RITCHIE NEIGHBOUR RICHARD MERRY

For over 35 years, Richard has worked to reverse the destruction of our natural systems by consumerism, industrial activity and government policy. Since May 2023, he has closely followed Alberta wildfire activity and made efforts to mobilize ordinary citizens to speak out on wildfire impacts and the responsibility of government and industry in these impacts. He is conducting this Ritchie event, not as an expert in wildfire, but as one who believes in the power of the public and community to drive real progress in our society.

* To make this event really count, please review the links below as provided by our presenter. Most of these are media articles, but there is a wealth of detail that will be helpful for this public discussion on wildfires in Alberta. 

Canada should be on 'high alert' for 2024 after record wildfire season: scientist (CP24)

Alberta wildfire warns of extreme fire risk heading into spring 2024 (Global News)

‘We are a skeleton crew out here’: UCP cuts led to disastrous Alberta wildfire situation (The Narwhal)

UCP Gutted Firefighter Programs (Project Calgary)

Cuts to Alberta elite aerial firefighting team came despite pleas to keep them in service | CBC News

Alberta gov't must reverse UCP cuts to wildfire fighting operations (AUPE) 

Yellowhead County wants more proactive wildfire measures from province (CBC News)

Alberta to add firefighters for expected busy wildfire season: minister (CTV News)

Alberta committing more resources to battle wildfires in 2024 (CityNews Edmonton)

Alberta partnering with AI company to try to predict wildfires before they ignite (CTV News)

Prescribed fire (Gov’t of Alberta)

Alberta declares early start to wildfire season due to warm and dry weather (Global News)

Alberta fire chiefs call for provincial strategy as wildfire season looms (Edmonton Journal)

Alberta fire chiefs want provincial wildfire plan released before season begins (Canadian Underwriter)

Wildland firefighters’ union worried about 2024 season: ‘Albertans should be concerned’ (Global News)

Union says Alberta has lost experienced wildfire firefighters (Red Deer Advocate)

Union accuses Alberta government of being unprepared for 2024 wildfire season (CTV News)

Alberta Wildfires: More than 200 structures damaged; smoke causing poor air quality (Edmonton Journal)

Wildfire smoke 101: Wildfire smoke and your health (Govt of Canada)

Smoky days, gloomy mood? How wildfire haze is affecting what Edmontonians do and feel (CTV News)

Wildfire smoke is hurting your health (City News)

Led by the NET Community Safety Liaison, we will take the opportunity during this workshop to learn about some of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles, and then spend some time walking through the community league property and adjacent spaces to discuss practical ways that some of these concepts can be directly implemented. Participants will also have the opportunity, after completing the NET CPTED self-assessment, to access some free home security hardware items that may help them to implement any recommendations made.

WHAT IS NET?

NET (Neighbourhood Empowerment Team) responds to repeated or significant incidents that may impact the security and safety of Edmontonians across the city. Our aim is to reduce the fear of crime and social disorder amongst community members. This workshop, facilitated by a Community Safety Liaison with NET, will cover some basic Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles that Ritchie residents can apply in and around their own properties. CPTED is a proven method to reduce actual crime and fear of crime by changing the physical environment. By proactivity applying CPTED principles we can increase the safety of our property and our community.

The design and management of a space impacts human behaviour. When a space is well designed it helps reduce crime and increases perceptions of safety. However, when a space is poorly designed crime and antisocial behaviour is more likely to occur. This not only impacts our safety and willingness to engage in our community but it also affects our overall wellbeing.

Property owners can take proactive steps to protect their property by implementing target hardening strategies. These strategies follow the principles of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) and seek to design the physical environment in a way that helps deter crime. Good design increases the chances of an offender being caught and reduces the benefits of crime. It also makes us feel safer and more comfortable.

Resources: CPTED brochures available at workshop.

Ritchie Merch Online Store is open in MARCH

Pick up and shop in person every Sunday from March 3 - March 31

Order online and pick-up at the hall on Sundays (in March) from 12:30-2pm.

The Ritchie Merch Store will also be open for you to browse our stock in person.

Come and get your Ritchie Merch!

It is going fast!

Volunteer

Would you like to help run the Ritchie Merch Store? Sign up to help out.

Dream job: delivery driver?

Our exclusive 2024 merch is ready to go and we can’t wait to get it into the deserving hands of our Ritchie Crew. But we need your help on February 25 to assemble and deliver all of that sweet sweet swag to our subscribers across the community.

There are two shifts up for grabs, depending on your abilities and availability:

• 10am - 12pm: assemble the goody bags at the hall

• 12 - 1:30pm: door to door delivery in Ritchie

SOLD OUT! For everyone who has already registered, see you on the 18th!

Let's explore the vibe we want for 2024 and create a Vision Board using a variety of collage techniques.

Lisa and Rachel will walk you through a short intention setting exercise before teaching you some composition tips and our favourite collage techniques. You don't need to have any experience in goal setting or collage.

We will have lots of time to cut out fun images from magazines and books, and use them to create a beautiful Vision Board to inspire you throughout the year.

INCLUDED:

• Poster board

• Magazines, books, flyers for collage materials

• Mod Podge, glue sticks

• Scissors

• Worksheet to help you set some goals and intentions for 2024

WHAT TO BRING:

Most of the supplies will be provided (included in the cost of the workshop), but here are some extras you can bring for your comfort.

• A water bottle or cup for hydration

• Mask for safety

• Sweater or layers - it can get drafty in our hall!

• Magazines or books you would like to share with the class!

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS!

Rachel is a painter and collage artist. They have a unique eye for collage, and are excited to help you develop yours.

Lisa loves all arts and craft media, but is a papercrafter at heart. She spent 10+ years teaching and working at a popular Edmonton scrapbook store. She loves helping her students break out of their comfort zone!

ABOUT NOT LADYLIKE COMMUNITY

This Workshop is presented alongside Ritchie neighbour Not Ladylike Community. Their mission is is to bring folks together, to build community care and resilience, and offer a reliable "third space" in a time where those options are lacking. Visit their website to learn more about the various clubs, meetups and events they host that align with their values of creativity, nature, and justice.

Let’s gather together and share a meal and great company

RITCHIE MEMBERS ONLY*
All ages, connect with your neighbours and try new foods.
bring your own food and food to share.

Bring a dish to share with at least 5 other people besides your family.  (10 servings)

• Main dish

• Side dish

• Salad

• Appetizer

• Dessert

• Snack/appetizer

• Your speciality!

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Please use the Alberta Health and Safety Guidelines when preparing your food.

2. Print out your POTLUCK FOOD CARD to bring with you. (Or You can fill one out at the event.)

3. Confirm your Ritchie membership. Here are instructions LOOK UP YOUR MEMBERSHIP (OR you can purchase a membership at the event)

*Due to Alberta Health Services guidelines and our insurance coverage we must restrict this event to Ritchie Members only. You will have the opportunity to lookup or purchase your membership at the door.

Other Volunteer Needs:

• Set up

• Check in

• General assisting

• Clean up

In leu of bringing a dish or in addition to

You're invited to Crafternoon!

Bring your favourite craft supplies, or a project on-the-go. We'll set you up at a table, and you can craft the afternoon away with friends and neighbours!

See you at the hall on Sunday, February 11, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.

Masks are required for this event.

Admission is pay what you can.

Presented alongside Ritchie neighbour, Not Ladylike Community.

Volunteer Opportunities available at Crafternoon!

Volunteer shifts run from 30 minutes to 3 hours. We provide all the training you need, and welcome ages teen and up of all abilities. Enthusiasm is the top requirement! This is a great, low barrier way to get involved with Ritchie. We can't host events without our dedicated volunteers!

• Take admission at the door and sell memberships

• Set up tables, chairs, snack table ahead of the event

• “Tear down” involves putting everything away and leaving the hall as tidy as we found it!

Shake off those Winter Blues!

Join Ritchie Community League and Longroof Brewing Co. on Saturday, February 3 for a guided tour of Longroof’s brewing facility and process. Discover the artistry that goes into crafting specialty beer, then enjoy a post-tour social with the Ritchie crew in Longroof’s taproom. Two casks of specialty beers will be on tap for your tasting pleasure.

Cost is $25 per person and gets you the following:

• Educational brewery tour - meet at Longroof Brewery, 9916 - 72 Avenue #104,
  the tour begins at 2:00 pm

• Two pints of Longroof craft beer. Featured beers on tap include:

  • A coffee stout made in collaboration with Sole Café

  • A surprise specialty brew

• Complimentary pizza to enjoy with your beer

• An afternoon of merriment with your Ritchie friends

*Additional drinks, food, merchandise are not included in the price.*

Reservations for this event are open—you don’t need to be an RCL member to join, but numbers are limited. Register early to ensure your place on the
tour.

More details to come

Join Edmonton Public Library staff for a pop-up library and family fun at the Ritchie Community League! Drop in between 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. to chat with library staff and participate in fun activities. Sign up for a free library card and check out library materials on the spot. Join us for a story stop, get creative with crafts for kids, or test out our Sphero and other robotics.

In this presentation, Bob will discuss challenges facing the province of Alberta which is overly dependent on oil and bitumen revenue to fund public services. He hopes to engage the audience in formulating community level responses to the challenges of the climate emergency.

Why this topic?

Since the industrial revolution, the received wisdom is that economic growth is necessary to sustain modern-techno-industrial society and a rising standard of living. That growth and greed are good. Over the past few decades dissenting voices in nature have disagreed and have begun to respond to humanity's "devil's bargain." 

Why now?

This past June, academics and citizens met virtually at the UofA's Parkland Institute to discuss the well-being economy. Bob Ascah from our community moderated and participated in several sessions.

Who’s Bob, the presenter?

Robert L. (Bob) Ascah studied commerce and public administration at Carleton University and political science at the University of Alberta. He joined Alberta Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs in 1984 moving to Alberta Treasury in 1986. From 1996-2009 Ascah worked at ATB Financial. In 1999, Ascah’s Politics and Public Debt was published. From 2009-2013 he was Director of the Institute for Public Economics. He is the editor and contributor to the A Sales Tax for Alberta: Why and How. His articles have appeared in Alberta Views, The Conversation, Calgary Herald, Canadian Accountant, and The Globe and Mail. His blog is Abpolecon.ca.

Let’s gather together and share a meal and great company

RITCHIE MEMBERS ONLY*
All ages, connect with your neighbours and try new foods.
bring your own food and food to share.

Bring a dish to share with at least 5 other people besides your family.  (10 servings)

• Main dish

• Side dish

• Salad

• Appetizer

• Dessert

• Snack/appetizer

• Your speciality!

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Please use the Alberta Health and Safety Guidelines when preparing your food.

2. Print out your POTLUCK FOOD CARD to bring with you. (Or You can fill one out at the event.)

3. Confirm your Ritchie membership. Here are instructions LOOK UP YOUR MEMBERSHIP (OR you can purchase a membership at the event)

*Due to Alberta Health Services guidelines and our insurance coverage we must restrict this event to Ritchie Members only. You will have the opportunity to lookup or purchase your membership at the door.

Other Volunteer Needs:

In leu of bringing a dish or in addition to

• Set up

• Check in

• General assisting

• Clean up

Come and hang your hat at the hall on December 17, and celebrate the start of the winter season with your Ritchie community. We’re hosting the Kompany Family Theatre and their production of A Very Merry Moosemas, we’ll have some crafts for the kids, and of course…snacks!

Schedule of Activities

12:00pm Doors Open

• Kids: make some wonderful Christmas crafts 12:00 - 2:00 pm

• Be a Star with Family & Kids Karaoke* 12:00 - 2:30 pm

• Get your Ritchie League membership and merchandise

• Enjoy Holiday music, Fun and Festive activities.

• Get your picture taken in the Fun Foto Booth

2:30pm Kompany Family Theater: A Very Merry Moosemas

3:30pm Holiday Jingle Jam

Play or sing-along in our Holiday Jingle Jam 3:30-5:00 pm (Adults can bring your own instrument, and join in to play or sing along in a good old-fashioned Jingle Jam session).

*DJ / Karaoke services will be provided by carrielevins.com

We need your help to put on this great event

• Set up and decorating the hall in the morning

• Sign up for one of the activities during the party

• Help us take it all down at the end of the event.

We need a few folks to help with:

• Set up and tear down

• Kids crafts

• Refreshment monitoring

• Music playlists

• Merch and Memberships

• and general support

Raising awareness about pressing community issues and building essential life improvement skills.

Join us for a session on November 23, to explore the City of Edmonton's District Planning project. Two representatives from the City will share details about the project, what could be in store for Ritchie and ways to get involved in engagement opportunities.

Doors Open at 6:15pm, presentation starts at 6:30pm. Register to secure your spot. Spots limited to 40 people.

After the presentation, it's your time to ask the City planners questions. After some Q&A, residents and members can mingle and discuss from about 7:30-8. Your voice matters!

To learn more about District Planning, check our Civics Updates. Let's shape our neighborhood's future together.

**Limited spots:** 40 Ritchie Community League members and residents. Register to reserve your spot.

Ritchie Presents: Listings

You're invited to Crafternoon!

Bring your favourite craft supplies, or a project on-the-go. We'll set you up at a table, and you can craft the afternoon away with friends and neighbours!

See you at the hall on Sunday, November 19, from noon to 4:00 pm.

Masks are required for this event.

Admission is pay what you can.

Presented alongside Ritchie neighbour, Not Ladylike Community.

Volunteer Opportunities available at Crafternoon!

Volunteer shifts run from 30 minutes to 3 hours on the afternoon of November 19. We provide all the training you need, and welcome ages teen and up of all abilities. Enthusiasm is the top requirement! This is a great, low barrier way to get involved with Ritchie. We can't host events without our dedicated volunteers!

Sunday, November 19

• Take admission at the door, sell memberships

• Set up and tear down

• Take photos

As the first in a series of community-oriented presentations, hosted by Ritchie Men’s Shed, Damian Collins (University of Alberta) will provide some background on this worsening crisis in Canadian cities, including Edmonton. Damian has spoken about this issue on CBC radio and will address the following questions:

1. What is homelessness - how is it defined, and what different forms does it take?

2. How many people are homeless in Edmonton - how has this number changed over time, and what are some of the key characteristics of our city's homeless population?

3. What factors cause homelessness - what are underlying reasons for the crisis, and why do they make some people especially vulnerable?

4. How do men and women experience homelessness differently - why were men historically much more likely to live on the streets, and how has this changed over time?

Resources from the event

Ending homelessness in Edmonton: https://homewardtrust.ca/

Who is the Speaker? Damian Collins is a social scientist at the University of Alberta, and the Director of Community Housing Canada. Housing as a human right has been recognized in both international and domestic law, yet 1 in 8 Canadian households struggle to meet their shelter costs each month. When not researching and advocating for community housing, Damian also works on urban public spaces and transportation issues.

• Food trucks

• Kids Craft activities

• Ritchie-themed Bingo 

• Clubs/Programs Fair 

• Group presentations/demonstrations

Fun for the whole family!

Event Schedule 11:00 - 3:00 pm

All day

• Food Trucks - Parking Lot

• Merch and Membership sales

10:30 - 12:30 Pickleball - Court

11:00 - 3:00 RCL Programs Fair - Large Hall

12:00 - 1:00 Skateboard Group - Court/rink

11:00 - 3:00 Kids Crafts - Small Hall

1:00 - 2:30 YegWheel Electric Unicycle - Rink

2:00 - 3:00 Bingo - Large Hall

Volunteer to help

• Set up in the morning

• Work at the Merch and Membership booth

• Help out with the kids crafts

• Join in as we put it all away

Presented alongside Ritchie neighbour, Not Ladylike Community.

Volunteer Opportunities available at Crafternoon!

Volunteer shifts run from 30 minutes to 3 hours on the afternoon of August 20. We provide all the training you need, and welcome ages teen and up of all abilities. Enthusiasm is the top requirement! This is a great, low barrier way to get involved with Ritchie. We can't host events without our dedicated volunteers!

Sunday, August 20

• Take admission at the door, sell memberships

• Set up and tear down

• Take photos

"Join us on August 19 as we compete against the Hazeldean and Bonnie Doon Community Leagues for the ultimate bragging rights in...KICKBALL!"

This is an ALL AGES event, for MEMBERS only. Sign up for either the adults or kids team, or just show up to cheer on your neighbours! There will be a beer garden, food trucks, and lots of fun.

No experience required! Kickball is baseball played with a giant bouncy ball. This friendly game will have you laughing and running, and hopefully kicking Hazeldean’s butt!

Sign up online and we’ll be in touch!

We will have our merch table at this event and need volunteers to run the Ritchie Store.