First board meeting of the year!

On September 3, Ritchie Community League hosted the first board meeting of our new term. The board of directors gathered in the hall for a full meeting plus orientation, getting a good taste of what’s to come over the next year.

Here’s a short summary of board business that was shared, and decisions made. Minutes are always available on our website (click here), and members can request time to speak at an upcoming meeting by emailing the Secretary.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

The 2026-27 board of directors!

Carly had a great report for us tonight, including an update from the concert fundraiser and some information from the Ritchie Hall Revitalization Committee. We are still waiting on our construction firm and granting partner to sign agreements, but that is all on track. We received the City of Edmonton feedback on the revised development permit and have a couple updates to make, including a variance on our existing parking lot, new bike rack requirement, and some parking lot repairs. More on all of that to come.

INFILL

The board had an important discussion about infill in Edmonton and how it’s currently playing out in Ritchie. Daniel and Lisa (Civics Director and VP) will be putting together a proposal for how the board can assist and inform our members on this important topic. We also learned that the City’s infill liaison team is starting up soon, which will become a much needed resource for the league in the future.

INVESTMENT

The board voted to invest some of our restricted funds in a non-restricted GIC that will mature in time for the first draw of new hall construction expenses (March 2027). This will earn the league extra interest that will in turn be used for new hall construction. Thank you to our Finance Committee for digging into all of the options to help make our money work a little harder for us.

FINANCIAL REPORTS

Last but not least, we received the financial report from Treasurer. Nicole has done a lot of work over the past year not only to streamline our bookkeeping tasks, but also to make these financial reports easier to understand and more accessible to the board and members. The first quarter budget was on track, and we are now halfway through our most “profitable” quarter, anticipating membership renewal numbers to meet or beat last year’s. It’s an exciting time for our league, and we have the pie charts to prove it! This colourful chart shows how the diversity of our funding builds sustainability into our league’s finances and enables us to continue our community-centered programming.

BY THE NUMBERS

Nicole keeps track of a lot of numbers for the league, including our volunteer timesheets. The board of directors put in over 1000 hours so far in 2026, and our teams and event volunteers increase their hours every year. We are excited to finish work on the Volunteer Recognition Framework this year, and expand how we acknowledge these folks for all their hard work.

Construction Update - New Hall Project

We’re excited to share that work on our new community hall is moving forward!

This summer you’ll start seeing site preparation work in the rink and courts, as the new hall will be built where the existing rink is located.

Here’s what you can expect:

• No trees will be removed!

• The current community hall will remain open and operational throughout construction.

• The playground and spray park will remain open.

• The courts will remain available, but some sections will be off limits.

PROJECT DETAILS

Construction timeline

Summer 2026 - site preparation begins!

Winter 2026 - site prep ready for drilling and foundation work, rink access ends.

February/March 2027 – Geothermal drilling and ground disturbance begins

Summer 2027 – Cconstruction begins, there will be parking lot disruptions and the courts will be closed.

Spring 2028 – Hall construction anticipated to be complete.

TBC - new hall opens

There will be no outdoor rink this winter, but we’ve secured indoor ice time for the community. More details coming soon!

Men’s Shed has been hard at work removing rink boards in preparation for construction! Photos by volunteer Greg M.

Want to learn more?

Join us at our Annual General Meeting on August 20, and at Community League Day on September 19. Our team will have project information, timelines, and be available to answer your questions.

Get involved

There are many ways you can get involved in this project!

• Plaza concept survey coming soon

• Volunteer your time to help with fundraising efforts

• Buy a 50/50 ticket

• Sponsor a solar panel

• Click here for all support opportunities - we’ll be adding more every month!

This project is an exciting investment in Ritchie’s future, creating a modern, accessible, energy-efficient community hub that will serve our neighbourhood for generations. Thank you for your patience and support as we build together!

New Hall Update

At the League’s Special Meeting in June 2026, the Hall Revitalization Committee presented the updated site plan and some other changes to the plans for the new Hall. The Committee made these changes to:

1. Make the most of the grant money we were awarded

2. Maintain the trees along the north side of the current rink

3. Create purposeful outdoor gathering space

You’ll see on the diagram below that the building footprint has been moved slightly to the southwest. This creates space to the east of the building for the rink and leaves the tree line to the north. We love trees and are happy that making these changes lets us keep them.

Adjustments were also made to the original design, removing and simplifying some of the “fancier” elements that became financially unattainable as construction costs rose over the past few years. We were able to maintain the ceiling height and natural light, which were both identified as priorities by members during previous engagement sessions.

We are still working through some logistics that will determine when we can officially break ground, but it won’t be long now! Volunteers have been working on this project for approximately 10 years, and we can finally see the finish line.

FUNDING SOURCES:

• Government of Canada, Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB), ~$3.2 million

• City of Edmonton, Community League Infrastructure Program Grant, $400,000

• Government of Alberta, Community Facility Enhancement Program, $1 million

• Donations from community members and supporters, ~$850,000 (and counting)

If you have any questions about this project, please contact the committee chair directly at newhall@ritchie-league.com

To learn more, visit the NEW HALL page on our website.

Community Building One Bratwurst at a Time

Holy Hannah that was wild! There was a lineup forming 30 minutes before start time, which quickly spread halfway through the parking lot. Ritchie and friends sure love a free BBQ!

This annual tradition is beloved by everyone, from the retirees across the street, to families across the district, and we’re so happy to be able to bring everyone together and to feed our community – even if it’s just for one meal.

We’re sooooo grateful for:

• The rain holding off until literally everyone was done eating and headed out the door

• The small but mighty crew of volunteers

• Char and the team at Barb and Ernie’s for cooking up and delivering the excellent brats and veggie dogs

• Youth Council for bringing a bit of Canadian sparkle and cheer to the event (this is a new initiative for the league and we are soooo pumped to share more soon!)

• Men’s Shed keeping the kids entertained with crafts and tools

In our new values statements, we focus on:

• relationship-building activities

• opportunities for people to gather

• face-to-face interactions between members of the community

The annual BBQ hits on all of these, plus there’s ice cream! Community leagues provide the space for residents to come together to engage in dialogue, as well as play. And play we did!

The splash park was in full swing, and the slide had a line up. Our newly formed Youth Council set up a table beside the Men’s Shed crafts to engage attendees with crafts and activities, and the Kind Ice Cream cart was a huge hit (was there ever any doubt?!)

Inside, we had volunteers running hot brats from the kitchen to the serving line, and cold sauerkraut to the condiments table. We could barely keep up refilling the bowls of apples and chips. Note to volunteers - more chips next year!

In conversations with attendees, we heard the same thing over and over: “thank you for hosting, Ritchie is the best community,” and we couldn’t agree more. The world is a scary place these days, but we created an oasis of joy and belonging that night, and hopefully reminded people that there are still pockets of ease right in their community!

Our small, but mighty team of volunteers made this happen and Ritchie Community League is grateful for your willingness to step in and find a job when the chaos started, and your hard work getting the hall tidied up before the end of the night!

From the entire board of directors, thank you to all residents, members, and friends of the league for showing up again and again, and proving Ritchie is an amazing, caring community. We are so excited to continue this work alongside you.

Community Garden Kickoff Party

Ritchie Community League hosted our annual West Ritchie Community Garden Block Party to open the season. It was a fun, busy, energized event that also celebrated the joining together of two gardens! A huge Ritchie welcome to New Grocery Movement and their gardeners. We’re grateful for your energy and enthusiasm for all things plants and food!

Trevon, RCL Volunteer Director and Men’s Shed President fixing one of the garden’s well-loved a picnic table.

The day started at 8:30am with two Ritchie volunteers at the hall loading tables and chairs and tents into cars that seemed just too small to hold it all! Our volunteers really came through for us that sunny Saturday. The 6 folks from Ritchie Community League were joined by Men’s Shed and two Master Composter Recyclers, along with New Grocery Movement’s crew.

We did have amazing weather, a pleasant surprise as the past two years have been rainy and windy. The perfect opportunity to do some garden work while we celebrated. Men’s Shed volunteers wandered over from their gathering at Ritchie Hall to help spread mulch around. They were a welcome sight in their high-vis vests!

Ritchie volunteers Nicole, Erin & Sarah at the RCL table.

The RCL Merch & Membership table was a hit. It’s not only a great opportunity to add a new shirt to your closet, but also to pick up a RCL membership in person. Nicole and Erin were happy to answer questions and help pick out sizes all afternoon.

She shared a table with the refreshments provided by El Cafesito by MEXICÁNADA. Mexican coffee and fancy hibiscus tea, pastries…they were all a huge hit. We’re so happy to have you in West Ritchie.

As gardeners and visitors wandered through the site they were offered some composting tips by Master Composter volunteers. And, a new graduate, and Lisa, a 15 year veteran of the program are both available for answering composting questions outside of events too! Get in touch with the league if you want to chat!

New Grocery Movement arranged a garden blessing by an Elder, and invited all attendees to join in the prayer and smudge. It truly helped start this season off on the right note.

Garden blessing

Hannah and long-time volunteer and community member Ed R. planting some of Ed’s pea shoots in a garden box.

And the second big event within the event was the realization of our Tree Canada Community Tree Grant. We were able to purchase a dozen or so trees and shrubs - many of them fruit-bearing - to add to the garden this year! Hazel - our West Ritchie Director - was busy all afternoon moving trees around and filling holes. This addition to the park space is going to make a huge difference as things take root and start to grow.

Hazel and Hannah (the previous director) have worked so hard over the years to get the park designation and turn this space into a welcoming community hub the neighbourhood needs.

BY THE NUMBERS

Dump trucks filled with soil: 2

RCL Memberships sold: 3

RCL Gardeners this season: 17

Total volunteers: 33

Summer is Calling

Trade the Screen for the Streets. Summer is Calling.

And Ritchie Community League is the answer!

Why even leave the neighbourhood this summer? Ritchie has soooo many things on the go, whether you want a beer, a magic show, pickleball, or a weirdly long slide.

Community BBQ July 1 - Come on down to the hall for free brats and snacks. 5:30pm start, until supplies last. Click here for more info…we’re still looking for a few volunteers!

Green Shack - Open mornings, Monday - Friday from June 29 through August 21. Swing by at 11am on July 23 for a free magic show with Jay Flair Magic c/o Edmonton Arts Council.

Craft in the Park - Mondays at a different park or green space. July and August. Click here for the full schedule including locations.

Garden Meetups - Twice a month our beloved West Ritchie Community Garden hosts a super casual meetup for gardeners and neighbours. Come on down to gossip about bees and berries and basil. 1st Sunday of the month at 2pm and 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7pm. Click here for more info about our garden.

Seventy Gr8 Entertainment District - This is the first summer for the newly defined “entertainment district” in Ritchie. Businesses along the avenue are hosting a wide variety of events throughout the summer. So far we have seen a night market, a circus show, and Shiddy’s anniversary. What’s next?!

• July 11, 2pm to 8:30pm, Shout Out Out Out Out’s 20th anniversary. Hosted by Blind Enthusiasm.

• July 31, August 28, September 25. Grand Night Market.

Cycling - June is Community Bike Month across Edmonton, but Ritchie folks are always on their bikes.

Public Market - Tuesdays from June through September. Food trucks, fruit, and the new Lucy’s (IYKYK). Click here for more details.

Playgrounds - Ritchie is home to three perfect playgrounds: Lilliput (97 Street and 74 Avenue), Escuela Mill Creek (97 Street and 80 Avenue) and Ritchie Park of course! (7727 98 Street). That last one has a splash deck too, woo hoo!

Courts - We changed the rules this year so you don’t have to be a member to use the courts anymore! Yippee kay yay! Pickleball and tennis, with a half basketball in the back. Located at the hall, enjoy free parking and new bike racks (7727 98 Street)

Patios - Home to Happy Beer Street and a few amazing coffee shops, there are loads of patios to choose from in Ritchie. If you’re also looking to save some money, check out all of the Crew businesses here.

Outdoor pools - Mill Creek is the closest, just across Whyte in Strathcona. Use your RCL membership to get a multi-use pass at a reduced rate. All kids and youth can take advantage of a 30 day summer pass through the City. Click here to purchase the kid’s pass.

Crafternoon Season Wrap-Up

Our final Crafternoon at Ritchie Hall this season hosted a whopping 13 humans, all excited to hang out together and get some crafting done! We saw a wide variety of crafts, as per usual for Crafternoon, including crochet, scrapbooking, art journaling, air dry clay, watercolour, embroidery, colouring. One guy even brought his sewing machine! All arts and crafts are welcome and enjoyed at Crafternoon.

The talk quickly moved to local news, what everyone has been up to – 13 strangers in a room together talking about their lives. Hits the nail on the head with what we’re all about over at Ritchie Community League. One attendee specifically mentioned they found us after searching online for “masked events in Edmonton”. We’re so glad you found us.

The organizing duo has already met for a debrief, and to start planning next year’s events. They’ve made a few changes that we think you’ll really love.

Crafternoon is back at Ritchie Hall in Fall 2026.

THANK YOU FROM THE BOARD

Thank you Hannah V for your dedication and commitment to ensuring we could host Crafternoon every two months this year. You and Lisa help bring something special and unique to the community and we can’t wait to see how it grows next year!

Crafternoon is a 100% volunteer-run adventure at Ritchie Community League.

NEW PROGRAM ALERT

If you need to scratch your crafting itch throughout the summer, join Lisa at Craft in the Park when she’ll be popping up every Monday from June 29 to August 31 in a green space in Ritchie with freezies and crafts.

Craft in the Park

Mondays, 6-8pm

June 29 -August 31

Find more detail and location information here:

ritchie-league.com/rcl/craft-in-the-park

Ritchie Public Market is Back

The Public Market in Ritchie Returns – Opening June 2!

There’s something special about summer in Ritchie—and it wouldn’t be complete without the return of The Public Market in Ritchie.

We’re excited to welcome everyone back for another great season, kicking off Tuesday, June 2, right here in the heart of the community at Ritchie Community League (7727 – 98 Street). The market will run every Tuesday from June through the end of September, with hours from 3:30 pm to 7:30 pm—rain or shine.

This weekly gathering has become more than just a place to shop—it’s a place to connect. It’s where neighbours run into each other, families spend time together, and local businesses get the chance to share what they do best.

What You’ll Find at the Market

Each week, the market brings together a diverse mix of local vendors and experiences, including:

• Fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables

• Handmade goods and artisan crafts

• Local meats, seafood, and specialty food items

• Ready-to-eat meals and food trucks

• Unique small businesses and community vendors

It’s a true celebration of local—supporting farmers, makers, and entrepreneurs while giving residents access to fresh, high-quality products right in their neighbourhood.

Ritchie Community League—A Community Gathering Place

At its core, The Public Market in Ritchie is about community. It’s a welcoming, open-air space where people can slow down, connect, and enjoy the simple things—good food, good people, and a great atmosphere.

The market also works closely with the Ritchie Community League, often featuring opportunities to volunteer, learn more about the league, and get involved in building an even stronger neighbourhood.

Whether you’re stopping by after work, bringing the kids, or just looking for something to do on a Tuesday evening, the market offers something for everyone.

Join Us This Season

Mark your calendars and come be part of it:

Opening Day: Tuesday, June 2

When: Every Tuesday (June–September)

Time: 3:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Where: Ritchie Community League

Come out, support local, and be part of what makes Ritchie such a vibrant and connected community.

We’ll see you at the market.

A new era for Ritchie Community League

Over the past four months, Ritchie volunteers have embarked on an assignment stemming from our Strategic Plan: finalize RCL’s Mission, Purpose and Value statements. These are significant to recruit volunteers, and engage with our members, and will become even more so as we apply for additional grants to help finalize the construction of our new hall. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback and comments as we worked through this process..

MISSION

To empower Ritchie residents, Ritchie community league members, and Ritchie neighbourhood visitors to:

• Cultivate fulfilling relationships with others in the community.

• Collaborate to improve our community.

• Know and use their civic and democratic rights.

PURPOSE

We believe connection with neighbours improves our well-being.

Societies are healthier, happier, and more effective when people feel like they are part of a community. Community leagues are one of the few places left in our city where strangers can gather and meet new people with low barriers. We want the experience of meeting people to be a source of joy, inspiration, belonging, and curiosity, rather than anxiety, loneliness, or separation. The RCL lands offer a proximity advantage as well, allowing us to help each other with better ease - whether that be helping deliver groceries, shoveling walks, helping care for a neighbour’s children or pets, or social gatherings.

We believe healthy democratic societies require engaged, informed, and collaborative citizens.

With changes in technology fueling the growing division of people online, the need for people to meet together is more pressing than ever. Community leagues provide the structure and space for residents to come together to engage in dialogue, discussion, and learning. The Ritchie Community League is a non-partisan, democratic hub, which serves as an opportunity for real, face-to-face interaction with members of the community to problem-solve, debate, and advocate for the needs of our community, while also building individual capacity for collaboration and empathy. It also functions as a centralized center for resources related to policy, civic law, and government updates that impact our neighbourhood.

VALUES

These values reflect our commitment to our mission. We strive to align all our actions with the following values:

Community

• We encourage relationship-building activities between participants of our Ritchie neighbourhood’s community. 

• We respect each other's limitations and capacities. We welcome diverse perspectives and look for the positive in each other. We celebrate each other’s contributions.

• We are stronger and better when our community includes opportunities for all, regardless of race, national origin, ethnic origin, colour, religion, sexual orientation, sexual identity, age, mental abilities, or physical abilities.

Gather

• We don’t take for granted the opportunity of having a space to gather.

• We foster and create opportunities for people to gather, encouraging collective exploration of interests, creativity, and learning.

• We believe in the importance of togetherness and being in the same place at the same time. 

Stewardship

• We are intentional with how we use the tools and resources at our disposal.

• We care for the planet and our environment.

• We care for RCL’s gathering spaces with care and intention.

Democratic Engagement

• We create opportunities for our Ritchie community to be updated on changes that impact our neighbours.

• We engage in our democratic rights and responsibilities and encourage our community to do the same. 

• We believe democracy is the best model for governance and citizen engagement helps it thrive.

Healthy Dialogue

• We believe communities and democracies thrive best when members engage in healthy conversations with each other. 

• We are open to growing and learning from each other.

• We are respectful in our dialogue. Our words and actions strengthen, inform, educate, or empower, rather than insult, undermine, or oppress. 

• We have courage to listen with curiosity and compassion to each other’s perspectives, understanding that we may disagree with others. 

• We have courage to respectfully share our opinions, understanding that others may disagree with us.

Join the Ritchie Community League team!

Volunteer in your community
We’ve got some openings on our team for a few enthusiastic, self-starting volunteers. Your contributions help strengthen our community and keep it thriving. If you love connecting people, connecting with people and supporting your neighbours, we’d love to hear from you!

Program Director
Join your Board! This position allows you to participate in league governance while helping to bring exciting programs to the community. The Program Director builds and maintains relationships with league members, program leads, and organizations who deliver programs at Ritchie Hall. An important part of this role is evaluating gaps in programming, helping ensure our community has access to the engaging activities and services that our members want and need.

Social Media Lead
The Social Media Lead manages the league’s Facebook and Instagram, sharing updates about events, programs, and community news. This role is perfect for someone who enjoys social media, storytelling, and keeping neighbours informed and engaged. You are supported by various directors and sit on the Comms Team.

Concession Team
We're building a team of neighbours who are interested in running our concession and bar for concerts and other events at Ritchie Hall. We have a Team Lead in place, but in order to grow our concert options, we're looking to build out the team. The Concessions Team manages inventory, prepares for the event with other volunteers, serves drinks and food, and is supported by the board. This team allows the league to invite artists to use the space rent free while the league raises funds through food and drink sales.

Why get involved?

• Support your community

• Meet great people and build connections with your neighbours

• Gain leadership and volunteer experience

• Help shape the future of your community league

Interested or want to learn more? Send us a message or email volunteers@ritchie-league.com.

76 Avenue Renewal - Letter of Support

Letter to the City of Edmonton, 76 Avenue Renewal Project Team

Dear Project Team,

On behalf of the Ritchie Community League (RCL), I am writing to express our support for the 76 Avenue Renewal project. After reviewing the design concepts presented in the 2025 Exploring Options and Tradeoffs stage for 89 Street to 99 Street, the Ritchie Community League board supports the implementation of infrastructure for all ages and abilities that also enhances the community's forest canopy and promotes local businesses.

Our support for is based on the following key priorities:

1. All Ages and Abilities Infrastructure: 76 Avenue is a vital corridor for children attending local schools, seniors residing in the area, and neighbors visiting local businesses. An emphasis on protected travel and with wider, boulevard-separated sidewalks significantly increases safety for residents while still providing parking opportunities on one side of the street year-round.

2. Enhancing the Forest Canopy: Boulevards, trees, and low-impact development (LID) are critical to ensure 76 Avenue is safe and enjoyable for residents. These elements have the potential to provide better outcomes for snow clearing in the winter. It is vital that boulevards, trees, and LID be provided wherever possible throughout the corridor.

3. Promoting Local Businesses: Ritchie is home to a thriving community of small businesses. We understand that walkable, bikeable streets are good for the local economy. By prioritizing the place-making aspects of the street, such as seating, better lighting, and a more pleasant space, the improvements will encourage residents and visitors to linger, shop, and support the entrepreneurs along 76 Avenue. We also encourage the project team to collaborate with the league and local businesses on design elements at Ritchie 4-Corners (96 Street).

As we observe another season of winter, our support is conditional to a responsive and adequate snow removal plan for 76 Ave between 99 and 85 street and we request this plan to be included as part of the project, for final approval.

We thank the Project Team for their work and engagement with the community throughout 2025.

We look forward to being a partner on the next steps of the project as it moves forward, including collaborative engagement on the 96 Street intersection to create a uniquely Ritchie design solution.

Sincerely,

Carly Steiger, President

New Hall Fundraising Update -- We Got The Grant!

Major Project Milestone!

We are thrilled to share that the Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) has awarded Ritchie Community League $1 million. This is incredible news! This, along with funding in part from the Government of Canada (Housing, Infrastructure and Communities) and the City of Edmonton, allows the League to move forward with the hall replacement project. 

Even though we still have some fundraising ahead to fully finish and furnish the new building, secured funding allows us to move forward with final design modifications and confidently begin construction in 2026.

Fundraising so far

Ritchie residents and friends of Ritchie have raised just over $160,000 for the hall replacement project this past year. Our other goal is $250,000 in corporate support, which has been challenging so far. If you work for a company that has a grant or donation program for community building, please reach out to your company’s grant advisor or office and let them know about our project — then let us know and we’ll apply!

Corporations can also advertise with us and write it off as a business expense. Opportunities to name a space or a feature cost from $2,500 to $50,000. Please email fundraising@ritchie-league.com if you want to learn more about these opportunities.

The construction side of the project…

The initial building design was created with the Green and Inclusive Community Building (GICB) grant program in mind. The building’s net-zero energy design and high accessibility standards were key in securing that federal funding. 

Work is underway to reduce costs without compromising energy efficiency and accessibility. With the technical expertise of a construction management company, proposed changes will include adjusting the roofline and exterior panelling, reducing the amount of glass, deferring non-essential finishes, and exploring a timber frame construction — all while preserving the original intent and significantly lowering costs.

What’s next?

The project now has the core funding needed to build the structure. We will continue fundraising to ensure the building is fully operational and welcoming from day one, and we’ll pursue additional grants to support furnishings, finishes, and site improvements.

This milestone is a huge step forward for Ritchie and our future community space! Thank you to everyone who has been involved so far, including our New Hall Revitalization Committee, Fundraising Manager, and grant writer.