Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corp. offers warm welcome
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This article was published 18/04/2021 (776 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Spring is a time for renewal, with the chance to build community and to take care of necessary tasks that have been left over the winter.
With both new and continuing initiatives this spring, the Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation at 180 Poplar Ave. is helping the people of Elmwood to connect with each other while making springtime tasks easier.
As Liz Plett, one of the staff at the centre says, “There are a lot of reasons to visit 180 Poplar.”
This spring will be a busy season at the organization’s location near Henderson Highway.
The garage demolition program is an example of an ongoing initiative that has helped to make the neighbourhood more appealing. For residents of the Chalmers area, grants of $1,200 are available for demolishing derelict garages and sheds beyond repair. A demolition crew and bins are available, including free tipping at the dump.
Besides being a season for cleaning up, spring is income tax time. Lower-income residents can file their income taxes through the Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation without charge, often with same-day service. Participants in this program are asked to bring all of the necessary forms to 180 Poplar, including all T slips, as well as any relevant receipts.
Income tax season will soon be over, but community-building can continue all year. This spring, the CNRC is co-operating with the Elmwood Community Resource Centre to distribute “We Are One: A Neighbourhood That Includes All” lawn signs which say “Welcome!” in six languages, including Ojibwe, Tagalog, French, Arabic, Portuguese, and Inuktitut.
“These are a sample of the many languages represented in our neighbourhood. Our goal is to build on a sense of safety, connection and belonging for all,” Plett says.
Anyone who would like a free sign to put on their lawn or in their window is invited to pick one up at 180 Poplar Ave. or 545 Watt St. The next step, if participants wish, is to take a photograph and to post it on social media. By simply doing that, they become eligible to receive a $50 gift card.
These signs are only a gesture but they can inspire a new sense of community. Further information is available at 204-333-9867 or 204-669-0750.
The past year has been difficult for many people but a bit of encouragement and practical help can make the spring a bit easier. With welcoming lawn signs, grants for homeowners and income tax assistance, the Chalmers Community Renewal Corporation is doing its part
Susan Huebert is a community correspondent for Elmwood.
Susan Huebert
Elmwood community correspondent
Susan Huebert is a community correspondent for Elmwood