Spring fair can bring community together

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/05/2022 (1320 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SHELDON BIRNIE

STAFF REPORTER

NORTH KILDONAN

A community group in North Kildonan is hosting a spring fair in hopes of bringing the community together.

The Community Roots Resource Centre, which is run out of the Jubilee Mennonite Church (365 Edelweiss Cres.), will host a spring fair on Sat., June 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“There will be lots going on,” said Anna Marie Geddert, community pastor with Jubilee Mennonite Church. “It will be lots of fun.”

Over the years, Community Roots, which began as part of Jubilee Mennonite Church’s ministry but has evolved into its own “arm’s length” community resource centre, has run a number of community building events. For the most part, those were put on hold over the past couple years, owing to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But now, with spring in the air, Geddert said it was time to bring the community together again.

“We thought a spring fair outside is a celebratory way, fun way, to bring people together,” Geddert. “We’ve had some other community events, but we’ve never done this the way we’re doing this. We’re kind of combining a whole bunch of things.”

The spring fair will incorporate the semi-annual clothing fair that Community Roots hosts, where bags of clothing will be available for purchase for $1. Inside, the church’s annual craft sale, which typically happens in the fall, will take place. A hot dog lunch will be held between noon and 2 p.m.

“We’ll have lots of children’s activities, face painting, bubbles, a bouncer,” Geddert said, adding that local artist Wayne Elliott will be painting caricatures. Arocha Manitoba, which will be running a day camp for kids in the summer, will also be on hand to provide some children’s nature activities in the garden.

There will also be opportunities to take part in yoga, courtesy of Two Peaceful Warriors, dance, thanks to Masterworks Dance Studio, and get funky during a live performance from North Kildonan’s Mother Funk.

“They’re quite entertaining, they’ll get everyone dancing,” Geddert said.

A number of other community organizations will also be on hand to share information about their programs. Community Roots will be selling T-shirts, and local residents can enter a draw for one for free.

The upcoming event has come together as a result of plenty of community buy-in, with sponsorship from local city councillor Jeff Browaty and area MLA Andrew Micklefield, among others.

And while Geddert is excited about the event, it is also a little bittersweet for her.

“For me, this will be my last big event that I plan, as I’ll be leaving this position on June 30,” she said. “Hopefully it will be a good day.”