Working wonders by working together

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/08/2013 (4649 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

We live in an amazing community filled with amazing people. Making our neighbourhoods even more amazing requires connecting these amazing people with each other and taking advantage of our strengths.

The Orlikow.ca website is just one tool that allows everyone to know what is going on specifically in their neighbourhood and connect them to what interests them. Knowledge is the first step to getting people to engage to make their neighbourhood even better. Go to Orlikow.ca to sign up for neighbourhood bulletins to keep up to date on what is going on in your neighbourhood.

I am excited with the number of community groups that have been established over the past several years. These groups are neighbourhood-based ones like the River Heights Residents Association and the Sir John Franklin Residents Association. Others include those based on a particular cause, such as the Parker Wetlands Conservation Group, Brenda Leipsic Dog Park Association and Outdoor Urban Recreational Spaces (OURS-Winnipeg).

These groups are vital to helping prevent the establishment of an industrial railway transloading station at the corner of Grant Avenue and Lindsay Street, in making a bid to retain the green space at the old Sir John Franklin School site, and increasing awareness of the importance of maintaining the ecosystem and dog park north of Parker Avenue, as well as preserving our golf/green spaces for community use.

Working with these groups has allowed me to be successful in obtaining a long-needed signalized crosswalk at Corydon Avenue and Elm Street, utilizing hockey pens for basketball and other sports in the summer at Linden Woods Community Centre, designing an age-friendly park at Joe Malone Park and improving accessibility at St. Andrews Church to name just a few.

Exciting opportunities have arisen through connecting these groups with other groups and individuals.

For example, working with the Corydon Community Centre’s River Heights site and École River Heights School to use the community centre’s parking lot for drop-off and pick up has resulted in improving safety.

Working with Queenston School and Corydon Community Centre, allowing for evening community centre programming at the new gym, has maximized public investment and local programming.

Working with École Van Walleghem School and The City of Winnipeg in improving green space and adding an outdoor classroom enhances community spaces that we can all use. This names just a few of the amazing things that can happen when we work together.

There are many more wonderful examples of what happens when we work together. I will continue to support, encourage and take pride in what all these amazing people do for our community.

Please contact our office at 204-986-5236 for more information on how to participate or if your community groups would like to meet with me.