Fun Community Activities

There are many free, fun activities for your community. Be sure to send an announcement of any activities in your neighbourhood to the Good News newsletter. It is published on the 6th and 23rd of each month.

❒ Community List and optional Name Tags

For socializing, security and other community issues, it's great to have an address list with phones and email addresses.

• Name - for optional name tags at social events. BLC can give you templates for the spreadsheets and Word templates. These are especially useful at block parties, but any in-person community event will find name tags worthwhile.
• Address - optional. Having the address means you know which residences to skip when trying to add new names to your list.
• Phone - optional
• Email - so it's easy to send messages.
• Issues of interest - the name tag has room for three topics which help break the ice. If the resident can’t decide now, they can always add them later. Some items could be sports, gardening, kids, camping, electric vehicles, community security.

❒ Community Website

Maintaining a full website is not the cheapest or easiest way to give your community a focus, but there are free software alternatives. Set up a Google drive for announcements and notices and use a spreadsheet and email to communicate with your neighbours.

In your local two block area, you'll be sure to find many neighbours who can provide free technical help.

❒ Community Block Parties 

A block party is an informal get together where neighbours bring food and make friends. Nothing beats sharing a meal and a beverage to learn about each other.

The name tags make it easier for new people to feel welcome.

You can get a grant from the City, but it's much easier to just do it on your own.

❒ Community Garage Sales

Why not consider having a joint garage sale next to the block party in your community? You'll have a guaranteed audience.

❒ Community Security

The Vancouver Police Department organizes Block Watch. They expect you to have a community address list.

You can also organize your own neighbourhood walks to clean up litter, report graffiti, and get support for vulnerable residents. It's fun when a few neighbours walk and talk together

❒ Community Babysitting or Day Care

Do you need babysitting or daycare? Can you provide babysitting or daycare? You can add this to your community website.

❒ Better Signage on Commercial Lanes

In Vancouver, you can park on residential lanes but parking on commercial lanes may get a $60 ticket. The City should provide signage rather than making a money grab. The purpose should be to provide short term loading/unloading of commercial vehicles.

❒ Community History

If your community has a special history, you can put up plaques explaining its uniqueness. For example, the streets around McSpadden Park were originally named Electric Ave, Tram, and Railway. Their plaque was installed in september 2025.

❒ Community Snow Shovelling

Clear sidewalks and lay down salt/sand after a snowfall.

❒ Gardening

Do you have a gardening club in your community? An apartment on 2nd Ave, next to the lane east of Commercial Drive received a Neighbourhood Small Grant to beautify their boulevard with flower beds. See Boulevard Gardening Guidelines

❒ Community Tool Library

The VancouverToolLibrary.com at 3448 Commercial St, rents tools and gives workshops at the Trout Lake Community Centre. They are a great resource and have plenty of sage advice. Call Reed at 604 568-8701 for info or to become a member.