It’s hard to drive the COVID-19 pandemic out of our collective rearview mirror. The prolonged isolation so many have experienced has had a real impact on individual connections with family, friends, and others.
Over two years, holes have appeared in the lives of so many of us: people drifting away, moving away, or passing away.
Opportunities to strengthen existing relationships and explore new ones have simply not been there.
Seniors have been affected by the medical and social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic more than most anyone else in our community.
At Alex House, we have heard and seen the need on the part of older adults for more occasions to connect and build those social networks necessary for us to thrive.
Seaside Connections offers a safe and relaxed environment to meet people, with a view to finding connections via icebreakers and brief one-on-one chats between participants. Held at our seaside Beecher Place, located on Crescent Beach, the admission fee of $10 includes wine and cheese, live music, and a door prize. Our first event is on Wednesday, Jan. 18, from 6:30 to 8 pm. Register at 604-535-0015 or info@alexhouse.net (payment at the door).
It seems like only yesterday we were shovelling snow off the sidewalks, and sweeping it off our vehicles.
Maybe it was only yesterday! Who knows what it’ll be like when you read this? Regardless of our mercurial winter weather, one constant remains: garden season is closer than you think it is!
Do you love the idea of growing your own produce, but don’t have the space? Perhaps you have a garden, but are looking for an opportunity to be a part of a like-minded community or expand your growing space.
Applications to lease a plot in one of our two community gardens go live on our website, www.alexhouse.net, on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. There are short waiting lists for both Alexandra (30 plots) and Crescent Park (54 plots) Community Gardens, so the sooner you apply – the better your chances of leasing a plot for the 2023-24 season. Applications close March 15.
Dear reader, this is the final time you will hear from me with updates from Alex House. After 10 wonderful, memorable years, I’m beginning a new journey on my vocational road of community engagement and development.
It has been a joy to share this journey, now ending, with so many of you!
South Surrey and White Rock are gifted with so many talented people with so much to share. Alex House provides a space where people of all backgrounds can come together to teach and learn from one another, manifest projects to build healthy and sustainable neighbourhoods, and discover the power of an activated community.
I invite you to consider what you may have to share, and encourage you to explore with Alex House ways we may help you find a way to do that.
My very best wishes to you all!
Neil Fernyhough, Alex House Community Programmer