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COLUMN: ‘Showing our Pride’ at Alex House this summer

Friendly caller network seeking volunteers as weather warms
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White Rock Pride Ride was held July 23 last year. The City’s annual Pride celebrations are once again set to get underway and Alexandra Neighbourhood House will be taking part. (Gord Wait photo)

Summer is Pride season in Metro Vancouver, a time for 2SLGBTQ+ (two-spirited, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and allies) to celebrate our identities, and recommit ourselves to work for inclusive communities of mutual care and respect.

Pride began over 50 years ago in response to a climate of official and social censure and persecution of sexual and gender minorities.

The goal was simple, but at the time seemed impossible: full inclusion of 2SLGBTQ+ people into the mainstream of society, equality for individuals and their partnered relationships, and an end to discriminatory laws and practices.

The success of the queer/trans liberation movement is a model of successfully mobilizing collective action to achieve positive social change.

At Alex House, we look for opportunities to co-create a vibrant, connected community with those who want to make it a better place for themselves, their neighbours, and generations coming up. I’m always open to new ideas; and we will be reopening our Neighbourhood Small Grant and Youth-NSG cycles in September to help those wanting to create a project aimed at these goals with cash support.

We invite all of you who want to celebrate and spotlight the beautiful diversity of South Surrey, White Rock, and Cloverdale to join us Saturday, July 23rd for White Rock Pride Family Day. Alex House will be at the Miramar Plaza from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring information and activities from our safe, sober, and inclusive Youth Space; and from the LOVE Lower Mainland Community Response Network, which focuses on reducing risk of abuse, neglect, and self-neglect of 2SLGBTQ+ seniors and other at-risk adults. I’ll be there – pop by and say hello!

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Summer Neighbourhood Fun Nights are back! Drop by our beautiful Crescent Beach location to enjoy a low-cost dinner in our Centennial Plaza, live music, a door prize, kids’ activities on the lawn, community tables, and more!

Fun Nights happen every Wednesday through August 24, from 5-7 pm, 2916 McBride Ave. The cost is $12, $8 for kids 13 and under, and includes a dessert and beverage. There are discounts when you buy advance tickets for two or four nights.

Registration at our website is encouraged, but not mandatory – go to www.alexhouse.net, click on community events, and follow the link to Neighbourhood Fun Nights.

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With the summer weather finally returning to the Lower Mainland, many of us are concerned about heatwaves, such as we experienced last summer. Those who are vulnerable to the effects of extreme weather are urged to stay cool and hydrated, and to keep strenuous activity to a minimum.

We are looking to recruit a team of four to five volunteers who want to be part of a new Friendly Caller Network we are setting up to check-in with older neighbours and others during such times, to ensure that all is well, and to run any errands needed during weather and other emergencies. Contact me at communityprograms@alexhouse.net.

Happy summer, everyone!

Neil Fernyhough is manager of Alexandra Neighbourhood House’s community programs. For information on programs/services at Camp Alexandra, call 604-535-0015 or go to www.alexhouse.net