Groups in Lethbridge will have more access to equipment for events like block parties, thanks to the League of YQL Neighbourhoods.
Chair of the board Jerry Firth says they are excited to launch their ‘Pop-Up Celebration Station: Neighbourhood Party Trailer’ later this month.
“The idea is to have all the equipment and supplies you would need to host a relatively good-sized community or neighbourhood celebration or party,” Firth says.
“The intent is to ensure that we can create opportunities, or I guess easy access to the services and materials that people need to throw these types of events and do so at an affordable rate.”
Firth explains those interested will be able to fill out an online form to describe their event. That application will then be reviewed by the board for scheduling. A small fee would apply, which would help the association maintain the equipment and trailer.
He notes having this trailer could alleviate some of the stress that comes with organizing a neighbourhood event.
“That’s really the intent of the trailer, is to try and create more opportunities for these types of events to happen at the neighbourhood level, so that we can get neighbours and communities to start to engage and start to interact with each other more,” Firth says.
“One of the biggest barriers for, say neighbourhood associations or even neighbours who want to do a block party is really about resourcing all the materials and having the funds to do so, so if we have a trailer that’s got all the supplies they need and a rate that’s affordable, where you’re actually paying far less than if you were to go out and rent each of these items on your own, [we will] remove a pretty major barrier to allow these groups to put on these events for their neighbourhood and their community.”
A launch event to showcase the trailer and its contents is on Friday, September 26 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at MyCityCare.
