Hello once again everyone. Where did the summer go? It’s hard to believe that we are now on the cusp of fall and heading back to busy routines that include change, new challenges and projects at work and school. September feels as much like the first month of a new year as does January! This is as true for our community as it is for our personal lives and I’d like to give you a few examples. In with the NEW: Many of you will have noticed the dozens of new trees that suddenly appeared throughout our community last month. This is part of the City’s Retree YYC program. Its mandate is to replace the thousands of trees that were badly damaged in the big snowstorm of 2014 and to renew our urban forest. Green Park has really benefited from the new additions and you or your neighbours may now have a tree on your front lawn. I am impressed by the size, health and variety of trees that we have been given! Each one would cost hundreds of dollars if bought at a nursery and some of the species planted are really beautiful, such as Japanese Lilac, Brandon Elm, and Burr Oak. Please care for these babies and help them grow so that our neighbourhood retains the character that was envisioned when people first developed our community. Out with the OLD: Our Community Association is swinging into high gear now that summer is over. First up is our annual Community Clean Up on Saturday, September 16, 9:00 – 1:00. This is your chance to clean out your garage, closets and yard and bring any items you no longer want to the parking lot on the west side of our library where trucks will be waiting to take items and deal with them appropriately. As well, once again there will be a “give and take” table where trash instantly turns into treasure. Save some energy for a community party later that day, either in the afternoon or evening. Our board is still missing an Events Director to organize the Clean Up and party so please consider helping by filling this role. As well, we desperately need volunteers during the Clean Up. If you can help, please contact our Executive Director, Guy Latour: executive.director@hh-bh.ca. A New Challenge: Our Community Association is also planning to have a membership drive and community survey for you this fall. We want to know who you are, what you like about our community, what services you would like to see, and how we can improve the work we do for you. You may recall seeing a survey in 2012, and a second one will give us data to show trends, successes and areas where we can improve. Change: It feels strange to even mention November just now, but our AGM will be held November 15. My twoyear term as President is coming to an end as I do not intend to continue volunteering in this capacity. Being President has been an honour as well as a challenge. We have a wonderful group of people on our board who generously give their time and talents, which has resulted in a number of successful projects and programs. At the moment, no one has indicated that they would like to take on the President’s position so I am asking you to consider getting involved with our Community Association and to help fill this position in November. Please contact me by email: president@hh-bh.ca if you have any questions or would like to volunteer in any way! To keep up with our community’s events and other projects please check our website regularly: http://www.hh-bh.ca/hh-bh.ca. I hope that you have had a wonderful summer and are now looking forward to all that September brings!
