Last updated July 27/10  

Welcoming Our New Neighbours

What we like about our neighbourhood

New Neighbours on Alfred! - We recently had the pleasure of welcoming a new family to our community. They are mom and dad Jeannette and Rick, and kids Daigneault, 12, and Autumn, 10. They moved here from Dugald and were a little nervous about the neighbourhood. Their landlords, Lara and Milo, knew what a great community ours is and that we would help make their tenants welcome. We soon set them at ease and made them feel right at home.

We delivered a Welcome package (two shopping bags full of goodies) that was lovingly put together by folks from The Point Community News, Graffiti Art Gallery, The North Point Douglas Women's Centre, the Point Douglas Residents Committee and the Norquay Community Centre. The packages contained small gifts and valuable information and resources for our newcomers.

The community centre's gifts were especially nice. The kids at the Centre created handmade cards for Autumn and Daigneault, and a bracelet for Autumn with her name on it. Rita donated a brand new basketball for Daigneault and a jewellery-making set for Autumn. The kids loved their treasures and Rick and Jeannette appreciated the gesture just as much  the gifts.

We had a short but lovely visit, told them lots of great things about the community and invited them to come out and get involved. Before we left, we took some pictures for The Point, and saved the best one for last. Meet Frankie, the family dog. We left their home with a very happy feeling.

Lara emailed us a day later to say that the family felt very welcome indeed and were so surprised and pleased by our visit.

Jeannette's email to Lara said, "we are all comfy and cozy...the house is great, we are happy and that was a lovely lady that came out to welcome us into the neighborhood, that was very nice! and I must say I have not slept so good in the night for I don't know how long!"

That alone makes all the effort worthwhile.

The next time you see new folks moving in on your street, please let us know, and we will welcome them, as well. Better still, don't wait for us to do it. Take the time yourself - you'll be very glad you did.

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Comments of some of the residents who participated in the Community Survey in 2008, when asked what they like about their neighbourhood:

• We’re like one big family just about everyone knows everyone else we try to welcome them to the neighborhood.
   
• I like the central location--- close to downtown, a hop, skip and jump away from the east, west, south and north sides of the city. I like the affordable housing and cheap property taxes. I have been here for over 46 years, I am proud to call Point Douglas my home. I have seen the area go through many changes--from bad to worse. However, things are finally changing for the better and it's nice to see.
   
• The diversity; people, houses. I think the people are generally quite friendly, and yet kind of mind their own business. That's the opposite of what I found in the more affluent suburbs. In the "perfect" suburbs you are frowned on if you're not perfect yourself in every way. I like things clean, tidy and I'm law-abiding and a decent person but I couldn't stand that attitude. People here are more real. The river. The history, I love to see the houses being fixed up. 
   
• It's not as dangerous as expected. Plenty of friendly people about. More people take pride in safety, cleanliness and order than expected. It's close to necessities.
   
• Proximity to downtown, the river, green spaces, parks, public transportation, variety of people in Point Douglas-All types Best Mosaic of society) and aspects of individuals, families, ethnicity. Point Douglas is an evolving neighborhood
   
• I like seeing that there are other responsible families in the neighbourhood trying to make it nicer to live. I like being near the river, the outdoor area of the community club, with its rolling hills, is a beautiful place to walk my dogs.
   
• that there is a revitalization of the housing and how the community members work together to make the neighborhood safer for our kids
   
• Where I stay it is quiet; my children feel safe, the school is nice and close, I enjoy the activities that the women's centre and community centre offer
   
• I like that it's historic, that it's close to downtown, that it's close to the river, that it's so diverse ethnically, that it's affordable, the interesting architecture, the small community feeling.
   
• We’re quite close to everything, being in the centre of the city. There are quite a few people who are very active in the community, trying to make the area better. The school, churches and community centre also try to make this area better. I used to help out with the residents association and I've always been impressed with its strength and strong sense of community.
   
• I moved into this neighbourhood about 2 1/2 years ago, so far I like it here. I feel that I now fit in a neighborhood that doesn't judge you by your color of your skin, I had racist neighbours when I lived in North Kildonan, I was there for 13 yrs and never felt that I was welcome

We'd like to know what you like about your neighbourhood. Share your comments with us!

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