Find ideas for your neighbourhood event

Consider hosting an ice-cream, freezie, lemonade, or coffee/tea social in your local park. Set up a table and tent, and invite neighbours to enjoy a treat and connect. This is a great opportunity to meet new neighbours and share information (for example promote an upcoming party or share details about a neighbourhood Facebook page). 

Good times and great music are even better when enjoyed with neighbours! Host an event to bring neighbours together with food, entertainment, local musicians, talent show, or games for a fun outdoor event or block party. 

Food brings people together! Invite neighbours to a potluck, picnic, or barbeque. When planning to serve food, make sure you are being safe and following health guidelines. Consider notifying neighbours to bring an ingredient list for their dish. Also, make sure the food is inclusive for all neighbours attending. 

Has your community recently installed an art project, playground, or another placemaking feature? Host a grand opening party to celebrate the new addition to your neighbourhood.

Work with the neighbourhoods team to plan an outdoor movie night in your community. Neighbours, an age-friendly movie, and popcorn, all combine for a great event. Engage with your neighbours to pick a movie that appeals to everyone. 

Whether in-person or virtual, games are a fun way to bring neighbours together. Consider trivia, bingo, board games, cards, or other great games! 

Get active and connected. Host a sports program in your area based on neighbours’ interests. This could include a neighbourhood Olympics, Amazing Race, yoga in the park, or a sports tournament. Use the gathering spaces map to find sports spaces near you.

Promote bike safety, physical activity, and encourage youth involvement in the community. To learn more about hosting a Bike Rodeo, visit CAA’s webpage.

Gather with neighbours and get creative. Some craft ideas include: paintings, welcome signs, door mats, bird feeders, and window decorations.

Celebrate holidays and events in your area! Encourage neighbours to decorate their front door, lawn, or patio. Offer inclusive opportunities that allow neighbours to show off their own traditions, such as a Winter theme, to allow for a variety of holidays in this season.

Get together with neighbours that have similar interest to start a hobby club! Examples include a book club, knitting and crocheting club, quilt club, or board game club.

This Halloween, create an inclusive environment! Think about creating a map of the neighbours who will take part in accessible trick-or-treating. Or check out Treat Accessibility for a full list of inclusive tips!

Work with neighbours to clean up litter from around your neighbourhood.

Learn more about Earth Day clean up on our sustainability page. 

Enjoy the outdoors while learning about your neighbourhood. Work with a local provider or with neighbours to lead a walking tour in your area. Some examples are Jane’s Walk, a tree walk, or a neighbourhood history walk.

Grow neighbourhood connections and plants. A plant swap is a fun way to connect, share plants, or learn about gardening. For multi-unit buildings, consider swapping potted plants for patios and balconies.

Explore different trails, greenspaces, or streets together in your community. Host a weekly event for neighbours to walk or roll in the outdoors to get to know each other and the neighbourhood.