Neighbourliness News!

Neighbourliness News!
We're excited to announce that the neighbourliness challenge is in full swing in Ritchie. The first $50 Earth's General Store voucher has been awarded to Dave Whelan who moved into Ritchie about 3 years ago and has been a great friend to his pal across the alley. Here's why Evan took the time to nominate his neighbour:

We couldn't be more lucky to have a neighbor like Dave. He is always quick to offer his help with anything that we need. Two weeks ago, in the blistering heat, he helped us take apart a new refrigerator so that we could transport it into our house. He's driven us to the airport, shoveled our walkways, and always keeps an eye on our house and the other houses in the neighborhood. 

Dave has become a very good friend to me and my family, and we love having him over for dinner or a beer on the deck. He truly exemplifies what it means to be a great neighbor, and Ritchie is lucky that he choose our great neighborhood to live in. 
 

We've got more vouchers and we'd love to reward the great community builders in Ritchie. To nominate your neighbour, all you have to do is email ritchieconnector@gmail.com and tell us why you love thy neighbour!  

Show Us What You've Got!

Show Us What You've Got!
We're doing it - Ritchie Garden Tours aaaaaaaand a Harvest Market. Here's the dirt:

We want to get a bunch a green thumbs or garden lovers together and tour around some of Ritchie's amazing gardens. The plan is to wrap up the tour with a good old garden swap at the hall. If you've got surplus veggies or plants that could use a new home this is the place to do a little trading! 

We've tentatively locked in Sunday, September 10 between 10:00am-2:00pm. But right now we need to figure out where we are going!

If you have a great garden and want to be involved, we'd love to hear from you. Please email julia.dalman@gmail.com. 

Classic Car Show

Attention Green Thumbs and Garden Lovers of Ritchie!

Calling all gardeners in Ritchie, do you have a garden (edible or decorative) you would be willing to show to your neighbours? We want to hear from you! We are looking for 5 gardens to showcase on a garden tour of Ritchie that can help inspire creative ways to grow edible or non edible landscapes. We are particularly looking for gardens that showcase sustainable growing techniques (ex. permaculture or unique watering systems), or are great examples of edible and non edible gardens. Get in touch with us! Please contact us by e-mailing our Ritchie Livability Coordinator at  julia.dalman@gmail.com, no later than August 18, 2017. Keep an eye out for more updates as they come on this exciting event. 

What we have in mind

We are inviting you to participate in our September garden extravaganza! We know there are some really talented gardeners in Ritchie and neighbours that love the gardens of Ritchie. Why not combine these two loves on one awesome day? Here is what we are proposing– a garden tour of Ritchie that ends in a Ritchie farmers market of sorts where neighbours share their locally grown produce or plant bulbs if they have some to spare. Please join us on September 10th for a garden event that will awaken the green thumb in you! We will post an event listing here soon. 

Ponies & Unicorns Summer Picnic

Join your neighbours for an afternoon of horse play in Ritchie Park.

Sunday, August 27 at 12-3pm

Ritchie Park (7727-98 Street)

The free community event will include:

• A BBQ catered by Quickfire Cookery
• Pony rides
• Live music
• Bike decorating booth
• Bike Parade
• Plus more

Rain or shine.

Presented by Walkable Edmonton, Sara Kalke RE/MAX River City and Stefan Cherwoniak with Quickfire Mortgage Solutions

ENJOY THIS SUMMER WITH FREE ADMISSION TO OUTDOOR POOLS

The City of Edmonton is celebrating Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation by waiving admission fees to all outdoor pools! The special offer is in effect from *JULY 1 to the end of the 2017 season!*

Drop-in swimming will be free during operating hours, and includes both public and lane swimming. Lessons and rentals will still be available for a fee.  All four of the City’s four outdoor pools are now open - Queen Elizabeth, Fred Broadstock, Mill Creek and Oliver.

Ritchie Casino - lets make some money!

We get it, casinos aren't for everyone but they are very important to Ritchie. Every other year, our community benefits from a portion of funding generated through gaming activity around the city.

In order to keep receiving these funds we need people to volunteer for our casino on August 31 and September 1.

Whether you want to try your hand at being a chip runner, banker, count room team member or cashier - we have 50 spots that need to be filled.  Please click on the button below to sign up! 

Host Families Wanted

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RCL Spotlight

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We are pleased to introduce you to our amazing and talented new President - Tammy Hay. Her community league track record to date is of course impeccable and we can tell you that she also makes the best pickled carrots ever. Tammy's got big shoes to fill but we have no doubt she will nail this! 

1. What is your Role on the Board?
President

2. Why did you volunteer?
When we moved to Ritchie I wanted to get more involved in the community so I attended a board meeting and the rest is history!

3. How long have you lived in Ritchie?
 Three wonderful years this summer!

4. Why did you pick this neighbourhood?
Mill Creek Ravine was the initial draw, and it is so easy to get almost anywhere in the city from here.

5. What is the best thing you’ve discovered in Ritchie?
Awesome new friends and neighbours!

6. What is your wish for the next 5 years in Ritchie?
 I am excited for Abundant Communities grow and bring people together even more in Ritchie, including those West Ritchie residents!

7. What is your favourite Ritchie Event/program and why?
Chili Cook Off for sure, but I am really excited for this year's Community League Day, it is going to be incredible!!!

8. What do you do when you aren’t volunteering?
 I love to spend time with my husband, Chad, and two dogs, Kaiser and Aria, exploring the ravine.  I also have a passion for cooking!

9. What book did you read last?
Jamie's 15 Minute Meals (Jamie Oliver) - Yes, I read cookbooks like most people read novels!

10. What’s the one thing you can’t live without?
I hate to admit it, but my phone!  It is my camera, my calendar, my organizer, my connection to my family in Saskatchewan, my grocery list...I can go on, it does everything for me.  

We are Going to Roast this Summer!

Yup! It's going to be a doozy!

Thanks to Home Depot and our ACE work (pardon the pun), we have acquired 3 new fire pits and a mobile Ritchie Lemonade Stand!

We'll share more info about how we plan to use these community connector assets at our BBQ later this month but in the meantime, dust off your marshmallow and hot dog roasting sticks. 
 

What: A BBQ to bring in summer in style and introduce the new Board

When: June 29 - 6pm

Where: Behind the Hall

Why: Because....School's. Out. For. Summer!!!

Beat It!

The Backbeat Block Party is returning on Sunday, June 18. The event will be held in the alley between 100 and 101 St. and 81 and 82 Ave.

This annual community event celebrates local arts and features live music, art demonstrations, exhibitors and food from local restaurants. 

Soccer Photos

Calling all our Ritchie soccer stars. Team and individual photos will be taken on Sunday June 4th at the park behind the Hall.

Photos will kick off at 12:30 (your coach will tell you what time to arrive) and hot digitty dogs will be served at 1:15pm.