Caminitos Spanish Playschool: Offers a bilingual Spanish program for children aged three to five. No prior Spanish knowledge is required. Children learn Spanish through play guided by experienced and qualified bilingual teachers specializing in early childhood education. Located at Escuela Mill Creek (9735-80 Avenue). For more information or to register, please visit www.caminitosplayschool.com. We are currently accepting students for the afternoon class in the fall.
Edmonton Bicycle Commuters' Society (EBC): EBC will recognize all Ritchie Community League 2016-2017 membership cards as equal to EBC membership cards. Ritchie members can now access the following EBC services at discounted rates: Use of EBC shop tools, stands and volunteer support: $2/hour. Workshop and course registration: now $5 less than non-member fee! Check out the EBC web site: edmontonbikes.ca.
Edmonton Reptiles and Amphibian’s Society: Meets on the third Tuesday every month at Ritchie Hall from 7:30 - 9 p.m. For more information, contact Peter Daly.
Ravenwood Temple Meets the second Sunday evening of each month in Ritchie Hall at 5:30 p.m. E-mail CWAA for more details.
Scona Seniors: SCONA Seniors offers a variety of recreational and social activities at Ritchie Hall. This active group has a varied and changing schedule, so stay up to date by emailing Cathy or call 780-433-5377.
RCL Executive Spotlight: Chantal Lavoie
Chantal Lavoie is a creative, organized and energetic community member with lots of great ideas. In fact, she is the driving force behind many of the great programs that make their way to Ritchie Hall. Thanks Chantal for bringing us together and helping Ritchie to learn and explore new things!
1.What is your Role on the Board?
I am the Programs Director.
2. Why did you volunteer?
I love my community and I want to help make it better.
3. How long have you lived in Ritchie?
My family and I moved to Ritchie about three years ago.
4. Why did you pick this neighbourhood?
It is close to many great amenities you can walk to, close to our children’s school and our work. We love the 5-10 minute commute.
5. What is the best thing you’ve discovered in Ritchie?
The best thing recently is the opening of the Ritchie Market and Farrow Restaurant.
6. What is your wish for the next 5 years in Ritchie?
That we all pool our efforts together to help raise money for a new Ritchie Hall.
7. What is your favourite Ritchie Event/program and why?
This is difficult to answer because there are so many great events. It’s a toss up between the Chili Cook Off and Octoberfest.
8. What do you do when you aren’t volunteering?
I work full time as a teacher and I am busy traveling, camping, hiking, biking, skiing or swimming with my husband and three kids.
9. What book did you read last?
The Japanese Lover By Isabel Allende.
10. What’s the one thing you can’t live without?
My morning latte that I brew at home with Transcend Espresso beans. Delicious!
'Tis the Season
Christmas Carol Sing & Refreshments
Wednesday, December 6 at 7 pm
St. David's Anglican Church
8345 79 Ave NW (at 85 Street)
Hall Rental
Ritchie Community Hall is a great venue for family and community events, large or small. There are two rooms to rent: one for 150 people, complete with stage and bar. The second room is more suited to intimate gatherings of 60 or fewer guests.
Both rooms have access to a kitchen with commercial-grade appliances, and the fabulous parkland and recreation facilities just outside their doors. The facility has ample parking and is wheelchair accessible. Best of all, rent is discounted for RCL members!
To book a room, fill out the hall rental inquiry form.
Fancy Christmas Trees, Lunches, Chi Gong, and German Men Singing...
Get ready to have a busy November seniors because this month is packed with action:
Thursday Nov 2 at 11:30 am: Potluck lunch and monthly Birthday Party! Lots of un and prizes plus gift for the birthday party animals.
Thursday Nov 2, 9, 16 and 23: Free meditation and Chi Gong class from 10:30-11:30am. Followed by a $5 lunch and an afternoon of sit-down fun including board games, card bingo, learn to play spoons and Saskatchewan Rummy!
Thursday Nov 26: German Men's Choir, refreshments and Christmas Craft and Bake Sale! Cost is $15 for entertainment, refreshments and a whole lotta fun. Everyone welcome. Join us at 1:30 for the 2:00pm performance.
Thursday Nov 30: Road Trip!!!! The crew is headed to the Festival of Trees. Departure is at 10:00am with a return to the hall in time for lunch. Cost is $10 for transportation and lunch.
ACE Neighbour Contest
Congratulations to Stephen and Erin Beland who took extra steps to be great neighbours - you see what we did there right??? Nelle Meline shared this great photo and story:
"My husband and I were originally renting our home. When we found our landlord was moving and needed to sell our house, we did everything in our power to buy it because we have THE BEST NEIGHBOURS EVER and we couldn't handle the thought of not living next door to these wonderful people. There are so many reasons they are the best neighbours including, but not limited to, shovelling our walk in the winter, sharing plants and seeds each spring, and offering a plethora of advice regarding everything lawn related. But the best thing has to be our "good neighbour stairs". When Stephen upgraded the fence between on houses it was too tall for us to talk to each other over. Stephen was bummed and went out and purchased a 6 stair set and cut it in half leaving us with 3 stairs for each side. It is now the perfect height for chatting, and passing over baked goods, babies, and gin and tonics. They are awesome and sweet and if everyone had neighbours as good as them the world would be a better place."
After seeing these cute steps we thought they could use a little cash back from Accent Infills!Edmonton's infill and skinny home specialists will be giving the Belands $100 for their crafty neighbourly efforts.
As for Nelle, Transcend is providing her with a $50 voucher for coffee so she can stay up all night chatting over the fence!
We've got lots of great prizes from local business and cash-ola from Accent Infills so remember, to nominate your pal next door. All you have to do is email ritchieconnector@gmail.com and tell us why your neighbour is ACE!
Block Connectors Wanted
We've been trying to spread the word about Ritchie's Abundant Community initiative but we can't do it alone.
There are still a number of streets in our great neighbourhood without Block Connectors and that's something we'd like to change.
Chances are that many of you are already performing the role of Block Connector informally. Being friendly, talking to your neighbours, keeping an eye out for people, and sharing information...that's the essence of being a Block Connector.
On Tuesday, Nov 14 from 7:00-9:00pm our Block Connectors and ACE Support Team will be meeting at the hall. This could be a great opportunity to connect with some neighbourly Ritchie people and learn more about Abundant Communities.
For more information, please email: ritchieconnector@gmail.com
Monthly Ritchie Working Bee
Did you know that Ritchie Community League is powered by volunteers? Volunters like you help to keep our hall in working order. No skills required, our hall gurus will teach you what to do. Come prepared to work in or outside. An hour of your time is all we ask.
Please join us at 10:00am on the following dates as we tackle Monthly Hall Maintenance together:
Sat Nov 4
Sat Dec 2
Sat Jan 6
Fibre Arts Group
All fibre crafts welcome
Included knitting, crochet, rug hooking, cross stitch, inclusive of all fibre crafts!
Free - powered by volunteers
Everyone is welcome
Some wool and needles will be available
Some basic knitting skills are required (if new to knitting check out a few videos beforehand)
Ritchie Community League - Small hall
Every Monday
Oct 23 to Dec 11
Twelfth Night
RCL – Youth Program
Starting Oct 12
Thursdays 4-6
Ages 12-17
$190 League Members ~ $225 non-members
In Our Community
In Our Community
Anglican Church of the Messiah: Worship every Sunday at Ritchie Hall from 10:00 am - noon.
Caminitos Spanish Playschool: Offers a bilingual Spanish program for children aged three to five. No prior Spanish knowledge is required. Children learn Spanish through play guided by experienced and qualified bilingual teachers specializing in early childhood education. Located at Escuela Mill Creek (9735-80 Avenue). For more information or to register, please visit www.caminitosplayschool.com. We are currently accepting students for the afternoon class in the fall.
Edmonton Bicycle Commuters' Society (EBC): EBC will recognize all Ritchie Community League 2016-2017 membership cards as equal to EBC membership cards. Ritchie members can now access the following EBC services at discounted rates: Use of EBC shop tools, stands and volunteer support: $2/hour. Workshop and course registration: now $5 less than non-member fee! Check out the EBC web site: edmontonbikes.ca.
Edmonton Reptiles and Amphibian’s Society: Meets on the third Tuesday every month at Ritchie Hall from 7:30 - 9 p.m. For more information, contact Peter Daly.
Ravenwood Temple Meets the second Sunday evening of each month in Ritchie Hall at 5:30 p.m. E-mail CWAA for more details.
Redeemer Lutheran Church: We hold worship services at 10:30 am every Sunday; everyone is welcome. Please visit us at http://redeemerlutheranchurch.ca/ for more information or to access/download Sunday sermons. We would love to have you join us! 9654 74 Avenue ph: 780-439-9104 office@redeemerlutheranchurch.ca
Scona Seniors: SCONA Seniors offers a variety of recreational and social activities at Ritchie Hall. This active group has a varied and changing schedule, so stay up to date by emailing Cathy or call 780-433-5377.
RCL Executive Spotlight
Julia Dalman is equal parts smiley and helpful. Her passion and curiosity for all things Ritchie are evident in the great initiatives she dreams up and makes happen. Whether it's supporting the Abundant Community program, learning more about the rich history in the hood, or getting custom Ritchie bike racks, Julia is right there sharing her talents and positive energy. Thanks Julia for helping Ritchie grow and thrive, we are so lucky to have you!
1. What is your Role on the Board?
I am the Co-Director of Liveability in Ritchie
2. Why did you volunteer?
I thought it would be a great way to get to know the Ritchie community and spend time investing in keeping Ritchie a vibrant, liveable community.
3. How long have you lived in Ritchie?
Three years.
4. Why did you pick this neighbourhood?
My partner Scott made a smart decision in buying a house in Ritchie a number of years ago, and I moved in. I could not ask for a better neighbourhood to live in!
5. What is the best thing you’ve discovered in Ritchie?
Recently, I organized a neighbourhood history walk in Ritchie led by our City Historian Laureate, Chris Chang Yen Phillips. It was so fun to learn about the old Gainers plant and the cattle escape, and see stories from the old school. I know and see Ritchie in a whole new way now.
6. What is your wish for the next 5 years in Ritchie?
I hope that in the next 5 years our community becomes even more connected, with neighbours really taking care of each other. I already see so much of that, and with ACE-Ritchie I am really hopeful that we will get there! And of course to continue our record of hosting really awesome events that bring people together.
7. What is your favourite Ritchie Event/program and why?
I love the Chilli Cook Off! It is so fun to see how excited people get about the event in advance and the community in the room during the event. It is a great place to meet people you may not see at other league events.
8. What do you do when you aren’t volunteering?
I work at Jasper Place High School as their Community Liaison. My role is to connect students to the community and help teachers create real and relevant experiences for students in their classes. I am also currently studying at the University of Alberta to attain a Masters in Education Policy Studies. When I am not working or studying, I volunteer with groups working to end sexual violence in our city and with a leadership program called Next Up. I play in my garden and go hiking/skiing lots too!
9. What book did you read last?
What is the What? By Dave Eggers (Amazing book!)
10. What’s the one thing you can’t live without?
This is cheesy, but Love, realistically. Or chocolate ;)