ACTIVE MOVEMENT VOLUNTEER NEEDED

The board of directors is looking for a volunteer to lead sports and active movement programs on behalf of the league and members. This commitment includes attending a monthly board meeting, ensure the league’s sports equipment is solid, and coordinating with the individual program leads (Freeplay, Skateboard Club, etc.) on their needs.

The board is not pursuing new programs or sports as part of this role and does not expect the sports lead to deliver programs but instead looking for someone interested in maintaining the current collaborations and programs.

You will need to be a good communicator, align with Ritchie league values, and be a kind human.

If you are a university student looking for experience in this field or high school student looking for volunteer credits, we can work with you on your goals.

Contact: Volunteers@Ritchie-League.com if interested.

New Hall Coming?

I certainly hope so…on behalf of the current and past Board of Directors, the Ritchie Hall Revitalization Committee (RHRC), league members and Ritchie residents, I am pleased to announce that we have finalized site and hall plans! We have applied to the City of Edmonton for development permits and are awaiting a response from both the federal and provincial government on their support for funding assistance for this incredibly forward-thinking project.

Click picture for project details and detailed drawings

Almost 10 years have passed since we began planning to replace Ritchie’s dilapidating community hall. In the intervening period, its condition deteriorated such that the league has prioritized a new building. RCL faced some unique challenges throughout the planning and design phases, including the following:

• The League does not own the land upon which it operates. Instead, it leases land from the City of Edmonton. As such, capital improvements are subject to an extensive (and helpful) City review process and the League must meet standards that exceed the usual bylaws and building codes.

• Since it does not own the land, RCL is not eligible for a mortgage. To build any capital assets, the League must rely on grants funding and fundraising.

•  The grants for which the league is eligible have tight timelines and require an extensive amount of volunteer time. Moreover, they are often oversubscribed and amounts fluctuate from year to year.

• The cost of construction (labour and materials) has exploded since 2018 and continues to increase due to supply chain issues, wildfires, global conflicts and inflation.

Nevertheless, the League persevered - the RHRC has applied for development permits, a federal grant and for Alberta Capital Plan funding. We are currently putting together a tender package.

You can see some of the drawings and learn about where we’re at on our website (direct link here). There’s also some background information, if you’re not familiar with the project.

Some key learnings and highlights in the construction drawing process are as follows:

• Regardless of whether the League renovates or builds a new hall, the site infrastructure below ground requires an overhaul. This means the electrical service lines, water lines, drainage, and parking lot are not grandfathered and require updating.

• To prevent damage to elm trees, to align with programming needs (provided during engagement), and to keep the hall operational during construction, the new building will moved to a different site within our licenced area.

• The cost of the project is greater than what the League’ can save by collecting donations or in selling t-shirts. The only way to raise the money needed is through grants, partnerships, and fundraising. And we’re not the only league with this challenge…

• Designing a facility that is safe, accessible to all, resilient to extreme heat, cold and wind, and that can produce as much energy as it uses, requires highly qualified professionals and comes at a very high cost.

Community Safety

In support of our members and to benefit the neighbourhood, the Ritchie Community League is committed to sharing resources and tools with residents to help ensure a safe and healthy community.

Quicklinks: 

• Important numbers based on the situation 

• Guide to positive interactions (pdf) and training video (50 min).

• Residential Property Safety video (50 min) and guide using environmental design.

• Lots of tips, guides, and help, including information in multiple languages, found on the Neighbourhood Enhancement Team’s website.

When to call 911

If you see a crime in progress or if you encounter a person who is violent towards you, call 911.

If you witness someone causing damage to property or someone watching a house, lurking around, etc. with the intention of monitoring someone.

When to call 211, option 3

• If you see someone in distress, or behaving erratically

• If you see a person regularly sleeping in public areas

• If you witness aggressive panhandling

When to call 311

• If you come across an encampment, tent or shelter on public or private property.

• If you see people smoking in a non-smoking area.

Resources and actions

For community safety initiatives, the following resources and actions support community safety.

• A printed version of this guide with directions on who to call in what circumstances will be available at league events.

• On July 24, RCL hosted an introduction to personal safety while in the community…more workshops to come!

• Watch the on-line presentation on how to have positive interactions who are agitated or aggressive (50 minute video).

• Can’t do the video? Check out The Positive Interactions Guide.

• RCL can work with the community safety liaison on assessments for areas that have negative interactions and strategies that foster position interactions. This can be for individual households or a public area. Contact inquiries@Ritchie-League.com for questions or interests.

• The league is looking for an instructor to teach self-defense, with drop-in workshops this fall/winter.

• We encourage everyone to talk to your neighbour, say hello when passing someone on the sidewalk, and keep an eye out for each other and one another’s property.