By Sandra Pilote
Two events in one week! And the weather cooperated for both the annual pumpkin walk and the Banners of Hope exhibition. Residents with the Lowertown East Residents Committee (LERC) assisted by Mélissa Thibeault-Canas, the new coordinator of Lowertown Our Home (LOH), were recently out on the streets engaging in some fun activities.
In the late afternoon of October 28th, about a dozen participants went door to door in the Beausoleil community and delivered 80 pumpkins to some delighted children. The hope is that the parents were also happy when the children opened their little bag of candy and markers. The pumpkins were provided by and in many instances handed out by Councillor Mathieu Fleury.
A week later, LERC organizers were gathered in the early afternoon of November 4th at the Beausoleil Street fence by York Street Public School for a celebration of art and community. The event was focused on an exhibition of 17 banners prepared by young budding artists in a project funded through the Community Development Framework and supported by MASC.
This Banners of Hope event included refreshments, prizes and an art demonstration by MASC artist Nicole Bélanger. Several LOH partners participated by chatting with neighbours who dropped by to see the display. All enjoyed the throngs of students who eagerly lined up for the hot chocolate and cookies at the end of their school day. Over the winter the majority of the banners will be hung on the wooden fence in the Beausejour community at the west end of Old St Patrick Street.
These activities were initiated and attended by LERC members, a group that includes any resident living in the area east of King Edward Avenue. LERC is part of the LOH initiative aimed at promoting a safe, secure and engaged community. If you are interested in helping to organize or simply to join in any activities, just send me an email at sandrapilote42@gmail.com
