Richmond - Editor's Note: The Richmond News has received great response to our My Neighbourhood feature, Oct. 23 that looked at 17 different neighbourhoods throughout the city.
Richmond - Editor's Note: The Richmond News has received great response to our My Neighbourhood feature, Oct. 23 that looked at 17 different neighbourhoods throughout the city. Most of it has been positive; however, some have complained, "Why wasn't my neigbhourhood included?" To that end, we would like to continue this series of peering down lane ways, meandering through parks and checking out pubs to find the gems - and the grit - that make our ''hoods" unique. If you have a neigbhourhood that needs recognition, let us know. And, yes, we hear you Hamilton.The Editor, Re: "Readers' Choice Awards edition," News, Oct. 23. Thanks for your excellent "My Neighbourhood" special edition of the Richmond News. I have lived in Richmond for over 50 years and I gained a broader sense of just how special Richmond still is.The writers did a fantastic job of telling the whole story, good and bad about each neighbourhood. That was brave and made the series so much more interesting. I think this topic could turn into a book one day because while you scratched the surface, I am sure we all thought "there is so much more to tell."I have long thought it was time to break down Richmond into distinct neighbourhoods to celebrate our special characteristics, recognize our problems and create a unique identity for each neighbourhood. Richmond has grown so much over the years and a great way to continue to have a sense of community is to bring people together in mini communities. Schools are a great place to start as they become a gathering place for people with children, but I think we can take that a step further and involve all residents of the mini community. We can start by simply identifying the mini neighbourhoods with soft boundaries to encourage interaction. Signs do a great job of letting people know they are entering a neighbourhood and can inform residents of communityevents. Events as simple as garage sales or block parties can bring people together and help them tear down boundaries - but first people need to know about them.Although we have seen old Richmond houses torn down and new gated communities and gated homes go up, that does not mean we have to give up on building our communities back up and bringing people together.I have dreams that every day people will say good morning or good day to at least five people, that people will give the greatest gift of all, a smile to help connect with both Richmond pioneers and Richmond newcomers.Thanks again for helping bridge the gap with the "My Neighbourhood" edition. I really appreciate the work you all did and the benefit this series could have to the City of Richmond but, more importantly, to the neighbourhoods.Carol DayRichmond
