Here are some fun ideas you can adapt to use as an excuse to get together with friends and
neighbours, as street party activities or the focus of a festival. If you need assistance in finding
needed skills to execute any of these ideas, or ideas of your own, talk to City Repair Ottawa
about it. Email City Repair Ottawa at ottawa (at) cityrepair.ca. If you have ideas we could add to
this list, please share them with us. The ideas below are grouped into three categories based on
the estimated effort for successful completion. See our web site at www.cityrepair.ca for more
information about creating social capital and placemaking for your neighbourhood.
Easy
Hold a sing-along.
A guitar or other accompaniment is nice, but you don’t really need it. If people are shy about their
singing voices, you may get more cooperation on the first try by starting with a holiday activity
that involves singing, such as caroling.
Note: Non-native invader species that are proven voracious spreaders should never be
used for ecological restoration.
Do food art
Use marshmallow fluff as the glue to create a collage with seeds, small candies, bark, and other
items that create color or texture. Marshmallow fluff will dry if left alone for a few days. Clean
up is easy: just hose the kids down. (Best done out-of-doors!)
Small glow sticks can be used as a safe light source. If anyone has suggestions for other simple,
inexpensive, & safe light sources, please share with us at ottawa@cityrepair.ca.
Community clean-up
You’ll be cleaning up after the snow melts anyway. Why not do it together and turn it into a
party?
Neighbourhood not-for-profit tea house, coffee house, game nights, open mics, art
displays, etc., by the community for the community
The Portland City Repair Project began with a community tea house used as an informal gathering
place. Link: http://www.cityrepair.org/t-hows.html.
Plant a tree
Planting a tree indicates optimism and long-term vision. You need to select a location for the tree, and
choose a tree that is compatible with the site and the way it is used. Depending on what is needed at
the designated site, you may want a shade tree, a flowering tree, or a fruit tree. Do you need to be
careful about water and sewer lines or overhead power lines? Contact your municipality for advice
about guidelines and regulations. A tree nursery can provide information on mature sizes and growth
habits of different types of trees. The list of landscape design considerations that the City of Ottawa
uses for city plantings may be helpful.
http://ottawa.ca/residents/planning/design_plan_guidelines/completed/regional_roads/corridor_compo/
roads_g_72_en.html. (Scroll down to “Road Edge Landscape” heading.)
Before you dig to plant a tree, be sure to find out if there are any underground utility lines at the
planting location. In Ontario, this locating service is free. Call Ontario One Call at least a week
before you plan to break ground. Call Toll Free: 1-800-400-2255 or visit online:
http://www.on1call.com/HomeDig.html
Planting a tree on public property: if you wish to plant a tree on public property, you should call your
city councilor’s office for information and advice.]
Yoga demonstrations:
Music: search on line to see if there are amateur music groups in your area, or someone
who builds simple musical instruments.
Fire Dept
The local fire dept may be willing to bring a fire truck or rescue truck for a
demonstration.
Police Dept
Police car
Bike safety
Home safety and security
Neighbourhood Watch Presentation
First Aid demonstration from the local St. John Ambulance, Scouts, Ski Patrol, or other
safety group.
Humane Society
Dog training, dog safety for kids, etc.
Don’t forget your local experts: someone in your own neighbourhood may be prepared
to talk about their work, their hobby, or their volunteer work.