The Heritage Community Association (HCA) is looking for its next Executive Director (ED)! This is an exciting leadership opportunity for someone with a passion for community engagement and strong administrative skills.
The Executive Director is accountable to the HCA Board of Directors, who is accountable to residents of the Heritage neighbourhood and HCA Members. As the Heritage Community Association’s chief staff officer, you will play a significant leadership role in the achievement of the HCA’s mission, mandate and strategic plan. You will also be responsible for the overall administration of the non-profit organization, maintaining relationships with funders and community partners, internal and external communications, hiring and supporting HCA staff and overseeing the development and coordination of HCA programs and services.
More than two years after its closure, Heritage Neighbourhood’s Maple Leaf Pool has officially reopened to the public. Admission is free Monday to Sunday, 12 to 8 p.m. For more information, see the City of Regina Website here.
Image from Regina.ca, developed by P3A and HCMA
June 22, 2021
HCA was honoured to join community members and city representatives this morning in celebrating the grand re-opening of Maple Leaf Pool. We would like to express our overwhelming gratitude once again to the city council and city staff who brought the next chapter of this safe and inclusive space to life.
When the proposed closure of the facility was made public in 2018, passionate and dedicated community members, especially youth, made sure that their voices were heard. They spoke of this facility as vital to our community for countless reasons: as a second home for youth in the summer, for building and strengthening community relationships, for keeping active, and so much more.
This reopening marks a moment of great strength for the Heritage Community. It has not been an easy road to get to get here, we sincerely hope that you take advantage of this new space and celebrate your collective, community action that made it possible.
See you at the pool, Heritage!
From left to right: HCA Executive Director Aria Ramdeo delivers a speech at the grand opening of Maple Leaf Pool; City of Regina Mayor Sandra Masters cuts the ribbon at the grand opening of Maple Leaf Pool; HCA Executive Director Aria Ramdeo and HCA Program Coordinator Wendy Miller stand in front of the newly re-opened Maple Leaf Pool.
March 30, 2020
The City of Regina made the following announcement:
Construction work on Maple Leaf Pool begins
Construction on the new Maple Leaf pool is set to begin this week.
The decision to move forward with this infrastructure project was done with careful consideration. Throughout the project, we heard from area residents of the invaluable role this facility plays as a community hub and gathering place for families. While we continue to focus on the health and well-being of residents, this will play a very important role in community well-being in the long-term and we are committed to moving this infrastructure project to completion.
The health, safety and well-being of our community is our top priority. Additional safety measures and site monitoring will be in place to ensure a safe work environment for contractors. Some measures include appropriate physical distancing between workers on site, adherence to handwashing protocols, additional cleaning of shared surfaces and personal protective equipment.
City Council approved $5.3 million to support building a modern, accessible and inclusive facility while taking steps to reduce environmental footprint. The design incorporates industry best practices for accessibility and sustainability. The design, developed through consultation with the community, includes features that appeal to the whole family, regardless of age or ability while incorporating systems that will result in reduced energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption.
The contract for the construction work was awarded to Westridge Construction Limited. We will continue to work with the Heritage Community Association and provide area residents with information updates on the Maple Leaf Pool renewal.
February 26, 2020
An additional $880,000 (out of a pre-existing recreation fund) was unanimously approved for Maple Leaf Pool by City Council today. That means the pool will be re-built according to the designs we saw in October, and is on track to be completed by Fall 2020.
February 12, 2020
The Finance & Administration Committee approved the request for $880,000 more toward Maple Leaf Pool! It now goes to City Council on Feb. 26 (1:30pm). If it passes there, the pool re-build will go ahead as planned, with a short delay in the timeline (completed by Fall 2020 instead of mid-summer 2020).
We are pleased that the Committee and City staff continue to understand the value of this pool, and the urgency of getting it completed as soon as possible.
City staff are also working on summer programming for 2020, and on ensuring our community has access to another pool facility for the summer. We don’t have details yet, but we expect that PlayEscapes will run again at Thomson School, potentially a separate program for older youth, and free transportation/admission to another City pool. We’ve been told they’ll be in touch to work with us on the details, and we’ll keep you posted as we know more.
Thank you Councillors Sharon Bryce, Barbara Young, Lori Bresciani and Jason Mancinelli for your words of support and your unanimous vote today! And thanks to all the City staff who are working hard to get this project done asap, and to ease the stress on our community in the meantime.
And Extra Special Thanks to members of our community for continuing to stay engaged in this conversation! If you wish to speak at the Council Meeting on Feb. 26, you must submit a request by 1pm tomorrow/Thursday (Email clerks@regina.ca with a summary of your presentation; See “How to Make a Request” here).
February 7, 2020
City staff provided HCA with the following verbal update:
They have been negotiating project details with the contractor who will be building the pool;
The contractor has said they cannot complete the project within the timeline identified, and have pushed their completion date back to Fall 2020 (from mid-Summer 2020);
City staff are hopeful that there will still be an opportunity for the community to experience the facility upon completion in Fall 2020, but cannot promise anything;
The contractor has also said they cannot complete the project within the available budget, and need $880,000 more;
City staff plan to make this request to the Finance & Administration Committee at their Feb. 12 meeting at 9am. They are proposing to take the money out of the Recreation/Culture Capital Program, which was established in the 2020 budget for “the purpose of funding and supporting investments that advance the Regina Cultural and Recreation Master Plans and other initiatives that focus on enhancing quality of life in Regina” (in other words, there’s an existing source of this money, which will hopefully make it easier for the Committee and Council to approve);
If this request for additional funding is turned down, the only other options are to re-design and re-tender the project, further delaying the pool’s opening until at least mid-Summer 2021 (everyone involved is very hopeful this won’t happen!);
The Committee meeting is open to the public; anyone can just show up at 9am and sign up then to speak; HCA will be present to speak in support of this request for additional funding;
If the Finance & Administration Committee approves this proposal, it will still have to go through Council, probably at their Feb. 26 meeting.
The new ‘L’ shape pool design supports all swimming levels and provides areas for socializing and playing games in the water while keeping the deck and green space around the pool. The plan also features a beach (zero-depth) entry allowing patrons with mobility challenges and young children improved access to the pool.
The new facility was designed with extensive community consultation. Thanks to all who provided their feedback into the design concepts and summer programming while the new pool is being constructed.
The next step is finalizing the design and preparing the tender documents for construction. Project costs and timelines will be determined once the construction tender is awarded.”
June 12, 2019
The City held a come-and-go community barbeque at Thomson School, where community members could provide feedback on design options for a renewed Maple Leaf Pool.
Details on summer programs for kids in the community was also provided.
May 23, 2019
HCA met with the City today to get an update on plans for the demolition and re-build of the pool, and to plan a community consultation on the design of the new pool.
A tender process is currently underway to select a firm to take on the demolition, which should still happen this summer.
P3A Architecture is the local firm responsible for developing the designs for the pool’s re-build. HCA is working with them and the City to plan a community consultation event in mid-June. Consultation details are currently being finalized, and will be shared soon — stay tuned to this page, our e-newsletter and/or social media!
May 15, 2019
The Executive Committee of City Council approved the report outlined below, and sent it forward for discussion at City Council on May 27.
The only element of the report that’s not confirmed, and that Council will have to vote on, is the changes to the transit route.
May 9, 2019
Next Wednesday, City of Regina staff will be presenting a report to City Council on their engagement to date on summer programming during the Maple Leaf Pool rebuild. The full report is available here.
Highlighted recommendations include:
That admission to Wascana Pool will be free for ALL this summer, between 12-8pm
That a free PlayEscapes program be held at Thomson School for ages 5-12, including free lunch and supervised visits to Wascana Pool 2-3 times per week
That the City provide a free drop-in program in the neighbourhood for youth in grades 8-12 on weekday afternoons and evenings, including supervised visits to Wascana Pool
That the #15 Heritage bus route be amended slightly to include a stop near Wascana Pool
That a special bus pass be made available to Heritage residents to give free access to the #15 or #8 to get to Wascana Pool
We’ve been working closely with the City on these consultations and plans, and will be speaking in support of this report on Wednesday. If anyone has any feedback or questions, before then (or anytime) we’d love to hear from you! Email director [at] heritagecommunityassociation.com, or call 306-757-9952.
Jan. 30, 2019
The proposed plans and timelines (see below) were approved by Council with no major discussion.
Jan. 23, 2019
On Jan. 17, the Community & Protective Services Committee of City Council met. Their agenda included the timeline and plan for the re-development of Maple Leaf Pool and Wascana Pool.
HCA also met with 3 staff from the City’s Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services department this week to discuss the same timeline.
Here’s the outline proposed by City Admin:
To summarize: Demolition of Maple Leaf Pool would begin this spring/summer, along with consultation with the community about the design of the new pool. The design would be finalized by September 2019. Construction of the new pool would begin in early 2020, with the goal of it being completed partway through the 2020 swimming season.
In the meantime, the City will be consulting on programming options (including for whom, and where) over the next 2 months. They are currently finalizing a timeline for this consultation process; we should be able to share more details soon.
The Community & Protective Services Committee approved the above plan, meaning it will go to City Council for discussion at their Jan. 28 meeting.
We have raised concerns with City staff about both Wascana and Maple Leaf pools being closed for the first part of the swimming season in 2020. They stressed that these timelines are preliminary, and that they can’t be finalized until they discuss with the contractor, but that they will do their best to minimize the amount of time when both pools are closed, and look at offering Heritage residents transportation and admission to a different City pool during that time. HCA will be keeping a close eye on this aspect of the timeline as more detailed plans develop.
The above plan goes to City Council on Monday, Jan. 28, at which point anyone who wants to speak to it can do so. The meeting starts at 5:30pm; if you want to speak to Council, you must submit a summary of your presentation by this Thursday (Jan. 24) at 1pm.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on all this! As always, call 306-757-9952 or email director [at] heritagecommunityassociation.com with any and all feedback.
Jan. 11, 2019
Since Council’s decision to re-build the pool on Dec. 11, HCA has had 2 meetings with City staff — one on Dec. 19, and one today, Jan. 11. The main focus of these two conversations was how to best meet the needs of our community in the interim, while the pool is being demolished and rebuilt.
There are two threads to this conversation:
1. Programming — what types of programs, for what ages of participants, and where?
2. Transit and admission to Wascana Pool — how to make it as easy as possible for community members to access Wascana Pool for free?
Both HCA and the City are committed to consulting the community in order to answer these questions. City staff are currently developing a timeline and plan for these consultations, which should happen in February/March.
HCA has suggested: open houses at the schools that serve the neighbourhood, an open house at the Seniors’ Centre, and an online survey. If you have other ideas, please let us know!
The City is in conversation with the Board of Education about the possibility of accessing Thomson and/or Balfour Schools in the summer months, as potential home bases for programs.
We will be having a separate meeting specifically about the pool later this month, at which we hope to receive more detailed information about the timeline, budget, and consultation process for the facility’s re-design and re-construction.
Stay tuned to this web page, our e-newsletter and/or our facebook page for future updates! And if you have any feedback or questions, don’t hesitate to call 306-757-9952 or email director [at] heritagecommunityassociation.com.
Good Afternoon Mayor Masters and City Councillors;
I am here on behalf of the Heritage Community Association (HCA) to urge you to increase City support to community-based organizations that are working to meet the basic needs and improve the safety of people who are unhoused, using drugs, food insecure, or otherwise under-supported by our current systems.
The COVID-19 Pandemic has exacerbated and made more visible several longstanding and overlapping crises in many of our neighbourhoods.
Poisoned drug supplies killed over 111 people in our city last year, and 30 already as of early March 2021. Newo Yotina Friendship Centre has opened an emergency Overdose Prevention Site to help save lives, but they don’t have the resources to keep it open beyond Monday to Friday, 9-4, or for longer than a few months. Other community-based organizations such as AIDS Program South Saskatchewan, Queen City Patrol, Heritage Helpers and the Heritage Community Association have all stepped up in various ways, distributing naloxone kits, picking up needles from our alleys, and offering harm reduction activities. These groups are doing this work because they see a need and they care deeply for their communities, but it is not sustainable to continue leaving this work to volunteers and non-profits that are already stretched too thin.
Homelessness is on the rise, and the pandemic has exposed some serious gaps in this city’s services for people who are unhoused. When libraries, drop-in centres and businesses closed to the public, hundreds of people who relied on those spaces for somewhere warm to go during a winter day, were left to suffer on the cold streets. Non-profits that serve the unhoused have scrambled to retrofit their spaces, develop new policies, re-orient their programming, and make impossible choices between meeting the basic needs of their clients and ensuring the health of their staff and volunteers. All Nations Hope Network and the YWCA have shown heroic effort in getting Awasiw Warming Shelter off the ground with the City’s support, but its capacity and sustainability in the long-term is unknown.
Food insecurity is a longstanding issue in many Regina communities, and has been hugely exacerbated by the pandemic. Students doing remote learning are unable to access school meal programs, and many families are struggling financially due to job losses on top of ongoing austerity by the provincial government’s Ministry of Social Services. Pre-existing meal programs are maxed out, even with additional food security efforts popping up. In the Heritage neighbourhood, both HCA and Trinity Lutheran Church significantly expanded our food security efforts last year, and still, pre-existing food services such as Carmichael Outreach’s lunch program are consistently tapped out. The free mini pantries that HCA manages in partnership with volunteer community members are almost always fully emptied within an hour of being filled.
Non-profit organizations and community members are doing everything we can to take care of one another, to keep our neighbours alive and fed and housed and safe. We are exhausted. We are doing this work with next to no money, and volunteer labour, and still we are doing great work. But it’s not sustainable.
Not only is increasing investment in community supports the right thing to do, it also has the potential to save the City a lot of money. In 2018, Phoenix Residential released an update on their past 4 years (2014-2018) of running a Housing First program for 49 people. The program decreased calls for those participants to police by 81%, saving the City an estimated $268,000 in policing costs. Overall, the program saved an estimated $2,267,759 in EMS, policing, hospital stays, emergency room visits, and detox visits. This evidence mirrors research from other cities that consistently shows that investing in community-based programs and services (which are relatively affordable) reduces the need for expensive emergency services down the road. If the City is looking for future efficiencies, making smarter investments upstream through community-based organizations is a great place to start.
We know that the provincial government has responsibility for investing more money in many of these issues, but in the longstanding absence of their support, you as Mayor and Council have a responsibility to use all of the tools available to you to take care of your residents.
With this in mind, we strongly encourage Council to consider the following tangible actions:
Increase City funding to overdose prevention sites and other harm reduction activities
Commit to significant, long-term investment in the Plan to End Homelessness and more Housing First programs in our city
Increase funding available to community-based organizations through the Community Investment Grants Program
Continue to lobby the provincial government to invest more in healthcare, social services, and addictions services including overdose prevention and harm reduction
Thank you for listening. I am open to your questions.
6-month term, with possibility of extension Starting as soon as possible 30 hrs/wk Wage: $22/hr
The Heritage Community Association has an exciting job opportunity for someone with strong program management skills and a passion for community development. We are seeking a Program Coordinator for our 2020-21 food security and youth physical activity programming.
Responsibilities:
With direction from the Heritage Community Association’s Executive Director, and in collaboration with our partner organizations, the Program Coordinator will:
Adapt existing programming plans to prioritize participant and staff safety in response to COVID-19
Manage all elements of the Heritage Food Security Initiative, including:
Educational activities for both children and adults
Mini pantry maintenance, stocking and promotion
Community garden development including community engagement and funding applications
Additional activities to improve food security in the Heritage neighbourhood, as time and safety protocols allow
Development of creative ways to help keep youth in our neighbourhood physically active and socially engaged during the pandemic
Coordination of fun recreational activities for youth ages 9-14
Potential supervision of program staff and volunteers
Budget management
Support Martial Arts & Self Defence Facilitator with program administration and implementation
Manage program promotion and registration
Arrange logistics such as facility use and snacks
Maintain regular communication with all partner organizations
Keep clear records
Support the Executive Director with reports to funders
Qualities and Skills Sought:
We do not expect all applicants to have every quality and skill listed here, and are willing to train and support the right candidate to develop the necessary skills. Nonetheless, our ideal candidate will either have the following qualities and skills, or be able to develop them in a short time on the job:
Experience with program coordination
Strong organizational skills, especially when it comes to scheduling, planning and logistics
Effective time-management skills and the capacity to work independently
Experience working with children or youth, ideally in a recreational setting
Knowledge of food security issues (this can include lived experience of poverty or food insecurity)
Capacity to facilitate groups of youth and adults, including conflict prevention and de-escalation
Solid interpersonal skills and the ability to connect well with people of all ages and identities
Capacity to manage and work within a pre-determined budget
Ability to manage and supervise staff and volunteers
The Heritage Community Association has an exciting job opportunity for someone who is passionate about local business and food security. We are seeking a Business Booster for summer 2020 to help independent businesses in our neighbourhood during the pandemic. The position will include coordination of a Sponsor-a-Meal program, as well as other activities to help promote and support our local economy.
Responsibilities:
Reporting to the Heritage Community Association’s Executive Director, the Business Booster will:
Coordinate a weekly Sponsor-a-Meal program that encourages residents to order take-out or delivery from select neighbourhood restaurants, with HCA donating a meal to someone in the neighbourhood for every order. This includes:
Recruiting and liaising with local business participants
Handling all program communications and promotion
Soliciting, managing and fulfilling orders for donated meals
Coordinating a small team of volunteer delivery drivers
Develop and manage a social media campaign to promote neighbourhood businesses, with a focus on those who do not have a strong existing social media presence
Update HCA’s online Business & Service Directory
Outreach to neighbourhood businesses for support with HCA initiatives such as our Community Cleanup
Support with other administrative and outreach activities as required
Qualities and Skills Sought:
Experience with project management
Aptitude for data management using spreadsheets and Google Forms
Strong capacity for social media marketing, especially Facebook and Instagram
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Knowledge of local small-business landscape
Capacity to work independently, and to seek direction as needed
Familiarity with the Heritage neighbourhood
Capacity to work from home preferred, although we may be able to provide a work station at our office if needed
To apply, email your resume and cover letter to director@heritagecommunityassociation.com.
This position is supported by Service Canada’s Canada Summer Jobs program.
The Heritage Community Association (HCA) has an exciting summer job opportunity for someone between the ages of 15 and 30 who is keen on environmental stewardship and community engagement. We are seeking a Neighbourhood Steward to help keep our community’s alleys and green spaces tidy, vibrant and safe. The position will include helping to organize Community Clean-ups in our neighbourhood, maintaining Art Park, as well as a variety of other activities related to neighbourhood beauty and safety.
Responsibilities:
Reporting to HCA’s Executive Director, the Neighbourhood Steward will:
Help to organize Community Cleanups in different areas of the neighbourhood throughout the summer, including:
Helping HCA’s ED to coordinate bin locations, schedules, and drop-offs with Loraas
Supporting with communications and promotions to community members, including through flyers and social media
Being present on clean-up days to help direct and support community members bringing their garbage to the bins
Maintain HCA’s Art Park, a corner of green space in our neighbourhood that is planted with native and edible plants, including:
Pruning trees, bushes and grass as needed
Weeding pathways
Picking up garbage daily
Helping to maintain the Little Free Pantry and art within the park
Helping to promote the park on social media
Help to keep Heritage’s alleys clean by regularly picking up litter, and reporting problem areas to the City or Health Authority as appropriate
Assist with other HCA initiatives as needed, such as our Food Security Initiative, Graffiti Removal, emergency response efforts for COVID-19, and/or preparation for the Harvest Moon Festival
Qualities and Skills sought:
Self-directed, independent worker
Capacity and willingness to spend many hours a day outside
Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills; capacity to connect well with community members
Familiarity the Heritage neighbourhood
Knowledge of native plant maintenance an asset but not required
Social media and written communication skills an asset but not required
Previous experience working in similar roles an asset but not required
To apply, email your resume and cover letter to director@heritagecommunityassociation.com.
This position is supported by Service Canada’s Canada Summer Jobs program.
43-week (10-month) term, with possibility of extension
32.5 hrs/wk
Wage: $20/hr
The Heritage Community Association has an exciting job opportunity for someone who is Indigenous, with strong program management skills and a passion for community development. We are seeking a Program Coordinator for our 2019-20 programming, including: a neighbourhood food security initiative, a Truth and Reconciliation discussion series, and a youth physical activity program.
Responsibilities:
With direction from the Heritage Community Association’s Executive Director, and in collaboration with our partner organizations, the Program Coordinator will:
Coordinate the new Heritage Food Security Initiative, including:
Organizing cooking classes for both children and adults
Organizing community kitchens for residents of the Heritage neighbourhood
Researching and developing a report on options for community gardens in the Heritage neighbourhood
Coordinate a newly expanded TRC Report Discussion Series, funded by Central Zone Board and in partnership with the Regina Public Library and Reconciliation Regina, consisting of 9 monthly events that each engage a different theme from the TRC Report
Organizing fun recreational activities for 20-40 youth ages 9-14
Managing project budgets for all 3 programs
Managing program promotion and registration for all 3 programs
Arranging logistics such as facility booking and snacks
Maintaining regular communication with all partner organizations
Keeping clear records
Supporting the Executive Director with reports to funders
Qualities and Skills Sought:
We do not expect all applicants to have every quality and skill listed here, and are willing to train and support the right candidate to develop the necessary skills. Nonetheless, our ideal candidate will either have the following qualities and skills, or be able to develop them in a short time on the job:
Indigenous, and well-versed in the content of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Report
Strong knowledge of food security issues – especially food insecurity in inner city Regina (this can include lived experience of poverty or food insecurity)
Experience working with large groups of children or youth, ideally in a recreational setting
Capacity to facilitate groups of youth and adults, including conflict prevention and de-escalation
Strong organizational skills, especially when it comes to scheduling, planning and logistics
Effective time-management skills and the capacity to work independently
Ability to manage and supervise staff and volunteers
Solid interpersonal skills and the ability to connect well with people of all ages and identities
Capacity to manage and work within a pre-determined budget
Familiarity with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Google Drive, Facebook and Instagram
To apply:
Please submit one of the following to director@heritagecommunityassociation.com by July 16, 2019:
Resume and cover letter outlining why you are interested and what makes you qualified for this job;
Resume and video outlining why you are interested and what makes you qualified for this job; or
Resume and audio recording outlining why you are interested and what makes you qualified for this job.
Good Afternoon Mister Chair and Committee Members. My name is Shayna Stock and I’m here on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Heritage Community Association.
The majority of existing body rub parlours are located in the Heritage neighbourhood; as the organization that represents that neighbourhood, we’re glad to be a part of the conversation.
We understand that this discussion has arisen from the recent movement of sex work from the streets to indoors, and that this is due in part to changes in federal legislation that criminalizes the purchasing of sex work, making it more dangerous for johns and workers to negotiate in the open.
In a 2007 study done on our neighbourhood’s assets and needs, the community identified the sex trade as one of their primary concerns. In a recent update to that study, conducted in 2017/18, it was mentioned only once out of 91 interviews with residents. We suspect this is because, with sex work moving mostly indoors, it now has a much lower impact on most Heritage residents.
After much research, thought and discussion, we offer the following recommendations to the City:
That insights and perspectives of body rub parlour workers be prioritized in any decision made by the City, since they are the ones most likely to experience significant risks to their health and safety due to any new City policy or enforcement efforts. We understand that City staff have connected directly with workers, and made efforts to make these engagements as safe and accessible for them as possible including providing interpretation when helpful. Due to high levels of stigma against sex work in our society, these workers have risked a lot to provide their input, and we request that City prioritize it above all other input.
That demonstrable safety concerns of the immediate community also be taken into account. We have heard from some Heritage residents, living in very close proximity to body rub parlours, who’ve said that they or their family members have felt unsafe due to the sex work happening next door. This is mainly a concern for young Newcomer and Indigenous women, who may be mistaken for sex workers and approached by johns while coming and going from their home. We ask the City to consider the safety of these residents in their decisions.
That the City not make any decisions based on moral grounds, because moral objection increases stigma, which decreases the safety of workers. It is well documented in academic research that any increase in stigma has a negative impact on the safety of workers. We encourage the City not to engage in any discussion that serves to increase anti-sex work stigma.
That body rub parlours not be relegated to industrial zones, as this is likely to have a negative impact on the safety of workers due to lower visibility and more isolation. In other words, we do not support the enforcement of existing Zoning Bylaws, as it would not prioritize the safety of workers.
That the City not consider banning body rub parlours, or sex work generally. Sex work will continue to exist whether or not we agree with it, and a ban is likely to result in greater health and safety risks for workers, especially those who are already the most vulnerable. This is well documented in the research.
That the City work with trusted local agencies to provide comprehensive support to any workers who are negatively impacted by any new policies or enforcement efforts, and provide additional financial resources to those agencies if needed. We ask that the City create a plan for supporting impacted workers before any licensing structure or other regulatory efforts are implemented, including ensuring these supports are adequately resourced, and that workers are fully informed about them.
Thank you for considering these recommendations as you take your next steps. We appreciate the opportunity to weigh in, and I am available now for any questions you might have.
In Spring 2019, Heritage resident Heather Cameron was a successful applicant to our Good Neighbour Community Grant Program to re-invigorate an existing art gallery she’d been running in the alley beside her house for the past 3 years. In order to inspire and support others to take on a similar project, we asked her to do up this short how-to. Heather’s Alley Galley can be found on the west side of 2300-block Toronto St., in the alley between College and 15th.
An Alley Galley is an outdoor art gallery that exists in a back alley. It’s both private and public. Technically it’s installed on private property (i.e. a fence), but the viewing takes place in public territory (i.e. the alley).
Location
Our Alley Galley exists on the outside of our fence that borders a highly trafficked alley. It works well because it is easy for us to maintain, but gets a lot of walk by traffic. Alley Galleys would also be effective on the sides of garages or any other space on private property that borders an alley. Think outside the box and use what infrastructure is available to you – maybe the art hangs from a tree?
Theme
Having a theme to tie in the different artworks is an effective way to connect the diverse submissions of art you will receive. Decide on something that is broad enough to allow for lots of artistic freedom, but specific enough to give the artists a bit of direction. (i.e. “Feather & Bone” or “Floral Monstrosities”)
Artists
Decide how many pieces of art you can fit on your fence/wall/location and contact artists to create the work. Explain the theme to your artists and any special conditions of your gallery. (i.e. Do you accept sculpture? Is size an issue?) Make sure you give the artists a deadline to submit their pieces.
We have always featured the youth (ages 2-14) of the Heritage Community as our artists. Any age or background of artist could work. Primarily, it depends on who you are able to connect with.
Preparations
Decide how you are going to showcase the art and collect the necessary supplies to do so. We chose to frame our art in gold frames, so a large part of our preparation was hunting down 22 frames and spray painting them gold. Frames can be expensive, so buying second hand pictures or asking people for old frames is your best bet. Do not use MDF or any material that will disintegrate due to sun and rain. We also sprayed a weather protector top coat on the frames to help them endure outdoor conditions.
All of the 2D artwork and any labels/signage was laminated to protect it from rain and moisture. Taking it to an office store is professional, but expensive. A cheaper alternative is self-adhesive laminate available at the dollar store.
Installation
Once the artwork and frames are collected, the installation can occur. As a curator, select what frame fits each piece, what pieces work best together and how to best arrange the show.
We used a pneumatic brad nailer to fasten the frames to the fence and a staple gun to hang the 2D art. Small wooden shelves were built for any sculptural pieces that required a base for installation.
The final touch is hanging a small label beside each artwork. This label includes the artists name, the title, the medium of art and the age of the artist.
Heather Cameron addresses attendees at the 2019 opening of Alley Galley
Opening
Having an opening reception is a wonderful way to gather the artists and community together. Mimicking a professional art opening we served drink, food & candy! The artists were introduced and had a chance to speak on the megaphone about their work.
Maintenance
An alley galley is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Rain or shine! It is inevitable that the art will begin to fade and weather. To help enhance the site, we plant sunflowers along the fence. This adds a little colour as the season plays out.
Why Do It?
This project improves the streetscape and atmosphere of the Heritage Community. Our particular alley can be a challenging and neglected space -it often houses crime, graffiti and an abundance of trash. By creating the Alley Galley this space, and how people use it, immediately changes. I have been presenting artwork displayed in the alley for 3 years now and am always impressed at how the Alley Galley sparks friendly neighbourhood dialogue and a respect of the property. The art work has never been destroyed or stolen – it seems to create a space of respect and peace within the citizens in this neighbourhood.
This project empowers the youth artists, and anyone that experiences the Alley Galley, to be active citizens in their community and demonstrates that a simple act of improvement can change the physical and communal landscape of their neighbourhood.
The Alley Galley becomes a place of destination in Regina. People choose to walk and drive by the colourful alley, encouraging community support and creating allies for the Heritage Community.
Artist and Heritage resident Karlie King has been working on doily-bombing this tree on 15th Ave. The project is funded by the HCA’s Good Neighbour Community Grant Program. Photo by Slate Gallery.
Last year, I applied to the Heritage Community Association’s Good Neighbour Community Grant, with the idea that I would work with my neighbours using their family doilies to doily-bomb the trees in their yards. The intention was to display the tradition and artistry held in these family doilies, instead of having them stored in a drawer or box where no one gets to see or appreciate them. Further, I had hoped that as we doily-bombed together we could share stories about who made the doilies and discuss the intricate designs.
Like most of my art projects, the process deviated a little from what I had first proposed. For example, I had grossly underestimated the size of the trees in our neighbourhood! We have some seriously big trees. So the collection part of the process took a little longer than expected. But, we got there. A call was put out via the Heritage Community Association’s Facebook page, and people did not disappoint. Heritage residents were very generous and forthcoming with their family’s traditions.
In November of 2018, I finally got to Doily-Bombing the first tree on the corner of St. John’s Street and 15th Ave. – a great location since it’s aligned with the south side doors of the General Hospital and there is lots of traffic and exposure.
No exaggeration, I am sure I talked to fifty people in the first few hours of the project. And then I lost track of how many after that. So many people stopped their cars as they passed by, rolled down their windows, asked what I was doing, and then told me “good job” or some other accolade. Basically all of the foot traffic stopped to talk, and those conversations ended up having the most depth and consideration. As predicted, many shared stories about the doilies stored in their homes. They’d get nostalgic and tell of an Aunt or Grandma’s nightly dedication to these crafted mathematic traditions. A couple people even told me they were going to go home and do the same – “sew them together, and cover the front evergreens” one woman said. People from the hospital even came over to talk. They said they could see me from the south side windows and wanted to take a closer look.
I got half the tree done before the winter weather set in. Once Spring comes I’ll bring out the long ladder again and continue up the tree. So, if you see me, please stop and chat. I look forward to hearing more of my neighbours’ great stories of their family traditions.
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