Community Builders during COVID-19: Viscount Crescent Music Night

“I have fantastic neighbours!” says Marianne West of the Village on the Park neighbourhood of South Viscount Crescent. A main organizer of the neighbourhood’s annual block parties for the past 24 years, Marianne knew that the need for physical distancing meant they would have to do something different.  

“We couldn’t have all the people congregating in the yard and one of my neighbours knew a gentleman through Facebook who did driveway concerts,” so she and her organizers contacted Steven Sware, who came out and put on a great show. In all, Marianne said their event attracted between 50-60 attendees – of all ages – and the addition of some sidewalk chalk from Family and Community Services allowed each social ‘bubble’ to mark their own space, to keep appropriate distance. 

With the support of a COVID-19 Community Connection Grant, Marianne’s neighbourhood was able to bring people together for a night of good music and family fun, and their musician even managed to collect close to $600 in donations on the night.