Words and photos generously provided by 7th Avenue Block Party Organizers, Megan Arn and Jessie Caza.
“Two lines of houses, facing each other day in, day out, with residents passing silently, or sometimes with a small wave, for years. Does this sound like your neighbourhood? This was ours. Some folks knew their adjacent neighbours, some folks were new & others had been living there for 30 plus years. But no one knew everyone, let alone had had a conversation with them. Then one day one neighbour saw the Neighbourhood Small Grants Columbia Valley poster in the post office & another neighbour volunteered to write the grant, and the party planning began! On Saturday June 29th, am amazing 44 residents (and visiting family) from 7th Ave gathered on the lawn of the Invermere Museum! We socialized with neighbours we had only ever seen glimpses of, found out that two neighbours grew up within an hour’s drive of each other four provinces away, shared laughs while kids searched for “museum ghosts” and hidden treasures, and watched enthusiastic children compete in a Kicking Horse coffee sack race. We enjoyed a great BBQ, salads, and sweets all provided by the grocery store at the end of our street, Sobeys. Older neighbours shared a bit of the history of and changes 7th Ave has seen, giving perspective to newer neighbours and an appreciation for how special this evening of neighbourly camaraderie was. Finally, when all the burgers had been served, and little people were being tucked into bed, each neighbour expressed huge gratitude for the opportunity to gather, meet, and share a meal. We will all wave a little more, say a few more words, and feel a bit more connected along our little avenue.
The 7th Avenue Block Party project received funding through the Neighbourhood Small Grants program in 2024.
