Judy is a volunteer with the Yard Garden Harvest Project (YGHP). Born and raised in the Little Mountain-Riley Park neighbourhood, Judy was the first homeowner to share her yard with LMNHS for the Yard Garden Harvest Project. 6 years later, Judy continues to support the YGHP and the Neighbourhood House, hosting potlucks and volunteer orientations on her patio, and opening up her home for food storage for the Food Distribution Program. Judy spoke with us about how her “City Farm” has become somewhat of a local landmark and a source of joy and community engagement for her.  

Did you know anything about neighbourhood houses before you started volunteering?

My kids would have gone down there, they were involved in things. And we’ve done Christmas hampers over the years when they’ve been raising money. My family has always given back to the community.

What do you think is special about LMNHS or neighbourhood houses in general?

The different people that have come through! The year before last year there was a son lived who lived here, he and his mother came from Ukraine. She didn’t speak a word of English, but she came and she sat in for the orientation, and she loved working in the garden. She was actually learning her English from being in the garden.

Are there any special moments or stories that you want to share with the community?

There’s a sign out front [about the YGHP], and when we have the farmer’s market every Saturday a lot of people walk by my house. And they stop and they look, and it’s got the QR code, and my kitchen is at the front and if they see me I’ll go out. Then there’s actually been people where I say go around, and then they take a look and I explain to them.

My kids talk about it too, my grand kids,they’re amazed! And they’ll say my grandma has a farm in her backyard. Then they get to explain to everybody what’s happening in Grandma Judy’s backyard. And I get little things like that sign back there, it says “Grandma Judy’s City Farm”. My sister-in-law, who lives way up north, she heard about it, and she did that for me. [The Yard Garden] just gives a sense of community, peace. There’s been days when things have happened in the last six years, as we get older people get sick and people have passed, and that feeling of just looking over there,and knowing that I’m giving back. There’s nothing that compares to that. I really and truly feel it in my heart, and people see it when I talk about it.

Diane has lived and worked in the Riley Park neighbourhood for almost 20 years, and her first LMNHS volunteer experience was with the Yard Garden Harvest Project in 2022. As a lifelong gardener she found her happy place in neighbours’ yards—growing vegetables alongside fellow volunteers practising sustainable gardening, and contributing to the creation of pollinator-friendly and diverse urban foodscapes. After updating her skills with the Master Gardener course at VanDusen Botanical Garden last year she continued her garden volunteering and mentoring with both the YGHP and RPCG. She is now helping to build the Learning Garden, where community members can gather to learn about plants of significance to Coast Salish peoples.

Why is volunteering important to you?

For me, it’s community connection. It’s getting to know my neighbours, it’s a chance to share my skills and expertise, to help people. Being outside and putting your hands in the soil is very therapeutic for people, including myself, and so I find that you know, you have a long day at work, or you’re trying to solve a problem, or you need a little time to yourself, you just go to the garden. There’s a Japanese phrase, they call it “forest bathing”, and it’s just being in nature, just letting yourself enjoy your surroundings. Green spaces are more and more important, when so many of us are apartment dwellers who don’t have a green space, and so these become extra important as we densify our living situation.

What do you think is special about LMNHS or neighbourhood houses in general?

I’m continually amazed by the number of volunteers, the diversity of volunteers. We have everyone, from high school students to 80-year-olds. It makes me so happy that there’s that group of people, 200 to 300 people, who just want to support the work that is going on Little Mountain, and I think that’s a tribute to the House, the programs, the people that pour their heart into creating this environment for people to enjoy and access.

Do you have any advice for current or prospective volunteers about getting more involved at LMNHS?

Just come and hang out. I guarantee that if you come and volunteer you will come back. I think that one of the things that LMNHS does so well is the volunteer experience. It’s not just come and work and do what we’re doing. But it’s come and enjoy yourself, learn a new skill, and we always gather around the table with some food and share our stories and our backgrounds. You learn so much, not just in the garden and the skill of gardening, but you learn so much about other things by talking to people who have different backgrounds, experiences, and cultures. I think we do that so well at the neighbourhood house, we embrace all that diversity, and I think that’s what creates that cultural safe space where people feel comfortable sharing their stories and what goes on in their life.

We extend our deepest condolences to the families, survivors, victims, and witnesses impacted by this tragedy. Our hearts and support are with the members and friends of the Filipino community, and we continue to stand in solidarity with you. We remain committed to supporting the Filipino community and others during this difficult time and will continue to look for ways to help in the healing process ahead.

As Filipino BC compassionately reminds us, “We encourage everyone to check in, support and hold each other. Do not hesitate to access resources available. You are not alone.”

Sincerely,

Little Mountain Neighbourhood House Society Staff and Board of Directors

Ways to receive support

From Filipino BC

• Victim Services are available 24/7 for those who witnessed or experienced trauma, please call or text +1 (800) 563-0808 or email 211-victimlinkbc@uwbc.ca.
• Call 310 Mental Health Line at 310-6789, BC Mental Health & Crisis Response (no area code needed).
• Crisis Line services are available 24/7, please contact them by text at 988 or call them at +1 (800) 784-2433.

From the City of Vancouver

• 24-hour assistance centre at Douglas Park Community Centre (801 W 22nd Ave). Vancouver police officers and Victim Services professionals have been deployed to help anyone who has not been able to contact a loved who was at the Lapu Lapu Day event. If you are not able to attend in person, please call (604) 717-3321.

From the Canadian Mental Health Association

• BC’s Bereavement and Grief Support Line: +1 (877) 779-2223
• Resources listed by the Philippine Consulate:
  • Assistance-to-Nationals Hotline: (604) 653-5858
  • Migrant Workers Office Hotline: (604) 767-3354

From Little Mountain Neighbourhood House

• Filipino settlement worker Alma Saplala provides non-therapeutic support and settlement services in both Tagalog and Kapampangan. Email her at almas@lmnhs.bc.ca or call at (604) 879-7104 or (604) 354-5098 to schedule an appointment.

From the Office of Christine Boyle, MLA Vancouver-Little Mountain

Ways to provide support

Donate blood. Hospitals across Vancouver have declared a Code Orange, indicating there has been a mass casualty incident. Visit Canadian Blood Services’ website www.blood.ca or call 1 (888) 236-6283 to book an appointment.

Donate to a verified GoFundMe page, where funds go directly to impacted families:

• Support for Roland Nulada and his family
• Support for Val De La Cruz and son after Lapu Lapu incident
• Help Christi and Nox recover from the Lapu Lapu tragedy
• Support Kim in Memory of Kira
• Support Josh Candy in his recovery after Lapu Lapu tragedy
• Support Helgi and Thor Bjarnason
• Help cover Jendhel May Sico’s wake and funeral services
• Support for AJ Sico after Lapu Lapu tragedy

Check in with your loved ones and community members.

Everyone processes grief differently, so ask how you can best support them — whether that means spending more time with them, picking up groceries, providing aid, or simply giving them space.

The table was set with fresh vegetables and fruits, pies and pizza; sometimes quesadillas with cheese and greens, and separately with chicken, spinach quiche, etc. Some participants brought dishes they had cooked, such as pancakes or a pie.

In one of the sessions, our participant and volunteer Olena conducted a remarkable drawing master class after lunch where participants painted a sunflower along with other flowers. Everyone enjoyed it.

Our Community Kitchen program is conducted for newcomers (permanent residents or people with CUAET), providing an opportunity to meet other newcomers, socialize, share experiences about settling and living in Canada, and enjoy delicious meals together.

We are planning the next session for August 10th. If you would like to register, please contact Tetiana at 236-862-8522, or tetianar@lmnhs.bc.ca.

Theme Day Wednesdays included Character Day where children dressed up as superheroes (Spiderman, Batman, Superman), princesses (Rapunzel, Moana, Elsa, Anna), dinosaurs, etc. We had Sports Day another week where the children wore activewear and were able to try different sporting equipment.

The children had a Teddy Bear Picnic where they brought a stuffed animal to join them in their daily activities. This included having lunch outside with their stuffies. Children were ecstatic, saying “this is the best day ever!”

The last week, on June 25 we had Half-Christmas PJ Day, where the children got to wear their favourite Christmas pyjamas for the whole day at the daycare. 

Other events that took place was the children’s graduation party. The kids going to Kindergarten in September were presented with a certificate completing daycare, as well as a memory book with photos of themselves with their friends during their time at the centre.

Ponies also came to visit the daycare! Their names were Elvis and Winston. Every child was able to ride each pony around the outside area. They all had a great time!

We will share updates about our programs, operations, and fire recovery over the past year, as well as celebrate our completed move into our new location! Thank you to all of our staff, participants, volunteers, and community partners who have supported us during this transition.

Light refreshments will be provided. Doors open at 6pm and the meeting will begin at 6:30pm.

This event will be in person. If you need accommodations to attend virtually, please reach out to info@lmnhs.bc.ca. We hope to see you there!

I absolutely love working with seniors. I think that they are an untapped resource in our community and have so much to bring to this world.

What are some of the programs that you offer seniors?

Currently, we offer Line Dancing, Pole Walking, Gardening and Seniors Lunches. This week we are hosting a Healthy Ageing Forum where we plan to bring together a large number of seniors from our community. Through a variety of fun activities, brainstorming and discussions, we hope to find out what our seniors want in their community and from there, build our future programming.

COVID shifted some of our priorities for our seniors’ program. Now we’re looking to rebuild. I think that the senior today is very different from the senior of thirty years ago. What we’re hoping to get out of our Healthy Ageing Forum this week is a clearer idea about what today’s senior is looking for, and from there, expand our program with 6 to 8 additional programs and activities.

What is the LEAP into Action program?

LEAP stands for Leadership Engagement for Awesome People. We have put together a group of engaged people over the age of 55 who are interested in building a community in ways that support people of all ages to thrive. Over the past few months, we have been running a special program called “LEAP into Action”, a leadership training program for our volunteers. This group will be helping at our Healthy Aging Forum on November 30^th and moving forward, will also help lead and facilitate the new programming that we are planning to put into place.

How many seniors do you have engaged in your programming?

We have had about 600 to 700 seniors tap into our programming over the past couple of years. It sounds like a lot, however, there are a lot of seniors who haven’t come out. The stats indicate that there are around 5500 seniors in our community. Our goal is to reach out to seniors who haven’t connected to try and get them involved.

What do you feel some seniors are hesitant to connect, and what would be your advice for those people?

Some seniors feel hesitant and scared to come out. COVID certainly didn’t help matters. It further isolated a number of our seniors, and like other things in life, when you stop doing something for a while, it’s more difficult to begin again. My advice would be:

• If you’re nervous about trying something new, grab a friend and ask them to join you. We welcome everyone! I’ve met some incredible people through our programs. If you’ve been isolated for a while, it isn’t easy. But if you take the first step, join one of our programs, you might find it’s just what you need. You might meet a new friend or learn a new skill. And who knows where that will take you…
• Our weekly Seniors Lunches are an easy way to get involved, meet some new friends, and learn more about what we do. The cost is $5. It takes place on Tuesdays at City Heights (155 East 37^th Avenue). It’s a nice way to meet other seniors in our neighbourhood. Everyone enjoys good food, and indeed, some of the best conversations happen around a shared meal. So, come join us! All you have to do is call me on the Monday before at 236-862-8694 and I will sign you up. I look forward to meeting you.

Tell me a success story.

I was talking to a woman on the phone today. She started coming to our Seniors Lunch and through that met some new friends. Someone shared with her some information about Little Mountain Neighbourhood House’s Music and More on Main program and she started attending those concerts as well. She said she performed a few songs last week and now is also part of our LEAP into Action program. She shared with me today: “You know? It just seems like everything is coming up roses these days!” It’s been so heartwarming to hear about all this stuff that she’s becoming involved in. You could tell that she was proud of herself; that she was getting out, meeting lots of people, and gaining so much from it. It’s stories like this that make my job worthwhile.

What is one of your most popular programs?

I would say it’s Line Dancing! It’s harder than it looks! Not only is it a good physical workout, but the brain gets a workout as well. And it’s a great opportunity to meet others. A few of our line dancers will be performing at our Healthy Ageing Forum this week.

For more information about LMNH’s Seniors Programs, please don’t hesitate to contact me at (236) 862-8694 or at jacquit@lmnhs.bc.ca.

I have the pleasure of being the Yard Garden Program Coordinator (YGHP) at the LMNH. The program was started four years ago as a part of our multifaceted Food Hub initiative which was born from a growing concern about food security within our community.

The YGHP grows food in four of our neighbours’ front and back yards to provide local, community-grown produce to support the LMNH’s Food Distribution Program. The produce we grow supplements food from the Vancouver Food Bank, along with other local growers (City Beet Farm, UBC farm, food rescue organizations (Food Stash) and local businesses, to serve individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. The idea was sparked by a group of individuals who wanted to expand the positive impact of our Riley Park Community Garden by providing food grown with sustainable to those experiencing food insecurity and expanding spaces for people to learn how to grow food.

What an amazing program! What does your role as project coordinator look like?

This year the yard gardens grew and donated 27 weeks of food for the food distribution program. Our program offers 27 weeks of food distribution a year. During that time, I’m busy coordinating volunteers, setting up workshops, planning parties for our volunteer partners (we like to have fun!), and getting my hands dirty in the garden to help grow food. I close the beds in the winter and plan for the upcoming season.

How much food do you produce for the Food Distribution Program?

This year, we produced approximately 1500 pounds of healthy and delicious food on a mere 252 square metres of land with the support of 630 hours of volunteer time. We grew everything from daikon and Asian greens to broccoli, cabbage, tomatoes and strawberries. With rising food costs, our Food Distribution Program is seeing an increase in demand.

What are some of the benefits of the YGHP?

There are so many wonderful benefits to what we do. In addition to helping grow food for people experiencing food insecurity, the YGHP provides community members with a chance to create meaningful connections, contribute to the well-being of our community through volunteering and learn and practice sustainable farming.

We also put on many fun events for our community including educational workshops, volunteer appreciation nights, and social events. It is important to us that we provide a meaningful volunteer experience.

Tell us about your volunteers.

We have approximately 40 volunteers who help make this program successful. Our volunteers range from high school students to seniors and experienced gardeners to newbies. We welcome all ages and offer volunteer positions ranging from short garden shifts to long-term leadership roles from April through October.

For those interested in learning more about volunteering with us or how you can add your yard to our program, contact me at yardgarden.coordinator@lmnhs.bc.ca.