Green Shack drop-in programs are back, beginning July 4, weekdays from 2.30 to 5.30PM.

Get active and join in on games, sport, crafts, music, drama and special events! A complete list of activities and special events is posted on the side of Green Shacks each week. If there is a game or activity that piques your child's interest that you would like to have included in the programming, just ask the Program Leader.

Program leaders will be hosting a variety of games, challenges and activities that are sure to get kids active and having fun! 😎

Programs Leaders are easily identified by their blue shirts and may be assisted by volunteer leaders in training.
All leaders:

• Have completed a security clearance process, are trained in first aid, and are certified specialists in fun!
• Ensure participants play safely (Parents are responsible for their children at all times and must be available in the event of an emergency).

Programming is still available on rainy/snowy days, but may be cancelled during severe weather.

Some Bonnie Doon residents have been meeting with the city to improve traffic safety in Bonnie Doon. They met May 17, 2023. Their report says, "Five members of the Bonnie Doon Vision Zero community group met with City employees yesterday. Nabila Chatur, Traffic Planner, presented a plan for near term interventions to help limit traffic short-cutting and reduce unsafe speeds in 2 key areas. Biggest takeaway: there are some real actions set to happen in the near future."

Read their complete, two-page report (PDF).

Can you spare some time and join your neighbours to tidy up Bonnie Doon? We will be meeting at Bonnie Doon Park, near the gazebo, Thursday, May 25 at 6:00pm. When preparing for the cleanup, ensure that you:

• Dress for the weather
  
• Wear gloves & sturdy footwear
  
• Charge your cell phone and bring it with you.

For more safety tips, visit the city's cleanup website. Gloves and garbage bags will be provided on-site. If you have your own supplies you’d like to bring, like grabbers, feel free to bring those as well.

Pizza and refreshments will be served afterwards!

Join us Saturday, May 27 from 10:00am to 4:00pm for a community clothing swap at Bonnie Doon Community Hall, 9240 93 Street.

We encourage you to bring 10 or more items (clean and free of stains & defects) to the hall Friday, May 26 between 4:00pm and 9:00pm to help us set up. You may also bring the day of the event.

We will have coffee & donuts plus door prizes from some great local businesses: French Toast Cafe, Unbelts, the Columbian Coffee and Roastery and Fox Glove Wellness.

All of the excess inventory will be redistributed as needed to the following organizations: Indigenous Birth Alberta, Pregnancy Pathways through Radius Health, Terra Center, Basically Babies, Suit Yourself & Blenderz Garment Recyclers.

We are also raising money which will be used to support Blenderz and their zero waste services to process the excess inventory. Funds will also go to sakihta kikinaw through Boyle Street Community Services (a low income housing project for female identifying individuals). We encourage a donation of $10 by cash (card also accepted).

What to bring (all items must be clean, and free of fragrance & animal hair):

Thanks to the Edmonton Police Service for these notes. For more information, visit edmontonpolice.ca/garagesecurity...

As we enter the summer months, it is important to lock up whatever items you keep in the garage or in a shed to prevent theft. From April to June 2022, EPS received 466 reports of garage break and enters  Some of the most common items targeted were tools, bikes, outdoor equipment, vehicles, and garage door openers. If your garage or shed has been broken into, report it by either calling the EPS non-emergency line at 780-423-4567 or reporting online.

Bicycles are one of the more common items stolen from garages. If possible, keep it hidden or lock it up to deter people away from trying to steal it. Register your bike at Bike Index. Doing so can make the process of recovering your bike a lot easier if it gets stolen.

If you keep your tools and equipment in the garage or in a shed, remember to have an inventory list of everything you keep in there. If applicable, be sure to record make, model, serial number, and any distinguishing features so if any of your items is stolen, it will make it easier for police to recover your property.

Whether your vehicle is parked outside your home or in your garage, remember to remove your valuables, including your garage door opener. If your vehicle gets broken into, someone can steal your garage door opener and gain access to your garage and possibly your home. If your garage or vehicle has been broken into, report it by either calling the EPS non-emergency line at 780-423-4567 or reporting online.

BDCL emphasizes that reporting a crime improves the stats EPS uses to allocate resources to Bonnie Doon.

Dan Junik, our Book Club organizer, wrote the introduction that follows. The club's first meeting will take place June 26. For details, write to Dan at [email protected].

Thank you all for expressing your interest in the Bonnie Doon Book Club which I am tentatively calling Skyward Stories. I am looking forward to connecting with all of you to hear your unique thoughts and perspectives about our upcoming book, The Lathe of Heaven (1971) by Ursula K Le Guin.

“In a future world racked by violence and environmental catastrophes, George Orr wakes up one day to discover that his dreams have the ability to alter reality. He seeks help from Dr. William Haber, a psychiatrist who immediately grasps the power George wields.”

This is a wonderful book by an outstanding author. It won or was nominated for the Hugo, Locus, and Nebula awards. It is a short read and there is plenty of time until our first discussion.

To acquire this book, I’ve outlined some methods below:

• EPL for physical (3 in total all checked out unfortunately) and virtual copies (including audiobook)
• Used bookstores (suggest calling first)
• Major retailers, of course

My goal is to meet every 1-2 months, have a structured meeting which I will facilitate, and an agenda which I will share closer to June 26. The format will likely evolve based on our group.

Since we are limiting attendance to community league members (join BDCL), we have free access to the hall and have a small budget for drinks and snacks.

ps, Did you know Bonnie Doon has at least six Little Free Libraries!

In the spirit and recognition of reconciliation & allyship in our community, Holyrood Community League will be hosting a series of Indigenous Cultural Learning Workshops. The first workshop topic will be Pow wow & Round Dance 101 with Sissy Thiessen Kootenayoo from Wase Saba Experiences.

In this session, you will learn about the celebration of the Pow Wow, connection to the drum and its importance to Indigenous People and stories of creation. Learn the basic intertribal step, a freeze dance game, step demonstrations and a group round dance.

Due to limited space, you must register using this form.

When: Saturday, May 27
Time: 2 to 4 pm
Where: Strathearn Community Hall
Cost: Free!
Who: all ages & kids are welcome too!

The Strathearn and Bonnie Doon Community Leagues are providing the space for the series of workshops.

Are you a lover of fiction? Do you enjoy discussing plot twists, foreshadowing, character arcs, and themes with other book enthusiasts? If so, we have exciting news for you! We are starting a new book club, and we're looking for avid readers like you to join us.

We have up to 15 spots available, so if you're interested, please write to Mark, [email protected]. We'd like to know what types of books you enjoy reading and your thoughts on how the club should operate. Here are our initial thoughts:

• Format: In person for 5 to 15 participants
• Membership: must be current members of one of Edmonton's community leagues.
  
• Books: We'll pick the first book and then have others suggest or take turns selecting
• Schedule: Every 2 months on a weekday evening
• Ground rules:
  • 2 months to source and read a book
  • Fiction only from deceased authors
  • Preplanned questions with the aim of moving to primarily open discussion
• Logistics:
  • At Bonnie Doon Community Hall
  • Snacks/drinks
• Sourcing:
  • Coordinate with EPL?
  • Look for bulk purchase opportunities (local bookstores or online companies)
  • Digital options – free online versions (https://www.gutenberg.org/) or EPL

We're looking forward to hearing from you!

Our wonderful Bonnie Doon volunteers sometimes buy gas for our snowblowers, pay for printing, buy food for a league party, etc. We want to repay those folk promptly and to that end here is a simple form to organize your expense claim. If you have any questions, write to [email protected].