Hi EV Neighbours! It’s that time of year again, spring is in the air, the geese are returning (watch your step!), and the EVNA AGM is just around the corner!

On Saturday, May 3rd, we will be hosting the AGM at carya Village Commons at 10:30 AM. A formal invitation will be sent out to the community shortly, but first, we want to share information about the neighbourhood association and the benefits of joining. There are many ways to become involved with EVNA: as a resident member, a pickleball member, and, of course, as a volunteer!

EVNA is volunteer-driven and we know that volunteers are the backbone of our community! The larger our member and volunteer base is, the stronger our voice will be in supporting and advocating for our vibrant community. As a person invested in the East Village, you can volunteer at events or join a subject-specific committee. If you are also a resident, you can even become part of the Board. Let’s break it down:

Event Volunteer – Currently, EVNA hosts five key events each year: Bike Day, Neighbour Day, Street Fair, Purge N’ Splurge, and Light Up the Village. Additionally, the Garden Committee organizes seasonal events, including the annual Garden Harvest Party. We are always looking for new events and programs that we can run, so more volunteers mean more potential events for our community!

Committee Volunteer – Do you have expertise or a passion you’d like to share? For those who enjoy analyzing numbers, we have our Finance Committee. If you’re social media-savvy, consider joining the Marketing Committee. Green thumbs are welcome in the Garden Committee, while urbanists can contribute to the Planning Committee. If you understand the importance of the kitchen, the Pickleball Committee is for you! Entrepreneurs and artists who want to see more activity in the East Village can join our Business & Arts Committee. Lastly, we have committees dedicated to general EVNA events and one specifically for our signature Canada Day Street Fair.

Board Member – EVNA’s bylaws allow for five to nine board members, including four executive positions: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Our mission is to encourage conversation and interaction to create a sense of belonging and ownership for all who live, work, and play in East Village. The board regularly engages with CMLC, the City, our Ward 7 representative, other community associations, and various organizations throughout the community. We believe that the board should always represent all our neighbours in the East Village. To ensure fresh perspectives, we limit executive positions to five consecutive years, allowing new representatives to engage and have their voices heard!

Throughout April, we will share details about the different board positions, committees, and events through our social media channels and in print where possible. We are also open to meeting with potential volunteers for any of the opportunities mentioned above and providing more information. Residents are welcome to join and observe a board meeting if they are interested in learning more about the topics at hand.

At EVNA, we firmly believe that the greatest reason to join is that it’s good for you! Studies have shown that volunteering in your community can strengthen your sense of belonging, broaden your support network, and inspire you. This leads to increased happiness and a greater sense of fun – what could be better than that?