Should you know your Calgary neighbours?

Do you go in and out of your Calgary home without so much as a nod or a wave to your neighbours?  You might want to rethink that.

The Federation of Calgary Communities (FCC) has launched a campaign to encourage Calgarians to get to know each other.  Leslie Evans, executive director of the FCC says it’s important to be able to look out upon your street and know where John lives or who lives next door to him.

As an ice breaker, the FCC has made “Neighbour Cards” available that Calgary home owners can distribute and then collect so that they know who lives around them. There’s room on each card for up to eight neighbours to write their names and contact info on the card which can be kept on the fridge or close by the phone.

The card is a way for people to connect with each and is an excuse to approach a neighbour.  Knowing the names of your neighbours contributes to an innate sense of belong, creating community and at the same time, making neighbourhoods safer.

Evans emphasized that that Calgary is not an unsafe city but vigilance and watching out for each other helps.

The FCC’s Neighbour Card idea is part of Mayor Naheed Nenshi’s Neighbour Day initiative which was born of the 2013 floods where neighbours pitched it to help their fellow Calgarians.  This helps keep the spirit of this neighbourliness alive.

Here are some further reasons why it’s a good idea to know who lives around you.

1. Someone to watch your home while you’re on vacation:  A neighbour is the perfect person to bring in your newspaper, your mail and depending on how long you’ve known them, water your plants.
2. Someone to loan you baking ingredients:  Everyone knows the story of the neighbour who runs over to borrow a cup of sugar.  It’s more than urban legend, it’s a real fact.  Have you ever thought you have eggs onto to find in mid-cake that you don’t?  Good neighbours don’t mind loaning an egg here and there as long as they know they can count on you to return the favour.
3. Borrowing garden implements:  Tread lightly when it comes to borrowing garden implements.  This is a favour for really good neighbours.  There are times when your mower breaks down or the shovel breaks and you just need to finish the job.  Return the items immediately when you’re finished to keep the relationship with neighbours in good stead.  Really.  Same goes when you know they have a tool you don’t have.
4. Emotional support:  When there’s a death in the family, illness or a disaster it’s good to have the support of neighbours who might bring you food or take care of your yard for you while you get back on your feet.  It’s also a good feeling to know that you’re that type of neighbour as well.  Knowing you’re part of the block “family” is important to everyday life.
5. Neighbours who know you give you a break:   If you have a backyard barbecue and it goes late into the night or you have friends over in your apartment for an evening of cards, a good neighbour is likely to let you bit a bit loud as long as it doesn’t happen very often.  In fact, you can invite your neighbours over for the party!  At the very least, a neighbour you know might call to ask that you tone it down rather than call the authorities.
6. They’ll buy stuff when you’re fundraising:  As any parent will tell you, there’s always something to fundraise for.  Hockey teams, school bands, church trips.  If you buy your neighbour’s kids’ frozen steaks, they’ll buy your chocolates.  It’s reciprocal and it’s always nice to know your neighbours are there to help you.
7. Repair and renovation recommendations:  Need a good plumber?  Looking for a reliable roofer?  Who better than to check with your neighbours who have probably had work done and can give you the name of someone to help.
8. Neighbourhood safety:  You don’t need to know the intimate details of your neighbour’s life.  But if you know they aren’t moving and a moving van pulls up, there’s cause for alarm.  If you know they’re away but you can see someone turning a light on in the house, you can do something about it.  Understanding they’re comings and goings can help determine when suspicious activity is going on.