The LCA is proud to announce that our treasurer, Amy Mader was the recipient of one of the South Zone Recreation Board’s Volunteer of the year awards! Amy joined the LCA back when we were in dark times. The association was in a bit of a transition period, and had many vacant spots open on our executive. This in turn made Amy a jack-of-all-trades, as she learned most of the responsibilities of other positions. This came in handy when the LCA started growing in members this past year. Amy (who is a seasoned LCA veteran with four years under her belt) was able to give guidance to  new members including Bob and Carrie, our chairspeople.

Amy was honoured at a swanky reception in the multi-purpose room at the West Harvest Inn. It was buffet fare with a cash bar and there was a jazz musician to entertain. Celebrity guest Gerry Fincati, of the South Zone Recreation Board hosted the event and members of all four south end community associations were in attendance that evening. Amy was more then happy to accept an award for all of her hard work but in her true selfless fashion, spent more time acknowleding the hard work of other LCA members during her speech then recognizing the work she does herself. Unfortunately a certain website editor forgot to bring his camera, so a photo of Amy accepting the award is not availible. However, I have posted the above internet photo which is pretty close to what Amy accepting the award looked like.

Amy, the Lakeview Community Association is ever so thankful for all of the hard work that you do for us. We truly would be lost without you.

It’s True. According to their website, our arch nemesis good friends at the Albert Park Community Association have started offering free family skates.  They are every Thursday from 6-8 PM at the Opimist Arena, 222 Sunset Dr. These weekly free skates are set to run from the week of Nov. 17/11 until Feb. 23/12. This is a great opportunity to take advantage of some free indoor ice time. So, as the Albert Park Community Association says; “lace up your skates, and enjoy an hour or two of practicing, gliding, twirling [and] fun!”

Photo props to meghanannemc on flikr

      The Newly Renovated River Heights Mall at the Corner of Regina Ave and Montague St.

As a person who is tired of big box stores and chains clogging up the retail sector of this wonderful city, I am a big advocate of the small business. We are fortunate in Lakeview to have a number of awesome small businesses which offer a wide enough variety that one can find almost all they need without having to leave the neighbourood. Here are some of the businesses that are my favourite:

1)Lakeview Fine Foods-

3404 Hill Avenue

 586-5221

This is probably the last small grocery store you will find in this city. While it is not as big or as fancy as the newly renovated Safeway Stores, this place is good as it has everything you need in about the same amount of shelving that Wal-Mart has reserved  for party hats. The people are super friendly, and actually know where things are located when you ask. For a fee, Lakeview fine foods will even select and deliver your groceries, right to your door! Just try and name one other grocery store in town that does that. You can’t, because they are the only ones that do so.

2) The Chimney Restaurant and Lounge

2710 Montague Street

 584-7777

The Chimney is probably one of my favorite local restaurants. The menu is typical of Regina Greek restaurants, Souvlaki, steak, seafood, pizza, etc., but you get so much food! Dinner meals come with soup, salad and garlic toast, followed by the gigantic main course. The atmosphere is very cozy and relaxing and the service is exceptional. The lounge is on the other side of the restaurant and is a good place to meet with friends and relax over a beer or three. The Chimney in my opinion trumps Lakeview’s other greek restaurant, Houston Pizza  in terms of atmosphere, food quality and service.

3) River Heights Drycleaners

2750 Montague Street

 584-7499

Okay so I will admit that I am a tad biased towards this place, as I was employed there for most of my high school career, but this store is great. The prices are reasonable and the clothes are always ready to be picked up in a timely manner. Vern, the owner, is a great guy who likes a good conversation and will actually remember your name. They also are a Sears catalogue sales merchant and  rent carpet cleaners. Awesome!

4) John’s Barber Shop

The Basement of the River Heights Mall

  584-7822

For those of you who have lived in Lakeview for a long period of time you will probably recall Ivan, the barber in the basement of the River Heights mall. Well, Ivan retired this past year and John was his replacement. John is a friendly, charismatic individual and one hell of a good barber. As he tells me every time I go there to get my hair cut he will “cut all styles.” John is also probably the most reasonably priced barber in town. Where else can you get your hair cut for under $20? Another plus about John is that he will give you an old-timey shave! Barbers like John are definitely becoming more and more of a rarity as more and more of them are retiring and forcing us guys to have to go fancy salons and pay $30 for the exact same haircut.

5) Kuntz’s Automotive

3435 Hill Avenue

 586-4637

When I was a teenager I drove a crappy car. It broke down sometimes. Actually it broke down quite often. And when it broke down, I could always trust the guys at Kuntz’s to give it the quickest fix at the most reasonable price. The guys at Kuntz’s do everything from installing a new mirror to  doing complete engine rebuilds.

6)Orange Boot Bakery

 3904 Gordon Road

  584-BOOT 

 http://orangeboot.ca

     Technically this business is in Albert Park, but the owners live in Lakeview and it is still relatively close by so I will recommend it. The Orange boot bakery, believe it or not, actually started when Mark and Cindy Dyck (who are both former LCA exec’s) started baking delicious bread in a brick oven in their back yard. Mark and Cindy started selling the bread to friends, and eventually it became so popular they had to stop the backyard business and set up plans to open up a store. A while later, Mark and Cindy were back, this time in a store on Gordon Road. The bread is just as good as when it was baked in their backyard oven, and they now offer amazing other bakery items such as cookies and muffins. Definitely check this place out if you haven’t already.

So, the next time you require require a service, try one of these amazing small businesses instead of heading out to a gigantic box store. You will probably be happy that you did.

Every October, the LCA holds its famous Annual General Meeting. This year, the meeting will take place on Monday, October 17 , 7:00 PM at Lakeview School. This is a great opportunity to come and find out about all of the things we have been up to over the past year, and also meet the people who run the programs in your community. If you are thinking “Oh, great a long and  boring meeting full of snobby executive board members” you could not be more wrong. Our meetings are informal and are full of fun and friendly community-minded people. We also probably hold a world record for “fastest annual general meeting.” Bring your friends, bring your neighbours, bring anyone who has an idea they would like to share! Also, For only $5 you can purchase a membership and are eligible to vote for stuff. Will refreshments be provided? Come and find out!

photo by sunergos on flickr

A huge sports event kicked off in Regina today, but you might not know about it.   It’s the Esso Cup — the National Female Midget AAA Hockey Championships, and it runs April 18-24 at the new Cooperators Arena in the Exhibition Grounds.

Six teams from across Canada are competing for the National Championship from as far away as Edmonton, Thunder Bay, Richelieu Quebec and Moncton.   The prairies are represented by the Notre Dame Hounds and the host Regina Rebels.

This is only the third National Female Championship and it is a testament to the wild growth of female hockey across Canada.  You know Canada dominates in female hockey, so this isn’t just the best female hockey in Canada, it’s the best in the world!

Some of these young ladies might progress to the Olympic team in a couple years so it’s a great chance to come out and see excellent hockey right in your town.  Tickets are cheap, the seats are comfortable and the skill level will be awesome.  The Regina Rebels play in the last game of the day each night (7:30PM Monday-Wednesday) so head down and check it out!  More information, including schedules is available at the Hockey Canada website.

There is also a big Lakeview connection to this event.  Lorissa Thompson (former Lakeview community soccer alumnus, circa 1999) plays for the Regina Rebels and lives right down the street from me.   She’s played top level hockey andsoftball from a very young age and it’s great to see all her hard work pay off with a chance at a national title.

Lorissa’s dad Brian is also the volunteer coordinator for the tournament, which means you’ll likely see the whole family and all their friends helping out at the Cooperators Centre all week.  Be sure to stop by and say hi.

Photo Credit:  It’s a shot from the opening day action on April 18, via the Hockey Canada website.  The photo is taken by a Regina studio that specializes in sports photography, Sierra-Chrysalis imaging.

The Regina Symphony Orchestra is known far and wide for blending outstanding classical music with modern classics.  The result is great music and entertainment for thousands of people in and around the city.

On Monday April 19, the RSO is adding an unforgettable evening to an already unforgettable seasoni with Live and Let Die.  Tony Kishman, veteran of Broadway’s Beatlemania, is performing the best of the Beatles and Paul McCartney’s solo work, along with a four piece band and the Regina Symphony Orchestra.

Since last September, I’ve been enjoying Beatles Rock Band; it reminded me just how powerful and lasting the music of the Beatles is.  Hearing these great songs backed by the RSO promises to be an amazing night out.

Get your tickets today by calling the CBO at 525-9999 or visit the Regina Symphony Orchestra website.

Photo via the RSO.

In 2008 the Mackenzie Art Gallery had a wonderful exhibition of the works of Bob Boyer. As the folks at the Mackenzie say:

Bob Boyer: His Life’s Work, [is] the first major retrospective of Bob Boyer (1968-2004), a nationally and internationally renowned artist, art historian, curator
and educator. Boyer’s influence is far-reaching and interwoven among the communities of art, education and culture. The exhibition is a celebration of the art, life and critical contribution of this influential artist.

We really liked the exhibit. It was our first exposure to contemporary aboriginal art and it was powerful and moving.

Now the cool bit: The Mackenzie Art Gallery has partnered up with Heritage Canada to view the exhibit online. You can view 60 of his works in great detail and learn more about the artist’s life and work.

The virtual exhibit is free, but is only available for a limited time. Don’t wait! Drop what you’re doing and head to the Bob Boyer virutal exhibit (or the MacKenzie Art Gallery website) to check it out.

Photo via the Mackenzie Art Gallery’s flickr stream. I’m working on getting permission to use the photo with attribution, but may end up taking this down. I hope the link is enough though.

The Heritage community is one of the original neighbourhoods, just Northeast of downtown, that for years was described as ‘Core’. There’s a ton of interesting places and history there and the folks at Heritage CA have been working hard over the past year to promote their neighbourhood.

Friend of Lakeview and LCA outdoor sign guru Marci Brisbourne is also heavily involved with the Heritage Community Association and passed along information about an exciting Trek to Tomorrow event on May 1.

This promises to be an awesome event which complements Jane’s Walk Regina,  which is going on the same day.   Take a Jane’s Walk, then head over to Heritage!

More from Kierin Gorlitz, who is coordinating the event:

The Trek will bring teams into the Heritage neighbourhood in search of sites and locations significant to the community, working against the clock to collect points and win prizes. The event will be followed immediately by a banquet dinner at the Regina Inn, where prizes will be presented and Trek participants will be treated to a performance by FadaDance and an appearance by guest speaker Larry Schneider, former mayor of the City of Regina.

While this event is a fundraiser for Heritage Community services, it is also intended to heighten the knowledge and awareness of city residents about the community, its rich heritage, and the people and businesses that comprise it.

The Trek to Tomorrow will be a fun, family-friendly event, and costumes are encouraged! Come out as a bawdy gang of pirates in search of loot, or a company of
circus performers—or dress in yellow in the theme of our symbol, the Yellow Rose.

Your participation in the Trek to Tomorrow will help bring support and attention to the Heritage Community. Come out and make a difference!

For more information about the Trek to Tomorrow, please contact the Heritage Community Association office at 757-9952 or go to heritagecommunityassociation.com

Photo by Nikki L.

The second Regina Jane’s Walk will be held on May 1 and 2, 2010 all over Regina. Last year over 400 people came out to participate in 12 community walks and learn more about the history of Regina neigbourhoods.

This year, there are two ways to participate:

- Come for a walk on May 1 and 2. This is easy, fun, and you’ll learn a lot.

- Volunteer to lead a Jane’s Walk. This could be the most rewarding part of all. Plan a route, think through the stories you could tell along the route, then walk a group through the route in May.

Communities thrive when people know each other and have a sense of connectedness. Jane’s Walk is a great way to get connected to the place where you live. We hope you get involved in this and strengthen your community roots!

Getting involved is easy. Just email janeswalkregina@gmail.com or call 737-7185 to get involved in the Regina walk. Or head over to www.janeswalk.net to learn more about the walks taking place in neighbourhoods across Canada.

Or… read on! Here’s more information from the Regina Jane’s walk folk:

Good afternoon!

As many of you know, last year Regina hosted its first Jane’s Walk event and it was a huge success – over 400 people came out to participate in 12 inspiring community walks over the course of one weekend.

We are starting to plan for this year’s event, which will take place May 1 and 2, 2010 and are looking for volunteers to help the walks run smoothly (as marshalls, photographers, question-answerers, etc.). Please contact me directly if you have questions or would like to put your name on the list.

We are also looking for people to lead walking tours – remember, the walks can be about anything you are interested in: architecture, history, your personal stories and experiences, questions you have about certain neighbourhoods, art, culture, sport, you name it!

Please help to spread the message about this event to your contacts, the more the merrier!

The official invitation to be involved in this inspiring community event follows:

LEAD A JANE JACOBS WALKING TOUR

“No one can find what will work for our cities by looking at …suburban garden cities, manipulating scale models, or inventing dream cities. You’ve got to get out and walk”
– Jane Jacobs

ANNUAL JANE’S WALK MAY 1 & 2 2010

Jane’s Walk is the street-level celebration of Jane Jacobs’ legacy that combines the simple act of walking with personal observations, urban history and local lore as a means of knitting people together into strong and resourceful communities. Over 10,000 people explored over 315 neighbourhoods across Canada and the United States last year – and it went global with one tour in Mumbai, India!

We are inviting you to lead a tour in an area where you live, work or play. It simply involves
planning a route, thinking through the stories, places and people you want to hear about and discuss, then walking participants through it – you decide what’s important. If you like, you could share the guiding duties with a few other resourceful friends or colleagues.

Jane’s Walk aids in the socially desirable goal of getting people out of their cars and onto the sidewalks for the basic tasks of daily life, shopping, schools and work. Jane’s Walks are meant to be fun and participatory – everyone’s got a story and they’re usually keen to share it. All tours are given, and taken, for free. We help with the publicity, logistics and website management – you need to get the word out with your local networks and friends. We also have useful resources and ‘tips for tour guides’ available through our on-line forum that connects you with Jane’s Walks guides from around the world (will be launched on Jane’s Walk website by March 2010).

You don’t have to be familiar with Jane Jacobs’ work to lead a tour, but this is a great way to get familiarized with some basic ideas. In books such as “The Death and Life of Great American Cities” (1961) she championed the interests of local residents and pedestrians over a car-centered approach to planning, made the case for refurbishing old buildings instead of tearing them down and building new ones, and demonstrated the desirability of increasing the density of cities instead of sprawling endlessly outward.

Jane’s Walk first happened in Toronto in 2007, and has since spread to a dozen other cities including New York, Ottawa, Calgary, Halifax, Guelph, Salt Lake City, Regina, Winnipeg, New Orleans, Montreal and Vancouver. For details of what Jane’s Walk has been like in the past visit our website at www.janeswalk.net.

We hope you’ll join us in offering an insider’s take on your city’s vibrant and fascinating neighbourhoods. Please get in touch at janeswalkregina@gmail.com or call 737-7185 for more info.

Photo by: jbcurio of a Jane’s Walk in Toronto in 2008