Family block party coming to Maple Ridge

The CEED Centre is hosting a family block party on June 10. (Special to The News)

CEED Centre Society will host event at their centre and Beckett Park

The CEED Centre Society is throwing a family block party on Saturday, June 10, and the whole city is invited.

The free event will takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the CEED Centre Neighbourhood House (11739 223rd St.) and neighbouring Beckett Park.

"Kids will have a marvelous time making seed bombs," said Aaron Davis, the CEED Centre director who came up with the idea. "It shows youngsters how nature tends to grow things. You put a bunch of different seeds in a compost and clay ball –an innovation by Japanese natural farming pioneer Masanobu Fukuoka.

"It's a great link to the CEED Centre building itself, which the Japanese Canadian settlers built in the 1920s as a kindergarten in the Haney Nokai complex," Davis added.

A healing tent will be run by society director Carol Waters, who is a longtime Wednesday Community Discussion participant.

"Energy healing services are offered by donation," said Waters. "Donations go toward the free programs provided at the Centre, like the Art Group on Tuesdays, where artists share painting techniques."

Martin Dmitrieff, president, said the party helps the CEED Centre fulfill its purpose.

"The mandate of our organization is to connect people to community and share information about sustainable living," he said. "This event allows us to convene people around some fun activities. My role will be to host the youth games room inside the Centre."

Director Steve Ranta is a talented musician known for blazingly fast honky-tonk keyboard performances.

"We arranged for some great acts: Bruce Coughlin of Tillers Folly fame, Gerald Charlie the venerable bluesman and local singer-songwriter Paula Justus," he said.

The Welcome Tent is hosted by director Wendy Cook.

READ ALSO: More community gardens coming to Maple Ridge

"We hope visitors will sign in so we can update them as new events and programs are organized," she said. "An event like this, where you can bump into your neighours and friends serendipitously, really contributes to a sense of community building. We are also looking to sign up more people to reach our goal of 1,000 members."

MLA Lisa Beare's office is planning to be there with its popular popcorn machine and wild flowers to hand out.

"A youth improv group has signed up to perform around the site," said executive director Christian Cowley. "I’m looking forward to a great interactive act. We also invited a number of community groups and agencies in line with our goal of convening people. We still see a lot of evidence of folks seeking communal reassurance after the isolation of the long pandemic."

The Family Block Party is also an opportunity to show off the new stage built by the Alouette Men's Shed for the CEED Centre. The favour was returned by the Sewing CEEDlings, a group of textile enthusiasts led by Lisa Charron that meet on Thursdays at the Centre. They who produced 12 shop aprons for the Men's Shed.

The sewing group is making shopping bags, mesh bags for produce and casserole carriers for sale at the CEED Centre Farm Market, which runs on Thursday evenings between 4 and 8 p.m. until Sept. 28.

"This party is really a great way to showcase how good things happen when community comes together," said Cowley.

More information about the Society's free programs and Thursday farm market is online at www.ceedcentre.com.

READ ALSO: Live entertainment, café new at CEED Centre Farm Market in Maple Ridge

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