Lauren McCrawley, Chair of the Federation of Hamilton Neighbourhood Associations

TIOH: As a Federation, you have a very broad-based approach to NA activities. 

McCrawley: We do. NAs are about community life, and Life is broad-based. 

TIOH: We're going to list some of them here; maybe you could comment on those you've found the most beneficial, and those that have been the most challenging. 

Skill swaps

Babysitting clinics

Micro loans

Senior Watch

Grocery-run pooling

Volunteer banks

Flower parades

Regular NA meetings

Street fairs

Tool co-ops

Street makeover blitzes

Bike repair/salvage clinics

Toy appeals

Community gardens

Town halls

Film nights

Seed swaps

Holiday celebrations

Road-marking vigilanteism

McCrawley: Because of the kerfuffle the 'illegal' activity has caused, I shouldn't comment on the last one, but I will. (laughing) Certain members of certain neighbourhoods took to doing what our Roads and Maintenance Department either wouldn't or couldn't: they freshened up the road markings. 

TIOH: Tell us about the impact. 

McCrawley: Well, no different than when one homeowner begins to take better care of their property: there's a ripple-effect. The stopwalks are re-painted, the dotted lines are re-painted...and one thing leads to another...and before you know it, you've got a street that's so much easier to be proud of. 

TIOH: What about a 'flower parade'?

McCrawley: We get a sponsor to help out with the supplies, and we go down a street with a van, ring a bell along the way and make a spring celebration of planting in residents' gardens. Pretty simple. 

TIOH: Reminiscent of the Good Humour truck. 

McCrawley: Exactly. 

TIOH: There's a common theme in the list of sharing. Sharing time, sharing skills, sharing tools.

McCrawley: Absolutely. We're great believers in 'collaborative consumption'. 

TIOH: Again, it seems to be about community.