Your Fairview Community Association is always looking for new volunteer board members. This role is a great way to become involved in your community and the commitment can be as little as 3-5 hours per month. If you are interested in becoming a board member feel free to attend one of our monthly board meetings (currently meeting virtually) by emailing secretary@fairviewcommunity.ca
Here is the story of another one of our great volunteers:
My name is Andrew Gidden and this is my 3rd year as a board member for the Fairview Community Association (CA). I am currently the 2nd Vice President.
I have lived in Fairview with my wife and 2 sons for the last 15 years. My wife and I were both born and raised in Victoria and moved to Calgary in 2007 so my wife could complete her Masters in Social Work. In a matter of 1.5 years of being here, we got married, had a baby and bought a house in Fairview.
When we first moved here, I really didn’t have proper knowledge of all the city’s communities and the north versus south debate. I ‘stumbled’ across Fairview one day after being at the stampede. We were invited to a friend’s house for a BBQ and it was here where he sold us on moving to Fairview. We loved its larger lots, mature trees and close proximity to downtown. However, as time has passed we have come to realize that Fairview offers way more than this. Its close access to amenities, public transit, schools and major roadways makes it, what I believe, one of Calgary’s best communities.
Before I joined the board, I knew some neighbours who were on the CA board. I would hear them talk about community issues and events they were hosting. As our friendships grew, I would volunteer at events. Volunteering turned into attending the CA’s Annual General meetings and the always entertaining Wine and Cheese annual fundraiser. It was here at these events that I started thinking about the importance of community and reflecting on how fortunate we were to move to Fairview. It wasn’t until after the collapse of the Fairview arena, I committed to join the Fairview CA. I wanted to get involved in the redevelopment of the Fairview Park site and ensure our awesome community could continue to thrive. Since then I have been part of several other CA initiatives like Movie in the Park, Spring Fling, Flavelle outdoor ice rink, the pump track, Wine & Cheese fundraiser, and the first-ever online team wine survivor. My wife has also participated in the membership drive, the safety committee and the pump track committee.
Being part of this CA has been a family effort and we truly enjoy being part of it. We have met some great families and neighbours over the years and I think having connections is the foundation to building great communities. There is nothing better than driving down the street, honking your horn and giving a wave to a neighbour or bumping into someone you know at the Stonegate.