Good Neighbour Stories

Small community's best

I met a new neighbour last week. Jeff had just moved in and at 6'5 inches I thought he might just be tall enough to trim my tree. So I asked him and he very kindly said yes "but not today ---maybe tomorrow". Well tomorrow came and went along with a few other tomorrows and another neighbour Brian offered to cut the tree down to a reasonable height. In desparation I said alright but that it might be too much for him ---Brian is nowhere near 6'5 .Within 5 minutes Brian was over, spent 2 hours trimming the tree stating that he was enjoying the work. Since Brian refused to take any money for his labours, I sent over a gift card for a meal out with his wife. Within 1/2 hour he was back at the door with an enveloppe marked "Disney World here I come" and in the enveloppe was the money I had spent on his gift card. He knew we were saving for a vacation and wanted us to use the money towards it. Not too many neighbours would be so kind. This little community has tought us a lot . Submitted: 2011-09-01 21:10:09

By Sally

Community Spirit

There is a lady in our subdivision who has always been a very community minded individual and for years her work has gone unrecognized. Her name is Heather Kelly and she lives in Highland Park in Hammonds Plains. Heather volunteers her time to her church and community by helping with fund raising and being secretary of the Hammonds Plains Historical Society, as well as helping other groups as she is asked upon. I just wanted to thank her for all her efforts anf say that she is truly appreciated and we are blessed to have such a community minded soul in our midst. Submitted: 2011-06-29 15:15:29

By Christina Parker

Great Neighbor Mr. Bowden

I would like to send a Big Thank You to the greatest Neighbor in the world, Mr. Bowden (Mr.B to all of us) is a man that goes above and beyond he shovels, salts our walk ways he cuts our grass starts our gardens and i could go on and on. We are having an appreciation day for him on Sunday (surprise of course) so all the community can come and enjoy a BBQ and to say Thanks. So a BIG THANK YOU from all of us Mr. B we love and appreciate you so very much. Submitted: 2011-06-07 20:03:55

By Deb Key

Thanks

mine is not a story But a thank you for all you guys that are making this planet a better place for every one to live in,i l come from Botswana Africa But am amazed at how cooperative your community is,i once was searching in the Bible and came across a small island that dwells in peace without care of any thing which has no gates nor Bars,then i was trying to imagine if its not novascotia. Keep up that spirit one time i will be right up there for a visit probably a stay. Submitted: 2011-04-02 08:14:28

By Hillary

Having a Block Party

We wanted to have a block party for the street we have lived on for nine years. We knew the neighbours who abutted our house, but not many others. So, after contacting My HRM for advice on how to have a block party, we just did it! We decided it have it in our driveway from 2-4 on a Sunday afternoon, as closing the street seemed like just too much work. We also decided on having the even numbered houses bring something sweet to eat and the odd number houses to bring something to drink (a great My HRM suggestion). So that we did not have too much of one thing, we provided both drink and food, as well as plates, glasses and napkins. I went door to door to drop off the flyers and met some people that way. We had about a dozen people show, quite a few sent regrets, and though it was a smaller number than we had hoped for, we did meet new people. I am glad we did it and hopefully next year we can build on this and grow the number of neighbours we know! Submitted: 2010-10-12 19:42:32

By Andrea

Thank you

Thank you Dale and Lorraine for being our wonderful next door neighbour, and for helping us out when the snow gets too much. You are both very kind, and do not hesitate to offer to help , if you see it is needed. You are always there for anyone in the neighbourhood, whether it's plowing side walks or driveways. You are are a very positive force in our neighbourhood, and we appreciate all that they do for us . Your friends: Gordon & Dorothy Submitted: 2010-01-25 15:38:18

By Dorothy

Random Acts of Kindness Prevail In My Neighbourhood

Being a person working two jobs I sometimes wished I had a magic wand I could wave and my lawn would get mowed in the summer and my snow shovelling would get done in the winter. Well, I never got my magic wand -but I did get my prayers answered in the form of my wonderful next door neighbour who keeps my lawn mowed and my driveway shovelled, & helping me get my car 'unstuck' in the snow. He is very kind and does not hesitate to offer assistance if he sees it is needed. He is always there for anyone in the neighbourhood. Whether it's assisting others in shovelling their driveways, caring for neighbours lawns when they are away or taking neighbours to Dr's appointments - John is a very positive force in our neighbourhood. I appreciate all that he does for us and sincerely wish him all the best always. Thank you for providing this forum so others see that HRM is really a great place to live. Submitted: 2009-11-24 14:15:33

By Hilda Gmyz

Wonderful gesture

(Originally published in The Chronicle Herald, Monday, August 24, 2009, A9) Thank you to the driver of the silver Sunfire who paid for my $5.45 coffee or­der on Friday morning, Aug. 14, at the Ultramar Tim Horton’s on Herring Cove Road. The cashier told me the driver had it done for her once. What a wonderful gesture. After telling my co-workers, for whom some of the coffees had been bought, I was told to watch Pay It For­ward, which was a beautiful and in­spiring movie. I plan to “Pay It For­ward," whether it is paying for the or­der of the driver behind me or helping someone who needs it. Maybe we should all do something nice for someone just out of the kind­ness of our hearts, and not look for any­thing in return. What a happier society we could live in. I know it sure put a smile on my face and made me realize there are people out there who just want to make someone’s day a little nicer — and it did. Let’s all Pay It Forward. Debbie Riley, Halifax Submitted: 2009-08-26 11:07:06

By Debbie Riley, Halifax

Free Outdoor Community Family Movie Night

With lots going on across the HRM during Canada Day the Rockingham Residents' Association hosted its 2nd free outdoor community family movie night and it was a huge success. Over 100 people attended the event, which was kicked off around 6pm with the "bring your own picnic supper" to D.J. Butler Park and enjoy Canada Day cake and lots of children's games. Around 8:30pm, with the rain holding off, we launched the movie. The parents and children all loved it. This event costs the RRA about $250 (that covered the rental of the popcorn maker, candy/pop/juice). All the equipment including the projector and 8foot screen and speakers were brought and donated by neighbours that night to help make this event free. It was such a great success the RRA is thinking of doing it again at the end of the summer. The community loved it and it was a small thing that brought lots of smiles on the children's faces. Submitted: 2009-07-06 20:34:17

By Renee Field

building a great neighborhood

Hi there, I just wanted to share my story... As a kid, I grew up in a sub division that had street parties. The whole family was invited. The members of the sub division would organise these parties once or twice a year. They would ask for donations of food (hostess potato chips, hamburgers, hot dogs, pop, etc) and the kids would all decorate their bikes, then parade them for everyone. there would be face painting, prizes, music, food, drinks, ice cream... Let me tell you, that was a great way to get to know everyone around you. It was also good so the kids would know the neighbors so if anything went wrong, they would have someone to trust to go to. ie. Block Parents. Your neighbors would keep an eye on your place when you would go away on trips. Really makes the neighbors feel like family. this should happen more often... Maybe these days more people are working with no time to relax and enjoy life. Something to think about! Enjoy life everyone. Your kids will thank you. Submitted: 2009-01-19 15:33:43

By Robyn M

Neighborhood BBQ brings people together for more than one day...

Recently, I moved to a new neighborhood and while doing some yard work met my new neighbor, we struck up a conversation about having a neighborhood welcome party. We thought now that the street had finished construction and everyone had moved in, the timing was perfect. A few weeks later a bbq and friendly faces met just outside their doors to meet their new neighbors. Aside from getting to know each other on a HELLO basis, some friendships were made. One story that makes me so happy we had the bbq is that a young mother of two would be seeing her husband off to Afghanistan and would be home for the winter by herself, a few of the neighbors on the street organized a snow removal plan so she wouldn't have to worry, we also set up babysitting services to support the family. It's so good to know there are people in HRM that truly care about one another and offered up ongoing support! I am proud to say I live in a Good Neighborhood with Great Neighbors! Submitted: 2008-09-30 09:56:34

By Nancy Tissington

Theresa & Heather

Theresa and Heather run the country store in my neighbourhood. This is a country store in the true sense of the word. You can find EVERYTHING there. In addition to running this neat store they are fantastic supporters of their neighbourhood and the Eastern Shore in general. On September 13th they hosted a fun day at their store. They arranged for a bouncy castle, big pile of hay and lots of games and activities for the local children for the entire afternoon.They had fabulous prizes and lots of giveaways. They went above and beyond with this free event! My daughter loved it. But this is not all they do, they are active the entire year round. They are involved with the annual Kite Festival at Conrad's Beach, they are organizing an Eastern Shore scavenger hunt for September 27th, they get involved with the Christmas shopping event, and they "loose their minds" decorating for Halloween. These ladies are terrific neighbours! http://www.easternhrm.com/theresa-heather-general-store.htm Submitted: 2008-09-19 15:58:21

By Deanna Wilmshurst

Never Too Busy

I live on a cul-du-sac and all my neighbors are very helpful to each other. I am thankful to be a part of such a great neighborhood. One neighbor that stands out above the rest is Bill. He is never too busy to help any of us with anything that he can. While one neighbor is away for an extended period he picks up the mail, waters the plants and mows/plows the necessary areas and keeps a general eye on the property. At the same time he may be mowing/plowing for others on the cul-du-sac just because he is home when we are working. He does handyman jobs for all of us and is ready to help on larger projects if needed. Everyone needs a neighbor like Bill, I hope he knows how much we appreciate him! Submitted: 2008-08-25 15:41:21

By Marjorie

Giving back to Single Parents

As a part of the PALS Program, which is run through Saint Mary's University, we are able to get to know under priviledged kids and parents. Many of these families are unable to have the confidence they need to go to job interviews, parties or formal functions because they have a lack of proper clothing. Recognizing this need Megan went to various companies to get Business Attire donated for the single mothers. We were then able to get the various sizes and distribute them to the mothers who needed them. They now have the confidence they need to "fit in" with regular society-- without fears of being judged based on their attire. I just want to say THANK YOU to Megan for her selflessness and ability to recognize the need in our community. Your heart is in the right place, and we just wanted to acknowledge you. Submitted: 2008-06-29 16:09:32

By A Good Neighbour

Skateboard Prayer Answered

When I was 4 years old, my parents gave me a skateboard for my birthday and I used to ride it everyday, I remember always looking up to the bigger kids doing tricks, thinking that I would one day learn how... I used to draw skateboarders and ramps all day in class! I was getting ready to go out for a ride with my friend Mike one day, but I couldn't find my skateboard anywhere... I looked high and low, but the skateboard had mysteriously disappeared. I was devastated. I remember praying every day that the board would turn up, but not until after six months of prayer, I was finally rewarded with a knock on the door, The door swung open, revealing a older gentleman, he had something in his hand, and asked, "Does this belong to you?" I looked down in relief to see my skateboard - still in the same shape as the day it went missing! Turned out he bought a camper from my parents in the summer, the board was tucked in the storage area for half a year until the guy cleaned it up and fou Submitted: 2008-06-18 10:34:37

By Grant

Lake Charlotte Community Newsletter

Chris from Lake Charlotte has taken it upon herself to gather information and produce a community newsletter. This monthly newsletter is delivered by hand at the beginning of each month. It is also put in several community gathering spots along the Eastern Shore. I want to thank her for being such a good neighbour to the entire community! The newsletter is a valuable way for everyone in her community to know what events and community news is going on! Submitted: 2008-06-13 14:42:37

By Lee

Random Acts of Kindness

I would like to recognize my good neigbhour Valerie for the many things she does here in our neighbourhood. Whether it is offering to take our dog for a walk if we're stuck in the city for the day, returning stray pets to their owners, providing an understanding ear to local children, checking on a house while the owner is traveling for the week, extracting wild racoons from another neighbours chimney or stepping in to help in any emergency - small or large. We are lucky to have her living on our street, helping to create a great neighbourhood. Thanks very much Valerie! Submitted: 2008-06-02 13:04:05

By Cora

Community Clean-up

I leave near a small lake in Timberlea. The end of the lake was getting very dirty and littered with debris after a long winter of snow and wind, e.g., garbage, recycling bags, old plant pots, etc. There is a lady in the subdivision who works very hard throughout the day caring for children yet she found the time one day to clean-up the debris around the end of the lake. The area looks much tidier and I'm sure it is much safer for the heron, loons and ducks that have been feeding there this past month! Submitted: 2008-05-30 13:46:24

By Angela

Best Neighbours

As former Director of one of Halifax's emergency shelters in Halifax's old North End we were blessed with some of the best neighbours in the world. Mr. B., a retired gentleman would not only shovel his own sidewalk for every winter storm but also made sure ours was done too. It wasn't unusual for Mr. B. to be out shoveling at 5 in the morning. He says the secret is to get it while it's fresh before it starts to freeze up. That might be the secret to shovelling snow. But there is no secret about who is one of the best neighbours in HRM - it's definitely Mr. B! Another of our neighbours on Brunswick St. was Mrs. C. During the aftermath of Hurricane Juan Mrs. C. boiled a pot of water every morning and brought it over to the shelter to ensure that the residents had water for tea and coffee. Some people wonder why those of us who work and live in the old North End are such staunch defenders of it. Well that's because we see more than the media does. We see Mr. B. and Mrs. C. Submitted: 2008-05-30 10:41:02

By Shirley O'Neill

Heartwarming Actions

First responders from both the police and fire service were dealing with a fire on the fourth floor of the apartment building located at 1991 Brunswick Street in early April 2008, resulting in citizens being displaced. Mr. P, a parking attendant at the Citadel Halifax Hotel, approached several seniors who were waiting on the sidewalk and offered them the opportunity to stay warm and comfortable inside the hotel. His actions were truly heartwarming. Submitted: 2008-05-26 15:11:06

By Halifax Regional Police

Water Damage Averted

In late February 2008, Mr. S took the time to advise Constables Martin Cromwell and Jeff Leblanc about possible water damage at a jewellery store on Barrington Street. Based on his actions, the officers were able to alert the business owner who attended and prevented extensive damage from occurring given that the water heater had ruptured. Mr. S left a lasting impression both on police and the business owner. Submitted: 2008-05-26 15:06:05

By Halifax Regional Police

A Good Neighbour in North Preston

Donna started a Majorette and Drum-Line group for North Preston youth. There are 30 Majorette girls and six Drum-Line boys along with six youth leaders. She teaches youth life skills to become leaders within their community and encourages them to be outstanding citizens. In order to remain on the team they must be in good academic standing and show respect for their leaders, friends and family members. Donna encourages parents and family members to be involved by attending practices and motivating their children to participate. The group has become a huge success with extremely positive feedback from the participants, their families and the community. Through her innovative approach to leadership, Donna is a role model in her community. She is also a leader in the local youth group choir and assists in the community church and elementary school. Her motivation to volunteer is indicative of her dedication to helping improve the lives of youth in the Preston communities. Submitted: 2008-05-20 15:39:05

By Connie Morse

It was about 4pm on March 19/08. Out my living room window I saw a commotion going on at Morash Pond. Grabbed my coat,crossed the street & saw a black lab who had gotten loose from it's handler splashing in the cold dirty pond water. It had jumped onto the ice chasing ducks & had raced across the ice from Woodlawn Rd area to where it had fallen through near the other end of the pond. The dog still had 10ft of ice to go and then 10ft of open water to get to the end of the pond. Tim came down Guysborough Ave in his van, got out, walked to waters edge & walked into the pond fully dressed. He went at the ice with both hands raised over his head bringing them down several times to break the ice to get to the dog. Grabbed the lead, and headed for shore. He gave the dog to the handler,walked to his truck soaking wet,got in. Earl,a neighbour ran to the van to ask his name & thank him. I stood on the street clapping for this man who did such a wonderful act. Then Tim just drove off & went home. Submitted: 2008-05-08 13:23:03

By Joanne Ross

I have a neighbour in my Cowie Hill neighbourhood by the name of Denis, who really cares about his community. During the many snowfalls this winter you could hear Denis outside with his shovel, removing snow from his neighbours walkways and parking lots before you even moved from your bed. Once I tried to repay his kindness with a small gift and he refused it. Denis is also known for cleaning up litter from our neighbourhood on a regular basis. Being a windy area garbage always strays during our curbside pick up - but Denis is out cleaning up the litter left behind. Inviduals who have been under the weather have also benefitted from a plate of 'scoff' as Denis put it. We're very lucky to have Denis as a caring neighbour who is always ready to show a kind example in our neighbourhood! Submitted: 2008-05-08 12:46:58

By Peggy Allen

We needed to have our roof redone in a bad way. My father-in-law Smokey, has a very good friend, Freddy, in Stellarton who is in the roofing trade so we set a Saturday aside for Freddy to come over and help us out. On Friday Smokey and I went up and peeled the old shingles off half the roof so we could get a fresh start on Saturday morning. Shortly after we finished cleaning the roof off on Friday evening it started to rain...very hard. My neighbour, Ian who is a self-employed general contractor, saw the mess we had gotten ourselves into and came right over. We were new to the neighbourhood and didn't know that many people. He brought huge tarps and strapping and got right up with us and sealed up the exposed part of the roof in a matter of minutes. I've never been so relieved and filled with hope. My wife and I are very pleased with how the neighbourhood has reached out to us and given us kindness and help in need. We couldn't be happier in any other neighbourhood. Submitted: 2008-05-08 12:44:40

By Ryan Agroff

Bike Race

I remember once when I was younger there was a huge hill in front of my house. In the winter time me and the other kids would meet at the top and race on our bikes to the bottom. One time, I was going so fast that when I slammed on the breaks, to see how long of a skid mark I could make, my tire blew... luckily my neighbour was there to help... Submitted: 2008-05-07 09:06:03

By A Good Neighbour