As announced in the previous issue of BMC News, I am working on a film project concerning family life in the McCauley neighbourhood. One of the questions I am asking of the people being interviewed is: what do you like the most about living (and working, as some of the cases may be) in the area?

The answers thus far have been striking in their similarity. The multicultural nature of the area. How friendly the people are. The way that neighbours look out for each other. In other words, because the area is a true community.

A neighbourhood is just a group of blocks grouped together within geographic borders. To make that area a community requires the efforts of the people who live and work there. While many people choose to live here because of economics and close proximity to downtown, others are attracted by the inclusive nature of the area. Week after week there always seems to be something going on.

That is not to say that the community (or any community, for that matter) is perfect. However, it is the way in which people around here band together to deal with various issues that ultimately makes a difference to quality of life. The community leagues are actively involved in civic concerns and creating programming that suits a variety of age levels and interests. Neighbours themselves, on a grassroots level, have often come together to share concerns and work proactively towards solutions.

Community is a place where people feel safe and welcome. Boyle Street and McCauley deserve kudos for both of these aspects.