The weather couldn’t have been better on Saturday for the YMCA’s first-ever Block Party in Victoria Square.
Families packed the north end square to check out the many activities and take in the international food and craft market.
Angelique Simpson oversees newcomer services at the Y and tells us why they decided to host this party.
“We were trying to get together just to do some community outreach, move around in some spaces that we don’t normally get to be present, and just throw a party for the community,” says Simpson.
A large turnout at Victoria Square in north end #SaintJohn this afternoon for @Y_SaintJohn’s first ever Block Party. The activities run until 3 p.m. pic.twitter.com/PQceqtDaeg
— Brad Perry (@BradMPerry) July 7, 2018
She says it was also a chance to raise money for their Newcomer Assistance Fund, which helps newcomers dealing with emergency situations.
Simpson says the plan is to host the Block Party in a new location each year to highlight little-known areas of the community.
“We’re here in the north end, which is really our next door neighbour from the YMCA down on Churchill Boulevard,” she says, “and so we just felt this was a natural place to start.”
