Fall workshops return to Hope Bridges

Times Reporter 

 

After the success of last year’s regular fall programs the Hope Bridges Society is planning to bring them back for another year. The weekly workshop Sing Your High Note will run Tuesday’s beginning on Sept. 10. 

Sing your High Note had over 40 participants, which included family members and friends of participants who came and joined the group.

“What came out of that group was a community bond where they were sharing their favourite songs on a regular basis and just enjoying each others’ company,” said Coordinator Wanda Reinholdt. 

A number of individuals started to volunteer in the community, and Reinholdt feels it was because they did get to know people and those bonds encouraged them to do more. 

The program is open to all ages, and though in the past there had been two sessions each Tuesday, for now there will only be the 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. session. The 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. group had been at the hospital but with the changes happening there Hope Bridges is looking for a new home for them.

“Anybody that came to the hospital from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. is welcome to join the 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. (group) at Hope Church. We’re encouraging them to come out. Right now we don’t have a program that’s going into any seniors areas but we’re working on it,” said Reinholdt.

A family member or friend would need to transport their loved one from the hospital or seniors facility to the session. All participants to any of the workshops must pre-register.  

Go Green Upcycling is also making a return this fall, beginning Thursday Sept. 12. 

“It’s doing great. We have two projects out in the community now from the Go Green, one is a beautiful, big mobile at the library and that was created by upcycling participants and the other is of course the mural,” said Reinholdt. 

The mural can be found at SEARS and will be heading to a new location soon. Participants in the workshop will continue individual projects, but there is also a new community project that is being planned. The program gained momentum and popularity quickly after being introduced to the community. 

“There’s been a solid group, I think at last count there were 15 individuals that have been coming to Upcycling. It’s really fun and again what’s developed is a real community where they meet for two hours on Thursday mornings, but they don’t want to stop meeting, so we go for lunch,” said Reinholdt. 

“The big goal here is to continue to beautify the community and encourage the community with pieces of art and opportunity.”

African Drumming, taught by Sarah Haughey (Lyons), will run for six weeks from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. beginning Sept. 11 at Holy Cross Collegiate. 

“We’ve had lots of abilities and lots of interest in African Drumming. People who just love the sound of drumming, all the way to people who have done quite a bit of drumming and everyone in between,” said Reinholdt. 

“It’s really fun and it’s helped a lot of people feel really good and de-stress.”

Zentangle for beginners is scheduled to start on Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. and for intermediate ‘tanglers’ on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. 

“It’s starting to really take form, people are really interested in it and it’s growing which is great,” said Reinholdt. 

“Our goal with Zentangle is to have a rather large group of people who have done Zentangle and to hopefully create a club which would be a monthly drop in (club).”

The weekly workshop and African Drumming costs are $20 for sessions one to four; however, if you purchase five or more then they will only cost $10 per session. For Zentangle anyone who needs a kit will pay $35 for an individual session, or $30 per session if you book for both sessions. For those who already have a kit is it $25 a session. 

One of the only real complaints that the Hope Bridges Society has received was that they took some time off over the summer, which is one of the best complaints to have. 

The workshops have grown in popularity, and while many people will be returning Reinholdt said there’s always room for new participants. 

“What we’re seeing is that people are already registering without this being released because they know we’re here. The consistency of being here and being available and being something for people to do and a place for people to come is becoming really valuable for people. People are always surprised that this exists in Strathmore, Alberta, Canada,” said Reinholdt. 

Contact Hope Bridges Society and Wanda Reinholdt at 403-983-3640 to find out more information or go to www.hopebridges.ca.

Advance tickets: $18/individual and $45/families. At the gate: $20/$50.