Oliver is a popular neighbourhood in Edmonton, but on Halloween, the streets are quiet as children trick-or-treat in other neighbourhoods – now a new initiative is trying to change that so families stay in the area.
Carolee Morais has been living in Oliver for more than eight years and said the neighbourhood, which has a large concentration of apartment buildings, does not see much activity on Oct. 31. Instead she said many families tend to go trick-or-treating in other neighbourhoods that have single detached homes where it may be easier to receive candy.
“Parent’s don’t like to bring their children to apartment buildings. [But] we want the children here. We don’t want them to leave Oliver,” she said.
Morais is spearheading an initiative to make Oliver Halloween-friendly and an approachable neighbourhood where children can easily go trick-or-treating. She has reached out to schools and apartment buildings, handed out flyers and held informal conversations with residents about the idea.
Roughly 40 apartment buildings have agreed to station a volunteer in the lobby or outside the building to hand out candy.
“Halloween is not here and it should be here.”
Angelika Matson is a neighbourhood connecter in Oliver who is involved with Abundant Communities Edmonton. The program is meant to connect neighbours with one another.
Matson said this new initiative to encourage children to remain in Oliver can be important to help combat urban isolation.
“Having kids out on the street, having that ambient sense of community as everyone is out and about talking to each other, chatting with their neighbours is really important. It makes the community feel less isolated. It makes people feel more included.”
She said the initiative is a way to “take back Oliver” and make the community feel more connected.
The initiative was held last year but on a smaller scale; this year, organizers have expanded it to include a 10-block radius.
George Chalut lives in Oliver and has two young children. Every year, the family goes to Westmount to go door-to-door for Halloween candy.
Chalut said the initiative is a good idea.
“It gets cold when you’re walking around and it’s just a bunch of apartment buildings – people tend to stay indoors. It’s a nicer feel when people are outside and waking around, getting to know their neighbours,” he said.
His children Carmen, 14, and Philip, 9, agree. Both said they would prefer to stay in the neighbourhood if possible.
“It would be closer and easier to just go around,” Carmen said.
“It’s closer to home,” echoed Philip.
If you are interested in helping out with Halloween in Oliver, head to the Abundant Community Oliver Facebook page or send an email to abundantoliverpark@gmail.com.
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