May Day Paris 2007 photo Tim HurleyToday we went to the Strawberry Social at the Charles Street Housing Co-operative. We attend every year since the children were tiny. It allows us to connect at least once a year with people who define a huge part of our community. The photograph albums kept from past parties have documented our collective lives.
The Strawberry Social started with a group of young, lefty hippies at Trout Lake Park. A beggar's banquet with required potluck and necessary supplies for said tribe. It moved into the house on Victoria Drive which housed the Red Star Collective. It has grown year by year as children were born. This year guests included tiny third generation attendees. Original attendees sport grey hair and are talking retirement. Some have passed away.
Many of us have taken turns running for office and there are always reluctant politicians in the mix. Two members of the Legislature and at least one city counsellor are part of the group.
The demographics have changed this year and some of the second generation are running for office on environmental and social justice platforms. We have grown and the number of young people now exceeds the old. Everyone talks about social policy and the problems and solutions.
I saw one red star in the group. Most of us have been absorbed into our communities and continue to do what we have always done...Raise Hell and Offer Alternatives. We never were co-opted. We didn't become the "other side".
We left feeling super hopeful for the world. There are other ways to do things with a little creativity and a few organic strawberries! We can't wait for next year.
The Strawberry Social started with a group of young, lefty hippies at Trout Lake Park. A beggar's banquet with required potluck and necessary supplies for said tribe. It moved into the house on Victoria Drive which housed the Red Star Collective. It has grown year by year as children were born. This year guests included tiny third generation attendees. Original attendees sport grey hair and are talking retirement. Some have passed away.
Many of us have taken turns running for office and there are always reluctant politicians in the mix. Two members of the Legislature and at least one city counsellor are part of the group.
The demographics have changed this year and some of the second generation are running for office on environmental and social justice platforms. We have grown and the number of young people now exceeds the old. Everyone talks about social policy and the problems and solutions.
I saw one red star in the group. Most of us have been absorbed into our communities and continue to do what we have always done...Raise Hell and Offer Alternatives. We never were co-opted. We didn't become the "other side".
We left feeling super hopeful for the world. There are other ways to do things with a little creativity and a few organic strawberries! We can't wait for next year.
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