Fernwood residents are gearing up to celebrate community and the spirit of a well-known Victoria philanthropist this weekend.
Neighbours for Change will hold their fourth annual block party on Sunday (July 22)from 2 to 5 p.m. outside the Fernwood Inn on Gladstone Street. It commemorates Roger Colwill, who until his death in 2007 was a strong community organizer and environmental advocate.
"My dad just loved doing stuff like this, he loved helping out anything to do with community, anything that was green," said Sarah Colwill, who organizes the block party with friend Tara Zajac.
The all-ages event will feature a farmers' market, children's art area, dunk tank and food vendors. Music acts Tres Grandes and Tyler Harvey will also perform.
Neighbours for Change is the primary fundraiser for the Roger Colwill Fund for the Environment, which funds community-based sustainability initiatives.
Currently, Colwill and Zajac are working with the Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group, design firm Landeca and the Belfry Theatre on building a bus shelter with a green roof on Fernwood Road.
"We're making it partially out of reclaimed materials and we're putting a green roof with native plants on top," Colwill said.
A silent auction will be held and includes fishing charters, bikes and signed Robert Bateman prints.
For more information, visit neighboursforchange.wordpress.com.
dpalmer@vicnews.com