The mayor of Winnipeg is hoping that Winnipeggers will step out of their comfort zones, and spend some time with their neighbours this weekend.

Saturday, May 27, will mark the first annual Neighbour Day in Winnipeg.

“It is my hope that Winnipeg’s Neighbour Day will be a day dedicated to reaching out and simply being neighbourly,” said Mayor Brian Bowman. “It is also my hope the day will become an annual event Winnipeggers can use to get together not only as neighbours and friends but also another way in which we can come together as a city.

“Even small neighbourly gestures, like a BBQ and yard games, can help strengthen relationships and mutual understanding that can help build a stronger, better city,” said Mayor Bowman. “Be creative, and make sure to mark May 27th as a day to get to know your neighbours better!”

Winnipeg pastor, Mark Doerksen, says that something special can happen when we take the time to get to know our neighbours. "People respond to you, especially in times of crisis, when they know you're a Christian within the neighbourhood. I know I've had opportunities, for instance, where people have been in difficult situations and they've come to talk to me. I've just listened to them. They know I'm available, and that I'll care for them."

North End resident, Christal Siemens, is a Winnipegger who has made every day Neighbour Day, and something she did for the reasons Doerksen touched on. "When you live it out every day, make it an intentional lifestyle, and see your neighbour across the street, and say, 'Hey, Bob. How's it going?' Eventually, it turns into more, and becomes 'Hey Bob, how's your family?' Then you really get to know them. So many people in our neighbourhoods don't have a community. They don't have a church. And they're super lonely; they're just wanting someone who will list to them . . . because they don't have anyone else."

Siemens' family has gone so far to turn their front yard into a community playground for the neighbours; the placement was intentional, too. 

Winnipeggers are encouraged to consider organizing neighbourhood events such as front yard barbecues, a garden party, a community clean-up, or an afternoon picnic in a local park. Usually, people would put swing sets and play equipment for their kids in the back, "But that means I can't see my neighbours, then," Siemens says. "I like to be able to see my what's going on on my sidewalk, so that way I can visit with my neighbours or the people going by."

Siemens says the result is their home has "become a safe place" for the kids in the neighbourhood. "When you get to know the children, and when you start to build into them, that's when you start to see real growth in the children. And that's when you begin to see real change in the neighbourhood."

To assist Winnipeggers in planning a Neighbour Day event, the City of Winnipeg has created a web page with information on how to get started on planning a Neighbour Day event such as a block party, a community clean up, or a picnic in the park. You can go to www.winnipeg.ca/NeighbourDay for additional details.

Winnipeggers are also encouraged to share their Neighbour Day event with the City on social media by using #WpgNeighbourDay.