Planning Connection, Celebrating Belonging
When Grant’s Café reopened as The Hangout in April 2025, it wasn’t just about coffee. It was about reopening possibility. We imagined The Hangout as a welcoming, inclusive space where people from across the community could connect, relax, and feel like they belonged. On October 2nd, we brought that vision to life with The Hangout’s Neighbourhood Welcome Party. With support from a LoveMyHood Matching Grant, we opened the doors (and the parking lot) for a free celebration built around connection, creativity, and our community.
A Community-Built Celebration
- This party didn’t happen overnight. It was co-designed with the people who use The Hangout regularly. Here’s how the planning process unfolded:
- We held three planning meetings where members shared ideas, helped shape the event, and made decisions together.
- Committee members proposed activities, entertainment, food, games, and outreach strategies.
- A detailed task list was created, and responsibilities were shared based on each person’s interests and strengths.
- In just two days, the planning team delivered 300 flyers to homes in the surrounding area.
- The outreach team invited local organizations and municipal representatives to attend.
- In total, 13 people helped bring this event to life. Eleven were community members who attend The Hangout regularly, and two were staff from KW Habilitation.
A Morning to Remember
The morning began with Simon Garcia welcoming guests as the event’s MC. He introduced Anneli Sawatzky, who offered a thoughtful territorial acknowledgement and personal reflection on behalf of KW Habilitation.
Simon spoke about what The Hangout means to him and invited others to come experience it. He said, “The Hangout is a new community space inside Grant’s Café where you hang out, meet friends, and have fun. You can buy coffee for just one dollar and grab some tasty treats.” He also shared that The Hangout is open from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., with hopes to expand those hours in the future.
Tom Bullas and Ann Bilodeau followed with reflections on the building’s history. They reminded everyone that when KW Habilitation built the 99 Ottawa Street location in 2014, a café space was a non-negotiable part of the design. It was included because of the voices and input of the people we work for.
Councillor Debbie Chapman also shared a warm message of welcome and congratulations before the formal part of the morning wrapped up. From there, the celebration truly began!
Event Highlights
- Live music by Erick Traplin and Sandy MacDonald
- Entertainment by Ranger Tex
- Free BBQ and refreshments for everyone
- “Decorate Your Own Coffee Mug” workshop
- Outdoor games and activities for all ages
- Treats including coffee, cookies, popcorn, and cotton candy
- Bubbles, dancing, and sunshine
It was a beautiful day filled with energy, smiles, and meaningful connection. Every detail from the music to the mugs reflected the joy and care that went into planning it.
As Ann Bilodeau, said during the event,
“This was created by people with lived experience and organized by people with lived experience. Having friends is important. Having the opportunity to have a cup of coffee is important. And we want to open our doors to the community and say: come have a cup of coffee.”
In a time when many people feel disconnected, spaces like The Hangout offer something rare and important: the chance to be seen, valued, and included. This event was more than a party. It was a visible invitation to every person in the neighbourhood to join a space built on kindness, inclusion, and connection. Thanks to the LoveMyHood Matching Grant, this wasn’t just a celebration, it was a step forward in building a stronger, more connected community. To every person who planned, posted, poured coffee, grilled hot dogs, handed out flyers, played games, or simply showed up…thank you. This is what community looks like. And this is only the beginning!
