Multiple Community Leagues Bring Neighbours Together in Edmonton
community, community leagues, real estate,
If you want a sense of community, then perhaps you should join a community league. There are certainly enough from which to choose in Edmonton.
In fact, there are 150 community leagues located throughout the city, with all of them organized to allow people to connect with one another within individual neighbourhoods. There is even an organization that oversees all of the leagues, the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues.
The EFCL was established in 1917, with a group of volunteers setting the precedent of reserving land for recreational use. Today, no other organization in North America has such a well-developed system of volunteers within communities who provide sports, recreation, culture and education opportunities.
Typically, the community leagues are primarily involved in sports and activities for children. Soccer teams are a staple, with some leagues responsible for overseeing as many as 20 teams.
Most of the leagues also have their own halls that allow residents to participate in exercise classes, host parties, and hold special events and meetings. Many even are equipped with playgrounds, outdoor rinks, basketball courts, tennis courts and child care centers.
The leagues also draw the civic-minded who are concerned about traffic, redevelopment or new trends that might affect their neighbourhood. For newcomers to Edmonton, joining a community league is a sure way to meet people and get to know your community.
The typical family fee for joining a league is about $25-$30 a year. Today, there are approximately 100,000 people in the leagues throughout Edmonton.
In addition, the EFCL and the city of Edmonton recently released a Community League Resource Guide for any group wishing to organize its own league. The document features useful information such as suggested procedures, job descriptions and the basic how-tos of running such an organization.
Story by Kevin Litwin
