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Cooksville’s Community Shines at the 4th Magical Holiday Season Celebration

Cooksville came alive as friends and neighbours from Cooksville and all over Mississauga gathered and shared their culture through, dance, food, and music, “Together as one”. The community was the protagonist of the night!  

Our 4th Magic Holiday Season Celebration marked the beginning of Holiday season, bringing families and friends together to create cherished memories. The celebration was a true testament to the power of community, with talents from diverse cultures taking center stage.

A Team Effort to Make Magic Happen

Magic takes time to happen…That is why dedicated volunteers and Heart Comonos's passionate staff started to plan the event in early September. On the day of the event, HC staff started set up in the early morning and volunteers joined them by 3:00 pm. With care and passion, they crafted an amazing night. From setting up party tents and ensuring the food and beverages were warm, to lighting up the fire pits to chase away the cold, their efforts truly brought warmth and cheer to the night.

An Evening of Enchantment

By 6:00 pm, lights came on, music started, people arrived and the celebration officially began! The night was beautiful, highlighted by Latin Train Band, and the talented Bollywood dancers in their vibrant costumes. Then, the violin and the vocal performances kept us cozy with Christmas music of Canadian culture and Latin music.

 A Touch of Tradition and Reflection

Adding a special touch to the celebration were the Indigenous-led smudging and reflection tents. Attendees were invited to cleanse negative energies with sage smoke, symbolically passing it over their eyes, ears, and hearts to see, hear, and feel more clearly. The reflection tent offered a moment to pause, reflect, and express gratitude for the gift of life.

Ending on a High Note

The night concluded with the community coming together in harmony, drumming to the beat of unity and reminding everyone of the evening’s heartfelt theme: "Together As One."

These moments help us remember that each culture is unique and we are able to embrace differences, learning about mindsets and what it means to live in a colourful diverse world!

By: Luisa Tellez

Climate change is real, and the dedicated volunteers at Cooksville’s Community Garden have experienced this firsthand. Unfortunately, due to severe storms, all the plants that once thrived in the garden have now perished.

“The storms we have been experiencing show me the power of Mother Nature and that we have to respect Nature as it is more powerful than we are. It has also given me a greater appreciation of our farmers and what they have to contend with on a much wider scale than our small little Garden plot” said Irene Vrbensky, one of the devoted garden volunteers.

Recent heavy rains caused significant flooding, leading to the loss of vital crops, including zucchini, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, and carrots. Typically, in September, the group of volunteers meet and share the harvest, and in late October they prepare the Garden for winter and plant the garlic cloves to be harvested next summer. This year, however, they could not do so. Instead, they met to share food prepared for them, reminiscing about their volunteer experiences.

“Being a volunteer at the Garden has been a very fulfilling experience working with wonderful people in my community. I feel very accepted and welcomed. During my time here, I have helped run events which brings community together, as well as participating in many different workshops such as one for youth mental health, homelessness, etc, which have provided me valuable insight about our community. I've also felt accountable for my input in the Garden, which has taught me the importance of responsibility”, shared Calvin C.

“I had a really good experience as a volunteer gardener. It gave me the chance to learn new things about plants. I was always into plants and had houseplants, but this Garden gave me a chance to explore different ones that I couldn’t grow in my apartment or balcony. It also showed me what fruits and vegetables really look like in the wild. We are so used to seeing fruits and vegetables in grocery stores, so a lot of us are out of touch with the reality of what things look like on the plant. The Garden gave me an invaluable opportunity to learn about nature. It also gave me a great way to meet people and socialize. It has meant a lot for me to participate and is very meaningful to me,” said Sarah.

The changing temperatures and intense storms are some consequences of climatechange, and Cookville´s community has felt the impact. Now, the food grown in thegarden is unsafe for consumption due to potential contamination.

“When the flood happened it´s possible that the sewage, and run-off from the citycontaminated the Garden, prompting EcoSource to decide to close the garden,”said Jessica Santander, Project Leader.

While climate change presents significant challenges, there are everyday actionswe can take to help mitigate its effects:

• Plan your meals and grocery shopping weekly, to avoid food waste andsave money.
   
• Manage waste at home by sorting organic and recyclable materials. Visityour city’s waste management website for detailed instructions.
   
• Reduce reliance on single-use products. Encourage family and friends tobring reusable containers at gatherings. Bring your container for yourdining-out leftovers. Avoid take-out food.

In response to the garden’s closure due to the flooding, volunteers have begunexploring alternative gardening ideas at home. Sarah expressed frustration: “I wasdisappointed to learn that the Garden was suddenly closed due to flooding. Andwhen it was known that the Garden would not be reopening for the rest of the year,it was very annoying, as I really enjoyed going there. However, since the Gardenwas closed, some of the other gardeners gave me some of their seeds and plants,and I was able to start a balcony garden in my apartment, which has been reallynice. I am growing chives, dill, calendula flowers, and a few other things thanks tomy fellow gardeners”.

In conclusion, the recent challenges faced by Cooksville’s Community Gardenhighlight the profound impact of climate change on local communities. Thededicated volunteers, who once nurtured a thriving garden, are now left grapplingwith loss. Yet, their resilience shines through as they adapt and find ways tocontinue gardening at home, fostering connections and support among oneanother. This situation serves as a powerful reminder of our shared responsibilityto protect the environment and take action in our daily lives. As the communitylooks forward to future seasons, they remain committed to rebuilding and nurturingnot just their garden, but also the bonds that unite them, together as one heart.

To learn about other initiatives in Cooksville, visit heartcomonos.ca/ or follow us onsocial media (@HeartComonos). You can become part of our community becauseHeart Commons believes that we are “Together As One."

Local Organization in Cooksville-Mississauga creates Gardening Group to Connect the Community and Support Access to Fresh, Organic Food

By: Luisa Tellez

People of all ages and different cultures have come together to start a community garden in Cooksville, in partnership with Heart Comonos; this revolutionary idea aims to provide food for those in need..

The question, "what are your expectations for the garden?" sparked a lively conversation among a group of volunteers from Cooksville’s community, who shared opinions, feelings, wishes, and new ideas about their connection with nature and their main motivations. Considering the detrimental impact some human actions have on the environment, and the rise in food instability, the initiative for the community garden was created in 2022 with common goals like:

• Ensuring easy access to organic food for the entire community, as it is usually costly in supermarkets, limiting access for some.
   
• Providing an experience of rural life within the city, fostering community building through close relationships.
   
• Inspiring change-makers in Cooksville, focused on land conservation and environmental sustainability.

The group of volunteers includes people from various countries and regions, such as Canada, China, India, Pakistan, Ukraine, Latin America, and others. Regardless of their origins, volunteers unite for an important cause that inspires lifestyle changes, collaboration, respect, cultural exchange, and a sustainable impact on the planet.

Due to this cultural diversity, the garden now grows a variety of plants, including tomatoes, parsley, pumpkin, basil, okra, eggplant, garlic, peppers, and more. Volunteers are eagerly awaiting the fruits of their labour - the ability to harvest! Volunteers both take some of the fresh harvest home but also donate most of it to community members in need, giving Cooksville residents the chance to have fresh and local veggies, at no cost.

The Cooksville Community Garden, sponsored by EcoSource, and in partnership with Heart Comonos, is by, and for the community. It has become a safe space to share experiences, family recipes, cultural customs, and other topics centred around the love for our people, our land, and the food that grows in it.

Who can participate in this important project?

Gardening lovers of all ages can participate. There are no age limits because the purpose is to connect the community, have healthy food, and live in harmony with nature.

To join the community gardening team, or learn more, contact jessicasantanderguzman@gmail.com. However, your registration will be considered once the garden reopens, as recent storms have caused flooding, and we are currently addressing this. We hope to resolve the issue as soon as possible.To learn about other initiatives in Cooksville, visit heartcomonos.ca/ orfollow us on social media (@HeartComonos). You can become part of our community because Heart Commons believes that we are“Together As One."