A new event aimed at bringing people together is coming to Giroux in just over one week.
Organizer Rebecca Waczko says the gathering will be a picnic and market, taking place at the community’s picnic shelter on June 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
"We are going to have a barbecue, live music, (and) we're going to have Steinbach Animal and Area Rescue come with some adoptables. ROC Eastman will be there collecting used sports goods," she says.
Waczko adds the market will include 18 vendors, all selling handmade products.
"We're really excited about it," she says, noting it's a way to connect people with their neighbours—new and old.
"It's a growing community, with a lot of young families moving in. We just want to stay connected with each other," she says. "We want people to know their neighbours because it makes for a safer community."
The inspiration for the event came from her husband, she says, who often gets her involved in big ideas.
"We're kind of a great team, and once we do something, a lot of people jump on board because they know who we are and are like, 'Yeah, we want to be a part of this too,'" she says.
Waczko notes a similar event they hosted last fall at the Giroux baseball diamond was a huge success, and the positive feedback from it motivated them to continue organizing community events.
"Everyone's on devices now. We've got to put an end to that somehow and just bring out the good, old fun," Waczko says. "It's a tight-knit community. A lot of people think it's dying down...but there's a lot of growth here."
Written with files from Carly Koop