WAGMATCOOK BLOCK PARTY

Wagmatcook (Waq-mit-kuk) is one the five Mi’kmaq First Nations located in Cape Breton (Unama’ki). Wagmatcook is the oldest permanent settlement of the Mi’kmaq Nation in Nova Scotia and is situated adjacent to the Bras d’Or Lakes and the Cape Breton highlands.

As one of the pilot communities in the Activate Your Neighbourhood pilot project, they kicked off their participation by hosting a neighbourhood party on a chilly day in March, drawing 60 community members. The event featured the Chief and Council hosting a pizza lunch, a local vendor providing snacks, giant yard games on the lawn and in the parking lot, face painting, and a giant blank canvas for children to paint and create. There was a S’more station with water and hot chocolate and live entertainment from Blues Band from Eskasoni.

The organizers also took the opportunity to introduce community members to the pilot project and the concept of Placemaking and provided information about the ways in which they could implement activities (simple activities to more involved ones) in their neighborhoods.