No matter the location of your home in Collingwood, you can make friends with your neighbours. When you are friendly and know one another, it becomes easy to watch out for each other’s property, address concerns, reduce contention in the area, serve one another, and much more. 

While you don’t have to invite your neighbours over for dinner once a week, there are still many ways that you can meet your neighbours and get to know them. Here are several ideas. 

Spend Time Outside

Don’t hide inside your Collingwood home. Rather, spend some time outside. This could be completing basic landscaping tasks, enhancing your home’s curb appeal, or simply sitting on your porch and reading a blanket. When you spend time outdoors, it gives your neighbours a chance to say hi, to make small talk with one another, and to check in. 

Be Friendly

Don’t expect your neighbours to throw you a large “welcome to the neighbourhood” party when you first move into your home. You must take the initiative to get to know your neighbours. Spend an evening dropping off a small treat at their doorstep or if you see your neighbours outdoors, walk over and introduce yourself. This doesn’t have to be a long conversation but just a quick introduction and discussing a few friendly topics can make a difference. 

Attend Neighbourhood Events

If your neighbourhood has a homeowner’s association, make your attendance at the meetings a priority. If there is a summer neighbourhood barbecue party, stop by and say hello and don’t forget to pass out candy at the block party trunk-or-treat. These are all great ways to get to know your neighbours and become involved in the community as well. 

Offer Service

Service is one of the best ways to get to know one another and it helps you feel great about yourself. In a community, there are a plethora of ways you can serve throughout the entire year. For example, during the fall months, spend an afternoon raking up leaves for a few elderly neighbours. In the winter, help other families on your street shovel the snow on their driveways and sidewalks. Look for opportunities to serve in your Collingwood neighborhood and when you see them, grab onto them. 

Organize Playdates

If you have young children at home and your neighbours do as well, consider organizing and hosting playdates. This is a great way for your children to make friends and get to know others in the community. Plus, you can invite the parents of the children over and spend some time talking and getting to know one another and the families without any extra activities, worry, or stress. 

There are many ways that you can step outside of your home and get to know the people who live around you. What has been the most effective way you’ve gotten to know your neighbours?