"I grew up in a small town with a strong sense of community. I love being part of recreating that in our local urban area." - Lisa on building community
YOUR STORY
My name is…
Lisa. I'm more of a working-in-the-background kind of person, so there's a good chance we haven't met yet — but hopefully you've already benefited from some of my community engagement initiatives.
By day (or night), I…
Work in community relations for a civil infrastructure company — helping keep one of our smellier essential services running and our community in the loop. By night you might find me at the local football field. After a 17-year break, I've recently taken up soccer again. I love our evening training sessions — running around outdoors, laughing, connecting and learning new skills.
How I first stumbled into the Little BIG House…
Via socials, when I had a young child and was looking for interesting opportunities for her to engage and learn.
The thing that made me stay…
The space, the people, the amazing potential in what we're all doing together. I grew up in a small town with a strong sense of community — I love being part of recreating that in our local urban area.
My involvement with the Little BIG House over the years…
Growing!
COMMUNITY & PLACE
A moment in Summer Hill that has stuck with me…
It began at Hampton and French, where a friend and I admired some handcrafted utensils. Later, my friend surprised me with them as a gift. A few weeks later at a Little BIG House event, I met the store owner, Deb, who remembered my friend, the purchase and their conversation. It's these little full-circle connections that make all the difference.
If I had to describe Summer Hill to someone who'd never been…
It has a human scale — the perfect blend of old-style character and modern amenities. A large enough population to create vibe, but quiet enough to always find your peace.
Something I wish more people knew about the Little BIG House…
There are so many ways to become involved in a way that suits your interests and abilities.
This community is special to me because…
It's a nice mix of long-term residents and newcomers. Solid, but not stale.
My favourite thing about the Little BIG House…
Its versatility in serving such a broad cross-section of the local community. The carefully curated spaces and range of initiatives that enable connection between so many different people.
THE PERSON BEHIND THE ROLE
I decided to put my hand up for the Leadership Committee because…
I wanted to contribute to something impactful and positive in a world where there is so much uncertainty and potential for negativity and harm.
The skill or perspective I'm hoping to bring…
An open mind, experience in community engagement, creativity and fun.
The thing I'm most looking forward to tackling together…
Working out how to lock up!
I hope this iteration of the Leadership Committee will…
Grow the Little BIG House upon the solid foundations of the committee before us — engaging more people and creating an easy model for other communities to adapt and learn from.
You'll most likely find me on a weekend…
At the Summer Hill dog park with my bouncy boy, Bruno. Watching Bruno make friends is like a masterclass — be open, read the vibe, respect boundaries and don't get hung up on the small stuff.
I'm most grateful for…
My health and having good people around me.
The Little BIG House in one word…
I'm a short-story-long kind of person, so I need two: endless possibilities.