If you’ve never been to the CSI Annex, you certainly need to go: with its beautiful brick and beam interior, concrete floor and unstructured space, few leave without waxing poetic about it. This location works well for events such as these; the flow of the room encourages mingling among guests while still leaving sufficient space for game booths and food stations. Games (such as Pin the LEAF on the Tree and EAB Toss), writing messages to the trees, designing our ideal urban forest on the CSI’s blackboard, tree-pun icebreakers, as well as hot chocolate and tacos (courtesy of Chocosol) all featured prominently in the evening’s success.
The BFF Social began with a great opening speech by Janet McKay (Founder and Executive Director of LEAF), followed by Mark Cullen (Canada’s Gardening Guru), who remarked that we are all snowflakes – about to cause an avalanche. With cups of delicious hot chocolate and tacos in our hands, Amanda Gomm, former Manager of Volunteer & Community Engagement, gave a goodbye speech and thanked volunteers for their dedication and hard work. Amanda, who has accepted a position with Greenpeace, will be sadly missed.
One of my favourite highlights of the night was reading descriptions of various tree species and figuring out which one I most identified with. These very fun descriptions were great conversation starters for those a little gun shy. As it turns out, I’m a hackberry! What can I say, they had me at, “just wanna have fun!” It also doesn’t hurt that I’m of the camp firmly convinced butter a) is happiness in solid form and b) will cure whatever ails you. While I didn’t meet any redbuds or silver maples that night, I’m fairly certain I left inspired and feeling as though I could talk for hours (even if only about tree puns).
As the night went on, I retired to a room in the back with my hot chocolate and a few friends to catch this year’s planting expeditions on the big screen. Like many others, I was initially attracted to LEAF’s mission not because I knew anything in particular about gardening, planting or the urban forest, but because I believed (and still believe) that the work that they do is important. The presence of city green spaces is critical for the health and happiness of its residents, of course, but these spaces also serve to connect us to each other in profound and meaningful ways. I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to all of the things we can accomplish in 2013.
Did you see the photos of the night by Jenna Marie Wakani? What did you love most about the evening? What tree were you?