Vistapark holds first residents meeting, Many new first time home buyers expected to benefit from community association

Posted Feb 16, 2012 By Brier Dodge

EMC news - Vistapark Residents Community Association held their inaugural meeting the way executives see the group continuing - friendly and paired with a family skate and hot chocolate.

"I don't want it to be a chore, we want it to be a group of neighbours who can get together and have a few drinks and have some fun," said president Don Pettipas. "I think it's important to have that sense of community and that sense of awareness."

Pettipas and his neighbours, specifically Martin Deschambault, realized there was a void in the area with no community association, and decided to start one.

Most of the neighbours are friends already, whether it's from Pettipas' annual Canada Day fireworks, or playing street hockey with their kids.

A considerable part of the area covered by the community association has new homes, meaning a community association is a valuable asset.

"I think it's really important because a lot of the people are first-time home buyers so they don't know who to turn to when issues pop up," said Coun. Stephen Blais, who attended the association's first meeting. "When you're in a new community, a lot of issues between the neighbours are similar."

Pettipas said the new homes and residents mean that the association can communicate on behalf of multiple residents with Minto over issues such as paved streets, and get information to pass on from Blais.

"Especially in a new development, we can find out who is responsible for concerns that people have," Pettipas said. "Not to mention to see the parks and everything getting developed the way it should."

Pettipas' said it was important to make the association for residents, not just homeowners, because a large number of houses in the area are rental units.

The zone for the association is from Avalon to Trim Road, bordered by Brian Coburn Boulevard.

The association is focused on community development and events, as well as safety concerns for issues like speed limits.

He said that already have a lot of ideas for events, such as a bike rally day - and of course continuing the Canada Day tradition of a Vista Park celebration as the park gets developed.

The next steps are developing a Vistapark Residents Community Association and beginning to fundraise.

"They've already got some money raised. I think they're off to a great start," said Blais. "Now they can get down to trying to figure out what they want to start working on.

The group can be found online at www.facebook.com/VPRCA and Pettipas can be contacted through email at carolyn-don@rogers.com.