Barbecue brings people together on Gore Street (9 photos)

Saulites from all walks of life got together on the corner of Gore and Albert streets on Thursday for a community barbecue and an exchange of ideas on how to improve the area. 

In previous years when the Neighbourhood Resource Centre was located on Gore Street, it would host an annual barbecue. It closed around the same time Grocer 4 Good opened in a different building on the street.

Grocer 4 Good founder Lisa Vezeau-Allen said the non-profit agency has tried to keep the annual tradition alive, with the help of its community partners and volunteers.

“If you feed them, they will come. That’s always been my philosophy from childhood,’ said Vezeau-Allen. “My grandmother raised nine kids in the depression with not a lot of money. Every Saturday there was always a big pot n the stove and if you didn’t show up you were in trouble. But that also taught me that you just feed people.”

Hot dogs, hamburgers and fresh produce were being given out for free from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the corner of Gore and Albert streets.

“People have this fear of coming to Gore Street, that it’s a bad place and people are doing drugs and there’s crime, but it’s a neighbourhood,” said Vezeau-Allen. “Grandparents live here and brothers and sister and moms and dads. We have a ton of students in the area.”

She said it’s a myth that crime and drug use only happen downtown.

“Things happen all over the place,” said Vezeau-Allen. “We have become so disconnected but I think it’s important to know that it’s fine to be out on the street and it’s safe.”

One after another, people from all walks of life stood in line for some barbecue or fresh produce and ate together as a community. People living in need breaking bread with a city employee working in the area, construction workers. the chief of police, a city councillor or any number of other neighbours in the city.

“It’s really about connecting with everyone,” said Vezeau-Allen. “People have a sense of pride and a sense of community and a sense of belonging and then they take over those spaces. That’s part of what we are doing today.”

First-time Grocer 4 Good volunteer Melanie Mast is a recent transplant to the Sault from the east coast of Canada who met Vezeau-Allen in a social context before being recruited. 

“She mentioned this (event) and I said if you ever need any help I will be there,” said Mast of the chat with Vezeau-Allen. “I am from Newfoundland and I want to get out in the community and get to know people more, so I figured what better way than to come out for this?”

Mast said it is good to see all kinds of different people intermingling during a community event.

“I think we should see the struggles of those not as fortunate or privileged and I think we should also acknowledge the privilege we have and give back when we can,” said Mast.

Carolyn Fitzpatrick heads the Family Studies program at Korah C&VS and is a regular volunteer with Grocer 4 Good.

“It’s important to get the community involved, especially in this area. I think it’s important to see positive things happening here,” said Fitzpatrick. 

Good things happen when you get groups of different people together, she said.

“We all have something to offer and we can all learn from each other,” said Fitzpatrick. “Already there has been good ideas thrown around today about how we can help out more. I think it’s wonderful to see that.”