We envision Skill Share Fairs becoming a more prominent way of connecting neighbourhoods within Vancouver. We feel that the addition of these type of connection and talent focused events would ultimately help to develop more self reliant and sustainable communities.

Our goal in creating the East Van Skill Share Fair was to connect individuals and ultimately continue to build a more self reliant community. Early on we learned through the Vancouver Foundation Connections and Engagement report for 2012 in the past year, most of us have not participated in neighbourhood and community activities. The most often­ cited reason for not participating in neighbourhood and community life is a feeling that we have little to offer. We believed that everyone had something to offer and wanted to highlight the amazing and talented people in the Grandview-­Woodland Neighbourhood. After much research we stumbled across the concept of a skill share event and decided to experiment and bring it to our target neighbourhood. On Sunday November 29th 2015 we held the East Van Skill Share Fair. There was a total of eighty-two people who attended this event which far exceeded our expectations. Throughout the day we had eight skill share workshops where talented skill teachers would teach the participants. The skills taught that day included: 3D Printing, Bike Repair, Komboucha creation, Beekeeping 101, Whittling, Soap Making, Sauerkraut cooking, and a dialogue around grieving and loss. It was a completely free event and guests were welcome to not only the workshops but hot drinks and baked goods.