Allard Community League

December 18, 2025 

The main rink is open! The lights are on daily until 10:00 pm. The small rink is not quite ready yet, but hopefully soon! 

The volunteers are working hard to clear snow and flood when possible. We are also dealing with some equipment repairs, so we ask for extra patience at this time. 

Please be considerate of everyone who would like ice time.  If you would like exclusive use of the rink, contact us about rentals!

Also, if you are interested in volunteering, please contact (780) 246-4905. This is a neighbourhood rink run by volunteers from the community. It requires a lot of manhours to accomplish, and we would greatly appreciate any help.  Thank you very much to our fantastic group of volunteers! 

Your membership, volunteering your time and abilities, or donations help keep the rink going. 

Remember, storm ponds and creeks are never safe to skate or walk on. 

As members, we are the community league. Together we can do really cool things. Here are some roles we are looking to fill: 

• Vice-president

• Programs Director 

• Engagement Director 

• Communication Team 

• Newsletter Coordinator 

• Civics Director

• Neighbourhood Watch representative

• Rink Team 

• Branding Committee 

• Allard Community Garden Committee 

Events coming up in the planning stages:

• Winter Fest  Sat Feb 7, 2026 / backup date Sun Feb15, 2026

• Annual General Meeting an evening the week of March 25, 2026

• Community Cleanup/Earth Day Sat April 26, 2026

There are funds available for member led events, programs and meetups. If you have ideas or interest, please reach out to info@allardcommunityleague.ca

Hi neighbour,

We hope this message finds you well. Thank you for your interest in our community garden. We are writing to share more specific information and a summary of the feedback we have received so far. 

Who Are We: The Allard Community League 

Allard Community League, established in 2023, is one of 163 community leagues in Edmonton. We are a group of your neighbours who are elected to a volunteer board to help provide community connections and recreation programming in the area. We are not the HOA, and our membership in the community league is voluntary.  Some examples of how we support the neighbourhood include the operation and maintenance of the Allard outdoor rink, community events like Winter Fun Day, and programs like basketball, soccer, ball hockey, the pop-up garden, and Greenshack.  

We have an agreement with the City and Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues that allows us to maintain the rink on site as well as the ability to develop and operate other recreation amenities at 680 Allard Blvd.

Allard Community League Garden Committee:

Through surveys we conducted as an emerging league in 2023 and post-incorporation in 2024, it is clear that our membership and the community desire access to a community garden.

The Community League was successful in operating a “Pop-up Garden” in 2024 with the City of Edmonton. This was a temporary garden program that the City coordinated with community volunteers. Unfortunately, this program was terminated in 2025. This helped to spark the desire to create a more stable and permanent option for gardening in our community. Our inspiration for a community garden includes the Royal Gardens, Twin Brooks, and Blue Quill Community Gardens. 

We are following the City of Edmonton Community Led Construction process and are a formal subcommittee of the Allard Community League.  

Why the Garden Matters
The goal of the community garden is to bring neighbours together to foster connection, sustainability, and wellness. It will provide:

• A space for residents to grow fresh, healthy produce.

• Educational opportunities for children and families.

• A platform for community-building events and volunteerism.

• A greener, healthier, more vibrant neighbourhood environment.

• An inclusive space for everyone.

Garden Location
The garden site (outlined in red) is located entirely on parkland within the Allard Community League boundary. It maintains a generous setback distance from nearby homes to ensure privacy.

What We’ve Heard:

In 2023, during the formation of the community league, the top two future amenities residents were interested in were a Community Hall and a Community Garden. 

In 2024, the pop-up garden in Allard had 20 temporary garden beds. There was demand for 36, but the program could not accommodate the request at the time. Clearly, there was demand for a permanent solution. We started to look into the locations for a permanent Garden. A survey was conducted from August 28, 2024, to February 28, 2025. In this survey, residents helped narrow down the top locations for a permanent garden. 

In Spring 2025, after selecting a preferred location, we started engaging with homeowners by door-knocking, posting a poster at the parkland location, and promoting our website.  Specifically, we heard support for the garden from some residents. We also listened to some concerns, which include: Privacy, Pest Control, Security/Traffic, and Reduced Opportunities for recreation.  We appreciate these concerns and will be considering them moving forward. We hope to help address them through our Design, Policies and Rules, and Community Education. This is just the start of our ongoing plan to reach out and communicate with residents, the school, and other park users. 

Let’s Stay Connected

We’re committed to being good neighbours and would love to hear your thoughts. If you have further questions, ideas, or would like to be involved in shaping the garden’s future, we welcome your participation. Please feel free to reach out to us at info@allardcommunityleague.ca or join us at our next garden committee meeting on August 20, 2025.

If you haven’t already, consider becoming an Allard Community League member.  You’ll receive all the benefits of membership and regular updates on things going on in the community.

Thank you for your continued support and for helping us cultivate not just a garden, but a stronger, more connected community.

Warm regards,

Garden Committee

Allard Community League

info@allardcommunityleague.ca