These were the monthly star award stories for 2021!

December 2021 Co-op Stars

Draw winners were: Emily and Joel

• Thank you to Pouneh, Hassan, and Patrice for holding the holiday market  - submitted by the Events Committee 
• Thanks Sarah and all the participants in the cookie swap  - submitted by the Events Committee 
• The Secret Santa is really fun this year, thank you, Jenny.   - submitted by the Events Committee 
• Thanks to Leryn and Caitlin for going through the clothing library  - submitted by the Events Committee 
• Emily, Jenna, Linda, Terry, Lauren, Derek, and Mabel did a wonderful job making the lobby festive.  - submitted by the Events Committee 
• Thank you to John and Alysun for sorting out the recycling room bins.
• I'd like to nominate Alysun for the Mark Anthony shampoo/conditioner given before. Its awesome, works great!  - submitted by Brianne
• A shout out to all those responsible for the great garlic distribution: the planters, the gardeners, the harvesters, the artful packagers, and the distributors. Community spirit in spades. - submitted by Joel

November 2021 Co-op Stars

Draw winners were: Emmily and Brianne

• Thank you to Emily, Eve, Emmily, Lauren, Jenna, Jen, and all the candy handing out volunteers for making Halloween really magical this year!  - submitted by the Events Committee
• I’d like to nominate Caitlin for helping me with Sketch’s toileting while he had his cone due to his foot procedure, John for thinking of us and giving us doggy bags he picks up around the village, and Deb for helping to put my mind at ease about why Sketch could be experiencing loss of fur recently. Also Kim for hanging out w/ Sketch last week when I had to go to Urgent Care. Thank you all! - submitted by Brianne
• Thank you to Caitlin and collaborators for the wonderfully spooky lobby, and for cleaning up afterwards!   - submitted by the Events Committee
• Thank you Emily Kennedy and everyone else who helped make the co-op Halloween absolutely awesome once again. Lachlan had a great time on the day of and seeing all the decor in the weeks leading up. Y'all really are amazing, thank you! - submitted by Lars
• Thank you Pouneh, for the wonderful for the pumpkin carving and crafting session.  - submitted by the Events Committee
• Thank you to Emily for once again rescuing so much stuff from the landfill during the junk removal. - submitted by Francesca
• We’d like to appreciate Pouneh – in particular for hosting the art events for the co-op kids, but more generally and from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you Pouneh  for the model of grace and creativity and generosity of spirit you present to us (both young and middle aged) in every gesture and interaction you have. - submitted by Alex

October 2021 Co-op Stars

Draw winners were: Amanda M and Lerin.

• I’d like to nominate Sarah R. And Tasha for helping to get sketch’s leash our that was caught in my tire, Amanda M for giving me eggs, and Ron S and Kim for taking care of Sketch when I had a flat tire last month. Thank you all!  Such wonderful neighbours!! Submitted by Brianne
• I'd like to nominate all of the members who quickly formed a day-care committee and put in the effort and time to move forward with the change over in a quick, efficient and thoughtful manner. This is an important decision which affects all members, with and without children. Our new business and neighbour will hopefully find this community as supportive as many of our members do. Submitted by Terry
• We’d like to nominate everyone who has supported us through Lerin’s recovery from her concussion - from joining the meal train, to offering to take the kids, offering a shoulder to cry on, sharing experiences and advice, and everything else in between. We are incredibly grateful and (and at times overwhelmed) by the level of support we have received from this community. There are too many people to call out individually, so thanks to everyone from the bottom of our hearts! Submitted by Lerin, Fearghal, Olivia & Sophie

September 2021 Co-op Stars

Draw winners were: Josie and Eve.

• I'd like to thank Josie and all the kids who performed in the Wizard of Oz production.  They were all so brave! It was such a treat and they did such an amazing job with their lines, songs, dances, costumes and props. The older kids involved like Josie, James, Liam and Isabella were all supportive and encouraging of the younger cast members and they each acted as leaders and mentors to the others. Congratulations to the older kids already listed as well as Ada, Saya, David, Keika, Maddox, Simi, Nico, Mikayla, Ocea, Leyla, Maeve, Mateo and June. Thanks also to the parents for their help and support.  As Josie's mom, I'm proud of how she organized the auditions, simplified a script she found online, organized the lyrics, made up the choreography (with help from others) and made practice videos for everyone, went through the lines, songs, dances and staging with everyone at their practices, sent emails keeping kids and parents updated, juggled the scheduling of practices throughout the summer (which was not easy, with people away or busy), supported everyone's ideas of what they wanted their costumes and props to look like, tried to keep the attention of kids during practices, all while trying to keep everything positive and fun. Submitted by Jenny W
• I’d like to thank Deb for all the hard work with the garden and also for showing Junia all the garden’s vegetables. - submitted by Madalena.
• I would like to nominate Josie Driedger as a co-op star. Josie took on the challenge of directing and organizing the Wizard of Oz play. This production involved much organization and leadership (auditions, rehearsals, prop making). Thank you so much. The kids had a lot of fun being in the play and the co-op community really enjoyed watching it. - submitted by Marlene
• Josie organized the Wizard of Oz and entertained all of us (cast included). She was chill and patient with us. I didn't think that I could be in a play. She motivated us and helped us make the show a success. Thank you! - submitted by James
• I’d like to nominate Andrea for hanging out with Sketch for me so I could go paddleboarding a few weeks ago. Much appreciated and much needed time on the water!! - submitted by Brianne
• Ted, Marlene and Ada are stars! They’re always willing to water plants and keep keys while we're away, they pass on the BEST kid hand-me-downs, and are just generally friendly, kind and conscientious. Dream neighbours. - submitted by Andrea
• I would like to nominate Josie Driedger for being a co-op superstar. Josie is creating community like adults have not being able to do in a very long time. She is bringing kids who did not know one another together, kids between the ages of 5-14. She does so with confidence, patience, flexibility, and  compassion. As the director of the Wizard of Oz she has organized auditions, communications, scheduling, etc... She deserves a star as she is creating joy, passion, pushing little people's ability and skills to another level. She is building community and I am extremely proud to have such a person in our co-op.  - submitted by Eve
• A big thank you to Marlene, Meg, and Kim for looking after all our parcels and plants while we were away! - submitted by Francesca

August 2021 Co-op Stars

Draw winners were: Jenny W. and the Stephens-Kyte Family.

• Thanks for getting the common room ready to go, Marisol, Emily, Lerin, and others!
• I’d like to nominate Andrea Fraser-Winsby for sharing her passion for roller skating with Saya and Keika.  Andrea arranged for us to borrow skates and gear in the spring, and lovingly introduced the girls over a couple of lessons to how to scoot about.  My speed demons can now be seen screeching through the hallways on their heelys. - submitted by Alex
• Huge thanks to Sandy and Jenny for watering the trees! 
• I'd like to nominate Leigh Greenius for Co-op Star. Leigh answered my call for summer camp ideas and responded to all my subsequent questions. Mt. Seymour Myster Quest was a huge success and the Bear made a friend who later appeared at UBC camp! We are so grateful for her generosity in sharing knowledge. - submitted by the Stephens-Kyte Family
• Shane, thanks for organising our participation in the rubbish measuring scheme AND showing us how good signage should be done!
• I’d like to nominate Emily for the breakfast ovals she gave me at a time where I’d basically run out of food and my flare up was starting, times like that is when food sharing is so helpful. Thank you! - submitted by Brianne
• I would like to nominate Pouneh for helping introduce flower pounding to the coop.  Her generosity, positivity and patience made the event so much fun.  Her excitement at making eco art was infectious, and my kids now have beautiful art to display in our home. Thank you, Pouneh!
• Thank you, Francesca, for your constant generosity, especially for lending us your collection of awesome (and highly educational) jigsaw puzzles. The kids and I are so excited to get started on them! 

July 2021 Co-op Stars

Draw winners were: Marlene and Debra R.

• Thanks to Deb Cooper and all the early morning garden waterers for saving the south garden through the ill-timed plumbing issue and heat wave. - submitted by Caitlin
• I’d like to nominate Mila for sharing the spirulina/cholera blend with me that she received. So super kind and thoughtful of you! - submitted by Brianne
• Could I nominate Marlene and Sophie as Co-op Stars for lending me a hard hat and vest? It was so much easier than having to actually go into work to get them there (and then go to my site visit)! - submitted by Debra
• Thank you to Pouneh, the most thoughtful neighbour, for the fresh out of the oven bread and savoury egg dish, delivered to our door for lunch when we’re in the midst of moving chaos ❤️ - submitted by Jenny, Lyra, Alice, Roberto & Esmé
• The bike tune-up day was so awesome! We are very grateful for the generous people in our community who organized it and worked on our bikes! - submitted by Jenna
• We'd like to say thanks to whoever has been blowing bubbles from their balcony on the north side of the building! It has been lovely to watch bubbles floating by on these sunny summer evenings. Thank you! - submitted by Linda, Terry, and Lauren

June 2021 Co-op Stars

Draw winners were: Ron S. and Sue

• Many, many thanks to Ross and Ron for their hours of work fixing bikes!
• I’d like to nominate Kerrie for the gluten free pasta, super helpful on pasta night Thursdays, thank you! - submitted by Brianne
• I have a belated nomination for Jenny Allen who kindly gifted me her insulated water bottle. Now I can drink tea at school, thanks! - submitted by Liam
• Walking is on hold for me for while I wait for a knee replacement but thankfully, cycling is in full gear !  I’m very grateful to Ron Santos for helping me (many times) with necessary bike repairs & to Rex  for helping me to access my bike. - submitted by Sue

May 2021 Co-op Stars

Draw winners were:  Deborah R. and Nels

• I’d like to nominate Deborah R. for her generous giving of scones and  apples a couple weeks ago. Yum! - submitted by Brianne
• Thanks for sharing the fennel and making the lobby look and smell beautiful, Pouneh.
• Andrea Fraser-Winsby for letting me borrow her crescent wrench to take the dumb license plates of my dumb car for dumb reasons!  - submitted by Nels
• HUGE thank you to Leigh for lending me your strength and helping me move furniture after Rook knocked over my coffee cup over and drenched half my room. A cat-astrophe diverted, thank you Leigh! - submitted by Cole

April 2021 Co-op Stars

Draw winners were: Alex T and Madalena 

• Thank you to Hassan and Matt for the new picnic table! - submitted by the Events Committee. 
• Thank you to all of the board members for your continued dedication and the countless hours of work that go into guiding our co-op.  Your efforts are very much appreciated.
• Thanks to Rex and the Bike Committee for organising the marked non-slip surface coming into the garage!
• I would like to nominate Francesca for the amazing effort and countless hours she puts in organizing events for our community. She is a truly the rock of our community! - submitted by Jen Allen
• Thank you to Francesca and Peter for loaning us a tablet for our kids to use to access french e-books during our pandemic homeschooling adventure. And a second thank you for the enduring patience in our taking forever to return it when we were done with it.  - submitted by Jen Allen 
• I just want to thank Alex Tu for the vegan broccoli soups, it is delicious and I feel very healthy eating it, thanks so much! :) - Submitted by Brianne
• I’d like to nominate Lerin for teaching Marcelo and I on how to navigate first solid foods with Junia. We really appreciated her time sharing great knowledge with us. - Submitted by Madalena

March 2021 Co-op Stars

Draw winners were: Peter and Brianne

• Thanks for sharing your thyme, Sarah! - submitted by Francesca
• I want to nominate Thomas for giving me his headphones. They are wonderful I hardly need any volume up and they have such good sound! Thank you thank you! - submitted by Brianne
• Thank you to Francesca and Peter (and Liam and Eoin) for organising the crafting events with Claire. Oliver really enjoys them and it’s nice to see some of the other co-op children, and of course to see Claire! - submitted by Caitlin
• Thank you to Nico (and Helen) for lending out the Zoey and Sassafras books! We are really enjoying them! - submitted by Caitlin 

February 2021 Co-op Stars

Draw winners were: Caitlin and Brianne

• Thanks for taking over the fabric recycling, Katherine H! - submitted by Francesca
• I’d like to nominate Eve for always organizing book club and for always encouraging us to keep on reading!
• Celise and Deb gave me a measuring spoon and funnel ages ago - I still use them every day and think of your kindness! - submitted by Francesca
• I want to nominate Kim, Andrea and Leigh for helping walk Sketch during the last 2-3 weeks while hes recovering from surgery, and being there sort of on call and for advice. Leigh, Mila, Adele/Peter, Lindsay for donating to help me pay for the surgery. Really means a lot to me/us in this stressful time. - Submitted by Brianne
• I'd like to give hanks to all our neighbors who showed us love and support as we were grieving for our dearly departed dog Zelda, Madalena and Marcelo, Jenna and Michael, Emily and Drew. They all made us feel less alone as we were going through that loss. - Submitted by Steve V.
• Lainey, Farley and I are so very grateful to Caitlin, Andre, and Hassan for jumping into action to help us get our car started so the kids could get to school. Your willingness to help us out on a busy week day morning fills our hearts with coop love. Thank you!!! - Submitted by Kerrie
  
  

January 2021 Co-op Stars

Draw winners were: Eoin and Brianne

• Thank you to Liam and Eoin who sorted and distributed the supplies for the zoom craft sessions with Claire.  - submitted by Francesca 
• I'd like to nominate Kim for being so caring about Sketch's cut on his face this week... and also making sure he was feeling better after he was digging around eating in the plant kept on our balcony (lol!) - submitted by Brianne
• i wanted to star award anyone whos brought me empties as im saving for sketchs surgery, but i dont know all who are doing it! lol didnt wanna leave people out. I do know "Santa" did and no idea who it was. I love this community  - submitted by Brianne 
• Thank you to John for fixing the bike room door.  - submitted by Francesca