“I KNOW IT’S THREE IN THE MORNING, BUT OUR HOUSES HAVE JUST BLOWN UP! CALL NANCE TO OPEN THE COMMUNITY CENTRE! ” THE ROLE OF A NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORTING RESIDENTS IN A TIME OF CRISIS

development in the northern section of this southern Ontario city. This development proposal became highly controversial as it was planned to include both detached and semi-detached housing units, and local residents were concerned that the construction was going to be sub-standard. It was also feared that this amount of high density housing was doomed to be a hot-bed for a variety of social problems. While the housing development did proceed, the stigma (Goffman, 1963) attached to that neighbourhood by the broader community was significant. In response to this stigma, the residents formed a neighbourhood association to address the lack of recreation opportunities that existed, and to strategize some community pride initiatives. Over many years, the neighbourhood association was highly successful in planning and implementing a full range of recreation programmes for its youth and families, and had developed partnerships with a number of community organizations to provide continuing education opportunities, health services, and social supports to its ’ residents. Meeting informally in residents ’ homes during it’s formative years, the neighbourhood association eventually located its operation in a rented town