African drumming, t-shirt making: Free, diverse programming brings community together

Choice Properties turned a portion of a Bradford plaza into Lots of Play, a creative playground offering free and unique programming for everyone.

A property company set up shop in the middle of a plaza to offer free community programming on the weekend.

Lots of Play is an annual summer celebration of community run by Choice Properties, a company that owns properties across Canada and one one of those happens to be in a community in Simcoe County.

Sunday’s programming took place in a busy plaza owned by the property company at 500 Holland Street West in Bradford.

It’s the second year Choice Properties has hosted this event but the first one in this particular community.

Attendees could take part in t-shirt embellishment and decorating, an African drumming workshop and a stilt-walking workshop and performance, with a bubble machine spewing out bubbles that floated throughout the space.

Isabel Cascante, director of social impact and placemaking with Choice Properties, says the programming is part of the company’s commitment to the community to create places where people can thrive.

“Lots of Play is an opportunity for us to invite people to come and engage in the arts programming that we have taking place on the patio today,” Cascante says.

That patio and greenspace was created a couple of years ago, which has Muskoka chairs and other unique seating areas with tables, conducive for relaxing and connecting.

“It’s out continued commitment to the Bradford community to invite people out to use the space,” Cascante says.

While the space is available for anyone to use at any time, the programming helps to draw people in.

“We do find when we run these programs, we remind these people the space is here,” she says.

She says it’s also an optimal opportunity for people to try something new.

In partnership with Vibe Arts, a charity that helps to provide art education to kids, the programming offered tends to be unique and diverse.

“Our goal is to create events and spaces that everybody can use,” says Cascante.

From families to singles to couples, it was a mix of attendees.

Several dignitaries were on site, all of whom participated in the African drumming workshop.

Cheraldean Duhaney is a councillor in Bradford West Gwillimbury for Ward 1, the area that just so happens to be the part of town where the festivities were taking place.

Duhaney is a mother of six and says she enjoys coming out with her kids to public spaces like this one.

“We just connect,” she says. “One of the benefits of public spaces is it doesn’t matter your income, it doesn’t matter your age, it does not matter what group you’re in – it’s open for everyone, whether you’re a senior or young person.”

Duhaney also highlighted the importance of being exposed to different cultures, groups and activities.

Glenn Marais, the African drumming workshop facilitator from South Africa, says the workshop is based on the principles of Ubuntu, a southern African philosophy that translates to “humanity.”

“It’s the whole idea of coming together as one,” he says.

He says he teaches that philosophy through drumming.

“Everybody can learn when we help each other out and grow together through musical harmony,” Marais says. “So it’s kind of a message in the small space but also for the world. We play together, we grow together.”

His workshops are filled with people of all ages and backgrounds.

“The drum is a unifier,” he says. “The drum is the original instrument, it’s the heartbeat of the mother, connected to the earth. People just seem to gravitate towards it naturally. They feel the vibrational energy. It’s very good for you to play in a drum circle. It’s very healing.”

Mayor of Bradford West Gwillimbury James Leduc celebrates the space where community can gather, a win for Bradford in the long-term.

“I just think it’ll bring us together,” says Leduc. “You know what, it’s about having happy spaces. And that’s what we need throughout the community.”

Deputy Mayor of Bradford West Gwillimbury Raj Sandhu says it’s important to connect different cultures in one place.

“Bradford is one of the most diverse communities and it’s getting those communities together and having fun,” Sandhu says. “Where else can you go Sunday morning and get a free lesson in drumming?”