There were lions and tigers and bears in a west end neighbourhood in Moncton.
Residents used their creativity in an effort to brighten up the spirits of the neighbourhood during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shannon Emery says residents were encouraged to pick an animal or animals and display them in their front yard, for their Neighbourhood Zoo Day, while reinforcing physical distancing of course.
“Walking around the neighbourhood, biking around the neighbourhood, we saw there were definitely a lot of people out, who had created their own expression of a zoo,” Emery says.
Some used stuffed animals, or cutouts, and one resident had live chickens.
Some residents who are home schooling their children, even took it as an opportunity to have them do some research.
“Our neighbour made these great cutouts, flamingos with yellow bendy legs. They had some information on their origins and about what they eat,” Emery says.
She says it gave them the opportunity to say “Hi” in the neighbourhood from a distance, as residents went house to house, or exhibit to exhibit.
Emery got the idea from a former neighbourhood in Victoria, British Columbia. She says it was a great way to connect in a safe way.
“In trying to be responsible, trying to connect in a safe way. We have a lot of grandparents in our neighbourhood who are not able to connect with their grandchildren and close relatives.”
Emery says around 55 residents took part. She is encouraging others, who may be looking at a new ways of coming together, to hold their own Neighbourhood Zoo Day.
Neighbourhood Zoo
Neighbourhood Zoo
(Photo: Shannon Emery)
