Curiosity Cafe: The Buzz from Our First Session (and What’s Next!)

What a start! Our very first Curiosity Cafe was a whirlwind of energy, ideas, and—most importantly—neighbours getting to know neighbours. The room at Thimblemill Library was absolutely buzzing with the kind of collective creativity that makes Bearwood and Smethwick such special places to live. If you missed the first one, don’t worry, we’re just getting started.

A Look Back: What Happened?

One of the highlights of the day was seeing our Knowledge & Skills Sharing Station come to life. We asked what you could share and what you wanted to learn, and the response was fantastic. Our "offer" and "request" boards were completely overflowing with talent.

• We had amazing offers to share skills in crochet, poetry, painting, and musical instruments.

• It turns out we’re surrounded by DIY experts ready to help with gardening, woodworking, and computing.

• There’s a huge appetite for learning! We had requests for everything from music lessons and plumbing to DIY skills and public speaking.

We also watched our "Problems and Solutions Tree" fill up throughout the day. It was inspiring to see so many people leaning in to think about how we can solve local issues together, from park clean-ups to forming new community committees. 

We even had a group roll up their sleeves to start working on the potential for a local "Library of Things," where we can share tools and equipment rather than everyone needing to buy their own.

Join Us for the Next Chapter: June 16th

We’ve taken all those brilliant notes and requests, and now it’s time to keep the momentum going. Whether you missed the first session or you’re ready for round two, we’d love to see you there.

We are back at Thimblemill Library on Tuesday, June 16th, offering two sessions to suit your schedule:

• Afternoon Session: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

• Evening Session: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Come along to connect, share a "hidden" talent, or just see what your neighbors are up to. And of course, the most important rule of the Curiosity Cafe still applies: tea, coffee, and cake are guaranteed for everyone.

There is no need to book in advance—just bring your curiosity and a friendly smile. We can’t wait to see you there!