Building community, one porch at a time.

Hi! My name is Sean, and I'm the organizer of Porchfest Verdun! The very first Porchfest started in Ithaca, New York in 2007, as a way to bring local musicians and neighbours together around music and a shared sense of community. Since then, Porchfests have spread to hundreds of cities around the world — and now it's our turn here in Verdun.

I'm not a musician — believe me, I've tried, but I'll never be able to play guitar, bass, harmonica, drums, etc. What I do care about, deeply, are the people I cross paths with every day in my neighbourhood. I live on Nuns' Island with my wife and our two young kids, and over the years I've come to believe that the most powerful thing we can do is simply know our neighbours. Not just wave from the driveway — actually know them.

Like many of you, I often feel powerless in the face of the injustices around us — senseless wars, our inaction on climate change, social isolation and loneliness. It's easy to feel small. But I've learned that when you bring people together on a porch, in your house, on a sidewalk, in a park — something happens. Strangers become neighbours. Neighbours become friends. And friends look out for each other.

Organizing Porchfest and the other community events I run through IDS Social and Île des Fleurs — biodiversity gardens, the Terry Fox Run, block parties and much more — is my way of pushing back.

Outside of my community work, I also run Karaoke Rental Canada, including our local Karaoke Rental Montreal service — another way I get to bring people together through music.

So here's what I'd ask of you: don't just come for the music. Get involved. Offer your porch. Volunteer your time. Talk to someone you don't know. And if you've ever thought about starting something in your own neighbourhood — a block party, a community garden, a Porchfest, anything — write me. I'll help you make it happen. The hardest part is just deciding to start.

— Sean · [email protected]