Return to the Canyon 2: A Community Comes Together, Rebuilds, and Renames Itself

A warm greeting at the name-tag table at the entrance to the event in Canyon Square

By Miriam Bookey

Special to Canyon News

On Saturday evening May 31, the heart of the Canyon came alive with conversation, laughter, and the unmistakable feeling of a homecoming. Several hundred residents and friends gathered at Canyon Square on West Channel Road for Return to the Canyon 2, a community celebration marking five months since the traumatic fires that upended lives and landscapes. The event offered more than food and drink – it was a moment to reconnect, reflect, and recommit to each other.

Friends and neighbors from the Canyon and the Palisades came together as a community

Neighbors arrived on foot from nearby streets or traveled from the Canyon diaspora, stretching from Marina del Rey to Little Ethiopia. Conversations drifted naturally to shared longing: a return to routines, to repaired homes, to normalcy. What remained clear was how deeply people care about this unique place and one another.

Deb Parr, President of the new Canyon Business Association, addresses the crowd

A New Chapter Begins

This year’s gathering marked a significant transition in local leadership. In the first official meeting following a community-wide vote, the distinguished 78-year-old Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association formally adopted its new name: The Canyon Alliance. 

The new logo of the Canyon Alliance recognizes its long history as the former SMCCA and its identity as the community organization for “two canyons, five neighborhoods, one community.”

The name change reflects a broader, more inclusive mission to unify the Santa Monica and Rustic Canyon communities under one banner—especially important in the wake of the recent fires and the shared efforts to recover and rebuild. Residents also approved a new slate of 22 board members – 10 returning and 12 new – bringing fresh perspective to the work ahead. Read about the name change and new board at https://www.the-canyon.org/home/members-endorse-slate-and-name-change. 

Members of the newly elected 2025-2026 Canyon Alliance Board of Directors gathered on May 31 at Canyon Square for Back to the Canyon 2

The Canyon Alliance President Doug Suisman welcomed the board and acknowledged the energy and ideas each member brings. Per the bylaws, officers will be elected at the board’s first meeting and results will be shared with the community. Special thanks were given to the election committee, Wes Hough and Marilyn Wexler, for ensuring a smooth and transparent process.

Wexler, who stepped into leadership following the passing of longtime civic leader George Wolfberg, was honored for her service and dedication. A tribute from Councilwoman Traci Park, presented by Arus Grigoryan, recognized Wexler’s unwavering commitment to the Canyon. Suisman thanked her for remaining on the board as a senior advisor, assuring that SMCCA’s impressive history of Canyon advocacy and accomplishment is acknowledged and carried forward.

Marilyn Wexler receives a City of Los Angeles commendation from Arus Grigoryan of the office of Councilwoman Traci Park

Investing in Resilience

The evening also marked a milestone in the Canyon’s recovery effort. Suisman announced that the Canyon Recovery and Emergency Fund has grown to more than $107,000 in just three months. The fund will support both immediate recovery and long-term emergency preparedness. The generous giving so far has come from just 81 of the Canyon’s 1000+ households. Suisman encouraged every household to participate; the first $50 of any donation covers annual household membership dues.

Powered by Volunteers

The success of the event, like so much in the Canyon, came down to community effort. Frank Langen hosted the evening at Canyon Square, while Eugene Kashper supplied Pabst Beer for grateful attendees. Valerie Van Galder welcomed guests with name tags and good cheer, and the Canyon Grocer team served hot pizza from a stone oven. RusticCoffee and Replenish clothing were open for the event. Custom “AllianceWear,” created by Staci Woo and Mike Badt, helped raise additional funds.

The crowd also heard from the Deb Parr, the Interim President of the newly formed Canyon Business Association, an initiative of the Canyon Alliance to support the business community in the Canyon’s little downtown on West Channel and Entrada. She described initial meetings of the association and her wish for the community and businesses to work together and support their mutual efforts.

The Fundraising Committee – including Marla Mayer and Nada Kirkpatrick – was also recognized for its continuing work, as was Sharon Kilbride, the Canyon’s Pacific Palisades Community Council representative and longtime community advocate.

Building Infrastructure for the Future

The Canyon Alliance’s digital efforts were also in the spotlight. The website and communications team includes Jade Chatham and Kristea Gamel, alongside the Canyon News team: Laurel Busby, Lori Todd, and Chad Billmyer. The Alliance is also supported by summer interns (and Canyon natives) Noah Korngute and Luke Schneeman and data specialist Luke Cull, who is completely reworking the Alliance’s database.

Another highlight: the audience was introduced to Alliance intern Jason Runnels, a geography student at Santa Monica College. who has created an extraordinary interactive 3-D map showing the Canyon’s terrain, its five neighborhoods, and every parcel and structure. The map will serve as a vital tool for first responders and residents alike, offering a clearer view of the topography and its risks. You can access the map here. Other geography students of SMC’s Prof. Jing Liu are currently developing additional mapping tools for emergency preparedness in the Canyon and will present them to the community. Stay tuned.

View of the new interactive 3D model of The Canyon, with detailed information for residents and first responders

Return to the Canyon 2 was more than a block party. It was a reminder of what’s possible when neighbors band together—not just to recover, but to reimagine what community means. With a new name, a new board, and a renewed commitment to each other, The Canyon Alliance is shaping what comes next.

photos courtesy Elizabeth Daniels, Justin Bookey, and Frank Langen