Winners of Mayor's Urban Design Awards Announced

The winners of the biennial Mayor’s Urban Design Awards were announced earlier this week. The awards salute the contributions that designers, architects and artists make in producing high quality buildings and public spaces.

The winners announced at a gala event on Wednesday were:

Conceptual/Theoretical Urban Design
Memorial Drive: A Landscape of Memory
Honourable Mention: East Village Conceptual Master Plan (PDF document)

Approved/Adopted Urban Design Plans
West LRT Extension

Urban Architecture
Banker's Court (PDF document)
Honourable Mention: Buro Block, and Canadian Pacific Entry Pavilion

Civic Designs projects
Calgary Zoo North Gate

Urban Fragments
No winner or honourable mention was chosen for this category

City Edge Development
Flights YYC

Community Improvement Projects
The Bridgeland-Riverside Vacant Lot

Student Projects
Honourable Mention: With time: Retrofitting Suburbia (PDF document)

The Mawson Urban Design Award
The Grand Theatre Rejuvenation

The winners were determined by a world renowned group of jurors: Barry Johns, Executive Director of Design - GROUP2Architecture Engineering, Andrew Wallace, Development Manager of the West Campus for the University of Calgary; Bev Sandalack, University of Calgary Environmental Design program, Gilles Saucier, design partner at Saucier + Perrotte Architects; and Ron Moppett, a Calgary-based painter.

Calgary's Animal and Bylaw Services wins Urban Animal award

The City of Calgary’s Animal and Bylaw Services was declared the winner in the Animal Sheltering category of the 2009 Summit Awards.

The ‘Summits,’ which were held October 15 in Lake Louise as part of the Summit for Urban Animal Strategies (SUAS), recognizes peers from all four sectors of the companion animal industry – animal control, animal health, animal welfare and animal services.

Larry Evans, Chair of the SUAS organizing committee, said Calgary Animal Services was selected specifically for its cat licensing program, introduced in January 2007, and it’s Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw.

“Due to their on-going efforts to reduce the numbers of cats and dogs euthanized each year in Calgary, the award given to Animal and Bylaw Services is well-deserved,” said Evans.

Just over two years into the cat licensing initiative, the City's return to owner for cats has grown to 56 per cent and the euthanasia rate for cats has dropped to 18 per cent. The adoption rate has also increased. As of the end of 2008, there were 48,000 active cat licences which is about 45 per cent of the owned cats in Calgary. All of these statistics are significantly improved over previous years and are considered to be amongst the best in North America.

“We’ve worked hard with our partners throughout the city to address pet and animal populations, reduce human-animal conflicts, and make Calgary a leader in municipal animal control. “We are pleased to receive this award and grateful our efforts have been recognized nationally by our peers,” said Bill Bruce, Director of The City’s Animal and Bylaw Services.

Evans said that Cat licensing was implemented in Calgary with a promise that it would increase the return to owner rate in the community and reduce cat euthanasia at the city shelter.

“Another promise was made that all revenue from the licensing program would remain in the animal world, to benefit the community. The City has delivered on both of those promises,” Evans added.

Bowness Park to receive facelift

A City Hall committee voted to give one of The City’s oldest parks a $10.2 million facelift over the next three years.

The currently unbudgeted redesign and development plan will now go to council who will determine how many of the recommendations will be made and the source of funding, according to Doug Marter, Manager of Park’s Planning and Development.

“We’d like to restore the park to its original grandeur,” said Marter, adding that priority improvements include stabilizing the lagoons banks, replacing the control structures that limit the water that enters the park, general upkeep and a few new bells and whistles.

Bowness Park was created in 1911 but no major work has been done in the popular green-space for almost three decades.

Located along the Bow River in northwest Calgary, Bowness Park currently has an amusement park, an ice cream stand, boat rentals, a skating rink, a mini-golf course and picnic spots.

The new redesign plan will include building a café overlooking the lagoon and a pedestrian focused central square. Improving circulation in the park is also a priority by limiting vehicles to one area, increasing and formalizing the pathway system, and ensuring better emergency access.

The report is expected to go before council on Monday.

***Image: Bowness Park's conceptual redevelopment plan

Mayor Bronconnier announces contract for the construction of West LRT

Mayor Bronconnier kicked off the construction of the West LRT Project today with the announcement that SNC Lavalin and its partners have been awarded the design-build contract for the project.

SNC Lavalin will both design and construct the West LRT line and its stations with a target completion date of late 2012. The City believes that constructing the West LRT in this manner will be more timely and cost effective – the whole line will be built in less than three years compared to the two years to extend an existing LRT line to a new station that it usually takes.

While crediting the design-build method for ensuring Calgarians receive value for their money and excellence in project execution, Mayor Bronconnier says that Calgary’s communities also deserve some recognition as well.

“Thank you goes out to the surrounding communities in helping this project move forward and for their patience during construction. We look forward to seeing everyone in 2012 when the West LRT line is open for service,” said The Mayor.

The below conceptual animation of the future West LRT can also be found on the West LRT website.

Deputy Chief Sampson explains The City's role in addressing H1N1

Today I spoke with Deputy Chief Tom Sampson of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) about how The City of Calgary intends to deal with H1N1.

CEMA is the team that responds to potential and actual emergencies and disasters – such as a pandemic - and ensures that there are appropriate prevention measures in place.

CEMA has developed a plan to ensure that the critical services that Calgarians depend on every day such as Transit, Police, Fire and the 9-1-1 service remain available in the face of any potential H1N1 outbreak.

CEMA works directly with Alberta Health Services, who are responsible for H1N1 provincially and the Public Health Agency of Canada, who are responsible nationally.

In the video below, Chief Sampson explains that Alberta Health Services is the lead for all H1N1 information, prevention and treatment, but Calgarians should taking appropriate steps to keep their family and themselves healthy.

City's website will be down this weekend for maintenance

The City will be doing some preventative electrical maintenance at the Municipal Complex this weekend, which will result in all of The City’s computer systems being shut down over the weekend, including The City’s website.

On October 24, 2009, all computer systems, including those supporting calgary.ca and The City’s news room, will be shut down from 12:01 a.m., Saturday, October 24, 2009 until 5 a.m., Sunday, October 25, 2009, a total of 29 hours.

In the event of any important news releases that need to go out, you will be able to find them right here, on The City’s news blog, or on The City’s Twitter feed.

As a result of this electrical work, The Municipal Complex, including the Municipal Building, Administration Building and City Hall will be closed to the public on October 24, 2009. Normal service will resume on October 25, 2009.

Neither the 3-1-1 nor the 9-1-1 phone systems will be affected during this maintenance period.

Calgary's pedestrian criss-cross great, but with a little wait

It's been just over a year-and-a-half since The City of Calgary introduced the city's first ‘scramble’ or pedestrian ‘criss-cross’ crosswalks.

According to Troy McLeod , The City's manager of traffic, each pedestrian criss-cross has been a big success, but he does admit that not everyone is 100 per cent happy.

“Pedestrians think it’s fantastic that they’re able to cross diagonally . . . but now they may have to wait a little longer until it’s their turn to cross,” said McLeod.

The city’s two scramble crosswalks, which were implemented in May, 2008, are unique because they allow all pedestrians to cross the street at once in any direction. When all four traffic lights are showing red, the WALK signal lights up and pedestrians may cross in any direction. During this time, traffic on all four sides is to remain stopped as right turns are not permitted on red.

The crossings, both located in Barclay Mall in Eau Claire on 2nd and 3rd Avenues and 3rd street, S.W., were chosen because they are pedestrian heavy but not significantly congested with vehicle traffic or along transit routs.

“There has been some impact on traffic but nothing too significant,” said McLeod. “‘Overall, there may be a little longer wait - for pedestrians and motorists - but it is safer.”

No other downtown intersections have been identified for similar criss-cross crosswalks in the near future.

Here is an informational video of the scramble crossing from last year. What are your thoughts? Have you tried walking the pedestrian criss-cross?

Citizens say 'no' to graffiti in their community

The City of Calgary is encouraging citizens to say ‘no’ to graffiti in their communities.

In the past month, about 100 Calgarians have had graffiti removed from their property with The City’s new private property graffiti removal pilot program, which aims to make graffiti removal timelier and easier.

“When citizens contact 3-1-1 to have graffiti removed, they are sending a clear message that graffiti is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in their neighbourhood,” says Bill Bruce, the Director of Animal & Bylaw Services.

Calgarians who report new or existing graffiti on their property can pay a flat $25 residential property or $100 commercial property fee per visit, regardless of the amount or size of the graffiti. Program participants also sign a waiver granting a City contractor permission to enter their property and remove the graffiti. All revenue is reinvested into the graffiti removal initiative.

Statistics indicate that the presence of graffiti can lead to more serious crimes and is the first step in the decline of the liveability and safety of neighbourhoods. If graffiti is not removed quickly, it gives the perception that residents don’t care about their community. This can result in the spread of graffiti and other criminal activity throughout the community.

The Community Standards Bylaw defines graffiti as any words, figures, letters, drawings or stickers attached, scribbled, scratched, etched, or sprayed on or to a surface.

The pilot program is expected to run until the end of 2009.

The City of Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services encourages Calgarians to enhance community pride by utilizing this initiative.

Citizens are also reminded that graffiti is a crime and if they see graffiti in progress to call 9-1-1.

For more information please visit calgary.ca/bylaws or call 3-1-1.

A Tour of Calgary's Blue Cart Recycling Sorting Facility

Calgarians are recycling more than ever before thanks to the blue cart residential collection and community recycling depots.

All of these recycled materials go to the southeast, 80,000 square foot, material recovery facility - or sorting plant, which is owned by METRO Waste Paper Recovery Inc..

I paid a visit to the plant today to see how our recyclables are sorted and processed.

The City has collected approximately 30,000 tonnes of recyclable materials since April 2009 when blue cart service began service at households with fewer than four units. That's 30,000 tonnes that have been diverted from a landfill. It is also when recycling depots were converted so no sorting was required. Recycling volumes to date are on track to double the level from the previous year and it is expected the recycling numbers will continue to climb. Almost all of the materials collected through the blue cart residential service and community recycling depots are going to market to be recycled into new products.

“Calgarians have embraced The City’s recycling program and generally they are doing a great job recycling,” says Paula Magdich, Program Development Leader with Waste & Recycling Services. "We encourage them to keep recycling smart."

This means putting only materials in the blue carts and community depots that the sorting plant can handle says Magdich.

Acceptable materials include paper and cardboard, plastic containers labelled 1-7, food and beverage cans, aluminum foil and glass jars and bottles. Other items may be recyclable but do not belong in the blue carts or depots.

Bill Stitt, Vice President of METRO Waste Paper Recovery Inc., which owns and operates the recycling sorting facility, says the plant was only designed to process those specific materials. “Items such as coat hangers, scrap metal and propane tanks can potentially damage the equipment or injure one of our workers,” says Stitt. “While most of the plant is automated, our employees still have to remove unacceptable items by hand.”

Some of the things that I saw at the plant during my brief tour were frying pans (lots of frying pans), a radiator, a broken power drill (that you can see a person retrieve from a conveyor belt in the video), dirty engine oil, hypodermic needles, saw blades and yes, even a kitchen sink (seriously - although it may have been a bathroom sink - either way there was a sink!). These items clog the machine and cause stoppages to the conveyor belts about six to 10 times an hour. These heavy, sharp and dirty materials can also be harmful to the workers.

Calgarians can visit calgary.ca/recycling to learn more about what materials are accepted in blue carts and community recycling depots as well as where they can drop off other items such as electronics, paint and household chemicals.

Magdich says that the blue cart residential collection and community recycling depots are part of The City's 80/20 by 2020 plan. The goal is to divert 80 per cent of Calgary's waste from landfills by the year 2020.

Watch this video to see a tour of Metro's material recovery facility (recycling sorting plant).

Mayor declares October 19 to 23 Calgary’s Seventh Annual Carpool Week

Mayor Dave Bronconnier has officially proclaimed the week of October 19 to 23, 2009 as Calgary’s Seventh Annual Carpool Week, encouraging Calgary and area commuters to try a new way of getting to work or school.

“Carpooling is a great option to consider. It’s nice to have a little company for the drive, and sharing the costs of commuting is certainly a benefit. Carpooling also reduces greenhouse gases and pollution – it's something that nearly everyone can do to help our environment,” said Mayor Dave Bronconnier.

Calgary and area citizens interested in the benefits of carpooling can log onto the Carpool website, select Calgary as their destination and enter their commuting information. They will instantly receive a match list of neighbours and co-workers also looking to share the daily commute.

In addition to the many environmental benefits of car pooling, this year those Calgarians that make a personal pledge to carpool at least once during the month of October will be entered into a draw for prizes including one of four $500 fuel cards, an iPod Touch and gift cards to Safeway, Future Shop, The Keg, Cineplex and Starbucks.

Since the Carpool.ca program was introduced in Calgary in 2002, there have been more than 11,000 regional users with approximately 3,000 commuters currently registered.

Calgary's Director of Roads talks snow and ice on city streets

EDITED: 4:30 p.m., October 15

What’s going on with snow, ice and our Roads?

We chatted with Ryan Jestin, Director of Roads about the snow, ice and our Roads over the past few days.

On Tuesday, during the morning commute as most of Calgary headed out for their post-Thanksgiving trip to work or school, a rather unexpected, moist snow was falling - and sticking to the road – an unexpected occurrence at this time of year. This created “almost the perfect storm for city crews.”

Road crews began sanding city streets at around 4 a.m. but when rush hour began, snow clearing efforts had to slow down. Once the morning rush was completed, city crews were able to get back on the roads. They cleared 3,500 lane kilometres of road way in about 5 hours.

The problem, said Jestin, is that anti-icing trucks, sanders and graders aren’t very effective during rush-hour when roads are carrying commuters. In fact, there are about 350,000 vehicles on the roads between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. every day.

“Calgary Roads does a great job, but this has to be a shared responsibility,” he said. “Drivers can’t behave like its dry pavement. They have to be patient, leave time to stop and leave space between themselves and the car ahead.”

And of course, it’s essential to get proper snow tires.

Jestin also said that although Deerfoot Trail clean-up is the Province's responsibility, The City has regular contact with The Government of Alberta's road-clearing contracter to ensure off-ramps are cleared simultaneously.

"However, if there's an accident in the early morning it will back everything up," he said.

Some parts of Calgary had received almost 10 centimetres of snow by noon Wednesday – the same amount of snow that usually hits the city the entire month of October.

Watch this video of Roads Maintenance Manager, Dean Bell, talking about snow and ice removal priorities from a few weeks ago.


Dean Bell talks about Snow and Ice on Calgary Roads from The City of Calgary on Vimeo.

Economic Report: Calgary's economy to climb, but the need to give grows too

Calgary’s economy will continue to strengthen as global economies recover, but cash-strapped families may still suffer without charitable donations, according to an economic growth report released today by The City of Calgary.

The 2009 - 2019 Socio -Economic Outlook forecasts the local, national and international economy over the next 10 years and assesses consequent social concerns stemming from the city’s growth.

“Residential construction projects are rising again after significant weakness in the past year, which is a positive sign,” said City Economist, Patrick Walters.

One of the key messages of the report is to remember those members of the community who will continue to struggle financially.

Increasing household financial stress due to decreased income, rising unemployment and household debt has caused significant challenges for some households.

“It is expected that significant current and new challenges will persist in meeting the needs of vulnerable households, given the current capacity constraints facing Calgary’s public and voluntary sectors,” said Derek Cook, Research Social Planner.

Unemployment has doubled to 7.0 percent since August 2008 and there is concern that falling household incomes and corporate earnings may lead to reduced charitable donating even as the demand for service grows.

“Looking forward, expect the funding environment to remain challenging over the next two years until economic growth picks up in earnest in 2011,” said Cook, adding that governments and charitable agencies need to be aware of these challenges and be prepared to support those being affected.

The 2009 - 2019 Socio-Economic Outlook was collaboratively produced by The City of Calgary Corporate Economics and Community & Neighbourhood Services, to inform planning and budget deliberations.

2009 – 2019 Socio-Economic Outlook Highlights:

Economic:

• Economic activity in the Calgary Economic Region (CER) should contract by 2.5 per cent in 2009 and then increase by 2.2 per cent in 2010.
• As economic growth in the US and the emerging economies gather momentum, the CER’s output should expand by 3.4 percent in 2011.
• Resulting from the global recession, the unemployment rate rose from 3.5 per cent in August 2008 to 7.0 per cent in August 2009 as labour force growth outstripped employment growth.
• Total employment in the CER was estimated at 753,000 in 2008, up from 735,000 in 2007. The forecast is for total employment to decline to 745,000 in 2009 and rebound to 756,900 in 2010 as economic growth resumes.

Social:

• Although the current economic recession may prompt expectations of a decline in immigration to Calgary, the population is expected to increase by an average of 21,300 annually from 2009 - 2019
• With the onset of the recession there is concern that falling household incomes may lead to reduced charitable giving even as the demand for service grows. Additionally, shrinking corporate earnings may also lead to reduced corporate donations and sponsorships, while rising government deficits may lead to increased constraints on public funding.
• Although vacancy rates have started to rise, Calgary’s rental stock continues to shrink as more units are converted to condominium ownership and little new rental stock is constructed, contributing to an ongoing lack of affordable housing.
• Calgarians continue to feel relatively safe as both person and property crime rates fall, and the severity of crime is lessening. Despite decreasing overall rates of crime, however, concern about certain types of crime is rising, particularly organized crime and gang activity which is occupying more and more police resources.

The full report can be found online.

Glenmore Trail Improves - Graves Bridge Twinned

Whether travelling by car, bicycle or on foot, the commute to work via Glenmore Trail east just got a whole lot smoother.

The City of Calgary has announced it has finished construction on the Graves Bridge Twinning and Glenmore Trail Improvements project.

The new bridge crosses the Bow River immediately north of and parallel to the existing Graves Bridge and is as one of the most significant improvements to the Glenmore Trail corridor east of Deerfoot Trail.

Drivers will be pleased that the new bridge will improve traffic flow over the river. The City’s east-side should move-along nicely too due to the widening of Glenmore Trail to three lanes in each direction between Deerfoot Trail and 18 Street S.E.

Originally constructed in the 1960s, Glenmore Trail and the Graves Bridge helped make further development east of the Bow River possible. As this area has grown rapidly, twinning the Graves Bridge and the improvements to Glenmore Trail was deemed a necessity to improving citizens commutes and the movement of goods.

During construction, the disruption of wildlife was minimized by The City working within strict guidelines set by Alberta Environment, Department of Fisheries and Ocean and Transport Canada. For example, wildlife corridors were not blocked by construction and work done in the Bow River was done outside of fish spawning times.

This project also helps encourage alternate modes of transportation. One of four lanes on the new Graves Bridge is currently dedicated for pedestrian use and provides better access to the regional pathway system on both sides the Bow River.

As traffic needs increase this lane will be converted for vehicles and a pedestrian bridge will be built.

What are your thoughts? Has this eased your Glenmore East commute?

Construction site safety – The City’s commitment to keeping Calgarians safe

As a recent release from The City’s Development & Building Approvals illustrates, applications for building permits and construction in Calgary continues to boom.

As the number of building sites and construction cranes continue to grow across the city, it seems as though the number of cases of construction materials falling from these construction sites is also on the rise.

According to The City’s chief of building inspectors, it’s not just our imagination.

“The number of reported incidents is higher,” says Kevin Griffiths, The City’s chief building officer and manager of building regulations. “I’d attribute this to a number of factors, including an increased awareness on the public’s part, and the fact that Calgarians just aren’t tolerating these types of incidents.”

So who’s responsible for ensuring that these types of incidents don’t continue to occur?

According to Griffiths, it’s a responsibility shared between The City and the provincial government.

The Alberta government’s Occupational Health & Safety legislation governs the safety practices on construction sites, while The City of Calgary’s responsible for ensuring that any buildings under construction (everything from high rises to houses) do not cause damage to adjacent properties or endanger Calgarians.

It’s a responsibility that The City takes seriously.

After the most recent incidents, The City’s inspectors visited every construction site in downtown Calgary to ensure that all construction companies are aware of their responsibilities in keeping Calgarians safe. At the same time, The City reinforced its stance that there will be no tolerance for unsafe practices.

If an unsafe incident does occur, there are a number of actions that The City can take - from a stop-work order on the site to laying charges against the construction companies which can result in a $15,000 fine or 6-months jail time.

“We know that there’s more that needs to be done,” says Griffiths. “We’re committed to working with the construction industry to ensure the continued safety of Calgarians.”

With that goal in mind, Griffiths’ team recently sat down with the Calgary Construction Association to form a working group on increasing construction site safety and exploring what else can be done.

If Calgarians have concerns about potentially unsafe conditions on any construction site, they can call 3-1-1 to report it.

City police team-up with MADD for Campaign 9-1-1

The Calgary Police Service have teamed-up with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to nab more drunk drivers, and they need and want Calgarian’s help.

MADD says the campaign gives Canadians the opportunity to play a role in their own safety by assisting the police in intervening before a potentially deadly crash occurs.

Launched on October 8, Campaign 9-1-1 encourages citizens to phone police and report the licence plate of a presumed impaired driver. Additionally, road signs about getting caught while driving drunk will be installed at city entry points, along major traffic corridors and within communities throughout the city as a deterrent to would-be drunk drivers.

MADD reports impaired driving is the number one criminal cause of death in Canada and approximately 77,000 Canadians are victimized by impaired drivers annually.
Image Source: MADD

World Energy Cities leaders signed Calgary Climate Change Accord

The City of Calgary signed into the “Calgary Climate Change Accord” yesterday along with other major energy cities to commit to bold climate-change targets.

All signing cities are members of the World Energy Cities Partnership (WECP), which represents 15 of the largest energy cities in the world. This pact confirms The City’s commitment to greenhouse gas reduction targets in advance of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) to be held in Copenhagen in December 2009. It calls for policies, plans and operations to reduce GHG emissions by a minimum of 20 per cent by 2020 - with a further minimum reduction of 80 per cent by 2050, using 2005 levels as a baseline. The signature cities of the WECP will establish a mechanism to report progress.

The Accord urges world leaders gathering in Copenhagen to establish new targets for GHG reduction in an ambitious global agreement that will safeguard people and the planet from the effects of climate change. The goal of the Copenhagen meeting is to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.
Signing representatives included:

• Dave Bronconnier, Mayor of Calgary, Canada
• Peter Stephen, Lord Provost of Aberdeen, United Kingdom
• Steve Streatch, Councillor for Halifax, Canada
• Anthony W. Hall Jr., Chief Administrative Officer for Houston, United States of America
• Lisa Scaffidi, Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Perth, Australia
• Dr. George Nworlu, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Energy of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
• Kenneth Ferguson, Mayor of San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
• Leif Johan Sevland, Mayor of Stavanger, Norway
• Elizabeth Lawrence, Director of Economic Development, Tourism & Culture for St. John's, Canada

City of Calgary receives distinguished budget award

The City of Calgary has won an award that recognizes excellence in planning and budgeting.

The City’s 2009-2011 three year business plan & budget received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada. The award was presented in council on Monday.

According to The City’s Financial Officer, Eric Sawyer, the 2009-2011 Budget and Business Plan was a collaborative effort across all City departments and it provides Calgarians an easy-to-read and easy to understand overview of The City’s operations.

The Government Finance Officers Association is the professional association of state, provincial and local finance officers in the United States and Canada. Its main purpose is to enhance and promote the professional management of governments for the public benefit.

Check out my video interview with Eric Sawyer on the GFOA award below:

National Safe Communities Day launched

National Safe Communities Day was launched today in the Atrium at the Municipal Building.

Safe Communities Day coincides with International Safe Communities Week. The World Health Organization designated Calgary as a Safe Community in April 2003. A designated Safe Community is one which believes that a safe life is a basic right and aspires to create a safer life for all its citizens.

The national theme for Safe Communities Day is Be Visible.

People across the country are making themselves visible and showing their commitment to promoting safety in their community by wearing safety vests, reflective bands, helmets and lighting devices.

Check out this video from the event with Safer Calgary’s Carol Eamer and Calgary Fire Department’s Garth Rabel.

Queen’s Park Cemetery’s Mausoleum Opens

The final phase of Queen’s Park Mausoleum was officially opened yesterday, completing Calgary’s only public burial vault.

Although prominent in Europe, the United States and eastern Canada, this mausoleum is one-of-a-kind in western Canada.

“Building a mausoleum has its advantages,” says Archie Lang, the City’s manager of Parks Northeast division.

“With space for cemeteries dwindling, a mausoleum is a good way to make efficient use of land space. It also provides a peaceful and comfortable environment for those visiting their loved ones because it is climate controlled, and was built and designed as a natural and serene environment, bringing elements of the outdoors, inside,” says Lang.

The 3rd phase cost $10 million, but that money will be recompensed once the 1,400 new crypts and 400 urn niche’s are purchased - with enough to cover the mausoleum's future upkeep through the Perpetual Care Fund.

Queen’s Park Cemetery currently has a decade’s worth of space according to Lang, with The City continually looking to acquire more land for burial ground purposes.

Originally built in 1997 and with a north wing added in 2000, this final phase features stained glass, Italian marble, an indoor chapel and a two-storey water wall.

Lang says that many cultures and religions prefer this form of burial to an earth burial.

“The most striking feature is a two-storey water wall,” he says, a natural element to add to a peaceful environment. The Mausoleum is situated in a landscaped setting at Queen’s Park Cemetery on 32 Ave. and 4 St. N.W.

Image source: The 3rd phase's double couch crypts beneath a water feature.

Calgarians give The City a passing grade

Calgarians have given their city a passing grade despite economic upheaval, according to Vital Signs, a “quality of life” report by The Calgary Foundation.

The third annual survey shows that this year citizens gave higher grades in seven of 12 key areas, with no areas receiving lower scores than last year.

“The Calgary Foundation engaged more citizens than ever before in having their say about quality of life in Calgary,” said Eva Friesen, President and CEO of The Calgary Foundation. “Considering the economic turmoil, the grades are surprising.”

According to the report, Calgarians are more positive abou the opportunities for life-long learning, the access to sports and recreation services, and the increased presence of arts and culture, however financial well-being and affordable housing continues to challenge many citizens’ quality of life, and they are concerned about sustainability being addressed.

The 12 key issue areas questioned in the survey are: Learning, Safety, Health & Wellness, Arts & Culture, Financial Well-Being, Getting Started, Environment, Work, Housing, Belonging & Leadership, Sustainable City and Recreation & Sport.

The report’s highlights:

• Calgary topped Maclean Magazine’s 2009 “Most Cultured Cities” list
• Calgary received the highest score in Canada in the area of life-long learning
• Calgary’s violent crime rate in 2008 was the lowest crime rate in 17 years
• Calgary’s per person water consumption rate is decreasing annually

The report’s lows:

• Calgary’s youth unemployment rate is twice as high as the general population
• Calgary’s sense of community belonging dropped sharply in 2008 and is lower than both national and provincial levels
• Immigrants needing ESL programs, representing over 70 language groups, increases by 2000 students per year
• In February 2009, the median emergency room wait-time was 16.6 hours, 31% longer than in February 2008

According to its website, The Calgary Foundation was established in 1955 to facilitate collaborative philanthropy between donors and community organizations for The City of Calgary and surrounding area. In 2008-2009, The Calgary Foundation saw $25 million in new contributions, had an asset base of $274 million and granted $22 million to 655 charitable organizations.

***Image Source: The Calgary Foundation's Vital Signs Report

West LRT to go underground

City Council approved the $61 million needed to have the West leg of the LRT go partially underground at 17 Avenue and 45th St. S.W. with a short bridge for traffic over the tracks.

Lower than expected construction costs are dropping the price-tag of digging the trench. The original proposal was $85 million to dig a tunnel. Now, the train will move through a trench, or what can be described as an open-aired tunnel:).

More than 1000 residents who live near the future line signed a petition to send the train subterranean to alleviate possible congestion and clear room for emergency crews.

The LRT line was approved two years ago at a cost of $700 million. Ratified by council in June, the C-Train’s route will veer up the middle of Bow Trail at street level, head underground as it heads south onto 17th Avenue at 33rd Street and then return to ground level at 41st Street. The line ends at 69th Street.

Construction of the eight-kilometre line is slated to begin next spring with trains chugging along by late 2012. It is the city's first LRT line since the northwest line’s construction to the University of Calgary in 1987.

Council also approved a land swap to construct 1,000-stall parkade near the new Ernest Manning high school.

***Image: View of Sunalta Station's Platform

Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF launched

"Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF!"

This year, like every year since 1955, local children will raise money for the world's most needy youth in partnership with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) this Halloween.

“Every child has the right to education, yet millions of children around the world do not have access to schools, teachers or safe learning environments,” said Nigel Fisher, UNICEF Canada President and CEO. “Through Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, children in Canada are helping to give thousands of children in Malawi and Rwanda the gift of education.”

The campaign was kicked-off at Wildwood School. The students welcomed UNICEF and the Halloween Partners for Safety, which included members of The City's police and fire service, with a great song and dance about peace.

This year, becuase of students like those at Wildwood School, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is poised to hit the fundraising milestone of $100 million raised in Canada since 1955 to help the world’s most vulnerable children

UNICEF can be found in over 150 countries and territories to help children. It is the world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, and supports child health and nutrition, clean water and sanitation, quality education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

This is also the 15th year for the UNICEF Partners for Safety Program in Calgary.

• Almost 1,000 vehicles will be on patrol in Calgary and Airdrie between 6:00pm and 8:00pm on Halloween night.
• Any child who needs assistance should approach a Partners’ vehicle for help.
• Partners for Safety provides the opportunity for a variety of emergency services and organizations to work together and with UNICEF to make sure our children are safe on Halloween night.
• Since the inception of the Partners for Safety program there have been no major incidents involving trick-or-treaters.

The UNICEF Partners for Safety are:

• UNICEF Alberta
• Calgary Fire Department
• Calgary Police Service
• Emergency Medical Services
• Calgary Transit
• Shaw Cable
• Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services
• Calgary’s Child Magazine

Anyone who wants to be a part of this Canadian tradition can contribute to Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF online through a secure donation page at www.trickortreatforunicef.ca.

Community Orchard pilot program aims to bear fruit

City of Calgary’s Park's staff hope that a new pilot program will literally bear fruit in upcoming years.

On Saturday, Park's staff and community volunteers launched the Community Orchards pilot program in Hillhurst- Sunnyside .

In addition to determining the feasibility of growing fruit and nut trees in Calgary’s climate, this pilot project is designed to foster community involvement through educating citizens about local food production.

Activities at the event also included mason bee box building and distribution of cherry bushes.
For now, the pilot is limited to only a few communities in Calgary – but the public are able to visit Hillhurst- Sunnyside’s Orchard located at 940 - 4A St. N.W. to see the new crop.

The community orchard pilot project will determine if public and community-run orchards can grow, thrive, and produce in Calgary. The test orchards will be evaluated using indicators such as tree survival, fruit yield, vandalism, disease and pest damage, cost, orchard steward satisfaction, and the community's capacity to manage the orchard. Ongoing evaluation throughout the trial period will be used to determine the viability and productivity of various fruit and nut trees and shrubs. Parks will consider program expansion based on the results of this pilot.

The Community Orchard Pilot Project is intended to:

• Encourage local food production.
• Foster community involvement.
• Educate Calgarians about techniques related to fruit tree care as well as methods for preserving and storing fruit.
• Demonstrate and test a range of fruit trees and shrubs.
• Evaluate the success of community orchard models, share results and recommend changes, if required.

Check out this video of the event, including an interview with Park’s Urban forestry Coordinator, Russell Friesen, and Community Orchard Volunteer Tim Kitchen.

Does your recycled glass really end up in the landfill?

The answer to that question is no, but the headline of a story in this week’s FastForward may lead you to believe that The City of Calgary is dumping recycled glass directly into city landfills. While the glass is being stored at the East Calgary landfill, it’s certainly not ending up in the same place as the rest of Calgary’s garbage.

“While the complex is called the East Calgary Landfill, the storage area for the glass is completely separate from the area that The City uses for waste,” says Paula Magdich, program development leader for The City’s Blue Cart program. “The site contains a number of other facilities, including a composting area, offices and the storage pad for the processed glass, which was initially used to store all of the blue carts before they were distributed to Calgarians.”

The City is stockpiling the glass as a result of a downturn in the global economy and a reduced demand for the type of glass that The City’s materials recycling facility is producing.

“Just like any other commodity, recycled glass is subject to the laws of supply and demand,” says Magdich. “If you had asked us a couple of years ago what type of recyclable materials we’d be most concerned about finding a market for, the answer would have been plastics. With a change in the markets, plastic is no longer a concern, so The City believes that the recycled glass should be no different.”

Glass is about 5 per cent of the recycled materials collected by The City, with paper and plastics making up the bulk of material. The City’s recycled paper and plastic materials both currently have markets for reuse.

The City is currently working with METRO Waste Paper Recovery, who own and operate the recycling processing facility, to find ways of improving the quality of recycled glass and are also attempting to find other suitable markets and uses for the recycled glass.

The City’s Waste & Recycling department preparing to issue an expression of interest for companies to use the recycled glass, as well as working with the Roads department to investigate whether glass could be used as an aggregate replacement, which is being done elsewhere in North America such as Spokane and Washington, DC.

In the meantime, The City will continue to stockpile the recycled glass, like many other major municipalities in North America (including Edmonton) while continuing to look for viable markets and options for the glass.

Calgarians feeling safe on Calgary Transit

Calgarians are feeling safe on Calgary Transit, according to the results of a new safety, security and cleanliness survey.

The survey, conducted by HarGroup Management Consultants, saw improvements in every area from the 500 Calgary Transit customers in 2008.

“We are seeing real improvements in the areas of safety, security and cleanliness,” said Brian Whitelaw, Calgary Transit’s Coordinator of Public Safety and Enforcement. “A lot of work has been done over the past 18 months to improve and enhance safety, security and cleanliness of the transit system and citizens are taking notice. We will continue to reinvest the fees generated from parking revenues to keep the transit system safe, clean and well-maintained. ”

Overall, respondents said they felt safer on Calgary Transit than in the adjacent community. One of the common questions about Calgary Transit are the park and ride fees and what that revenue source is being used for.

Regarding safety, Calgary Transit has been able to invest more in current initiatives, such as enhancing its surveillance camera system, and develop new ones, such as the Mountain Bike Peace Officer Team that are proving very effective. They also allow the Calgary Parking Authority to have security officers patrol the park and ride lots, in addition to Calgary Transit Public Safety and Enforcement officers.

Improvements from the survey include:

• Higher safety ratings for traveling on CTrains (94%) and buses (98%) before 6 p.m. and waiting for CTrains before 6 p.m. (93%) and after 6 p.m. (57%)
• Transit vehicles generally free of nuisance behaviour (79%)
• More satisfied with the absence of graffiti on CTrains and stations (93%).
• More satisfied with the cleanliness of CTrains interiors (93%) and stations (90%)
• More satisfied with the maintenance and conditions of CTrains (92%).
• More customers said they are observing peace officers on the system (51%)
• Fifty per cent of respondents said more peace officers might improve safety and security of transit customers while eight per cent suggested more police.

Correlating with the results of this survey are statistics that show crime on Calgary Transit property has decreased significant:

• Property crimes to the end of August 2009 fell by 21 per cent to 96 from 122 offences during the same period in 2008.
• Crimes against persons remains very low at 2.18 offences per million riders.
• Auto crime dropped by 29 per cent to 298 from 421 during the same period.
• Stolen vehicles fell by 31 per cent to 118 from 172 and damage to vehicles decreased by 44 per cent to 86 incidents from 153.
• Theft from vehicles increased marginally by eight per cent to 84 incidents from 78.
• Proactive patrols by peace officers have reduced demand for Calgary Police Service response to Calgary Transit properties by 20 per cent or nearly 400 calls.

Snow and ice and roads and taxes

In an opinion piece by the Calgary Herald's Naomi Lakritz about the cost of clearing snow from city streets, Lakritz interviews Eric Sawyer, The City's chief financial officer, who says that a two per cent property tax increase would be about enough for the average household to increase the snow clearing budget by $14 million - a sufficient amount to clear city streets.

Ms. Lakritz argues that she would gladly pay $22.50 per year for what she calls a 'basic service.' The extra $1.87 a month will not only make the streets safer, but (hopefully) soften the seeminlgly endless rhetoric by city officials and the public about snow clearing, or as she says: "Plows are everywhere, the officials claim. Plows are nowhere, the angry citizens reply. And so it will go for yet another winter. You don't have to be psychic to read the same old mouldy tea leaves all over again."

What are your thoughts? Do you agree with Ms. Lakritz, should taxpayers pay more to improve this service?

Here is an interview with Dean Bell, Manager of Roads Maintenence about a report that his team compiled about snow and ice control this year.