Calgary City Hall lowers flag as tribute to Herald journalist

Today Calgarians are mourning the loss of four Canadian soldiers, and a Calgary journalist, killed yesterday by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. Michelle Lang, an award -winning reporter for The Calgary Herald, was of those lost in this tragic incident. Ms Lang is the first Canadian journalist killed while covering events in the Afghan warzone.

“It is a very sad day for Canada and for Calgary,” said Mayor Dave Bronconnier, “Our hearts and prayers go out to the friends and families of the soldiers who gave their lives while serving us overseas. Our thoughts are with Michelle’s family and friends too. She was an outstanding, hard-working and professional journalist, who was eager to tell Canadians back home about what was happening on the ground in Afghanistan. She will be deeply missed in our community.”

The Calgary flag in front of Historic City Hall has been lowered to half-mast in tribute to Michelle’s life, and will remain so until sundown on the day of her funeral.

Traditionally, all flags in front of Historic City Hall are lowered to half-mast in tribute to Calgary soldiers who have fallen in the line of service overseas. Given Ms Lang’s special contribution to our city, and her role working along -side Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan, telling their stories to us back home, it is appropriate that our community’s flag be lowered in her honour.

Mayor Bronconnier cited sentiments offered by former Canadian Chief of Defence Staff, General Rick Hillier (Ret), who said, “Those who report on the war and did it from the front lines…deserve a special place in our history.” The Mayor said, “Michelle’s life and loss have certainly earned her a special place in Calgary’s history. She will be fondly remembered, and dearly missed.”

Ailing owl an unusual pick up for CTrain operator

A Calgary Transit CTrain operator had a very unusual pick up this morning in the form of a huge bird of prey.

At 6:30 a.m., CTrain operator Warren Duclan noticed a pair of glowing yellow eyes on the track as he headed west approaching the Bridgland Station. The large bird quickly “flipped and flopped” under the train platform.

According to Brian Moreland, the on-duty CTrain supervisor, Duclan got out of the train’s cab, went under the platform and was able to wrap what turned out to be a Great Horned owl with his vest.

He then returned to the CTrain and proceeded downtown with the passengers.

Moreland said that it was coincidental that he happened to be on duty because he is a volunteer at the Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society and was able to pick up the ailing bird and deliver it to the animal rescue clinic.

The Great Horned owl is also fortunate that Duclan has worked extensively with animals in the Phillipines.

The staff at the Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society are currently caring for the ailing owl - stay tuned and we'll provide the owl's progress reports.

***CTrain operator Warren Duclan and Sara Jordan-McLachlan, Wildlife Technician with the Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society with the Great Horned owl.

Free New Years Eve Public Transit

To ensure Calgarians have a safe transportation alternative on New Year’s Eve, Thursday, December 31, Calgary Transit will provide free service on all CTrains and buses after 6:00 p.m. to the end of service.

There will be a regular weekday level of service on New Year’s Eve and a Sunday level of service on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2010.

Please be reminded that effective January 1, 2010, there will be an adjustment to Calgary Transit fares, as reflected in the operating budget approved by City Council.

The following fares will increase:

• adult cash/single ticket from $2.50 to $2.75
• adult monthly pass from $83.00 to $85.25
• adult ticket books of 10 from $23.00 to $24
• adult day pass from $7.50 to $8.25

All other fares, including the low income monthly pass, and seniors fares will remain unchanged.

Seniors passes remain the lowest in the country with a $35 annual fee and $15 annual fee for low-income seniors.

Blue cart and Christmas tree pick-up celebrate their first holiday season

"It came without ribbons! It came without tags!
It came without packages, boxes or bags!” - The Grinch

The spirit of Christmas might not come from a store, but the holiday itself comes with a lot of packaging. Calgary’s neighbourhood recycling depots generally see a 35 per cent increase in the amount of recycled materials during the holiday season. With Blue Cart recycling and Christmas tree household pick-up in their inaugural year, Christmas 2009 will bring some firsts for The City’s Waste & Recycling Services.

Calgarians wondering what to do with post-holiday waste are asked to continue to be aware of what items can and cannot be put into blue carts and community recycling depots.

“Inappropriate materials can cause harm to equipment and employees at the sorting facility,” explained Philippa Wagner, Waste Diversion Specialist for The City’s Waste & Recycling Services. “It’s important to remember that these materials are also handled by people.”

Food containers that are not properly cleaned can harbour moulds, which can be hazardous to the health of workers sorting recycled materials.

Materials that are not accepted include foil-based wrapping paper, tissue paper, tinsel, ribbons and bows, household chemicals, scrap metals, and electronics.

“For those items that are recyclable but are not accepted in blue carts, there are still opportunities for Calgarians to recycle,” said Wagner, referring to the 33 electronics recycling depots that accept televisions, computers and computer accessories. “Calgary also has a thriving scrap metal industry which can be searched in the Yellow Pages.”

With the increased volume anticipated for blue carts, The City is offering some advice for Calgarians to deal with post-holiday waste.

Cardboard gift boxes should be broken down and non-foil-based wrapping paper should be crumpled into a ball to fit easily into blue carts. Overflow materials can be stored and put out for the next pick-up or taken to one of The City’s 52 community recycling depots, which will remain open throughout the holidays.

“It’s all part of The City’s plan to reduce the amount of waste ending up in our landfills.”

Calgarians are encouraged to visit calgary.ca/waste for the holiday collection schedule, electronics recycling depot locations and information about the new Christmas tree recycling pick-up program.

So why doesn’t The City follow back on Twitter?

Over the past month or so, several Calgarians have asked why The City of Calgary’s Twitter feed doesn’t follow anyone. In the social media community, not “following back” is often seen as a serious faux pas, and so we’ve faced some criticism for not following other Calgarians Twitter feeds.

While we don’t profess to have the absolute answer for social media best practices, as an organization, we’ve decided not to follow Calgarians for a few different reasons. You may not agree with our thought process, but here are some of the factors that weighed into our decision.

Firstly, there are privacy issues that arise anytime a government organization has access to private citizens’ information. This relates to the Freedom of Information and Privacy act. Essentially, as a municipal government, we’re subject to different laws than private citizens are.

Then there’s the question of where to draw the line, or even how to draw the line. If The City follows one citizen, or one alderman, or one Member of Legislative Assembly, then to be fair, we’d probably have to follow every citizen, alderman, etc.

Somewhat related to that point, we thought that there might be the perception of implied endorsement if The City of Calgary were to follow a particular Twitter account. By following someone, could it be perceived that we endorse everything that person says? Maybe, maybe not.

Lastly, there’s the whole perceived big brother angle – the government monitoring its citizens updates.

While following Calgarian's Twitter accounts may be a step towards social media engagement, we don’t feel that it’s the only way to accomplish that goal.

We are watching some of the social media conversations occurring – including the Calgary hash tag - #yyc, comments on our Youtube channel as well as posts on local blogs. If we feel we have something to contribute to the conversation, then we’ll likely jump in, but the last thing we’d want to do as a municipal government is elbow our way into conversations where we’re not welcome.

While the number of municipal governments on Twitter continues to grow (and there’s a number of municipalities who are doing a great job), we do believe that The City of Calgary is one of the leaders in Canada as far as use of social media by a municipal government, and with that sometimes comes the fact that there isn’t an established best practice for us to follow.

It’s no big secret that this has been a learning process for The City of Calgary and we welcome questions, comments and recommendations about how we’re using social media and what our citizens would like to discuss. Tweet with us, or comment on our blog or video channels any time, and we’ll do our best to respond promptly.

Magic of Christmas buses deliver the goods

In the true "Spirit of Christmas” on Christmas Eve day, December 24, Calgary Transit will donate 10 decorated buses driven by volunteer transit operators for the Magic of Christmas charity.

“Our buses have been magically transformed into reindeer sleigh buses and are ready to roll to bring hope and joy to those less fortunate,” said Ron Collins, Calgary Transit’s Communications Coordinator.

The Magic of Christmas buses will visit about 3,000 people on Christmas Eve spreading the joy of the season.

Each bus will be complete with Santa Claus and his Elves and filled with Christmas gifts provided by the generosity of both private and corporate citizens of Calgary. The volunteers will deliver toys, food and clothing to some of Calgary's less fortunate directly to their homes, nursing homes and hospitals.

We hope that everybody can enjoy a safe and happy holiday season.

***Last years Magic of Christmas bus delivering gifts to celebrate the holiday season.

City of Calgary holiday activities

Calgarians will have plenty of fun, free activities to partake in over the holidays but one annual celebration must regretfully be cancelled until next year.

The City of Calgary’s 2009 New Year’s Eve family celebration Bright Night is cancelled due to challenges with the ice plant upgrades at Olympic Plaza and the lead time required to stage this end-of-year party.

***Update- the ice has been installed over the holidays, so people can skate at Olympic Plaza if they want on New years Eve, however, without the free entertainment and fireworks. There will also be a free New Years Eve Calgary transit service.

Calgarians who are interested in New Years Eve celebrations can consider festivities held by The City’s civic partners:

• Zoo Years Eve at the Calgary Zoo: Welcome the New Year with this family friendly event. Start the night with fabulous entertainment, the beautiful lights of Zoolights, and cap off the night with an 8:30 pm fireworks display. Tickets must be pre-purchased; a limited number of tickets are available.
• Selkirk Grille at Heritage Park Historical Village: Ring in the New Year at Selkirk Grille, with an exquisite five course dinner. Bring friends and family and enjoy everything from lobster bisque to braised short rib ravioli. Pre-purchase your tickets by calling 403-268-8500.

Over the holidays there will also be other activities to partake in, like free public skating December 26 at the following arenas: Ernie Starr, Frank McCool, Murray Copot, Optimist/George Blundun, Jimmie Condon, Shouldice, Henry Viney, Stu Peppard Arena

There is also plenty of opportunity to enjoy the outdoors by hiking on Calgary’s natural trails, watching wildlife, skating on an rink or go tobogganing. All of those events can be found on calgary.ca.

All indoor pools will be closed on: Christmas Day, Friday, December. 25, 2009 Boxing Day, Saturday, December 26, 2009 and New Year’s Day, Friday, January 1, 2010

All other indoor recreation info: Calgary.ca/recreation

Have a safe and happy end to 2009 (and beginning of 2010) and enjoy all that Calgary has to offer this holiday season!

***Fish Creek Park in Winter

Calgary celebrates Olympic heritage with High Performance Rodeo's Snowblower

A performance celebrating Calgary’s Olympic heritage aims to “Steam up January with a gust of inspired heat” as part of The City’s effort to kick-off the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay Community Celebration.

Snowblower will be performed at Olympic Plaza on January 16, as part of The High Performance Rodeo – Calgary’s annual international arts festival.

According the festival’s website, Snowblower will feature great music and stunning visuals:

“Fire and ice collide in this mind-expanding winter showcase. Featuring huge audio from an onslaught of international electronic musicians, including Mr. Scruff (Manchester, UK), Pretty Lights (Denver, CO), Beats Antique (San Francisco, CA) and Calgary’s own Bruno Changkye, alongside blazing fire performances by Thermal Shock Mafia and dazzling mystical light displays by local visual wizards Wrong Electron.”

Snowblower is free from 5 – 11 p.m. on Jan. 16, 2010, at Olympic Plaza and presented in conjunction with The City of Calgary.

***High Performance Rodeo's Snowblower

Calgary's new underpass to link downtown's east side

Calgary’s next underpass should “set the tone” for all future downtown underground routes according to the President and CEO of the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC).

The Fourth Street Underpass project is preparing for construction for the pedestrian friendly underpass that will link the city’s East Village to Stampede Park between ninth and 11th avenue S.E. in time for Calgary’s Stampede centennial in 2012.

“It will be a good looking piece of infrastructure,” said Chris Ollenberger, “We’re working hard to integrate light and art for the pedestrian friendly underpass.”

According to CMLC’s website “the underpass design will form the basis for a future transit node supporting greater integration between public transit, pedestrians, and cycling. It will also accommodate a future public light-rail transit alignment and high-speed rail facilities.” The underpass will have two wide pedestrian lanes, four bicycle lanes and four vehicle traffic lanes and feature a plaza on one end.

“This will drastically change the ability to move in downtown Calgary’s East side,” said Ollenberger.

Created by Calgary City Council, the CMLC was incorporated in the spring of 2007 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the City of Calgary. CMLC's mandate is to implement and execute the Rivers District Community Revitalization Plan, a public infrastructure program approved by The City of Calgary and the Province of Alberta to kick-start Calgary's urban renewal.

Calgary's Automated Public Toilet one of Alberta's "Must Sees"

The City of Calgary’s Automated Public Toilet is not only popular with citizens adhering to the call of nature but also with tourists who hope to see all the great things Alberta has to offer.

The recently published “Alberta Book of Musts: The 101 Places Every Albertan MUST See” by Diana O'Meara has Calgary’s high-tech toilet ranked No. 55 as a place that “you simply MUST visit” in Alberta.

“This comprehensive guide showcases one of Canada's prairie provinces - Alberta . . . this is the MUST list every Albertan MUST have,” says the Publisher, MacIntyrePurcell Publishing, Inc., on Amazon.com.

Calgary’s Automated Public Toilet was open for business in February 2008, and according to Lorna Wallace, Project Manager with Centre City Implementation, the public loo is a “big success.”

“Retail, entertainment and hospitality establishments in the area appreciate it,” she says, “and City of Calgary operational staff who take care of it are pleased because it doesn’t break down and isn’t affected by the extreme cold.”

Wallace says the automated biffy has been used about 40,000 times in 2009 and is used 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Exeloo Galaxy public toilet is located at Tomkins Park along 17th Avenue S.W.

Calgary's Heritage moves forward

Calgary’s heritage designations have seen a 47 per cent increase this year, bringing the total municipal heritage resources to 31 according to The City’s Heritage Planner.

“This is an important gain for heritage in Calgary,” said Clint Robertson. “The designation and legal protection as historic resources ensures their longevity in Calgary’s future planning and development”.

Ten sites were designated in 2009 including some notable locales such as The Simmons Factory Warehouse (1912), which produced beds for the Canadian military in World War II, and is now a welcoming, modern, renovated office and part of the East Village revitalization; the Nellie McClung House (1907) was once home to the woman who garnered the right for women to serve in the Canadian Senate, and now offers character office space; and Customs House (1916) which was the federal government’s customs house in Calgary from 1916 until 1979 and now home to an architecture firm and music foundation.

In 2009, The City of Calgary also added 65 additional evaluated properties to its Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources, bring the total to 550 to continue making progress for heritage preservation in the city.

For a site to be included in The City’s Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources it must be at least 25 years old and meet 15 criteria, established in 2008, related to both the significance and integrity of a site.

“The continued growth of the inventory is an important step in managing historic resources in our city”, said Robertson, adding that the role of individuals in identifying these sites really adds value and meaning to the process.

“People are passionate about these places and resources and what they mean to them. We are very diligent and comprehensive in the evaluation process to show these sites the respect they deserve as reminders of the roots of our city”.

2009 Sites Statutorily Designated, by Bylaw, as Municipal Historic Resources:

1. Southern Alberta Pioneers’ Memorial Building – 3625 4 St. S.W.
2. Jackson Residence – 1723 9 St. S.W.
3. Gray Residence – 3106 Parkdale Blvd. N.W.
4. Simmons Factory Warehouse – 618 Confluence Way S.E.
5. Underwood Block Annex – 1325 1 St. S.W.
6. Nellie McClung House – 803 15 Ave. S.W.
7. Devenish Apartments – 908 17 Ave. S.W.
8. Macnab Wing of the Holy Cross Hospital – 2210 2 St. S.W.
9. Customs House – 134 11 Ave. S.W.
10. Alberta Hotel – 804 1 St. S.W.

For more information on evaluation process and other heritage initiatives at The City of Calgary please visit: www.calgary.ca/heritage.

Visit here if you'd like information on Calgary's 2010 Heritage Calendar.

Images: The Alberta Hotel then and now on 8th Ave. and 1st St. S.W..

City of Calgary recognized in Copenhagen for climate leadership

The City of Calgary was recognized today for climate leadership by top Canadian environmental organizations at the Copenhagen Climate Summit for Mayors.

The ‘Reaching Out to Global Energy Cities’ Award, presented to Mayor Bronconnier, acknowledges the City’s actions to reduce municipal greenhouse gases and the landmark signing of The Calgary Climate Change Accord, which commits nine global energy cities to bold GHG reduction targets.

"Today’s award recognizes the leadership role The City of Calgary has taken on numerous environmental fronts," said Mayor Bronconnier. "The Calgary Climate Change Accord demonstrates the commitment by some of the world’s largest energy centres to environmental protection, energy efficiencies and innovation."

The Calgary Climate Change Accord of the World Energy Cities Partnership reconfirms municipal governments as leaders and catalysts for change. Specifically, it calls for policies, plans and operations that reduce the GHG emissions generated by their activities 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 City was recognized also for its partnership with ENMAX. By 2012, The City of Calgary’s municipal electricity supply will be 100 per cent green electricity, making it the largest municipal user of green electricity in Canada and the number one user – by percentage – of green electricity in North America.

The environmental organizations that teamed up to reward acts of climate leadership included the David Suzuki Foundation, the Ecology Action Centre, Environmental Defence, Equiterre, ForestEthics, the Green Energy Act Alliance, the Pembina Institute, PowerUp Canada, TckTckTck, and WWF-Canada. The Alberta Pembina Institute co-sponsored the ‘Reaching Out to Global Energy Cities’ award.

Visit here for more information on The Calgary Climate Change Accord

Christmas tree recycling is picking up this year

Beginning this year there will be two options to recycle your real Christmas tree, weekend pick-up and drop-off.

Twice in January, Waste & Recycling Services will pick-up Christmas trees from Calgary households that currently receive City residential garbage collection. Have your tree out where you normally put your garbage for pick-up by 7 a.m. on one of the following Saturdays:

• Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010
• Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010

Trees will be collected by Monday.

The City will also have eight temporary drop-off depots for trees:

• Fire Hall #15 – 6328 35th Ave. N.W.
• Fire Hall #22 – 7199 Temple Dr. N.E.
• Bottomlands Park – St. Georges Drive and Seventh Avenue N.E.
• South Calgary Community Association – 3130 16th St. SW.
• Parks Compound – 10312 Sacramento Dr. S.W.
• Spyhill Landfill – 69th Street and 112th Avenue N.W.
• East Calgary Landfill – 17th Avenue and 68th Street S.E.
• Shepard Landfill – 114th Avenue and 68th Street S.E.

The drop-off depots will be open: Dec. 26, 2009 – Jan. 18, 2010.

The trees collected by the program are chipped into mulch, put into windrows where the internal temperature reaches a point that will remove pests like gypsy moth larvae. The mulch is used in green spaces around Calgary and available at no extra charge to residents.

Keeping trees out of the landfills helps extend the life of landfills, reduces greenhouse gas and produces a useful resource. The annual Christmas tree recycling program is just one of many ways that Calgarians can reduce, reuse and recycle to help The City achieve its goal of diverting 80 per cent of its waste by the year 2020.

Click Here for landfill hours and information

City of Calgary Christmas holiday hours of operation

CITY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES
All administrative offices will be closed in the afternoon on (Christmas Eve) Thursday in the afternoon, on Friday, December 25, 2009 (Christmas Day) and Friday, January 1, 2010 (New Year’s Day).

CALGARY TRANSIT
Calgary Transit will offer a free, reduced level of service on December 25,Christmas Day. On Boxing Day, December 26, Calgary Transit will operate on a Sunday level of service. On New Year’s Eve, December 31, Calgary Transit will provide a weekday level of service which will be free after 6 p.m. On New Year’s Day, January 1, Calgary Transit will operate on a Sunday level of service.

For more information and schedules, please visit www.calgarytransit.com, call Teleride at 974-4000, or Customer Service at 262-1000.

RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE COLLECTION
Holiday Garbage and Blue Cart Recycling Collection Changes There will be a temporary change to the collection schedule for residents who receive Friday garbage and blue cart service during the holiday season.

There will be no collection on Christmas Day, Friday, December 25 or New Year’s Day, Friday, January 1, 2010.
Instead, residents will receive collection on Monday, December 28 and Monday, January 4, 2010.

Regular collection will resume on Friday, January 8, 2010.

Christmas Tree Recycling
The City will pick up real Christmas trees from Calgary households that receive City residential garbage collection over two weekends – Saturday, January 9 to Monday, January 11 and Saturday, January 16 to Monday, January 18. Residents should place their trees where they normally put their garbage by 7 a.m. on Saturday for pick up.

The City will also operate eight temporary drop-off depots from Dec. 26 to January 18:

Fire Hall #15 – 6328 35th Ave. N.W.
Fire Hall #22 – 7199 Temple Dr. N.E.
Bottomlands Park – St. Georges Drive and Seventh Ave. N.E.
South Calgary Community Association – 3130 16th St. S.W.
Parks Compound – 10312 Sacramento Dr. S.W.

Spyhill Landfill – 69th St. and 112th Ave. N.W.
East Calgary Landfill – 17th Ave. and 68th St. S.E.
Shepard Landfill – 114th Ave. and 68 th St. S.E.
Note – Landfills will be closed on Sundays and New Year’s Day.


Landfill Hours
City landfills will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Regular hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday until March 31.

Commercial Collection
No commercial collection on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day

ANIMAL SERVICES CENTRE
2201 Portland Street S.E.
Open Thursday, December 24 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Closed Friday, December 25, 2009
Centre will be closed Friday, January 1, 2010.
Telephone inquiries can be directed to 3-1-1.

RECREATION
For more information please visit www.calgary.ca/recreation

All Athletic Parks are closed for the season.

All Arenas will be closed on December 25, 2009 and January 1, 2010.
Free Public Skating - December 26, 2009 from 1 to 2:30 pm. at the following Arenas:
-Ernie Starr,
-Frank McCool,
-Murray Copot,
-Optimist/George Blundun,
-Jimmie Condon,
-Shouldice, Henry Viney
-Stu Peppard Arena

Please visit Calgary.ca/arenas or call 311 for more information.

CITY GOLF COURSES
GIVE THE GIFT OF GOLF! Golf Greenbucks are a perfect gift for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and Christmas!
Available for purchase through The City of Calgary Onlinestore (www.calgaryonlinestore.com)

$20 Golf Greenbuck Gift Certificates can be redeemed for green fee admissions, rentals, food & beverage services or even towards the purchase of a Golf Punchcard or Golf Pass.

INDOOR POOLS
All indoor pools will be closed on:
Christmas Day, Friday, December. 25, 2009 Boxing Day, Saturday, December 26, 2009 and New Year’s Day, Friday, January 1, 2010

SOUTHLAND LEISURE CENTRE
Thursday, December 24, 2009 - Open from 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Shinny hockey & public skating run from 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Regular admission applies. Shinny hockey tickets can be pre -purchased.

Closed Friday, December 25, 2009 and Saturday, December 26, 2009.

Thursday, December 31, 2009 - open from 5:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Shinny hockey runs from 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Shinny hockey tickets must be pre-purchased.
Public skate from 2 – 3:30 p.m. – regular admission rates apply

Friday, January 1, 2010 open from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Shinny hockey tickets must be pre-purchased.
Public skate from 2 – 3:30 p.m – regular admission rates apply

VILLAGE SQUARE LEISURE CENTRE
Thursday, December 24, 2009 – Open from 6 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Shinny hockey –closed
Public skate – closed

Closed Friday, December 25, 2009 and Saturday, December 26, 2009.

Thursday, December 31, 2009 – Open from 6 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Shinny hockey runs from 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Public skate - closed

Friday, January 1, 2010 – 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Shinny hockey runs from 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Public skate from 12:30 – 2 p.m.- regular admission rates apply

ART CENTRES
Wildflower Arts Centre
Closed from December 24, 2009 and will re-open January 4, 2010 at 8:30 a.m.

North Mount Pleasant Arts Centre
Closing at 5 p.m. on Friday, December 18, 2009 Re-opening Monday, January 4, 2010 at 9 a.m.

OTHER FACILITIES
Devonian Gardens
Closed for renovations

Fort Calgary
Closed December 24, 25, 26, 2009
Closed January 1, 2010

Heritage Park
December 24 and 31 – open until 3 p.m.
Closed December 25, 26, 2009
Closed January 1, 2010

Inglewood Bird Sanctuary
2425 9 Ave S.E.
Closed Friday, December 25, 2009
Closed, Friday, January 1, 2010

Deane House
The Deane House will be closed for lunch December 24, 2009 to January 1, 2010.
Will re-open on Saturday January 2, 2010.

Calgary Zoo
Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily.
Closed Christmas Day, December 25, 2009.

Telus World of Science
December 24 & December 31, 2009
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed Christmas Day, December 25, 2009.

Public Contact Information:

3-1-1

Public Email Contact:

3-1-1contactus@calgary.ca

Calgary’s Eighth Street CTrain Station opens

On Friday, Dec. 18, The City will open the new Eighth Street S.W. CTrain Station along the Seventh Avenue corridor.

“The opening of the new Eighth Street S.W. Station is another stepping stone in revitalizing Calgary’s downtown core and addressing the transportation needs of Calgarians”, said Mac Logan, Director of Transportation Infrastructure.

The new platform is more pedestrian friendly with increased visibility and better lighting than older platforms downtown. It is the fourth platform to be constructed as part of the Seventh Avenue Refurbishment Project.

According to Calgary Transit Director, Fred Wong, corridor renovations are intended to improve pedestrian and business access and to accommodate future ridership growth.

“Replacing the downtown CTrain Stations is an essential step towards introducing future four-car trains to the LRT system, increasing our capacity, and providing quality service to more customers,” said Wong.

Refurbishment also includes streetscape and sidewalk improvements, as well as upgrades to street furnishings. Following the removal of the current Eighth Street Station, the 800 block along Seventh Avenue will be upgraded to a more pedestrian-friendly environment with a new sidewalk and lighting fixtures.

The Seventh Avenue Transit Corridor feeds Calgary’s downtown business core, commercial center and residences.

In the spirit of the season, The City will be hosting a public event to celebrate the grand opening of the new platform and will be distributing free holiday treats in exchange for non-perishable donations to the Calgary Food Bank.

Attend the new Eighth Street Station between 7 – 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 18 for seasonal entertainment, free hot cocoa and a holiday food drive.

Calgary's Centre City conducts late night behaviour research

We’ve always been told not to talk with strangers, but if you’re out-and-about late at night downtown this week don’t be surprised if some friendly researchers wearing a Speak Up t-shirt tries to strike-up a conversation.

According to Lorna Wallace, Project Manager with The City’s Centre City Implementation team, they will be conducting social behavioural marketing research in downtown late-night venues from 9:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. on December 10, 11, 12, 17, 18 & 19 to gain insight into how and why people act the way they do late at night.

“We want to learn about people's social behaviour after they leave a nightclub or bar and see if there’s anything that we can do as a community to mitigate social disorder and make the Centre City a safer, more enjoyable place to be at night,” said Wallace.

In a letter distributed to entertainment establishments in Calgary’s core, The City's Clean to the Core/Centre City Safety Impact Team, explains it's "initiative to study the Night Time Economy and Night Time Activity" research plan.

“We would greatly appreciate your support and ask that you would allow the street team to enter your venue(s) on those evenings for the purposes of this project. The team is identifiable by the “Speak Up” branded clothing that they will be wearing.

The street team seeks to engage patrons in conversations in bars in order to identify the nightlife issues that are of greatest importance to them. We hope to engage about 500 bar patrons per evening and we will use an iPhone application to record their feedback. This research will give us a very good idea about how people are feeling about safety, violence, and social disorder and also, most importantly, their feedback on how to address these issues. This process was similarly conducted in Edmonton, and provided valuable information for both bar owners and other stakeholders.

If you would you please pass this letter and information on to your staff and any stakeholders (Entertainment Establishment Operators) that you feel would benefit from knowing about this initiative.

Additionally, on Friday, Dec. 18th, a video will be shot for a made in Calgary version of a Save the Party – In the Street that was shot in Edmonton. This video will be a means for people to voice their opinions socialy to help combat social disorder.

What are your thoughts of Calgary’s Centre City at night? Do you feel safe?

Calgary smartest, most cultured and most active in Canada

This is from May, but it it reafirms what we discussed in a previous post here about a leading urban thinker touting Calgary as one of the world's 'smart' cities.

Calgary is doing quite well on the Smart-'O'-Metre, according to Macleans.

You can compare Calgary's education, activity levels and appreciation for the arts with other Canadian municipalities here.

If you'd prefer to know the score right now:

Most Cultured: Calgary #1

"Calgary, the city that caused an uproar in the rest of Canada when it topped our list of Most Cultured Cities last year, comes out on top again."

Most Active: Calgary #1

"More than half of all households in Calgary, Ottawa-Gatineau, Victoria and Saskatoon spent money on sports and recreation during 2006, according to the latest report by the Canadian Council on Learning. The Ottawa-based organization measures lifelong learning opportunities in communities, and leisure pursuits are integral to cultural engagement"

Smartest: Calgary #1

"Cities with the most opportunities for lifelong learning topped this list from the Canadian Council on Learning—and won their residents safer neighbourhoods, better health, and even higher wages. "

Now, if we could just do something about that weather.

16 Avenue North Urban Corridor: Wide Open

Another major piece of road work is almost complete, and The City of Calgary would like to thank citizens for their patience and support to help the revitalization of the 16th Avenue North Corridor.

“A thank you goes out to the surrounding communities and businesses who helped with stakeholder engagement when this project was just getting started and for their continued patience during construction,” said Mac Logan, Director of Transportation Infrastructure.
“With 16 Avenue roadway improvements effectively complete, we look forward to the continued revitalization and renewal of this urban corridor and to celebrating the completion of this project along the corridor in 2010 with all Calgarians.”

The project, which began in 2002 integrates urban design and land use to improve pedestrian and vehicle transportation. Along with key stakeholders, a City led team developed a new concept for revitalizing the area. Extensive stakeholder engagement on items such as traffic management measures, design concepts and streetscaping took place throughout 2004 and 2005.

In 2006, construction started when the concept plan, along with an Area Development Plan, was approved by City Council.

The majority of construction is now finished along the 16 Avenue North Urban Corridor and six lanes of traffic are wide open. The benefits of the revitalization of this area include:

• More pedestrian friendly corridor with improved lighting, pedestrian friendlier crossings, wider sidewalks and enhanced streetscape
• Improved mobility for motorists through increased capacity, balanced access points and synchronized signalization
• High quality business access
• Reduced shortcutting through neighbouring communities through installation of traffic management measures.

Construction to be completed in 2010 includes the remaining landscaping, sidewalks upgrades and installation of new traffic signals at 16 Avenue and 5 Street N.E. as part of a new access to business at that location.

Calgary takes part in 'Green' panel at Copenhagen Climate Summit

Here is an interview with Dave Day, The City's Director of Environmental and Safety Management, about Calgary's prominant role at the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Conference. Day will be presenting a paper on what The City has done to tackle greenhouse-gas emissions and learn best practices from other municipalities.

Here is a press release from Mayor Dave Bronconnier and the role The City of Calgary will play at the Mayor's Summit, an invite-only symposium that discusses municipal initiatives to curb emissions.

As world leaders gather in Copenhagen to discuss strategies to combat climate change, Mayor Dave Bronconnier will be joining over 60 Mayors from across the globe to share experiences with practical approaches to reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

“Calgary has an outstanding record in promoting energy efficiency and new ‘green’ technologies, and this is what we want to show the world, and at the same time, learn from what other major cities are doing,” said Mayor Bronconnier.

Calgary’s Mayor is joining his counterparts from across the globe in the series of events leading up to the Leaders Summit intended to discuss the next Climate Accord expected to replace the Kyoto Protocol which expires in 2012. The mission is in response to a personal invitation extended to Mayor Bronconnier by the Lord Mayor of Copenhagen Ritt Bjerregaard. The 3 day program (December 14-16, 2009) includes roundtable discussions, presentations, keynote addresses of prominent world leaders and individual meetings with senior officials from government and private industry.

The City of Calgary has a proven track record in delivering on greenhouse gas reductions. Specifically, The City of Calgary municipal operations are on track to reduce GHG emissions by over 60% from the period 1990 to 2012, exceeding the 6% reduction established by the international Kyoto Accord.

In Copenhagen, Mayor Bronconnier will be speaking as a part of the “Clean Energy” panel with the mayors of Barcelona, Spain, Zurich, Switzerland and Oslo, Norway and share Calgary’s successes in innovative ways to use green energy and become more energy efficient, specifically highlighting:

• 100% renewable electricity by 2012 contract with ENMAX to power municipal operations making Calgary a North American Leader in adoption of green energy, and
• Calgary Climate Change Accord signed by the members of the World Energy Cities Partnership leading and encouraging other energy cities to join Calgary in these efforts.

“Reducing Green House Gases by encouraging energy conservation and investments in renewable energy are pillars of strong environmental and economic stewardship. At The City of Calgary we take that seriously because we believe the quality of life our citizens, today and generations from now, is at stake. We are committed to working together with our community, other cities and governments to ensure that this goal is achieved on a local and global basis. I am pleased to join the Mayors from around the world to showcase our successes and promote our City as the model for environmental stewardship,” said Mayor Bronconnier.

Mayor Bronconnier will be travelling December 13-17, 2009. The cost of the Mayor’s trip is estimated to be approximately $13,000

For more information please visit Calgary.ca/Environment

Calgary one of the world's "smart" cities

Calgary is being touted as the best positioned Canadian urban centre to be considered a “smart” city according to an “internationally recognized authority on global, economic, political and social trends.”

In a column for Forbes magazine, Joel Kotkin says that “a ‘smart’ city often refers to a place with a ‘green’ sustainable agenda. Yet this narrow definition of intelligence ignores many other factors - notably upward mobility and economic progress - that have characterized successful cities in the past.”

Kotkin writes that Canada is likely to produce several successful cities that fit this criteria, with Calgary the best positioned for success because in the past two decades “the city's share of corporate headquarters has doubled to 15 per cent, the largest percentage of main offices per capita in Canada.

“Although last year's plunge in oil prices hit hard, rising demand for commodities in Asia should help revive the Albertan economy by next year.”

With “smart” city criteria excluding mega-cities like New York, Mexico City, Tokyo or Sao Paulo because of their extreme congestion, Calgary is compared to other “smaller, compact and more efficient places” like Amsterdam; Seattle; Singapore; Curitiba, Brazil; and Monterrey, Mexico.

Visit Kotkin’s blog here.

Kotkin is a distinguished presidential fellow in urban futures at Chapman University. He is also an adjunct fellow at the Legatum Institute in London and serves as executive editor of newgeography.com. He writes the weekly New Geographer column for Forbes. He is working on a study on upward mobility in global cities for the London-based Legatum Institute.

What are your thoughts? Does Calgary meet your image of a Smart City?

Calgary's 2010 calendar goes back in time

Every year, The City of Calgary and its sponsors produce a free calendar to keep Calgarians informed about City and partner events and to offer aesthetic insight into what makes Calgary a great place to live.

This year The City calendar showcases several of Calgary’s historical sites.

Calgary's Heritage gives an account of the meaning of historical sites in today's context and presents the sites as expressions of our culture and ambitions.

The calendar features images of 13 heritage sites and timely reminders for City and partner programs and events.

The calendar is a great source of information about:

• Partner events and promotions
• City program registration kick-offs
• Discounts and specials at City Recreation facilities
• Seasonal advice on how to conserve water and energy
• Useful reminders about city services

The 2010 Heritage Calendar will be available:

• In the Calgary Herald on Dec. 8
• Calgary homes that receive Flyer Force mail will receive their copy on Dec. 13
• All other Calgarians are encouraged to pick one up at a City Recreation facility or Mac's convenience store on Dec. 18

Calgary’s Water Centre receives Gold LEED designation

Calgary’s Water Centre has received a Gold LEED designation from the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) for its innovation and sustainability.

“The City of Calgary is a leader in sustainable building design,” said Sharon Purvis, the director of Corporate Properties and Buildings.

Calgary is the first municipality in Canada to adopt a Sustainable Building Policy whereby all new building developments must achieve a minimum LEED gold certification as of 2008 February 25. Calgary was informed of the recognition on December 3.

LEED which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is an internationally recognized symbol of excellence for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

“This project certification is a significant milestone,” stated Colleen Loader, Senior LEED Program Coordinator for CaGBC.

Paul Fesk, Manager of Strategic Services in Water Resources is a proponent and a beneficiary of that policy and one of about 800 employees working in the 183,000 square foot office building.

“Working in an LEED Gold building reflects our values in protecting the environment,” he said. “We're not only leading change, we're living it, and our employees benefit from being a part of that.”

LEED certification is based on a points system marking achievements in five key areas including sustainable site development, water efficiency, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. It is awarded following an independent audit and review. The Water Centre received a total of 50 out of 70 points.

The Water Centre was designed by local firm Sturgess Architecture in collaboration with Manasc Isaac. To date, the facility has won eight awards in categories that range from architectural and urban design, to sustainability, to its use of structural steel.

Calgary wins international water and energy conservation award

The City of Calgary Parks has won the National Water and Energy Conservation Award by “transforming the irrigation industry in western Canada and demonstrated exceptional commitment to using water wisely.”

In announcing the award, the Irrigation Association commented that “Calgary has invested in the latest irrigation technology to maximize the benefit of every drop of water, decrease runoff and minimize downstream effects. Calgary has also invested heavily in park employees, who actively participate in IA’s education and certification programs.”

The International Irrigation Association announced the recipients of the 2009 industry awards during the Irrigation Show in San Antonio yesterday. The City of Calgary was recognized for its outstanding contribution, innovation, commitment, and achievement in the conservation of water and energy relating to irrigation procedures, equipment, methods and techniques.

“Our water management team has dedicated and passionate members that have worked hard to help us become leaders in municipal water management,” said Denis Gourdeau, Water Management Lead with The City of Calgary Parks. “We are pleased to receive this award and honoured that we have been recognized by our peers.”

For more information on Parks’ Water Management at The City of Calgary, visit calgary.ca/parks

The City of Calgary prepares for big snow dump

With forecasts predicting up to 20 cm of snow, strong winds and blizzard-like conditions throughout the Calgary area today, The City of Calgary is taking proactive steps to help commuters manage the roads according to snow and ice control spokesperson with Roads, Sean Somers.

He said that in the early morning hours today, City crews began applying concentrations of anti-icing agent and salt chips on major commuter routes and known potential trouble spots, such as bridge decks and hills throughout Calgary.

“Anti-icing agent and salt chips help prevent or reduce ice build-up on the roadways” said Somers.

If the road temperature drops to well below freezing, crews will then switch to a sand and salt mix, providing additional traction for motorists.

Unfortunately, Somers said that if this storm hits Calgary during peak travel periods, commuters should anticipate delays and plan for additional time to travel.

“Calgarians are reminded to do their part during snowfalls - slow down and drive defensively,” he said.” Keep well back of City equipment to allow crews to work safely. Snow tires really help, and remember to top up windshield washer fluid and ensure that your vehicle is clear of snow and ice.”

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Today, The City of Calgary is recognizing this day by hosting the International Day of Persons with Disabilities information booth show at the City Hall Atrium.

People with disabilities are an integral part of our culture and The City’s theme of empowerment is vital to increase awareness and understanding of the positive contributions people with disabilities make to our community.

Darlene Boyes, a disability outreach co-ordinator said accessible services are of utmost importance.

"Issues of accessibility are a concern of our society. It’s about more than just the built environment," she said. "The Corporate Accessibility Policy focuses on issues of concern to people with mobility, sensory and cognitive impairments and states that (City of Calgary) will establish performance measures to evaluate progress on elimination of barriers to both physical and communication access for people with disabilities."

According to the United Nation's website, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities aims to promote an understanding of disability issues, the rights of persons with disabilities and gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of the political, social, economic and cultural life of their communities.

This year’s free event will be held from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. The event is comprised of a number of local organizations that will display information booths, theatre, comedy and dance events.

In recognition to the contributions by people with disabilities, every year on Dec. 3, an Advocacy Award and Community Access Recognition Awards are presented by the Advisory Committee on Accessibility.

Fitting with the Empowerment theme for Calgary’s 2009 International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the following information and resources empower the lives of people with disabilities:

• Recreation Discovery
• Access Calgary
• Universal Design Handbook

The Advisory Committee on Accessibility focuses on broad policy issues and advises City Council on access issues related to municipal properties, information and services.

Stuff a Bus brings in record haul for Calgary Food Bank

This year’s Stuff-a-Bus event that was held at all 20 Calgary Co-op stores broke records for the annual event hosted by Calgary Transit, Calgary Co-op and XL 103 FM radio station.

Over $162,000 was raised in food and cash donations for the Calgary Food Bank.

“The efforts of employees have assisted in another very successful 'Stuff a Bus' campaign,” said Ron Collins of Calgary Transit and City spokesman for the event. “This is Calgary Transit’s way to assist the community and to ensure that no one goes hungry during the holidays.”

Of course, even if you didn’t get a chance to help stuff a bus, you still have time plenty of opportunity to show your generosity

The Mayor’s Food Drive is still in full force. You can drop off donations to any sponsor locations, including the Mayor’s Office and in the Municipal Building atrium. All donations go to the Calgary Food Bank to support Calgarians in need.

You can see the Stuff a Bus photo gallery here.

Frosty Frolic Day Camps

With Calgary schools closing for the holidays on Dec. 18, parents may be wondering what to do with their kids while they’re at work. Southland and Village Square Leisure Centres are offering a solution with their Frosty Frolic Day Camps for children aged 3 to 12.

“Day Camps are a great way to keep your kids active without having to worry about child care,” said Program Specialist, Heidi Bilben. “And with activities ranging from swimming and sports to games and crafts, there’s something for everyone.”

The camps are meant to foster development through play. Recreation and art opportunities help children develop social and physical skills and learn creativity. As a bonus – parents don’t have to worry about what their children are getting up to while they’re away at work.

Camps begin at 9 a.m. and run daily Monday to Wednesday during the holidays. For early starters and those who work late, there’s also pre- and post-camp and lunchtime supervision available for an additional fee.
The following Holiday Break day camp schedule is for the weeks of Dec. 21, Dec. 28 and Jan. 4:

Holiday Break Day Camps

Dec. 21 - 23 - 9 a.m. - noon
Ages: 3 - 5 yrs. (Southland Leisure Centre only)

Dec. 21 - 23 - 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Ages: 5 - 8 yrs. & 9 - 12 yrs.

Dec. 28 - 30 - 9 a.m. - noon
Ages: 3 - 5 yrs. (Southland Leisure Centre only)

Dec. 28 - 30 - 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Ages: 5 - 8 yrs. & 9 - 12 yrs.
Jan. 4 - 6 - 9 a.m. - noon
Ages: 3 - 5 yrs. (Southland Leisure Centre only)

Jan. 4 - 6 - 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Ages: 5 - 8 yrs. & 9 - 12 yrs

Registration is available online or by calling 403-268-3800.

Snow Angels return to Calgary

For the seventh straight year Calgarians are helping a neighbor keep their sidewalks clear of ice and snow by being a Snow Angel.

“We’re asking their neighbours become a Snow Angel by pitching in, adopting a sidewalk, and helping to keep it clear of snow, ” said Rick Kanik, The City’s Seniors Services Manager.

The Snow Angels campaign was initiated by The City of Calgary as a way to respond to the growing number of older adults affected by icy sidewalks. The latest civic census reports that there are 98,572 people over the age of 65 living in Calgary and approximately 95% are living in the community.

Older adults and others whose sidewalks are ‘adopted’ are asked to send their story to the city and officially recognize their Snow Angel. Calgarians can nominate their Snow Angel by calling 3-1-1 or filling out an online form at www.calgary.ca and following the links to 3-1-1 or simply call 3-1-1.

All nominated Snow Angels are also entered into a draw for a WestJet travel voucher and Calgary Flames tickets and are also recognized by Mayor Bronconnier.

“This program is a win-win for Calgary,” said Kanik. “Sidewalks are cleared and safe, older adults are not put at risk undertaking activities which may harm them, and those who help out are recognized for their efforts.”

The City of Calgary reminds residents and businesses the Streets Bylaw requires sidewalks adjacent to property to be cleared of snow and ice down to pavement within 24 hours after a snowfall.