Day 16: Calgary Olympics: 16 Days of Glory

Here are a few Day 16 Olympic memories.

Vancouver Winter Olympics Day 16, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010

Calgary Winter Olympics Day 16, Sunday, Feb. 28, 1988

• Tears flow as the games come to an end
• Closing ceremonies are rated one of the best spectacles in Olympic history
• Soviets win gold in hockey, Finns second and Sweden bronze.
• Elizabeth Manley basks in new fame after silver medal win
• "World's largest guest book" receives 110,000 signatures on Stephen Avenue
• Brian Orser contemplates retirement while Kurt Browning could be the next big one

During the closing ceremonies the Olympic Flag is lowered drawing the XV Winter Olympic Games to a close.












Canadian athletes parade into McMahon stadium to wave good-bye and salute Calgary’s sucessful hosting of the Games.











The Olympic Flame burns its last minutes in Calgary during the closing ceremonies at McMahon Stadium.













Spectators raise candle flames to offer a final salute to Calgary’s Winter Games.









Flame Skaters spin in a dazzling display of colour and dance on ice.









Soviet hockey legend Viatcheslav Fetisov stands triumphantly on the podium with the gold medal in ice hockey.








***Images Courtesy of The City of Calgary, Corporate Records, Archives

New affordable housing opens: Louise Station

A new affordable housing development has opened downtown in the community of Eau Claire.

The 88-unit affordable housing tower in the Louise Station redevelopment will provide below-market housing to help working families and people with disabilities.

“By working together with The City of Calgary and the LaCaille Group, we are building more units for less, supporting the province’s goal to add 11,000 units of affordable housing by 2012, and delivering good value to the taxpayer,” said Jonathan Denis, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs at the grande opening today.

The Louise Station affordable housing tower is a public-private partnership between The City of Calgary, The LaCaille Group and the Province of Alberta. The affordable housing units to be managed by the Calgary Housing Company (CHC).

Total funding for the Louise Station affordable housing tower was more than $27 million. The Province of Alberta, through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, provided $12 million with the City of Calgary providing more than $15 million.

These new homes will make a significant difference to lower-income households and will help to meet the need for affordable housing in Calgary. This project is part of The City’s Enterprise Housing Program, an umbrella capital program that delivers units through a buy/build/partner approach as well with financial incentives.

These new units form part of The City’s contribution to Calgary’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness.

Louise Station is the first development of its kind in Calgary as a result of its mixed-use and public-private partnership model. The site includes the affordable housing tower, a firehall, a market housing tower (116 units), 28,000 square feet of office space, and 2,600 square feet of commercial retail on the main floor.

The site will also address an immediate need for additional Fire and Emergency Medical Services in the west downtown while minimizing it’s the environmental footprint, consistent with City Council endorsed principles of Smart Growth.

For more information on Louise Station please visit calgary.ca/louisestation

Calgary online safety week kicks off

AYT? OMG! AFOAF said he gave U a KOL! RU4R?! JAM… POS

Are You There? Oh My Gosh! A Friend of a Friend Said he Gave you a Kiss on the Lips! Are you for Real? Just a Minute…Parents Over Shoulder

The code in this sentence may strike fear in the hearts of many parents simply because we do not know. Do we know the IM lingo, who they are in chat rooms with, what personal information is on their Facebook?

Calgary Online Safety week, from March 1 to 6, 2010, will endeavour to tackle those tough, online issues.

According to cybertip.ca, 75 per cent of parents are confident that their children are using the internet in a safe manner.

The internet has revolutionized the way that we communicate on a daily basis. As the technology is evolving, the online and mobile activities of our children are changing as well.

Whether on a computer at school, a laptop at home, a games console or mobile phone, children and young people are communicating and increasingly accessing the internet whenever they can and wherever they are.

As you would protect your child in the real world, you will want to make sure that they are safe whatever they are doing.

Like learning to cross the road, online safety skills are skills for life.

If your child understands the risks and can make sensible and informed choices online, they can get the most from the internet and stay safe while doing so.

• Learn what they are saying and what they are doing
• Install parental controls
• Sign a family contract
• Keep the computer in an open area
• Communicate

Because the internet is an environment that is shaped by those who use it, the Calgary Educational Partnership Foundation gathered like-minded organizations to ensure that the internet evolves as a positive influence in the lives of all Calgarians.

Calgary Online Safety Week 2010 will be marked with educational opportunities for parents and students. For more information on the list of activities, partners, presentations and the cyber crime contest, visit www.youthlinkcalgary.com/onlinesafety.

Day 15: Calgary Olympics: 16 Days of Glory

Here are a few Day 15 Olympic memories.

Vancouver Winter Olympics Day 15, Friday, Feb. 26, 2010

Calgary Winter Olympics Day 15, Saturday, Feb. 27, 1988

• Calgary is 18.1 C - another record-breaking day
• Sweden's Queen Silvia pays a visit to Calgary
• The "biggest garage sale in Calgary history" is announced for the following week with 40,000 items from the Olympics up for grabs - everything from phones to flags.
• Joey Mullen notches his 31st goal for the Flames
• Joe Nieuwendyk ties for 3rd all time in rookie points when he redirected a Brett Hull shot.
• Canadian men's bobsled team grumbles it is fed up with politics and lack of finances.
• Soviets win 6th straight biathlon gold medal
• Eddie The Eagle accompanies Burt Reynolds on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show
• Short track speed skating is gaining steam to become an Olympic sport.
• Olympic mens hockey rallies for National Hockey League professionals to be able to compete in 1992's Olympic games
• Elizabeth Manley does it! She wins a bronze medal behind Katarina Witt's gold.
• Italian Skier Alberto Tomba makes no bones about the fact he'd like to date East Germany's Witt.
• Team Canada wins 6-3 over Czechoslovakia in men's hockey
• Alberto Tomba wins his second gold medal in slalom

Katarina Witt skated to a gold medal in the women’s free skate. This was her second consecutive gold medal in figure skating at the Olympics.














Canada’s Elizabeth Manley gave an incredible free skate performance to capture the silver medal.














The medal winners wave to the crowd on the podium after accepting their medals.












The Canadian ice hockey team salute the fans after their win against Czechoslovakia. Canada finished fourth in the medal round.











Karin Kania from the German Democratic Republic strides through a corner to win the silver medal in the women’s 1500m speed skating competition. Dutch skater Yvonne van Gennip finished 0.14 seconds faster to win her second gold of the Olympics.




***Images Courtesy of The City of Calgary, Corporate Records, Archives

2009 Water Efficiency Report released

Despite an increasing population in Calgary and the surrounding region, Calgary is still on track to meet its 30 in 30 water efficiency plan goal.

In 2005, City Council adopted the Water Efficiency Plan goal of reducing water consumption by 30 per cent over 30 years with the intention of better managing our water resource.

“Our investment in infrastructure, innovative technology incentives and public education programs are helping The City and Calgarians use water more wisely,” says Paul Fesko, Manager Strategic Services, Water Services.

2009 water conservation program highlights include:

• The pre-treatment and residual treatment facilities built as part of water treatment plant upgrades are now showing that we are drawing less water from the river to meet the needs of Calgarians than we were just a few years ago, despite growth.
• Toilets account for more than 30 per cent of residential water use. In 2009, more than 7,500 high performing low flow toilets were installed in existing Calgary homes as a result of the Toilet Replacement Program.
• More than 64,000 Calgarians recalled seeing a Water Services representative at a number of local events and workshops.
• More than 50,000 youth, teachers and families participated in water education programs.

One of the key indicators the report uses to measure Calgary’s progress is Universal Water Metering, which is vital to reducing water demand. The City is on schedule to meet its target of having all customers on a meter by December 31, 2014.

Currently, 82 per cent of residential accounts are metered. The City will be rolling out a targeted metering program this spring to support the conversions of the remaining 50,000 flat rate accounts to meters.

“It’s time to get a water meter. If you are a flat rate account holder, we will be contacting you to make the switch,” says Fesko. “Water meters are an effective tool for reducing water consumption because they allow customers to monitor, manage and pay for the actual amount of water they use each month.”

The City’s many water conservation programs and investment in infrastructure are successfully contributing to measurable reductions in water demand but city-wide efforts need to continue to produce long-term, beneficial results.

A copy of the 2009 Water Efficiency Report, and information on how you can save water, can be found online at calgary.ca/waterservices or by calling 3-1-1.

Day 14: Calgary Olympics: 16 Days of Glory

Here are a few Day 14 Olympic memories.

Vancouver Winter Olympics Day 14, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010

Calgary Winter Olympics Day 14, Friday, Feb. 26, 1988

• There are rumblings that Canada should be able to field its best hockey players in the Olympics - mainly from the National Hockey League.
• Calgary weather hits 19C degrees
• The ski jump placement at Canada Olympic Park is criticised for high winds throughout games
• 16-day schedule is longest of any Olympic Winter Games
• Soviets sweep women's cross country skiing - Canada's best was 27th
• Christine Rossi of France wins freestyle skiing ballet
• Soviets win gold in men's ice hockey, 7-1 over Sweden
• Canada beats West Germany 8-1
• Swiss skier Vreni Schneider wins her second gold medal

Steve Tambellini from Canada takes a hit from Udo Kiessling from the Federal Republic of Germany. However, Canada hit back by winning the game 8-1.









The Soviet biathlon relay team hoisted their teammate into the air to celebrate their gold medal.













Yugoslavian supporters enjoyed a great day at Nakiska as Mateja Svet skied to a silver medal in women’s slalom and the first Olympic medal won by Yugoslavia in a women’s alpine event.








***Images Courtesy of The City of Calgary, Corporate Records, Archives

City of Calgary staff raise big bucks for United Way

City of Calgary staff dug deep in 2009, donating a whopping $435,633.33 to the United Way of Calgary and Area.

"As Calgary’s civil servants, we often talk about how proud we are to serve this great city. I believe the success of our 2009 United Way Campaign takes that talk to a whole new level," said Brad Stevens, chairperson for The City’s 2009 United Way Campaign, at the cheque presentation Feb. 22.

Nearly 40 employee campaign co-ordinators worked to generate interest, inspire participation and bring the spirit of the corporate campaign to their individual work groups and business units.

Special events and fundraising-style collaboration throughout the corporation reached 17,000 employees in roughly 100 locations.

"This year’s employee-driven initiatives were original, imaginative, creative, and just plain fun. They strengthened our workplace," said Stevens.

Fundraising activities included stampede-style pancake breakfasts, book and bake sales, custom holiday gift wrapping, flower days, Bingo, a 50/50 draw, a talent show and golf tournament among others.

Stevens also thanked Campaign lead, Jeanne Chevrier, who "provided expertise, direction, co-ordination and unparalleled energy and enthusiasm" to help pull-off the record haul.

Ruth Ramsden-Wood, President and CEO of the Calgary United Way said it took tremendous leadership within the City to raise this kind of money during a financially lean year.

"I am humbled and in awe of the kind of results and team building and the energy this fundraising creates in the community," she said.

According to the United Way website, donations go to several agencies in our community and are invested in priority issues and initiatives to develop long-term solutions in:

• Supporting people living in vulnerable situations
• Improving lives for economically challenged families and reducing poverty
• Ensuring the success of children and youth
• Sustained Poverty Reduction
• Aboriginal Youth and Education Strategy
• The Calgary Children's Initiative
• 211 Calgary

Day 13: Calgary Olympics: 16 Days of Glory

Here are a few Day 13 Olympic memories.

Vancouver Winter Olympics Day 13, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010

Calgary Winter Olympics Day 13, Thursday, Feb. 25, 1988

• Canada (and U.S.) have 4 medals so far - Soviet Union has 22
• Lebanese skier Karim Sabbagh, an MBA student and works at an agency, says he was only able to ski five times the previous year to prepare for the Olympic games.
• Calgary's Electric Avenue has a few problems with over 10,000 partiers emptying bars at closing time.
• Scalpers have a field day with one boasting he got $75 for the Sweden vs. Czechoslovakia hockey game. Most Scalpers couldn't get any tickets for the Canada vs. Soviet match - but one said he wouldn't let his tickets go for less than $150 a piece.
• Sweden beat the Czechs 6-2 and Finland beats West Germany 8 - 0 in the quarter finals.
• Alberto Tomba wins gold in men's giant slalom - all four Canadians were disqualified for wearing ski suits that had never been tested as legal
• Katarina Witt wows the crowd and is set up with Elizabeth Manley for a fight for gold.

Elizabeth Manley from Canada holds her final pose and finishes third in the short program in women’s figure skating.














Jumping to a first place finish in the short program was Katarina Witt from the German Democratic Republic.













Gold medallist Tamara Tikhonova from the USSR pushes hard up a hill in the 20km cross-country ski competition.












The flamboyant Italian Alberto Tomba gives his thumbs up after winning the gold medal in the men’s giant slalom.













American Melanie Palenik performs a maneuver during the freestyle skiing ballet event. Palenik finished sixth in the demonstration sport.








***Images Courtesy of The City of Calgary, Corporate Records, Archives

New off-leash area in Calgary’s southeast

On Saturday, Feb. 20, The City opened a new off-leash area in Auburn Bay.

The off-leash area is fenced and occupies more than 10 acres along 52nd Street S.E. south of Marquis of Lorne Trail and includes benches, a garbage bin and a gravel parking lot.

The new off-leash area is in response to a growing demand in the southeast where facilities already enjoy popular use by Calgary’s many dog owners. Area development began in the fall of 2008 after negotiations with the province to lease the transportation utility corridor on a temporary basis.

There are currently more than 100,000 licensed dogs in the city and 138 off-leash areas within Calgary’s multi-use parks – from small community parks to larger regional parks. The area is a welcome addition for southwest dog owners.

For more information about The City’s off-leash areas, visit calgary.ca/parks.

Day 12: Calgary Olympics: 16 Days of Glory

Here are a few Day 12 Olympic memories.

Vancouver Winter Olympics Day 12, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010

Calgary Winter Olympics Day 12, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 1988

• It's announced ABC paid a staggering $309 million for U.S. TV rights to the Olympics.
• Over 80,000 fans attend Canada Olympic Park

Soviet hockey legend Sergei Makarov beats Andy Moog from Canada, scoring the Soviets’ fifth goal during the ice hockey game between these arch rival teams.









Team Canada’s chances for a gold or silver medal were squashed in their 5-0 loss to the USSR.












Canada’s Elizabeth Manley focuses on her routine during the compulsory round in women’s figure skating.












Matti Nykanen flies to his third gold medal at the Games. The Finnish ski jump team took the gold medal well ahead of Norway and Czechoslovakia.





***Images Courtesy of The City of Calgary, Corporate Records, Archives

Day 11: Calgary Olympics: 16 Days of Glory

Here are a few Day 11 Olympic memories.

Vancouver Winter Olympics Day 11, Monday, Feb. 22, 2010

Calgary Winter Olympics Day 11, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 1988

• High winds wiped out ski jumping (again) at Canada Olympic Park
• A polish hockey player is disqualified for testing positive for a banned substance - Poland automatically loses the points from a win over France. Polish say poor security lead to player being 'drugged.'
• Canada's leading point-getters for men's hockey: Marc Habscheid and Serge Boisvert with 8
• Family Ties star Michael J. Fox is so popular he needs bodyguards to prevent being mobbed.
• Eddie the Eagle feels "used and abused" after a local nightclub promotes his arrival and announces he'd be signing autographs as a ploy to earn money of the English ski jumper
• Canada's Tracy Wilson and Rob McCall win the country's first ever Olympic ice-dancing medal - a bronze.
• Figure Skating judges are criticized for unfair results.
• Norway hockey players complain they have a difficulty finding time to practice with full-time jobs at home
• Eddie the Eagle finishes dead last in 90-metre in front of 80,000 spectators at Canada Olympic Park. His 71 metre jump was more than 50 metres short of the Olympic gold medalist but broke the British record
• New technology is introduced with a global team of scientists filming the games with 'space aged' innovation capable of capturing motion to four milliseconds in 3-D

Canadians Tracy Wilson and Robert McCall dance to a ragtime beat and clinch a bronze medal in ice dancing.














The Soviet team of Natalia Bestemianova and Andrei Boukine swept all three ice dance segments to win the gold medal.













Eddie Edwards from Great Britain celebrates after landing his jump in the 90m ski jump competition. Although he finished in last place, Eddie the Eagle won the hearts of fans across the world.












Matti Nykanen, the Flying Finn, hoists his skis in victory after capturing the gold medal in the 90m ski jump competition.












Short-track speed skating made its Olympic debut as a demonstration sport and was held at the Max Bell Arena.






***Images Courtesy of The City of Calgary, Corporate Records, Archives

Day 10: Calgary Olympics: 16 Days of Glory

Here are a few Day 10 Olympic memories ...

Vancouver Winter Olympic Day 10, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010

Calgary Winter Olympics Day 10, Monday, Feb. 22, 1988

• Karen Percy becomes the second double medal winner in Canadian Olympic Alpine history placing third in the women's Super Giant Slalom.
• Canada's Greg Haydenluck and Lloyd Guss give Canada its best two-man bobsled finish in 24 years.
• The Canadian Olympic Association define Calgary's goodwill as the hallmark of the 1988 Olympics in a newspaper ad.
• Canada's hockey team ties Sweden 2-2 on their way to their highly anticipated faceoff with the Soviets.

Serge Boisvert of Canada celebrates Canada's second goal against Sweden at the Saddledome.

Karen Percy (right) from Canada and Sigrid Wolf (left) from Austria accept their medals for the women's superG at Olympic Plaza.

















***Images Courtesy of The City of Calgary, Corporate Records, Archives

Day 9: Calgary Olympics: 16 Days of Glory

Here are a few Day 9 Olympic memories ...

Vancouver Winter Olympics Day 9, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010

Calgary Winter Olympics Day 9, Sunday, Feb. 21, 1988

• Canadian skier, Karen Percy comes in fourth on the Red Crow slalom course, missing a medal by 3/10 of second.
• The Soviets beat their rival team, Czechoslavakia 6 - 1 in men's hockey.
• Tomas Gustafson from Sweden set a world record for the 10,000 meter men's speed skating event at the Olympic Oval.

Carin Hernskog from Sweden is mid air during her jump in the aerials event at Canada Olympic Park - she landed in third place.

Anita Wachter from Austria makes a turn at a gate during the women's combined slalom finishing second but winning gold in the combined competition.

France's Franck Piccard celebrates his gold medal victory in the men's superG.

***Images Courtesy of The City of Calgary, Corporate Records, Archives

City of Calgary rewards responsible pet owners

The City of Calgary’s Animal & Bylaw Services business unit will be launching a reward program to thank Calgary’s pet owners for licensing their cats and dogs.

Starting in early March, local pet owners will receive an I Heart My Pet reward card which will help licensed pet owners save money on a variety of pet and non-pet related products and services.

"For Calgarians, this is an additional reward for being a licensed responsible pet owner,” says Bill Bruce, Director of Animal & Bylaw Services.

"By using the I Heart My Pet card just a couple of times, you could recoup the cost of your pet licensing fees."

More than 90% of dogs and 45% of cats residing in the city are licensed, making Calgary a leader in North America. As a result, Calgary also has the highest return-to-owner and lowest pet euthanasia rates on the continent.

The I Heart My Pet cards will be mailed out to licensed pet owners along with their annual pet renewal notice beginning in March and continuing throughout the year. Calgarians who currently have a free six-month pet licence will receive their I Heart My Pet rewards card when they renew their pet’s licence.

For those pet owners who don’t want to wait to get their rewards card with their annual renewal notice, cards can also be picked up in person at the Animal Services Centre (2201 Portland Street S.E.) between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday-Friday, or between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday (excluding statutory holidays).

For more details about the rewards program, visit http://www.iheartmypet.ca/. The website lists the 22 current program partners (as well as new merchants to be added in the future). The site also has information about responsible pet ownership and special promotions. I Heart My Pet rewards cards are valid until December 31, 2011.

Day 8: Calgary Olympics: 16 Days of Glory

Here are a few Day 8 Olympic memories ...

Vancouver Winter Olympics Day 8, Friday, Feb. 19, 2010

Calgary Winter Olympics Day 8, Saturday, Feb. 20, 1988

• The 'battle of the Brians' comes to a close when Brian Orser of Canada wins silver in men's figure skating, narrowly surpassed by American competitor, Brian Boitano.
• German bobsled pilot, Wolfgang Hoppe sets new track record, 57.06 seconds for the 1,475 meters.
• Canada Olympic Park sees Olympic and world record attendance for bobsled competitions at 29,500.
• Canadian Olympic speed skater, Baetan Boucher receives a booming ovation from 4,500 spectators for the last race of his career.
• The temperature in Calgary reaches a record-breaking 17 degrees Celcius.

Charles Plamondon from Canada takes aim at the firing range during the men's 20km biathlon at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
















Debbie Jones and Lindsay Sparkes from Canada celebrate their gold medal win in women's curling at Max Bell Arena.









Serge Boisvert from Canada takes the puck away from a French player at the Olympic Saddledome. Final score was Canada 9 - France 5.







***Images Courtesy of The City of Calgary, Corporate Records, Archives

Day 7: Calgary Olympics: 16 Days of Glory

Here are a few Day 7 Olympic memories ...

Vancouver Winter Olympics Day 7, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010

Calgary Winter Olympics Day 7, Friday, Feb. 19, 1988

• Karen Percy of Banff wins Canada's first-ever Olympic medal on home soil.
• Chief international negotiator for Hockey Canada, Alan Eagleson confirms plan to allow Soviet players to be released to NHL teams.
• East Germans, Jeorg Hoffman and Jochen Pietzsch win gold in the men's double luge event.
• Olympic organizing committee chairman, Frank King defends Games' wind-plagued venues in the face of criticism.
• Local electronics store advertises a special on cellular telephones for $1,298 (antenna included).

Christopher Herberle from Australia takes a breather at the finish in the 15km cross-country ski event at Canmore Nordic Centre.

Joerg Hoffmann and Jochen Pietzch of the German Democratic Republic take home gold medals for the men's luge doubles.

Karen Percy from Canada waves to the crowd during the medal presentation at Olympic Plaza. Karen won a bronze in the women's downhill and Canada's first Olympic medal on home soil.

***Images Courtesy of The City of Calgary, Corporate Records, Archives

Day 6: Calgary Olympics: 16 Days of Glory

Here are a few Day 6 Olympic memories.

Vancouver Winter Olympics Day 6, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010

Calgary Winter Olympics Day 6, Thursday, Feb. 18, 1988

• Eddie the Eagle is booked on The Tonight Show
• The Finns upset Team Canada 3-1 in mens hockey.
• Brian Orser beats Brian Boitano in the short program, setting up a dream final.
• U.S.S.R dominates mens speed skating, Canadian Gaetan Boucher finishes 5th.
• Marie-Claude makes Canadian history by finishing 7th in womens luge - a Canadian best.
• Strong winds cause big problems at Canada Olympic Park, delaying the 90 metre ski jump for the second straight day.
• Ski jumper flies over snow fence and lands on ABC TV camera man, sending him to hospital.
• Jamaican bobsled team's popularity grows - John Candy's brain churns.

Irina Koussakina from the USSR speeds through a corner in the women’s luge. Koussakina placed tenth in the competition.
















Canada’s Marie Claude Doyon was the top Canadian of the day placing seventh.










Brian Orser of Canada dazzles the crowd to win the men’s short program.












The 'Battle of the Brians' was in full stride as Brian Boitano finished second in the short program.

Zarley Zalapski from Canada escapes a checking Finnish player at the ice hockey game between Canada and Finland. Finland defeated the Canadians 3-1.

A Canadian ice hockey fan shows his support during the game between Canada and Finland.






***Images Courtesy of The City of Calgary, Corporate Records, Archives