The City of Calgary is hosting a Summer Hiring Fair for 15 to 24 year olds to connect with employers hiring in the Calgary area.
The Youth Employment Centre (YEC) is hosting the April 12, event at Stampede Park’s Big Four Building from 1:30 to 6 p.m.
“The market has rebounded from last year’s downturn and we’re seeing an increased number of jobs for youth,” said Lisa Duke, Community Liaison with the YEC. “This is a great time for youth to be engaging employers and applying for jobs.”
The Summer Hiring Fair provides an ideal environment for youth to meet face-to-face with at least 80 potential employers, giving youth a chance to discuss their skills and abilities to potential employers. This free fair will feature more than 5,000 full-time, part-time and seasonable jobs for which the potential employers are hiring.
“Employers are looking to connect with the youth market and still recognize the need to hire young people,” said Duke. “We find employers that hire youth are welcoming the new generation’s perspective and the energy they bring to the workplace.”
Youth are encouraged to bring their resumes and questions for recruiters. Some employers will be conducting on-the-spot interviews.
YEC provides free year-round career planning and employment services to Calgary youth, ages 15 to 24. Amongst YEC’s numerous career-development opportunities are hiring fairs, career counselling, resume assessment, job postings, and job search assistance.
Calgarians are invited to join The City of Calgary and the Alberta Government dignitaries to a public celebration at Olympic Plaza on April 5 at noon to honour our 2010 Olympians, Paralympians, coaches and technical officials who represented Canada at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.
“Calgarians were very proud and excited from the torch relay to the Olympic games and this is an opportunity to acknowledge these local athletes,” said Catherine Humeny. The City’s Coordinator of Citizen Recognitions. “The athletes spent many years in training, enhancing their skills and they now represent Canada at the games - it’s a pinnacle event for them and they should be recognized.”
The Olympic and Paralympic Salute is hosted by the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation on behalf of the Government of Alberta in partnership with The City of Calgary and the Canadian Sport Centre Calgary.
Date: Monday, April 5
Time: 11 a.m. – Salute begins with interactive displays and live entertainment 12 noon – Public presentation to Alberta’s Olympians and Paralympians
In 2007, the Province of Alberta and The City of Calgary signed a funding agreement as part of the Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) that would see the Province provide The City with $3.3 billion in funding over the course of 10 years.
In the 2010 Provincial Budget announcement on February 9, the Province revealed that funding to The City of Calgary would be less than was expected for 2010 – instead of $407 million, The City would instead receive $254 million – a reduction of $153 million.
This announcement posed a problem for The City as it had budgeted these funds for the start of several major projects, including West LRT, extensions to the CTrain system and the construction of affordable housing and community fire halls.
In hopes of addressing these budget shortfalls, The City of Calgary approached the Province to request a change in the requirements for MSI funding – that an increased amount be permitted to be applied to cover interest costs of short-term borrowing to fund these projects. The Province agreed to these changes, which will allow The City to borrow an increased amount in the short term to permit construction, which will then be paid off as the MSI funding is received in future years.
According to The City of Calgary’s Chief Financial Officer, Eric Sawyer, this increased borrowing strategy makes financial sense.
“By using borrowing to advance the work, we are able to get these infrastructure projects built sooner and when needed rather than waiting for funding to come in years down the road. By doing the work sooner, we are able to avoid construction cost escalation and take advantage of today’s low interest rates,” says Sawyer.
The devastating condo fire in Millrise recently highlighted some proactive steps that pet lovers can take to keep their animals safe in a time of crisis.
A pet’s licence is their ticket home. As well, a pet license is the best way to reconnect with your pet during an emergency such as a fire or if your dog or cat escapes from your home or yard.
Permanent ID
In addition to a licence, remember to provide your pet with permanent identification such as a microchip or a tattoo in the event that their licence is lost. When you renew your pet’s licence, remember to update your contact information with Animal & Bylaw Services, provide an alternate contact in the event of an emergency and the pet’s microchip or tattoo number. Also, list any of your pet’s medical conditions or medication. This is valuable information in the event of an emergency.
Call 3-1-1 if you lose your dog or cat
If you lose your dog or cat, remember to contact 3-1-1 to file a lost pet report. Again, this is the best way to get your pet returned to you whether your pet has escaped from your home or you are involved in an emergency situation.
Get an emergency pet window/door sticker
Calgary’s emergency providers have a window or door sticker that list the number of pets in your home. In a time of crisis, such as a fire, the information on the sticker provides emergency services personnel with critical information that can make the difference between life and death for your pet. To pick up these emergency window stickers, visit the Animal Services Centre at 2201 Portland Street S.E. or visit Animal & Bylaw Services staff at the many public events and community functions that they attend throughout the year.
The City of Calgary is adjusting hours of operation for services and facilities on Good Friday, April 2, 2010 and Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010.
City Administrative Offices
All administrative offices will be closed on Good Friday, April 2, 2010 and will reopen on Monday, April 5, 2010.
Calgary Transit
Calgary Transit will provide a Sunday level of service on Good Friday, April 2, 2010 and normal Sunday level of service on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010. Regular service will resume on Monday, April 5, 2010.
For information and schedules, please visit http://www.calgarytransit.com/, call Teleride at 403-974-4000, or Calgary Transit Customer Service at 403-262-1000.
Lions Park Station CTrain Service Disruption:Calgary Transit is conducting maintenance on the north CTrain line all weekend from Friday evening, April 2 through Sunday, April 4. There will be no CTrain service between downtown and Lions Park Station.
Temporary bus shuttle Route 557 will operate between downtown and Lions Park Station and provide access to Sunnyside and SAIT stations. Refer to the Route 557 map for stop locations.
The frequency of CTrain service between Crowfoot and Lions Park will be every 15 minutes and between downtown and Somerset-Bridlewood will be as on a normal weekend. Trains from Somerset-Bridlewood will travel to 10 Street West station downtown.
Alternate north/south bus service, in addition to the Route 557 CTrain replacement shuttle, is available on Route 4, Route 5,Route 9, Route 10 and Route 419.
Waste & Recycling
Residential collection schedules and pickup at community recycling depots will continue as usual on Good Friday, April 2, 2010.
All landfills will be open 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Animal Services Centre
2201 Portland Street S.E.
Good Friday, April 2, 2010: Closed
Saturday, April 3, 2010: Open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010: Closed
Monday, April 5: Open 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
The following pools will be open for a free public swim from 1 –2:30 p.m. and 3 –4:30 p.m. on Good Friday, April 2, 2010:
Acadia
Glenmore
Inglewood
Shouldice
Thornhill
All other City of Calgary pools will be closed on Good Friday, April 2, 2010.
The following pools will be open for a free public swim from 1 –2:30 p.m. and 3 –4:30 p.m. on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010:
Bob Bahan
Canyon Meadows
Killarney
Renfrew
Sir Winston Churchill
All other City of Calgary pools will be closed on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010.
Southland Leisure Centre Good Friday, April 2, 2010: Facility open 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. No shinny hockey, public skating closed for the season.
Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010: Closed
Monday, April 5, 2010: Regular hours of operation – 5:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Village Square Leisure Centre Good Friday, April 2, 2010: Facility open 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. No shinny hockey, public skating closed for the season.
Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010: Facility open 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday, April 5, 2010: Regular hours of operation – 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Art Centres
Wildflower Arts Centre and North Mount Pleasant Arts Centre are closed on Good Friday, April 2, 2010.
City of Calgary Parks Inglewood Bird Sanctuary Inglewood Bird Sanctuary Nature Centre will be closed to the public on Good Friday, April 2, 2010.
The Inglewood Bird Sanctuary trails will be open from sunrise to sunset.
Natural Environment Parks
Trails open from sunrise to sunset
Devonian Gardens
Closed for renovations Other Facilities
Fort Calgary
Good Friday, April 2, 2010: Closed
Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010: Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Heritage Park
Heritage Town Square open year-round 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Deane House
Closed Good Friday, April 2, 2010
Open 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Saturday, April 3 and Sunday, April 4
Closed Monday, April 5, 2010
The City of Calgary’s City Hall will be bathed in blue light on April 1, the eve of World Autism Awareness Day and the first night of Autism Awareness month.
“The City of Calgary is pleased to recognize the efforts of Autism Speaks in raising awareness about this complex disorder,” said Sharon Purvis, Director of Corporate Properties & Buildings at The City.
Calgary is bringing the Light it up Blue global initiative home.
Light is up Blue helps shine light on the United Nation’s declared, World Autism Awareness Day, by lighting-up more than 100 iconic landmarks in nine countries around the world, such as the Empire State Building in New York City, Willis Tower in Chicago, Edmonton City Hall, the CN Tower in Toronto and the Kingdom Tower in Saudi Arabia.
“City hall is a well recognized historical landmark in our city and for that reason, an apt landmark to light up blue in support of this initiative.” said Purvis.
Calgary’s City Hall was designated as a Provincial Historic Resource by the provincial Department of Culture in 1978 and was recognized as a heritage site by the Federal Historic Sites and Monuments Board in 1987. The building, a vision of architect William M. Dodd, was officially opened for business by Prime Minister Sir Robert L. Borden in June 1911.
City Hall will be lit up blue on Thursday, April 1, from 8 p.m. to midnight.
Light It Up Blue is a campaign organized by Autism Speaks, North America’s largest autism and advocacy organization. The organization is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism, increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.
Every year, The City conducts a census to get an official count of the population and dwelling units and every three years, during elections, enumeration data is used to plan for general and by-elections to improve service for voters on Election Day.
“Census is extremely important,” says Melanie Hulsker, Leader, Elections & Census. “It provides up-to-date demographic information which allows us to plan for population services like transit, police and fire.
This information is also used for community planning, transportation planning and budgetary decisions.
“The population of Calgary is used for per-capita grant funding information for the province,” says, Hulsker.
The number of eligible voter Information will be collected as well as data regarding the number of pre-school children, pets as well as school system support.
All census information is confidential and reported on a community basis so that each dwelling is unidentifiable. All information collected by the civic census is covered by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
It is very important to count yourself in to ensure information is collected for the Census and October Municipal Election. If residents are not home at the time of visit, the census taker/enumerator will leave a notice of Municipal Census Call. Residents are asked to call the census taker/enumerator at the number provided on the notice to complete their census and enumeration.
If residents are missed during the collection period, they are asked to call the Election and Information Services office at 403-476-4100 (option 3) to provide their information over the phone.
For more information on the census and previous year’s census data, visit the Civic Census page. This year’s results will be available about three months after the census is taken.
The Census takers will be wearing a City of Calgary issued numbered photo identification badge.
Here is a good story written by Calgary Sun reporter Jenna McMurray about how a Calgary Transit Bus operator, Ravinder “Ravi” Saini, noticed a small boy walking alone in his bare feet and pyjamas.
The toddler was brought onto the bus and Saini phoned police. Shortly after the two-year-old boy's baby sitter came looking for him.
The Standing Policy Committee on Utilities and Environment accepted the report on tag-a-bag for information yesterday.
The proposal suggests implementing a tag-a-bag program in 2012 after the roll out of black cart automated garbage collection. The estimated cost would be about $2 per tag for bags that don’t fit in the carts. A black cart will hold about four standard sized garbage bags.
Here is an interview with Dave Griffiths, Director of Waste and Recycling Services describing what accepting for information means, when black cart will be rolled out and when tag-a-bag will go potentially be rolled-out.
“Mr. Logan’s extensive background in every aspect of transportation infrastructure and his demonstrated commitment to innovation, effectiveness and sustainability in the mobility and growth-related operations make him an ideal candidate to lead Calgary’s critical transportation businesses,” said City Manager Owen Tobert.
“Further, Mr. Logan has a keen understanding of customer service and the need to be responsive to citizen expectations,” said Mr. Tobert.
Mr. Logan first joined The City of Calgary in 1995. He has a Masters of Business Administration from Queens University and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Alberta. He has also done graduate level studies in Transportation Engineering. He began his career in the private sector more than 20 years ago working for firms such as Swanson Transportation Consultants and Reid Crowther & Partners.
In addition to his director responsibilities, Mr. Logan has also been an active participant on Alberta Transportation’s ring road project, Calgary Airport Authority liaison committee, the Waste & Recycling Blue Cart implementation team and The City’s tangible capital assets steering committee.
"I'm thrilled and honoured to be selected as the new leader,” said Mr. Logan. “Calgarians take a keen interest in The City's planning, design and operation of paths, roads and transit. It is my vision to make our transportation system the best in Canada”.
“I’m confident in the abilities of our employees and together we will find ways to make this a reality and be recognized for our leadership. This will encompass all areas from pedestrians to buses to trucks. I'm committed to helping keep Calgary a great place to live," he added.
Mr. Logan was appointed from a large field of highly qualified candidates from across North America and from within The City of Calgary. He replaces John Hubbell who retired after 38 years with The City of Calgary.
The City of Calgary will participate in Earth Hour on Saturday, March 27, 2010 by turning off non-essential lighting and encouraging citizens to join millions of Canadians in turning off their lights at 8:30 p.m.
“We’re excited to see iconic buildings in Calgary go dark for Earth Hour. We’re hoping Calgarians will get on board and show their support for Earth Hour and the global campaign for climate change action. Bring your family, flashlight and mug for hot chocolate and join Calgarians as we count down to darkness!” says Judi Vandenbrink, event organizer.
Earth Hour, coordinated by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), a global conservation organization, is an international lights out event to raise awareness about climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“Facilities providing essential services during Earth Hour will remain lit as necessary for operational and safety purposes,” said Bill Grey, Buildings Supervisor.
Last year almost 10 million Canadians participated in more than 150 cities and municipalities across the country. Around the world, millions more participated in more than 105 countries.
Earth Hour shows that collective small actions can make a big difference. Lighting accounts for about 10 per cent of electricity in homes and 35 per cent in offices. By turning lights off when they aren’t needed citizens and businesses can save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
People can also become involved by signing the Earth Hour pledge online at www.EarthHourCanada.org
The City of Calgary has a proven track record in delivering on greenhouse gas reductions. Specifically, The City of Calgary municipal operations is on track to reduce GHG emissions by over 60 per cent from the period 1990 to 2012, exceeding the 6 per cent reduction established by the international Kyoto accord.
The City of Calgary was awarded the prestigious Jim Gray Corporate Award for making a “significant contribution to making Calgary a safer place to live and work,” last week.
This year, the Jim Gray Award, is being presented to a number of local agencies for their efforts to keep people safe while enjoying summer activities along the Elbow and Bow Rivers, adjacent pathways and City Parks.
The focus of the operation was to ensure that Calgarians were using safe practices and engaging in positive behaviour that was respectful of the law, but more importantly, other citizens.
“We’ve identified issues and we’re making progress,’ said Bruce, adding “We’re saying go out there and have fun – but do it safely.”
The operation was well received by the public who appreciated the increased uniform presence ensuring that everyone could enjoy the river and parks safely during the summer.
As part of the operation a number of tickets were issued, but most people were given a warning for activities such as failing to wear a Personal Floatation Device while on the river, the public consumption of liquor, littering, and inappropriate public conduct.
In total, 254 summonses were issued and over 3,000 warnings were delivered as officers attempted to increase awareness of safety issues. Over 400 bottles or cans of alcohol were also seized and several hundred people without life jackets were stopped from entering the river.
On April 1st from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. The City of Calgary will be holding an online open house and discussion about the Banff Trail Station Area Redevelopment Plan. In the meantime, background information is available at www.calgary.ca/todplanning on the Banff Trail menu tab.
How to participate in our Live Chat:
Watch the short background video. Senior Planner, Kevin Barton, discusses the Live Chat and some Banff Trail background information.
Join us on April 1, 2011 at 11 a.m. on this web page. If you'd like an email reminder of the chat, please submit your email address in the grey box below.
An overview of Banff Trail can be found below. For additional information, please visit www.calgary.ca/todplanning
If you have any questions before the Live Chat, please do so in the comment section at the bottom of the page.
When the chat goes live, submit a question or comment and our Senior Planners will try their best to provide answers or add clarity to the process.
When?
April 1, 2011, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Where?
From any computer, anywhere. Just return to this page.
Banff Trail is a unique established community in Calgary's northwest, which contains a mix of residential, retail, and hotel uses within the "Motel Village" area. Increasing development pressure on Motel Village lands has spurred the need for a more comprehensive plan to guide redevelopment, while remaining sensitive to the interface between the nearby established residential area. The goal of this policy work is to update the existing Banff Trail/Motel Village Area Redevelopment Plan policies for the Motel Village lands.
Thank you for your participation. For ongoing information on this project or to provide further feedback or ask questions please visit www.calgary.ca/todplanning and click on the Banff Trail menu tab.
City Council Chambers will begin a $1.5 million renovation this summer to make it more accessible for everyone to participate in the Municipal government process.
Universal design principles will be incorporated in the design, so that future Council members, Administration and the public will be able to work, present and hear in Council Chambers.
“After many years of being excluded, people with disabilities will be part of an inclusive environment,” said Leanne Squair, a member of The City’s advisory committee on accessibility.
Council Chambers will be closed until November for the upgrades, which will include lowering the current floor area and changing some of the Aldermanic seating, so mobility devices, such as wheelchairs, can be accommodated. Some stairs will be converted to ramps and spaces for six mobility devices will be incorporated into the general seating area.
Screens will also be added so that Captioning for people that are deaf or hard of hearing can see what is being said.
Signage and stair nosings with colour contrast, along with seating that will accommodate a companion or service/guide dog will assist people with vision loss.
“Accessibility is not an end, it is a process,” explained Squair, adding this renovation will bring Council Chambers up to the current Alberta Building Code standards.
“In the future, we will be able to have a Mayor and Council that have disabilities because we are an accessible City,” said Squair.
17 student teams from grades seven to nine participated in the event, showcasing their efforts to support the global initiative with grants of $500 to each team from Suncor Energy. Projects ranged from fundraising efforts and improving water consumption habits at home to raising awareness about water issues in our community.
The event was held to celebrate participants’ actions to address the challenges facing our water locally and around the world. In addition to project displays, visual art, essay and poetry entries on the topic of water quality and conservation were on display and attendees had the opportunity to vote for their favourites.
The event highlighted the importance of protecting the quality and quantity of our water as a city and a global community. To learn more about what you can do to help, visit calgary.ca/waterservices.
“The webcast is a new viewing medium for Standing Policy Committees,” says Roy Kuhnlein, manager of IT Security and webwave. “Previously, anyone interested in the proceedings of a Standing Policy Committee would have to attend the meeting in person. Now they can view the proceedings online.”
This can be done by clicking on the “Council & Committee Meeting Webcasts” button on the website’s home page. This service will compliment the streaming video of City Council meetings since October 2008.
This project is part of Council’s commitment to improving citizen access to government decision-making. It also allows another viewing medium for City employees who may need to monitor what is happening in a committee meeting, but may not be able to attend in person.
“Although anyone with an internet connection can view the proceedings online, they will have to do this while the meeting is in session, as the meeting webcasts will not be archived,” adds Roy Kuhnlein.
Today, Calgary City Council passed a recommendation to pilot a public data catalogue later this fall.
The concept is to promote transparency and also to promote innovation and reuse of the data. This follows similar projects in Vancouver, Toronto and Edmonton.
“We haven’t decided what data would be made available to start, but we will focus on information that is already publicly accessible just not in a reuseable format”, says Heather Reed-Fenske, Manager in Information Technology.
The City will engage citizens in recommending both the types of data sets and formats that would be most useful. Stay tuned, more to come.
It is a lower profile, arched structure that respects the location and aesthetics of St. Patrick’s Island and the Bow River according to The Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) which is mandated by The City of Calgary to implement and execute the Rivers District Community Revitalization Plan.
“It was a difficult decision,” said Chris Ollenberger, President and CEO of CMLC. “All of the three finalists were engaging in their public presentations and their final submissions reflected their passion for the project. The Board of Directors was very impressed with the sensibility, aesthetics and thematic approach taken by RFR Halsall, but recognized that any one of the three final designs would have been a wonderful addition to Calgary.”
CMLC considered the opinions of Calgarians expressed through more than two thousand comments on the CMLC website and at public presentations last month, as well as listened to the advice of its Advisory Committee and technical experts to ultimately select the RFR Halsall team.
“We’re elated,” said John Ford, an engineer with Halsall Associates Limited in Calgary. “We’re very excited to be part of East Village. We tried to capture what the community wanted and to reflect the unique characteristics of this location.”
Ollenberger said the bridge’s continuous arches emulating a stone skipping across the Bow River resonated with Calgarians. He noted that others saw rolling foothills or the Chinook arch in the profile of the RFR Halsall bridge design.
“It’s that simplicity we were shooting for,” said Ford. “This is validation that our design was understood and really worked.”
The new bridge will feature animated lighting, a visual highlight that makes it an interactive structure. The bridge will replace the existing one, which only partially crosses the river near the west end of St. Patrick’s Island, and will link the island with East Village to the south and Bridgeland to the north.
With the winning concept chosen, detailed design work will begin as well as public consultation on the rejuvenation of St. Patrick’s Island.
CMLC is working towards developing the East Village into a vibrant community that is integrated with the downtown core.
To learn more about the winning bridge design and other East Village redevelopment projects, visit www.calgarymlc.ca.
“Calgarians are fortunate to have access to a high quality source of drinking water,” said Klas Ohman, The City’s manager of water quality. “It’s important to maintain this water quality by managing and protecting this precious resource every step of the way.”
In 2009, The City conducted approximately 112,000 tests for more than 150 accredited water quality parameters, including studying microbiological organisms, water hardness and pesticides.
In addition to a summary of Calgary’s key water quality parameters, the 2009 report provides information about where our water comes from, how it is treated and who’s working behind the scenes to deliver this water to the more than a million customers every day.
This year’s report also highlights how The City of Calgary is leading the way in water management and the important role Calgarians play in protecting this precious resource.
“When it comes to managing and protecting our water, it’s important that everyone plays a role - together we can conserve and safeguard our finite water resources,” said Ohman.
The City is proud to produce the Water Quality Report for the seventh consecutive year – as part of The City’s commitment to its customers and environmental responsibility. While water utilities in the United States are required by the Environmental Protection Agency to publish an annual water quality report for their customers, this is not a requirement in Canada.
Here is a video with The City of Calgary's Disaster Social Services about how they and the public can help those who were affected by the Millrise building fire.
Many Calgarians have contacted The City of Calgary with generous offers to assist evacuees of the Millrise fire. The City of Calgary and its partner agencies thank Calgarians for their generosity.
Non-Monetary Donations
The City of Calgary is not set-up to accept donations at this time. There are several social agencies in Calgary who are always in need of non-monetary donations, interested parties are encouraged to contact them to determine whether they accept Millrise-specific donations.
Monetary Donations
Medican, the developers of the condo where the fire took place, has been working with the Southview Alliance Church to facilitate monetary donations to assist those residents directly affected by the fire.
Cash donations can be dropped off at the Southview Alliance Church office, open daily until 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The church is located at 1436 James McKevitt Road SW. Cheques can be made out to 'Southview Alliance Church - Millrise Fire Relief'. Charitable receipts are available. Unfortunately, Southview Alliance is not able to receive donations other than cash.
The City is currently still assessing the immediate needs of evacuated residents and will provide details on a donation plan as soon as it becomes available.
Victims of the MIllrise fire have been reunited with pets that were trapped in the fire.
“It’s absolutely amazing,” said Glen Porter, a coordinator with Animal and Bylaw Services.
100 per cent of pets that have been reported and registered by the condo-dwellers have been rescued and returned to their owners.
Nineteen animals were recovered from site, including five dogs, nine cats, two bearded dragons, one hedgehog with babies and two birds.
The most dramatic rescue was a cat that was trapped in a 4th floor condo. Firefighters sprayed the cat with water to keep the flames at bay and were able to rescue it.
“She should be back with her owner tomorrow,” said Porter. Shawnessy South Pet Hospital is currently taking care of the cat and covering the medical costs.
Firefighters retrieved a second cat from the same unit hours later.
Yesterday, Calgary Police rescued two dogs while knocking on doors to evacuate the burning building.
“A distraught couple were worried about their dogs and we had them siting in the police cruiser,” said Porter, saying it was a tremendous effort by not only City staff, including 3-1-1 operators fielding calls from worried pet owners, but by the residents themselves to register with the Animal and Bylaw Services team.
As of 5 p.m., on March 20, 2010 As of 4:05 p.m., the Municipal Emergency Plan (MEP) has been deactivated with regard to the fire at 23 Millrise Drive SW. Tenants and owners of approximately 95 per cent of the accessible units have retrieved essential personal belongings. The reception centre, which has been open all day at the Southview Alliance Church (1436 James McKevitt Road SW), will be open again on Sunday March 21, 2010, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Disaster Social Services staff will help those residents that need assistance to formulate plans for long-term housing. After 3 pm today, the Condominium Board for Canvas at Millrise will be responsible for facilitating building access. Tenants and owners requiring further information can call 403-264-7789 and are asked to advise that they are calling about the “Canvas at Millrise Fire.” The Condominium Board has also set up an information centre at 23 Millrise Blvd SW in the Amenities Building. Parking is available at the Millrise Sobeys. The information centre will be open as of 9 am on Sunday, March 21, 2010 and will be open during weekdays until Friday, April 9, 2010. “I am really impressed with the way the residents, the responders and Calgarians have banded together. Frankly, its humbling , “ said CEMA Acting Director Tom Sampson. “A number of services had to be coordinated in order to ensure essential needs were met. ” The City would like to thank all evacuees for their patience and cooperation during this process. Further, we would like to thank all Calgarians for their generous offers to assist evacuees. Monetary donations can be made at the Southview Alliance Church. We are also appreciative of the support we received from City of Calgary business units and community partners, including: Animal & Bylaw Services, Calgary Fire Prevention Bureau, Calgary Police Service, CEMA Social Services, Community & Neighbourhood Services, Customer Service & Communications, Development & Building Approvals, Law, Roads, Transit, Water Services, Alberta Health Services, ATCO, Crawford Adjusters, ENMAX, Medican, Protec Fire and Safety, Red Cross, Rocky Cross Construction North, Salvation Army, SERECA Fire Consultants, Sobeys, Southview Alliance Church, TRL Associates. While the MEP has been deactivated, recovery efforts for the residents will be ongoing for some time at the site. Early this evening, all traffic will be open except one northbound lane along Millrise Blvd SW from Millrise Station (150 Millrise Blvd SW) to Millrise Drive SW.
As of 11:50 a.m., on March 20, 2010
Evacuees of the Millrise fire are being given temporary access to the building to retrieve their essential personal belongings and vehicles.
Units 308 and 401-423 are not safe for access.
Residents interested in claiming their belongings are asked to check in at the tent near the Millrise Sobey’s (150 Millrise Blvd SW).
Nine members of the Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Team (HUSAR) have been on site assessing which suites are safe to enter. Residents will be granted access to the units that are deemed safe for entry.
Vehicles belonging to residents can also be claimed by owners. Vehicle owners will need to produce a driver’s license and vehicle ownership will need to be verified (registration and/or insurance).
Underground storage facilities are still inaccessible at this time and residents will need to work with the condominium association over the following week to gain access to that area.
To date, approximately 65% of the units have been accessed by evacuees. This service will be available until 3pm today, after which time control of the building will be turned back over to the condominium association, Medican.
A resident information session will be held at the Reception Centre at 2 pm today. Disaster Social Services caseworkers will be available to assist residents to begin making long-term accommodation. The Reception Centre is located at Southview Alliance Church, 1436 James McKevitt Road SW.
Due to ongoing site support, Northbound Millrise Blvd from Millrise Station (150 Millrise Blvd SW) to Millrise Drive SW is closed. Southbound Millrise Blvd is now open.
As of 8:15 p.m., on March 19, 2010
Care and control of the fire site has been transferred from The City to the Condo Board Association. The City will continue to assist the condo board in escorting residents to recover a limited amount of essential items until Saturday at 3 p.m..
The Reception Centre will be open again Saturday at Southview Alliance Church (1436 James McKevitt Road SW) at 9 a.m. to assist residents, with information briefings for impacted residents at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m..
The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing. Updates on cause are not expected until next week.
The roads are expected to re-open in the area as emergency vehicles leave the scene.
Care and control of the fire site has been transferred from The City to the Condo Board Association. The City will continue to assist the condo board in escorting remaining residents with recovering a limited amount of essential items until Saturday at 3 p.m.
Those residents who have not yet accessed their units can register at the grey tent in the parking lot adjacent to the Millrise Sobey’s to gain temporary access and recover limited belongings (2 boxes). Access to the site will be available from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. however those residents who have already accessed their units to recover belongings will be facilitated access through the condo board in the near future.
For questions about items in storage or storage bins, residents need to contact their condo board or management.
Vehicles will be retrieved from the parkade on Saturday so that residents can pick them up. More information about pickup locations will be provided as it becomes available. Please you ensure you have your driver’s licence and vehicle registration if available.
As of 6:40 p.m., on March 19, 2010
Residents of units 118 – 242, 324 - 342 will now be allowed temporary access to their units to retrieve personal belongings. These residents should report to the Calgary Police Service cruiser in the Sobey's Millrise parking lot. The Millrise Sobey's is located at 150 Millrise Blvd. SW.
Resident access to the building will be done for the day at 8 p.m.
The Reception Centre will be open again Saturday at Southview Alliance Church (1436 James McKevitt Road SW) at 9 a.m.
Resident information sessions will be held at the Reception Centre at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.. These sessions will cover updates on the impact of the fire and Disaster Social Services caseworkers will be available to assist residents with beginning the process of finding longer-term accommodations.
As of 3 p.m., on March 19, 2010
All units on all floors will now have temporary access to their units to retrieve limited belongings, with the following exceptions:
118-119 218-219 318-319 401-419
We are hopeful that units 118-119, 218-219, 318-319 will have access by 5:00pm tonight.
These residents should report to the Calgary Police Service cruiser in the Sobey's Millrise parking lot. The Millrise Sobey's is located at 150 Millrise Blvd. SW
As of 11 a.m., on March 19, 2010
Unit 11 residents have returned to their building, and Unit 23 is still declared un-habitable.
A structural engineer is on-site to assess for structural integrity and determine safety level. If the site is deemed safe for temporary re-entry, officials will go through the building to rescue pets and residents will be allowed to retrieve a limited number of small belongings.
The City is working on plan to retrieve approximately 50 vehicles from the parkade of Building 23 to a location where they can be picked up - owners will be provided with instructions on vehicle pick-up location.
Residents will be able to get updated information on calgary.ca or by calling 3-1-1.
They will be able to pick up their mail at the Canada Post Depot, located at 4141 118 Ave. S.E., Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Residents can call 403-974-2022 ext. 2218 to see if they have mail for pick-up.Disaster Social Services has service agreements in place to meet food, clothing and lodging needs of evacuees, therefore donations (or offers of lodging) are not being accepted at this time.
Please only call 3-1-1 for essential information.Road closures remain in effect.
At 12:08 p.m. Mar. 18
A fire was reported at 23 Millrise Drive SW. Upon arrival Calgary Fire Department personnel found a four story building on fire with flames and smoke coming from the building. The fire was aggressive in nature and before long Fire crews needed to be pulled from the building and an exterior defensive attack ensued. The building has 159 units with 150 occupied. Immediately adjacent to this building, 11 Millrise Drive SW, is a second building with 159 units with 100 occupied that has been exposed to smoke only. It is estimated that more than 400 residents have been evacuated as a result of this fire.
Active fire fighting continues at 23 Millrise Drive SW as a result of flare ups in the building. All known residents are out of both buildings.
23 Millrise Drive is not habitable, and it is recommended that residents of this building find longer-term accommodation plans. Structural engineers will be on site tomorrow to inspect the building.
Staff are working towards restoring electricity and gas service to 11 Millrise Drive in order to provide residents with access to their homes.
Calgary Police Service is on site and controlling the perimeter. Alberta Health Services EMS is also on site to assist Fire crews and bystanders. In addition, an on site reception tent has been established by Canada Task Force 2 for residents attempting to get access to their home. Animal and Bylaw Services has been matching animals with their owners and will ensure that all pets are cared for if owners cannot be found.
There has been one injury reported, a Firefighter who was transported to the Rockyview General Hospital and he is considered stable with minor injuries. Five Police Officers who were exposed to smoke have been treated by Alberta Health Service EMS.
A reception centre was established at the Southview Alliance Church located at 1436 James McKevitt Road S.W. At this time the centre is being staffed by Disaster Social Service staff who are assisting approximately 180 residents. Staff will be on site this evening until all displaced residents have been assisted. The reception centre will reopen tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.
All road closures and transit detours will remain in effect this evening and into tomorrow.
Calgarians say the Centre City is safer and cleaner over the past year, according the first Centre City Citizen Perception Survey which was conducted by phone earlier this year.
"Our investment in the Centre City is working," said Mayor Dave Bronconnier. "We've invested over $16 million in operating dollars in the Centre City, and added more than 100 officers to enhance cleanliness and safety, and to create a more vibrant core. And, it's clear Calgarians are seeing results with a cleaner, safer and more vibrant core."
Ninety per cent of citizens say that safety has improved or stayed the same and over 85 per cent are satisfied with the cleanliness of Centre City parks, pathways, sidewalks and streets.
The survey questions focused on downtown infrastructure, transportation and safety.
Of those surveyed, nine out of 10 Calgarians said they felt safe alone in the Centre City during daytime hours and nine out of 10 Centre City residents agreed it was a desirable place to live. Ten per cent of Calgarians that live outside the core indicated they were “somewhat” or “very likely” to relocate downtown.
Additional findings include:
Nine in 10 Calgarians reported that cleanliness in the Centre City has improved (27%) or stayed the same (62%) over the past year.
90% of Calgarians reported that safety in the Centre City has improved (42%) or remained the same (48%) over the past year.
Calgarians living in the Centre City noted the greatest improvements related to safety and cleanliness of the core in comparison to the other groups surveyed.
Two in three Calgarians said they were aware of the Calgary Police Services Beat Team initiative.
The most popular modes of transportation used by Calgarians to travel within the Centre City were reported as personal car (41%), walking and/or running (34%) and transit (21% LRT and bus).
Why Did The City of Calgary Conduct the Centre City Citizen Perception Survey?
In 2007, Calgary’s City Council approved The Centre City Plan. Since then The City has made a significant investment to implement the Plan and achieve its vision of a liveable, thriving and caring core.
Centre City Implementation co-ordinates corporate reporting, accountability and initiatives for the Centre City. The Centre City Citizen Perception Survey is part of this reporting process, and the survey’s purpose is to:
Assess the effectiveness of City of Calgary actions and initiatives in the Centre City.
Provide a benchmark against which future Centre City actions and initiatives can be gauged.
Generate information that may help The City of Calgary business units to better deliver programs and services within the Centre City.
The Centre City Citizen Perception Survey involved a stratified random sampling of 1,127 Calgarians over the age of 18. The telephone survey was conducted by research firm IPSOS Reid between November 12 to November 27, 2009. The survey data was analyzed and compiled by The City of Calgary’s Business & Marketing Research division. Results of a survey of this size are considered accurate to within +/- 2.3 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.
Calgary’s Centre City is where 159,000 Calgarians work at over 6,000 businesses. It is home to more than 30,000 people, 36 attractions, 25 annual festivals and 20 public parks.
The Centre City includes downtown and the surrounding communities of the Beltline (comprising the neighbourhoods of Connaught Centre, West Connaught Centre and East Victoria Crossing Centre), Chinatown, East Village, Eau Claire and the West End. The borders are the Bow and Elbow Rivers to the north and east and 17 Avenue South and 14 Street West.
City of Calgary vehicles really rack-up the miles, and safely.
In 2009, Calgary Transit drove approximately 50 million kilometres, while Fleet Services clocked another 22 million.
This is why in January 2009, a Vehicle Safety Committee (VSC) was formed to address, review and evaluate The City’s on-road performance.
“Together, we will strive to be the very best National Safety Code (NSC) operator in Alberta,” added Jean-paul Boyes, a training coordinator with Calgary Transit.
“Considering we have a transit ridership of 94 million passengers and an overall City fleet that operates more than 72 million kilometres per year, we are exceptionally safe.” We estimate one preventable collision for every 605,000 kms travelled,” said Boyes.
Committee members include representatives from Calgary Police Service, the Calgary Fire Department, Fleet Services and Calgary Transit.
The committee looks at the processes of all commercial vehicle operations, reviewing such questions as: “How are we doing? And, How do we measure up?” and ensures Calgary Transit and Fleet meet all legislation requirements and maintain inspection schedules.
Team coordinator, Brent Tario, said “The existence of this committee allows us to collectively compare our training and evaluation processes together, to raise the bar and improve carrier performance in the provincial and public eye.”
Other initiatives included driving evaluations on 1,000 operators and offering 300 employees enhanced driving courses.
Fleet Training Officer, Mike Ford, summed up driver performance at The City of Calgary:
“Our driver training programs are second to none and this committee is in place to ensure we continue to perform and comply provincially in all aspects of the Alberta Traffic Safety Act.”
This year marks a significant milestone for the Calgary Fire Department. In 2010, the department celebrates 125 years since the first fire service was established in our city.
“We’ve come a long way from the 22 volunteers who made up the Calgary Hook, Ladder and Bucket Corporation in 1885,” said Fire Chief Bruce Burrell. “Today, more than 1,350 men and women of the Calgary Fire Department are dedicated to serving and protecting our community.”
“We were fortunate to have the space donated to us by the Airport Authority, and we’ve used it to educate the public about what we do as a fire department,” said Burrell. “We’re about much more than fighting fires – we’re responsible for rescuing people from all kinds of predicaments, provide pre-hospital care support services, enforce various codes and safety regulations, and educate the public about fire safety.”
The airport display focuses on the fire department’s technical or “rescue” teams. Water and ice rescue, hazardous materials clean up, rescues requiring rope work, vehicle extrication, and “heavy” or structural collapse rescue teams are all featured in the display.
“We respond to almost 50,000 incidents in a year,” said Chief Burrell, “but 46 per cent of those are medical in nature and about 2,400 are fires. We hope that by profiling some of our technical teams, people will understand the vast expertise of the fire department, and that we participate in many different types of activities to keep Calgarians safe.”
The fire department has a host of events planned for the upcoming year to celebrate its 125th anniversary. The Firefighters Museum of Calgary will open May 29, and July 7 will see Fire host a huge Stampede Breakfast. A large public celebration to mark Fire’s birthday month will be held at the Fire Training Academy Aug. 21.
“To celebrate our birthday, we have several activities planned; from flying 125th flags outside our stations to hosting a curling bonspiel and putting some of our antique apparatus on display at Heritage Park. It’s going to be a great year!” said Burrell.
History buffs will also want to get a copy of Yours For Life: 125 years of Courage, Compassion and Service from the Calgary Fire Department. This hard cover coffee table book chronicles Fire’s history from inception to present-day, complete with historic photographs. Written by a professional writer and researcher, and designed by Creative Services, the book situates Fire’s history within the broader context of Calgary history.
“I’m extremely proud of this book – the articles are easy to read and the photos are breathtaking,” said Chief Burrell. “We also had tremendous support from the community to produce it – we raised $45, 000 to cover production costs.
“Anyone wanting a copy can purchase it after March 1 from Fire’s Hot Property store,” adds the Chief.
The new Third Street S.W. CTrain station opened for business today. The platform is the fourth to open as part of the Seventh Avenue Refurbishment project with Fourth Street S.W. expected to be completed early in 2011.
Featuring better lighting and improved accessibility to both Transit and surrounding buildings, the station has been the most anticipated in the downtown to date because of its proximity to popular commercial and business centres.
“This particular station is the hub of the downtown LRT corridor and is our busiest station with about 16,000 users per day,” said Mac Logan, Director of Transportation Infrastructure.
The new station is a first for the Refurbishment project in that it integrates storefronts with the platform. The City worked closely with 20 Vic Property Management to coordinate the renovations resulting in a complimentary streetscape.
The Refurbishment project is intended to improve the functionality of the corridor as well as its aesthetic appeal. In addition to new platforms, corridor upgrades include streetscape and sidewalk improvements, upgrades to street furnishings, modified bus bays and tree planting.
According to Logan, the completion of Third Street station marks the midpoint for the reconstruction of the corridor, with the next phase being to improve stations on the east and west ends of downtown.
Calgarians are being urged to protect their personal information and the environment at the same time by recycling shredded paper.
“Shredded paper can be properly recycled in blue carts or at community recycling depots,” says Paula Magdich, The City’s Blue Cart Recycling Program Leader. “People just need to remember to place it in a clear plastic bag so it can be easily separated at the recycling sorting facility.”
Shredding paper prior to recycling is a way to protect oneself from identity theft, one of the fastest-growing crimes in Canada.
Throwing unopened mail in a recycling bin can put you at great risk for criminals using your information to impersonate you and engage in other fraudulent activity at your expense.
If you’re in the Municipal Building over the next two days, you’ll see the excitement of thousands of school learning about safety.
On March 10 and 11, about 3,200 Grade 4 to 7 Calgary students will be attending Safety Expo in the Municipal Atrium and other nearby venues. The event will feature more than 35 interactive booths, five workshops, “Education Corner” presentations and hands-on learning opportunities.
“A disturbing number of children suffer from injuries from misusing appliances and electrical outlets,” said Bill Bruce, Director of Animal and Bylaw Services. “This expo gives kids the tools to help them make good, safe decisions, identify saftey concerns and report them which will reduce injuries.”
Since 2003, numerous partner organizations and volunteers have delivered safety awareness to tens of thousands of Calgary school children.
The Grade 4-7 students are a perfect target audience when it comes to safety.
Students from Calgary Catholic, public, private and charter schools are invited to attend the event. Attendance is free and bus fees are paid for by ENMAX.
During Safety Expo each year, the Jim Gray Safer Calgary Awards are also announced. The annual awards honour groups and individual Calgarians for their contributions to violence prevention, injury prevention and safety in the natural or built environment.
***Update: over 1,200 people attended this event and more than $40,000 was raised. Thanks to all involved!
Orphaned girls in Haiti will receive much needed help because The City of Calgary, City of Windsor and artists nation-wide are teaming up to raise funds.
In the wake of the quake that debilitated the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, Beth Gignac, manager of Arts and Culture with The City of Calgary recalled a gentleman named Frank Chauvin from her hometown of Windsor who had, in the late 1980’s, opened and ran an orphanage out of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince.
“My grandmother had volunteered there, and when the earthquake happened, the first person I thought of was Frank,” said Beth.
Upon further research, Beth learned that the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit on January 12, 2010 had severely damaged Le Foyer des Filles Chretiennes Orphanage.
Three girls and an employee died that day and the buildings were declared unsafe to live in.
“For the two weeks after the earthquake, I was devastated because I couldn’t get a hold of anyone,” said Frank, a former police detective from his Windsor home.
Eventually, he was able to speak with a woman who has run the orphanage since its inception and he heard first-hand of the extreme damage.
“She has a big mess on her hands – it’s definitely not safe for the kids,” he said. The girls are currently housed in tents in the compound and neighbouring lots.
“We have to rebuild and relocate to a safer, more stable area,” explained Frank, adding that a place has been found 20 kilometres outside the capital, and the building process is in place, once funds and a dwindling supply of materials arrive.
Beth Gignac said that she was contacted by local artists about hosting a fundraising event shortly after news of the calamity broke. She contacted acquaintances at The City of Windsor who put her in touch with Councillor Jo-Anne Gignac (no relation to Beth).
“An extraordinary thing happened,” said Jo-Anne of Beth’s proposal to help Frank, a man who she’d never actually met. The two municipalities determined to assist these 70 or so Haitian girls and began making phone calls to artists in each community to see what support was available.
“There are a lot of great causes, in this case we know that every penny raised will help those girls in that orphanage in Port-au-Prince,” said Jo-Anne.
The result of the two Cities’ efforts is the Windsor Artists for Haiti Event on March 9, and Calgary’s Artists for Haitian Relief Event on March 10. There will also be a Calgary art exhibit fundraiser at the Axis gallery in Hotel Arts in April. Beth hopes these two events will raise at least $50,000 to go along with Windsor’s funds.
This is all a bit overwhelming to Frank, who said the cross-country events “Scared him at first” because he wasn’t accustomed to people fundraising for him. He preferred the neighbourly, spirit-of-community way of raising funds: having people approach him and offer their assistance by way of volunteering, or donating funds.
“This is big. The earthquake shook everything – we can’t walk away from it – we’ve got to go for it,” said Frank, almost at a loss for words, describing Haitian orphans today and what many Canadians will be doing over the upcoming weeks to help them. “We turn girls away every day . . . we’ve got to feed and educate these girls. These concerts....it’s just fantastic.”
The Calgary City News Blog is written by a team of City of Calgary employees and will focus on City of Calgary related stories. We will provide Calgarians with the facts about City of Calgary programs and initiatives. Please ask questions or post comments about The City and we will respond promptly and try our best to facilitate conversation.
The City of Calgary is hosting a Summer Hiring Fair for 15 to 24 year olds to connect with employers hiring in the Calgary area.
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