City wins water safety awards

The City of Calgary has won four awards for “preventing drowning and water-related injury” by the Lifesaving Society, a charitable organization who train lifeguards to prevent water injury.

“It is through the dedicated efforts of many Lifesaving Society trained instructors and NLS lifeguards across Alberta and the Northwest Territories that people can access our programs and services in their community,” says Rob Campbell, President of the Lifesaving Society. “By taking Lifesaving Society education and training, people learn to be safe around water and are able to respond to emergencies as well as lead healthy active lives.”

Each year, the Lifesaving Society presents Affiliate Recognition Awards to acknowledge contributions to the Society’s drowning and injury prevention goals.

This year the Lifesaving Society presented four Lifesaving Society Affiliate Recognition Awards to the City of Calgary for accumulated the highest point total for teaching specific Lifesaving Society education and training programs within an Alberta or Northwest Territory community of over 100,000.

1. Class 1: In recognition as our top performer Affiliate for teaching all Lifesaving Society education and training programs.
2. Class 16: In recognition of teaching our learn-to-swim program – Swim for Life.
3. Class 17: In recognition of teaching our suite of first aid training programs.
4. Class 19: In recognition of training National Lifeguard Service (NLS) certified lifeguards.
   

The awards were presented at the Lifesaving Society’s Annual General Meeting and Branch Recognition Event on Friday, June 18th at the Calgary Jewish Community Centre.

The Lifesaving Society, Canada’s lifeguarding experts, is a national charity working to prevent drowning and water-related injury. They aim to save lives and prevent injury through training programs, Water Smart® public education, water incident research, aquatic safety management, and lifesaving sport.

For more information about the Lifesaving Society, please visit www.lifesaving.org

City Hosts Canada Day Celebrations

Once again, The City of Calgary will be hosting Calgary’s largest Canada Day celebrations on July 1 at both Prince’s Island Park and Olympic Plaza.

With music, activities, a climbing wall, crafts and temporary tattoos and more the celebrations promise something for Calgarians of all ages.

“It’s all free and it’s for all ages,” says Stephanie Barnett, Event Coordinator with The City of Calgary. “We’ll be featuring regional and local music acts as well as vendors and activities for all ages.”

Based on past year’s attendance, The City is expecting close to 80,000 people to take part in the festivities from 12 - 6 p.m. at Prince's Island Park. Prince's Island Park will feature a family stage with performances by Wagonstage, Gustavo the Impossiblist and Sandbox Theatre as well as two music stages hosting acts such as Shane Ghostkeeper, Steve Pineo and The Wandering V's.

As part of the Calgary Chinatown Centenary Celebrations, the celebrations at Prince’s Island Park will feature performances by youth members of the Calgary Chinese community, including martial arts demonstrations and musical and dance showcases.

“On Canada Day, and as part of the celebration of Chinatown’s 100th anniversary, the Chinese community hopes that all Calgarians will embrace Chinese culture,” says Jason Luan, Community Liason with The City of Calgary. “These performances by Chinatown’s youth are part of celebrating Chinatown’s past while saluting its future.”

Another 20,000 Calgarians are expected to take in the celebrations at Olympic Plaza from 8 – 11 p.m. with musical performances by Wil, Souljah Fyah and The United Steel Workers of Montreal. The City’s fireworks display will start at 10:45 p.m.

If you are unable to make it to Olympic Plaza to see the fireworks, all is not lost.

“The fireworks will be visible from the surrounding areas,” says Barnett. “As long as you can see the Municipal Building and Old City Hall, you’ll be able to take in the fireworks.”

For more information on The City's Canada Day events, visit calgary.ca.

City of Calgary Canada Day Hours

The City of Calgary is adjusting its hours of operation for services and facilities on Canada Day, Thursday, July 1, 2010.

City Administrative Offices

All administrative offices are closed on Canada Day, Thursday, July 1, 2010 and will reopen Friday, July 2, 2010.

Calgary Transit

Calgary Transit will provide a Sunday level of service on Canada Day, Thursday, July 1, 2010. Regular service will resume on Friday, July 2, 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.

Waste & Recycling
Residential collection schedules and pickup at community recycling depots will continue as usual on Canada Day, Thursday, July 1, 2010.

All landfills will be open 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Animal Services Centre
2201 Portland Street S.E.
Canada Day, Thursday, July 1, 2010: Closed
Friday, July 1: Open 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Recreation
For more information please visit calgary.ca/recreation

Arenas/Athletic Parks
All arenas and Athletic Parks will be closed, but available for bookings. For facility bookings call 403-268-3800 in advance.

Indoor Pools
All City of Calgary pools will be closed on Canada Day.

Southland Leisure Centre
Open from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Arenas – Closed

Village Square Leisure Centre
Open from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Arenas – Closed

Art Centres
Wildflower Arts Centre and North Mount Pleasant Arts Centre will be closed to the public on Canada Day, Thursday, July 1, 2010, and will be reopen on Friday, July 2, 2010.

City of Calgary Parks

Inglewood Bird Sanctuary
Inglewood Bird Sanctuary Nature Centre will be closed to the public on Canada Day, Thursday, July 1, 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
Fort Calgary will be hosting its Canada Day celebrations from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. including a free pancake breakfast, games, a petting zoo and live stage entertainment.

Heritage Park
Dominion Day/Canada Day Celebrations, July 1 - Family fun all day long, western entertainment, and free pancake breakfast between 9:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

The Deane House
The Deane House will be open 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Canada Day, Thursday, July 1, 2010.

Calgary Zoo
Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily.

TELUS World of Science
Open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Canada Day, Thursday, July 1, 2010.

Construction Zone Safety

The City of Calgary is asking Calgarians to limit their speed, especially in construction zones. While having to slow down may mean a couple of extra minutes on your commute, it’s necessary in order to keep City workers safe.

So why does it seem like there’s always construction on Calgary’s streets?

It’s partially because of the size of the job - The City maintains over 15,000 kilometres of road. Underneath those roads our water utility pipes, if placed end to end, could stretch as far as Santiago, Chile.

Every spring and summer Water Services replaces around 8 kilometres of water pipes.

“When you see our crews, keep in mind they are playing a big part in making sure your water service is reliable,” says Michelle Mueller with The City’s Water Services.

In the 1980s, there were around 1,800 water main breaks a year but through aggressive prevention measures, like water main replacements, Calgary now averages between 300 and 400 water main breaks a year – one of the lowest water main break rates in North America.

“Maintaining the pipe infrastructure ensures that people have reliable water service year round,” says Mueller.

City crews make sure that Calgary’s infrastructure is efficient and updated – an important and often thankless job that puts them at risk every day.

Every year, people are injured or killed in construction related collisions.

The City is urging motorists to slow down, be alert and most of all, be patient when driving through a construction zone.

“They’re out there fixing our roads,” says Stephen Tauro with The City’s Transportation Department. “Our crews need a safe work environment, just like anyone else. This is their office.”

According to Tauro, there can be a lot of distractions on the roadway, especially in construction zones.

“The lanes could veer or narrow. Driving at an unsafe speed for the road condition, even when not in a construction zone, can be hazardous.”

Tauro believes that Calgarians are naturally inclined to look out for each others’ well-being, but reminds people to be patient and courteous to other drivers.

“For example, alternate traffic when there’s a lane-drop so that everyone can get to where they’re going.”

And above all, keep your cool. There are people under those hard hats. Help keep them safe while they work.

For current information about road closures and detours, visit calgary.ca/trafficinfo.

Summer fun: come and get it

Summertime is officially here and, as all long time Calgarians know, you have to get out and enjoy the nice weather while you can. That’s why The City is putting on some exciting events this summer. No matter where you live in Calgary or what you like to do, there’s something for you.

First up -Canada Day. July 1, Prince’s Island Park will come alive with music, entertainment, food and festivities. The entertainment will continue into the evening at Olympic Plaza, with live music and pyrotechnics. Get more information at www.calgary.ca/recreation.

Most Wednesdays throughout the summer, Olympic Plaza will showcase local artists with High Noon Music. From June 23rd until September 1st a series of musical guest will play at twelve O’clock at the downtown venue.

The acts are:
June 23 - Joe Nolan
July 7 - Chris Gheran
July 21 - Ruth Purves Smith & The 581
July 28 - The latenite hotels
Aug. 4 - GUNN
Aug. 11 - Dragon Fli Empire
Aug. 18 - Hurricane Felix & the Southern Twisters
Aug. 25 - Trina Nestibo
Sept. 1 - Bil Hetherington and The Asian Tigers

Recreation will also be featuring Children’s Art Exhibitions From now through July 15, at North Mount Pleasant Arts Centre, 523 – 27Ave. N.W., and Wildflower Arts Centre, 3363 Spruce Dr. S.W. www.calgary.ca/arts.

Stage performances continue with WagonStage Theatre. Student actors from the University of Calgary’s Drama Department, in partnership with The City of Calgary Recreation, will be performing SHOOSHOO and VLUM, written by Clem Martini and directed by Braden Griffiths. The shows are 50 minutes in length and include music plus audience participation. Admission is free, performances take place in Calgary parks from July until mid-August:

Thursday July 1, noon, Canada Day Celebrations, Prince’s Island Park
Saturday July 3, 2 p.m., Stanley Park
Tuesday July 6, noon, Olympic Plaza
Tuesday July 13, 2 p.m., Riley Park
Friday July 23, 10 a.m., Variety Park, South Glenmore Park
Tuesday July 27, 2 p.m., Riley Park
Tuesday Aug. 3, noon, Olympic Plaza
Friday Aug. 13, 11 a.m., Riley Park

For people seeking adventure and with a bit more energy, The City will be hosting Community Mobile Skate Parks in all corners of Calgary in addition to skateboard programs at Shaw Millennium Park. Each park is equipped with a combination of roll-ins, fun boxes and pyramids with rails, grind-boxes, quarter-pipes, wall rides and half pipes. Helmets and signed waivers are required.

What’s a Calgary summer without Stampede Breakfasts? Nothing! So mark your calendars for the Southland Stampede Breakfast on Thursday, July 15from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. With free food, music, dancing, a petting-zoo and face paintingit’s sure to satisfy any inkling you may have for a classic cowboy breakfast.

If clowning around is something you prefer to do during the summer, then the Car Full of Clowns Carnival is the event for you. This Celebration of International Clown Week in August includes carnival activities, clown magic, skits and walkabouts.This is a free event, regular admission applies to facility amenities, and it is held at Southland Leisure Centre – Sunday, Aug. 1, from 1 – 4 p.m. and Village Square Leisure Centre, Wednesday, Aug. 4, from 6 – 9 p.m.

Finally, if you’re working on your golf swing this summer, then the best place for you to be is at one of The City’s golf courses. The City of Calgary Recreation provides summer golf lessons for adults, women, juniors and seniors at McCall Lake, Confederation Park and Shaganappi Point Golf Courses.

Beginner nights are held at McCall Lake Par 3, June 28, July 12, 19, 26, and Aug. 9, 16, 23 and 30, Mondays from 5 p.m. until closing. A golf-pro is on site from 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. to provide free golf tips. Call the McCall Lake Golf Course at 403-974-1805, four days in advance to book a tee time for this initiative only.

There are so many ways to enjoy summer in the City of Calgary. Visit www.calgary.ca/summer for more information or for an easier way to stay informed subscribe to the City Talk Newsletter at www.Calgary.ca/citytalk.

It’s your summer, don’t miss it.

Calgarians celebrate revitalized 16 Avenue North

By: Adrian Oruclar

16 Avenue North between 14 Street N.W. and 6 Street N.E. has undergone a major redevelopment to enhance mobility and quality of life in surrounding areas, and The City is encouraging Calgarians to check out the completed redevelopment. At the Connect 16 community event held on Saturday, June 19, local residents and businesses came out to reconnect and celebrate the bright future of 16 Avenue North.

The roadway has been widened from four to six lanes, but that’s just one of the improvements that have been made along the corridor.

After extensive input from the communities surrounding 16 Avenue, the original plans to widen the road were revised to include a new center median, improved lighting and signal upgrades, and the creation of a pedestrian friendly atmosphere with wider sidewalks and more trees. Additionally, engagement with local communities resulted in traffic management plans being developed to address access and circulation needs.

During Saturday’s event, members of the community took in the sunny weather at the Balmoral School grounds while enjoying a pancake breakfast, live entertainment and activities for children.

“What we really wanted with this event was to reconnect residents and businesses along 16 Avenue and let Calgarians know that the corridor is ready to be explored,” said Jennifer de Vries, Communications Strategist with Transportation.

“We consider this event to have been a huge success, and this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of local businesses and members of the community.”

To hear the story of 16 Avenue North directly from individuals who live and work along the corridor, check out the below video.

Energizing the downtown core

Downtown Calgary has a new powerhouse – literally. On June 18 The City of Calgary and ENMAX, a wholly owned subsidiary of The City, opened a new-to-Calgary concept in downtown infrastructure planning - The Calgary Downtown District Energy Centre. Based on successful models found in many European cities the District Energy Centre will provide heat and power to buildings in the downtown core.

“District Energy demonstrates Calgary’s commitment to long term infrastructure investment,” said Mayor Dave Bronconnier. “This project is integral to future development in East Village and supports municipal sustainable development by providing the basis for integrated energy planning.”
The building generates power through the use of natural gas, rather than coal, and directs the heat energy released in the process to the nearby 10 million square feet of new and existing downtown buildings through a network of insulated underground pipes.

The Federal and Provincial Governments and The City of Calgary announced its approval for the District Energy Project in March 2007. The District Energy Centre is located specifically to service current municipal-owned buildings along with other downtown buildings and areas soon to be developed.
The construction of the District Energy Centre was a cooperative effort through the Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CAMRIF). CAMRIF is a partnership among federal, provincial and municipal governments. Over the program's life, CAMRIF has directed more than $321 million in federal, provincial and municipal funding to enhance municipal infrastructure and improve Albertans' quality of life; investments that not only support long-term economic growth but, more importantly, protect the environment.

*** Energy Minister Ron Liepert, Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier and President and CEO of ENMAX Gary Holden open the District Energy Centre June 18th ***

Music in the Park concerts kick off at Baker Park

The first of The City’s Music in the Park concerts was held yesterday in Baker Park. More than 500 Calgarians took in music by Camie Leard, Ramblin’ Ambassadors and Michael Bernard Fitzgerald along with air brushed tattoos, a magician and free mini donuts.

Next up in the Music in the Park concert series, which is in celebration of Parks 100th anniversary, is a concert in South Glenmore Park on Saturday, July 17, 2 – 5 p.m. with performances by Los Morenos, Joe-Defendants and Sherry-Lee Wisor Trio. 

More information on Music in the Park and other Parks 100th anniverary celebration events is available at calgary.ca/parks or on the Parks 100 Anniversary Facebook page.

Celebrating the Bow River Through Art

If you happen to spot a little wooden boat floating along the Bow River this summer, share your story.

The boats are part of Celebration of the Bow River 2010 public art series, which kicked off last weekend at Douglasbank and Fish Creek Parks when artist Peter Von Tiesenhausen released 100 wooden, hand-carved, nine-inch long boats into the Bow River.

Citizens who find a boat are encouraged to share their story on calgary.ca.

According to Von Tiesenhausen, his interactive instalment titled Passages represents the relationship between water and life. The boats’ journeys downstream highlight our connection to the Bow, its upstream and downstream watershed and the life forms supported by the river.

“This public art event reminds us in an innovative way about Calgary’s most precious natural resource and how our actions affect its health and the long-term viability of our city,” says Dianne Quan, Public Art Program coordinator.

“We encourage the public to keep an eye out for the boats and to share their stories if they find one,” says Quan. “This is just one of the six projects in the series and we hope people come out and enjoy the art and celebrate the Bow River.”

Celebration of the Bow River 2010 series is part of The City of Calgary’s Public Art Plan, which aims to build awareness, appreciation and understanding of The City’s commitment to protect and sustain our rivers and natural environments. The series features six different artists who will create public art events that draw people to the river and present new perspectives and ideas on environmental issues.

For more information on the Celebration of the Bow River 2010, visit calgary.ca/bow.

Go Skateboarding Day kicks it up a notch in Shaw Millennium Park

Calgarians are invited to celebrate “Go Skateboarding Day” downtown in one of North America’s most exciting urban Skateboard parks. This free, all ages welcome event brings local skaters, sponsors, and a “How fast can you skate?” radar gun timed digital display together to promote skateboarding in a positive environment. There will be food, drinks, best tricks prizes and free stuff.

Where:

Go Skateboarding Day is all happening in Shaw Millennium Park (1220 Ninth Ave S.W.)

Date:

Monday June 21, 2010

Time:

4 – 7 p.m.

Who:

Local skaters and sponsors including Calgary Association of Skateboard Enthusiasts (C.A.S.E), Source, Mission, The City of Calgary and a number of other sponsors.

Skateboarders in Calgary are encourages to enjoy the day, and get active on their boards in the park.

For more information on Mills Go Skateboarding Day, visit Calgary.ca/summer.

Free Father’s Day concert in Baker Park

Calgarians are invited to a free concert in Baker Park this Sunday, June 20, which is part of The City of Calgary Parks 100th anniversary celebrations.

The Baker Park concert is the first of four free family concerts Calgarians are invited to attend this summer. There will be one concert held each month from June – September, in a different quadrant of the city.

Where:
Baker Park (9333 Scenic Bow Rd. N.W.)

Date:
Sunday, June 20, 2010

Time:
2 – 5 p.m.

Who:
Performances from Michael Bernard Fitzgerald, Ramblin’ Ambassadors, and Camie Leard.

Calgarians are encouraged to attend this event and enjoy local talent in a beautiful outdoor park setting.

For more information on the concerts, or on Parks 100th anniversary celebrations, visit calgary.ca/parks.

City Administration and City Auditor agree no Fraud Found in Procurement Audit

In a meeting of The City’s audit committee today City Auditor Tracy McTaggart stated that her audit of The City’s procurement processes found no fraud. The audit initially went to committee on May 20, 2010.

“The audit report does not raise allegations of fraud, I did not say that we had found fraud, I said we have a number of matters related to procurement under investigation in the whistleblowers program,” said McTaggart.

After The City Auditor’s report on May 20, The City’s Chief Financial Officer, Eric Sawyer, led a review of over 600 procurement purchase orders and files that were part of the City Auditor's review, covering the period of January 2006 through April 2009. All Whistle-Blower Program files from inception of the program to May 20, 2010 were also reviewed, based on information provided by the City Auditor.

Sawyer’s review also found no evidence of fraud.

“There was no evidence of fraud found in any of the files that were looked at by The City Auditor,” said City of Calgary Chief Financial Officer Eric Sawyer.

While agreeing that no fraud was found, both the City Auditor and City administration agree that there are steps that need to be undertaken to improve The City’s procurement processes.

To further review The City’s past procurement processes, Council approved the City Manager’s recommendation to bring in external auditors to look at high-risk procurement files, which are those files where substantial dollars are at risk and those that warranted further analysis.

Only Rain Down the Storm Drain

Stormwater and wastewater are different things, and travel different routes back to the river.

Wastewater is water from indoor taps and toilets. It goes down the drains inside your house to the treatment plant, where it is cleaned up before going back to the river. Stormwater, or runoff, is water that goes from your property down the street. This stormwater eventually travels into our creeks and rivers.

When it rains, it pours. Straight into the river.

Every time it rains or snow melts, streets, driveways, parking lots and your lawn get a bath. Dirt, oil, gasoline, gravel, salt, garbage, animal droppings and chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides are washed away into the storm sewers. The last stop for stormwater is through outfalls - the big drains you see you along the riverbanks - and into our waterways that aquatic wildlife calls home.

From your home to theirs: innocent bystanders

Our rivers provide an important habitat for fish and other aquatic life. Our rivers are also our source for clean drinking water. They are a precious natural resource. Our everyday activities can have a big impact on natural habitats. Pollution from stormwater can hurt or kill fish, birds, frogs, insects and the plants they need for food and shelter. Pollution culprits include:

• Soap from washing car in the driveway.
• Pesticides and fertilizers.
• Dirt like silt and gravel.
• Automotive chemicals like motor oil, gasoline and antifreeze.
• Sidewalk salt.
• Pet waste.
• Garbage.
  

Did you Know?

Following The City of Calgary's Drainage Bylaw helps protect our rivers!

What we do to manage and control the substances and materials that enter our drainage system does make a difference and will have a positive impact on the quality and quantity of stormwater entering our rivers.

The City of Calgary Releases Centre City Annual Report

The City of Calgary released its 2009 Centre City Annual Report today.

The report highlights major projects and programs implemented in 2009 in the downtown core.

“We have made a significant investment in our Centre City,” said Mayor Dave Bronconnier. “The Centre City is the economic engine of our city. Over 40 per cent of Calgary’s total business and non-residential property tax revenue is generated here, so when the Centre City thrives, so too does the rest of our city.”

With a focus on safety, cleanliness, transportation, public spaces and community, the report outlines key achievements:

• Calgary Police Service launched the beat officer initiative with 68 new officers patrolling the Centre City day and night, totalling 21, 592 patrol hours since the program launch in June 2009.
• In the first Centre City Citizen Perception Survey, 90 per cent of Calgarians reported safety in the Centre City had improved (42%) or stayed the same (48%) in 2009.
• In the same survey, nine in ten Calgarians reported that cleanliness in the Centre City had improved (27%) or remained the same (62%) over 2009, reflecting the many City led cleaning initiatives, such as the Clean to the Core small litter bin and recycling initiatives and the private property graffiti abatement pilot programs
• Centre City improvement efforts continued through beautification programs, open space enhancements and hosting of large events, such as WorldSkills and Grey Cup celebrations;
• Many programs were initiated to improve Centre City quality of life and build a sense of community for low-income and vulnerable residents, including afterschool youth programs and THIS IS MY CITY community cultural development project.
• The refurbishment of 7 Avenue CTrain stations to improve accessibility and safety
• East Village redevelopment achievements including the RiverWalk and the release of the area’s Master Plan.
  

The report also highlights The City's 2010 plan for the Centre City, focusing on commuting downtown, improving cleanliness and safety, creating vibrant public spaces and nurturing community.

The work being undertaken in the core is directed by the Centre City Plan (2007), which outlines a 30-year vision to create a livable, thriving and caring core.

Calgarians are encouraged to view the Centre City annual report here.

About Calgary’s Centre City

Calgary’s Centre City is vitally important. It’s where 159,000 Calgarians work at over 6,000 businesses. It is home to more than 34,000 people, 25 public parks and hundreds of events, shops and restaurants.

The Centre City includes downtown and the surrounding communities of the Beltline, 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. Click here to see a Centre City map.

City Hall flags flown at half-mast today

To honour Sergeant Martin Goudreault an Alberta-based soldier who was killed in Afghanistan earlier this month, historic City Hall flags will be flown at half-mast from sunrise to sunset today, the day of Sergeant Goudreault’s funeral.

Flags at the Alberta Legislature Building will also be flown at half-mast.

Our deepest condolences.

A free daisy for Dad

The City of Calgary Cemeteries will be giving away free daisies this week to remember your Dad on Father’s day.

Flowers will be issued from the Queen’s Park Cemetery administration office for placement at any City of Calgary Cemetery.

Where:
Queen’s Park Cemetery
3219 - 4th St. N.W.

When:
Between 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on any of these days:
Wednesday, June 16 – inside the administration building
Thursday, June 17 – inside the administration building
Friday, June 18 - inside the administration building
Saturday, June 19 – outside the administration building
Sunday, June 20 – outside the administration building

Here is a video tour of Queen's Park Cemetery Mausoleum.


View Larger Map

The new face of 16 Avenue North

After years of consulting, planning and construction, it is time to celebrate the upgraded 16 Avenue North.

The road has been widened from four to six lanes and 11 signalized intersections have been upgraded to smooth the commute for those driving Calgary’s main east-west corridor.

Sidewalks have also been widened, new streetlights installed, and trees and shrubs planted to make this urban portion of the Trans-Canada Highway more pedestrian friendly.

“This is a place integrating land use, urban design and mobility to serve three major roles: build community, provide a people-friendly space and as a route for diverse modes of travel,” says Jennifer de Vries, Communications Strategist with Transportation.

A land use policy was developed to promote increasing population density by supporting community services and local businesses.

Safety and access were developed as part of the areas traffic management plan and urban design guidelines were created for future redevelopment in the area.

“Now that 16 Avenue North is nearing completion, this revitalized 16 Ave creates a vibrant atmosphere for pedestrians and building communities while being an efficient route for many forms of travel,” says Project Manager Kiran Dave.

Sixteenth Avenue North was part of the village of Crescent Heights until annexed by The City of Calgary in the early 1900s. An electric trolley ran down the artery connecting the area with downtown from 1911 to the mid-1900s. The electric trolley was slowly phased out and replaced with buses. In fact, Calgary’s first park and ride was on the Tuxedo bus loop in 1956 and one of three trial express buses started on October 21, 1957 – the Yellow Pennant Express from Capitol Hill.

This Saturday the public are being invited to Connect 16, a celebration of the new 16 Avenue North.

This event will delve into the rich history and explore the vibrant businesses and thriving communities along the route.

Date: June 19, 2010
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Balmoral School Grounds, 220 16 Ave N.W.

Free pancakes are being served between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., speeches by attending dignitaries will commence at 11 a.m. and there will be entertainment for the whole family throughout the event.

***Aerial shot taken July, 2008, looking east down 16 Avenue North from 14 st. N.W.
***The black and white photo is courtesy of the Glenbow Archives NA-5600-7643.

Red lily beetle: New garden pest recently discovered in Calgary

A new garden pest has arrived in Calgary, called the red lily beetle (Lilioceris lilii).

These tiny, insects are strong fliers and can easily spread to gardens throughout the city, munching on wild and planted lilies. Daylilies are not attacked by this pest.

“The red lily beetle is a voracious eater and can consume a lily plant in less than one day,” says Simon Wilkins, Integrated Pest Management Coordinator for The City of Calgary. “Early detection is an important step in protecting lily plants.”

Bright red adult beetles, are about 6 to 8 millimetres long and can be seen chewing on leaves of native and garden lilies in early spring and again in fall.

Throughout spring and summer, orange larvae covered in a black slimy coating also attack various parts of the lily plant and can completely destroy mature plants if populations reach high enough numbers.

Prevention and Treatment

Home owners and landscape gardeners can avoid bringing red lily beetles into gardens by checking the soil around new bulbs and plants for both larvae and adult beetles.

During the growing season, inspect lily foliage for the presence of eggs, larvae and adults. Hand-remove any beetles that are found and place individuals into soapy water. Adult beetles will drop off plants if disturbed, so place a light coloured cloth or bucket of soapy water below the leaves being inspected. Sprinkling diatomaceous earth directly on these beetles will also control them by creating abrasions that will cause them to dry out. Diatomaceous earth is a naturally occurring, silica-based, organic material that can be used in powder form as a mild abrasive.

For more information please visit calgary.ca/parks.

City celebrates BirthPlace Forest program's legacy

It was Calgary’s largest birthday party yesterday as thousands of Calgarians celebrated the births of their babies with a visit to the latest BP BirthPlace Forest.

Today’s ceremony also marked the conclusion of Calgary’s BP BirthPlace Forest program, and provided the partners – BP Canada Energy Company, The City of Calgary Parks, Golden Acre Garden Sentres Ltd. and Alberta Health Services-Calgary – with an opportunity to acknowledge the legacy this successful program has created.

“This program has allowed us to expand our urban forest in a way that would not have been possible without our partners,” said Russell Friesen, Urban Forestry Coordinator, The City of Calgary Parks. “We are thankful for this partnership which we are proud to say has enabled the planting of over 54,000 trees to Calgary’s urban forest over the past nine years. It has been an incredible success and although the program in its current form will end this year, the legacy of these forests will live on for many years to come.”

“At BP, we are so proud of how much the program has contributed to Calgary’s urban forests. We hope that Calgary families will grow their appreciation of the environment through continued enjoyment of the BP BirthPlace Forests as they mature in the coming years,” said Anita Perry, BP Canada Vice President, Communications and External Affairs. “This lasting legacy of more than 50,000 trees is a reminder of the importance of the environment and the need for urban forests.”

The BP BirthPlace Forest partnership funding agreement between BP Canada and The City of Calgary ended December 31, 2009 and the 2009 forest at Southland Park is the final forest under the current program. The partners are taking this time to evaluate and explore future opportunities.

The original goals of the BP BirthPlace Forest program, including educating Calgarians about the importance of Calgary's urban forest and increasing a sense of connection to, ownership of, and pride about the health of our urban forest, will continue to be supported by the nine BP BirthPlace forests as they mature in coming years.

The partners encourage all Calgarians to visit the nine forests and hope that families will continue to make a tradition of taking their babies as they grow to visit these forests in order to build children's appreciation of the environment at a young age.

Background:
In 2000, The City of Calgary and BP Canada Energy Company agreed to invest and participate in The City’s “Forever Green” project – a project designed to encourage Calgary communities to plant trees in Calgary’s neighbourhood communities. Through this agreement, the BP BirthPlace Forest program was born.

Together with Alberta Health Services (Calgary Zone) and Golden Acre Garden Centres Ltd., the partners have since seen over 54,000 trees planted at nine sites.

This unique initiative has created a living legacy for Calgary’s newborns; tied the growth of young families to the growth of Calgary’s trees; and fostered a greater awareness and appreciation of our environment among Calgarians of all social, cultural and economic backgrounds.

BP BirthPlace Forest directly links the growth of our children with the health and growth of our tree population. Through BP BirthPlace Forest, Calgarians can positively demonstrate pride and community spirit. The result is a lasting legacy whereby the communities’ urban forest canopy continues to grow while greenhouse emissions are reduced.

BP BirthPlace Forests:

2001 - Elliston Park 17 Ave and 60 St. SE 7,600 trees planted
2002 - Silver Springs Silver Springs Gate NW 7,000 trees planted
2003 - McCall Lake Golf Course 1600 – 32 Ave NE 6,000 trees planted
2004 - Blackfoot 58 Ave and 12 St. SE 6,000 trees planted
2005 - McCall Lookout 34-38 Ave and 11A St. NE 5,500 trees planted
2006 - Heritage Grove 5900 Deerfoot Tr. SE 6,000 trees planted
2007 - Beddington 300 Beddington Tr. NE 6,000 trees planted
2008 - Fish Creek 15440 Bow Bottom Tr. SE 6,000 trees planted
2009 – Southland Deerfoot Tr. & Southland Dr. S.E. 4,500 trees planted

Calgary Transit set to double the size of its CTrain fleet

Yesterday, Calgary Transit received the first of the 38 new CTrain cars it purchased to help meet the increased demand on Calgary’s public transit system.

The addition of these 38 new cars will increase the number of CTrain cars to 193, more than doubling the size of its fleet since 2001.

“The addition of these new CTrain cars is an important step towards meeting the needs of Calgarians, accommodating ridership growth and introducing future four-car trains to Calgary’s LRT system,” said Mayor Dave Bronconnier.

The new cars have a number of additional features including side mounted seating (which allows for greater capacity in each of the cars) onboard video monitoring and recording, automated station announcements and full air conditioning. In addition, the cars will have interior signage that will indicate the next stop and any applicable special messages.

The $136 million for the purchase of the CTrain cars came from the Government of Alberta‘s Municipal Sustainability Initiative.

More than $2 billion has been invested in Calgary’s LRT system since its inception in 1981.

Calgary Police Service supports youth development through sport and the arts

The Calgary Police Service and Hockey Calgary continue to bring our national sport into the lives of youth who are newcomers to our country or from diverse communities and have not had the opportunity to be exposed to hockey.

This cutting-edge initiative, dubbed the Hockey Calgary/Calgary Police Service Power Play Program, garnered national media attention as it is a unique way to connect with youth and foster positive interactions with police.

In anticipation of expanding in the city, the CPS is creating a video highlighting the program in order to reach more youth who may not have had the opportunity to hear about it otherwise.

The video will be distributed to youth service providers and youth, for the purposes of recruiting young people to the program.

Constable Rayn Boyko, of the Community and Youth Services Section of CPS, came up with the idea to find local musicians from our diverse communities and give them an opportunity to showcase their music in the video.

On this year’s International Day to End Racism, Cst. Boyko attended the Breaking Down Racism Unity Jam (Monday, March 22, 2010), made possible by the City of Calgary, Urban Youth Works, The Centre for Newcomers, Boys & Girls Club, The Alberta Association For Multicultural Education and PATCH.

“I heard two musicians there who had collaborated to compose a song just for the Unity Jam,” says Boyko.

Ishag Ahmed and Leora Raivich are the hip hop artists who caught her attention as being very positive and having an inspirational sound.

Ishag Ahmed is an 18-year-old immigrant from Sudan, who plays the congas and raps. He is a Grade 11 student who has been totally blind since he was 9 years-of-age. (Ahmed also speaks Arabic)

Leora Raivich is a 29-year-old vocal instructor originally from Canada, proudly representing her Jewish roots.

She has been accepted into the Master’s program at the University of Calgary for music.

Cst. Boyko gave them an opportunity to write a song that would inspire youth and connect communities for the Power Play Program video.

Legacy Music, a foundation that provides musical instruction and instruments to youth at risk, got involved and paid for studio time for these artists to facilitate the production and recording of their music.

In a short amount of time, Ahmed and Raivich wrote a song, called “Something New,” which is now featured in the video.

Kuba Suttles, Artistic Director of Bowtown Music, produced the song in a short amount of time.

Hockey Calgary also issued each musician a $200 honorarium for their efforts.

Independent external audit approved by council

An independent external auditor will be going through The City’s purchasing and contracting files after Council approved a recommendation from administration today.

City Manager Owen Tobert asked Council for the review after allegations were made by the City Auditor that potential procurement fraud is occurring given the size of The City of Calgary.

“Even though City Auditor Tracy McTaggart clarified that she was speaking only hypothetically (about fraud) based on statistical probability, I felt any doubt lingering in Council’s or the public’s mind needed to be addressed by an independent third party,” said City Manager Owen Tobert.

The external auditor will provide a detailed review of The City’s procurement practices - how The City obtains or acquires goods and services - and address any outstanding concerns.

This is after a preliminary internal review found no evidence of procurement wrongdoing.

Files Reviewed, addressing allegations

Since the Auditor’s Report was received at Council’s Audit Committee on May 20, The City’s own Internal Control Risk Management group has reviewed almost 600 files which cover approximately 80% of the dollar value of all the procurement files referenced in the Auditor’s report to identify the specific cause of the concerns raised.

The majority of contracts and purchase orders reviewed have been traced to existing paper work, electronic files and Council or management approval to change budgets. However, any file that is deemed high risk in terms of potential impropriety – such as change orders, limited tenders, purchases without purchase order – would be turned over to an external auditor to verify.

The City’s external auditor of record, Deloitte and Touche LLP, was consulted to design a methodology for proceeding with the investigation of the last five year’s procurement activity at The City.

Policy and process change

“The allegations made by the City Auditor affect all of us – members of Council, City employees and taxpayers – deeply. We needed to clear the air,” said Tobert.

“Our preliminary review has failed to turn up procurement impropriety, the Auditor has produced no evidence of fraud; let’s see what an independent review concludes.”

City Administration agreed with the Auditor’s report that significant work had to be undertaken to ensure appropriate policies and procedures are in place and are well understood by employees, purchasers and vendors.

Since April 2009, significant changes have been implemented to ensure goods and services, as well as work contracts, meet best practice standards. The changes seem to be working.

For example, processes for more competition on all significant City contracts have been in place since April 1, 2009. Excluding allowable exceptions for emergencies or for proprietary products, The City has reduced the use of single-sourced contracts to less than eight percent of all contracts let over a value of $100,000. That’s down from 33 per cent pre-April 2009. Ninety-two percent now are awarded competitively.

This represents a portion of the work that has been done to ensure City procurement practices meet industry standards and government regulations.

The external auditor hired to complete the review of high risk procurement files will be selected by Request for Proposal once the scoping of potential fraud and procurement impropriety criteria have been completed.

Below is Owen Tobert's interview with the media following the Council meeting.

2009 Annual Report released, with interactive web site

The City is launching an interactive web feature that supports this year’s Annual Report.

The Annual Report web presence enables citizens to learn about some of The City’s 2009 accomplishments through an experience that simulates a ‘tag cloud,’ which highlights words and themes by making them stand out in a group.

The site, accessible at calgary.ca/annualreport, provides citizens with a new way of highlighting and navigating through key information and provides a different way to interact with the annual report.

“A more interactive and innovative approach to the online portion of The City’s Annual Report enabled us to shorten the print version by featuring some content exclusively online,” says Cindy Pickett, director of Customer Service & Communications.

If the interactive site isn’t your cup of tea, the PDF version is available. This is the first year The City has used an interactive approach to the annual report.

The City received an unqualified opinion from the external auditor, Deloitte & Touche, on the 2009 financial statements, demonstrating that The City is in good financial health, able to balance expenses with revenues with a small surplus.

Strong fiscal management is also confirmed by The City’s updated credit ratings from Dominion Bond Rating Service, which gives The City a AA (high) ranking and Standard & Poor’s AA+/Stable grade. These are among the best for Canadian Municipalities.

The Annual Report emphasizes corporate governance – exhibiting transparency and full disclosure consistent with Canadian best practices as applicable to municipalities. It provides a comprehensive view of the 2009 financial statements and summarizes major accomplishments that support Council’s priorities and corporate initiatives.

The City has implemented new accounting standards required by the Public Sector Accounting Board of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. These new standards include accounting for tangible capital assets (non-financial, physical assets) and a new financial reporting model; resulting in significant changes in the presentation of the 2009 financial statements. The 2008 financial results have been restated to align with the new presentation and provide a valid comparison between the two years.

Significant changes have also been made in the way the annual report is produced and distributed. This year the ‘Year in Review’ section of the report has been reduced by 33 per cent and has continued last year’s decision to print only 225 copies of the report.

The 2009 City of Calgary annual report was published in June 2010.

Highlights:

• The annual report provides a comprehensive view of the 2009 financial statements and summarizes major accomplishments in support of Council initiatives.
• The report emphasizes corporate governance, transparency and full disclosure, consistent with Canadian best practices as applicable to municipalities.
• External auditors Deloitte & Touche have given the financial statements an unqualified opinion, which is the best evaluation an external auditor can give.
• In addition to the financial statements, the annual report provides information on City governance, accountability and initiatives, as well as letters from the Mayor and the City Manager highlighting The City’s achievements.
  

Opportunities for Improvement:

• The 2009 Annual Report reflects changes required by the Public Sector Accounting Board of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, including accounting for tangible capital assets (non-financial, physical assets) and a new financial reporting model. The implementation of Public Sector Accounting Board requirements (PS 3150) was an important change in managing The City’s assets, with implications across the corporation.
• However, since this was the first year that amortization has been reported, amortization costs needed to be included in the budget. These are not currently budgeted for most tax-supported tangible capital assets, except water assets, which already include amortization costs.
• The City is one among many organizations now working to refine and enhance implementation and sustainment efforts to maintain compliance with this new standard.
  

In order to support The City’s policies on fiscal restraint and environmental responsibility, and because a majority of citizens have shown a preference for online access, the 2009 Corporate Annual Report can be viewed at calgary.ca/annualreport.

Here is an instructional video showing people how to use the new interactive feature.

Seniors’ Week 2010 - June 7-13

There are a number of events and activities for seniors that will take place throughout the city and province in honor and support of seniors and their contributions to our communities. Media are invited to attend all Seniors’ Week events.

Below is a list of events The City of Calgary is hosting or partnering with community organizations to host. Details are available in the Seniors section on calgary.ca/cns or by calling 3-1-1.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Once Upon a Time Opening Celebration, North Mount Pleasant Arts Centre

• Artwork by Calgary seniors on display June 1-4.

Saturday, June 5, 2010
Aging & Active Living Expo, Max Bell Centre

• Almost 100 exhibits showcasing services and products available to support mature adults

Monday, June 7, 2010
Calgary & Provincial Kick-Off Event, Calgary Zoo

Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Older Adult Resource Fair, Southcentre Mall

• Information on resources in South Calgary and city-wide
• Presentations
  

Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Seniors’ Resource Fair, Westbrook Mall

• Information on resources in South West Calgary
• Music, activities, entertainment
  

Friday, June 11, 2010
Talk & Walk, Fort Calgary

• Walking group tour and coffee social, free of charge
• Admission to Fort Calgary Museum is 2-for-1 throughout Seniors Week
  

Saturday, June 12, 2010
Outstanding Calgary Seniors Awards, Calgary Dream Centre

• Calgary Chapter of the Alberta Association on Gerontology recognizes the accomplishments of seniors in Calgary
• Celebration
  

Tuesday, June 15, 2010
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Winners announced for 2009 Calgary Awards

The City of Calgary is honouring 17 award winners at the 2009 Calgary Awards, which are The City’s official citizen recognition program highlighting Calgarians and local organizations for their outstanding achievements and significant contributions for improving the quality of life in Calgary.

The 2009 Calgary Awards is Wednesday, June 9 at 7:30 pm in the Calgary Municipal Building. Mayor Bronconnier and Members of City Council will recognize the recipients at the ceremony.

The 2009 Calgary Awards recipients are:

The Community Achievement Awards – Recognizes outstanding contributions and achievements in community life.

Citizen of the Year – John Hegwood
Grant MacEwan Lifetime Achievement – The Honourable Peter Lougheed
Arts – Anne Green
Community Advocate – Lonny Balbi
Community Advocate Organization – YWCA of Calgary
Commerce – Community Natural Foods
Education – Dr. David Marshall
Heritage – Sheila Johnston
Youth – Samantha Brown

The Environmental Achievement Awards - Recognizes environmental achievements in advanced technology, management, conservation, protection, enhancement, education, stewardship and promotion of the city’s environment.

Blue Skies – Matrix Solutions Inc.
Corporate – DIRTT Environmental Solutions
Educational Institution – Alberta Solar Decathlon Team
Individual Achievement – Lonny Balbi
Not-For-Profit – Calgary Zoo: ENMAX Conservatory

The Signature Award – Recognizes an outstanding individual who has brought significant recognition to Calgary.

Jennifer Bekker

The Award for Accessibility – Recognizes buildings or facilities that exceed minimum requirements for accessibility by persons with disabilities.

Canada Diagnostic Centres – Westhills Clinic

The City of Calgary W.O. Mitchell Book Prize – Recognizes literary achievement by a Calgary author.

Gordon Pengilly for “Metastasis and Other Plays”

In 1994, The City of Calgary established the Calgary Awards to celebrate and recognize outstanding achievements and contributions made by Calgarians. Each year, individuals, corporations, community groups, schools and organizations are nominated in five major award categories, for a total of 17 awards. The City of Calgary encourages all Calgarians to look to their neighbours, colleagues, community leaders and local organizations and businesses for those who could qualify as recipients of the Calgary Awards. For more information visit The City website at calgary.ca/calgaryawards.

Photo slideshow of Mayors Environment Expo

Here is a photo slideshow of this year's Mayors Environment Expo. A video of the Environment Expo can be found here.

Deer runs amok at City Hall - returned to wild

A young buck visited the Municipal Building, alongside Old City Hall today. He was running through traffic at 6 a.m. and eventually bedded-down on a grassy patch at about 7 a.m.

Fish and Wildlife officer Ed Pirogowics tranqualized the deer and brought it back to the wild. ***Photo courtesy of Duane Starr

Municipal General Election Candidates’ Nomination Packages Now Available

Information books and nomination papers are now available for Calgarians who wish to run for public office in the 2010 Calgary Municipal General Election.

Whether you’re interested the position of Mayor, Alderman or School Trustee, information books and nomination papers are now available at the Election and Information Services Office located at 1103-55 Avenue N.E. between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Requirements to run for positions in public office vary. Candidates for Mayor need 100 signatures from eligible electors living within the City of Calgary along with a $500 deposit.

Those interested in running for Aldermen need 100 signatures, and Public or Separate School Trustee need 25 signatures from eligible electors living in the ward in which they are running. Both require a $100 deposit.

Candidates must file their completed nomination papers by Monday, September 20 at the Engineering Traditions Committee Room in City Hall between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. For more information, call the office at 403-476-4100 (option 1).

October 18, 2010 is Election Day. Candidates and eligible voters can visit calgary.ca/election for more information or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Calgary2010Election.

The City of Calgary offers free outdoor concerts

Calgarians are invited to attend concerts in Calgary parks this summer, as part of The City of Calgary Parks 100th anniversary celebrations.

These free family events will be held once per month from June – September, in a different quadrant of the city. Calgarians are encouraged to attend each event and enjoy local talent in a beautiful outdoor park setting.

Event details:

Baker Park
Date: Sunday, June 20, 2010
Time: 2 – 5 p.m.

Featuring Michael Bernard Fitzgerald, Ramblin’ Ambassadors, and Camie Leard.

South Glenmore Park
Date: Saturday, July 17, 2010
Time: 2 – 5 p.m.
Featuring Los Morenos, Joe-Defendants and Sherry-Lee Wisor Trio.

Prairie Winds Park
Date: Saturday, August 28, 2010
Time: 2 – 5 p.m.

Featuring DJ Rick, Calysto Steel Band, Mandy C., and Valentina

Valleyview Park
Date: Saturday, September 25, 2010
Time: 2 – 5 p.m.

Featuring Kirby Sewell, Smokin' 45's and Youssou Seck

For more information on the concerts, or on Parks 100th anniversary celebrations, visit calgary.ca/parks.

Police urge Calgarians to practice motorcycle safety this summer

With June upon us, the Calgary Police Service is reminding motorists to be mindful of motorcycle safety.

As the weather warms up, more and more people dust off their motorcycle gear and go for a ride. Unfortunately, this often leads to an increase in serious or fatal collisions involving motorcycle riders.

For the past two years, June has seen the highest number of motorcycle collisions in the year with 54 collisions in 2009 and 63 in 2008.

In total, there were 291 motorcycle collisions in 2009. Of those, 122 involved serious injuries and three of them were fatal. In 2008, there were 411 collisions, 186 of those resulted in serious injuries and three were fatalities.

Riders and drivers all have a responsibility to ensure everyone is safe on our roads.
The Calgary Police Service offers the following advice:
For motorcycle operators:

• Stay out of blind spots. Make sure other drivers see you.
• Be alert at intersections. Make eye contact with other drivers/riders before making your move.
• Protect yourself with the right gear and an approved motorcycle helmet.
• Remember that when it comes to other drivers, your speed can be easily misjudged.
• Ride defensively and make every effort to enhance your visibility.
• Be aware of what is going on behind you.
  

For drivers of other vehicles:

• Share the road – look twice for motorcyclists at intersections or when changing lanes.
• Never underestimate the speed of a motorcycle. Their size makes their speed deceptive.
• Always check your blind spot before changing lanes.

Students engage in Mayor's Environment Expo

Here is a video from the municipal building with students at the Mayor's Environment Expo and Dave 'Mr. Jones' Day, The City's Director of Environmental & Safety Management.




Here is another blog posts about the event.

City wins Emerald Award for Mayor's Environmental Expo