Governor General David Johnston White-Hatted

His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, made his first Civic Call to Calgary, and was welcomed and white-hatted by Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

He also attended a meeting with members of Council and The City’s Administrative Leadership Team.

”I was very pleased that His Excellency made a point to visit Calgary, and we were able to have a focused discussion on a number of different topics including the Governor General’s aspirations for youth engagement, innovation and technology, the urban agenda in Canada and, of course, Calgary’s recent civic election,” said Mayor Nenshi.

A class of grade nine students from Sir Wilfrid Laurier School, who were attending City Hall School for the week, watched and cheered as Mayor Nenshi white hatted the Governor General. Calgary’s white hat is a symbol of Calgary’s hospitality. The tradition of ‘white-hatting’ visitors or dignitaries has become known throughout the world as representing Calgary, and the white hat is a unique gift that speaks directly to Calgary’s history and also to Calgary’s future.

City Hall School recently celebrated 10 years of inviting teachers to relocate their classes to the Municipal Building for one week thereby giving students the opportunity to learn about civic government from City staff members and members of Council, while participating in customized civic programs.

“City Hall School is all about helping kids become active and engaged citizens, and having the students from Sir Wilfrid Laurier be a part of the white hat ceremony was a terrific way for them to witness different levels of government coming together to support each other,” said Diane Murray, coordinator of City Hall School.

Related Calgary City News Blog Posts:

• Local Olympians honoured in Calgary
• The City of Calgary celebrates 10 years of City Hall School

Carts Feeling Black and Blue? Making Sure Blue and Black Carts Keep Rolling

Each week thousands of Calgarians take their garbage and recycling out for collection, unfortunately, after time, some of these bins end up battered and bruised, or black and blue if you will.

Fixing these bins belongs to The City's cart maintenance team in Waste & Recycling.

The team of six is responsible for delivering carts to new homes, as well as repairing and replacing damaged and missing blue and black carts across the city.

“A request comes in through 3-1-1 and we receive an address and a cart number,” explains Ron Franco, who started delivering and repairing carts with the team six months ago. “We carry tools and replacement pieces in the truck and fix the carts on the spot.”

The team handles everything from broken lids to cracked bodies and missing wheels. In some cases, they are called upon to replace carts that have been stolen or vandalized beyond repair.

Ron says the delivery of black carts to households across the city that began this fall has increased their workload by around 20 per cent due to slower traffic in inclement weather, but the team is still able to respond to between 20 and 25 calls a day.

“When we show up to fix carts, people are very happy to have carts that are working properly again,” says Ron. “The majority of people we come across tell us how glad they are that The City has rolled out the blue carts and now the black carts, and the people who don’t have black carts yet tell us they are eager to get them.”

For more information on garbage and recycling collection, please visit the Waste & Recycling Services.

Related Calgary City News Blog Posts:

• Discussion: Paula Magdich talks Black Cart - Your Questions Answered
• City announces the launch of Black Cart Garbage Collection
• Garbage collection gets an overhaul
• A Tour of Calgary's Blue Cart Recycling Sorting Facility
• Shred and recycle paper - for environment and safety
• Examining the efficiency of The City’s garbage & recycling collection

***Ron Franco, Waste & Recycling Services cart maintenance team member

The City of Calgary wins Alberta Historical Resources Foundation’s Heritage Preservation Award

The City of Calgary has been recognized by the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation for its commitment to the identification, protection and promotion of municipal historic resources.

Friday night, Alderman Gian-Carlo Carra accepted the Municipal Heritage Preservation Award on behalf of The City of Calgary at an awards ceremony in Calgary.

“The award acknowledges that The City of Calgary is a provincial leader in heritage preservation,” said Darryl Cariou, Senior Heritage Planner at The City of Calgary. “As a result of The City’s commitment to heritage preservation over the past two decades, 35 sites have been legally protected as Municipal Historic Resources”.

The City of Calgary was nominated for the award by the Calgary Heritage Initiative Society (CHI), a volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation, productive use and interpretation of buildings and sites of historic and architectural interest in Calgary.

“This award is a reflection of the great strides that Calgary has made over the past few years in heritage policy and preservation,” said Cynthia Klaassen, President of CHI. “It honours the efforts of the heritage staff and the support they’ve received from City Council. We look forward to continued progress from the new Council.”

“The City has a great working relationship with many community-based groups when it comes to heritage and the Calgary Heritage Initiative is one of them”, says Cariou.  “It is because of the dedicated volunteer work of groups like the CHI that heritage is alive and valued in communities throughout Calgary."

Cariou added that CHI works at a grassroots level to seek opportunities to apply policies that Council approves.

"It’s their passion that makes our communities great places to live, work and play,” he said.

The Alberta Historical Resources Foundation (AHRF) was established by the Provincial Legislature in 1973 in order to promote public awareness and enjoyment of Alberta's cultural heritage.  Heritage resources are a reflection of our province's life - past, present and future.   The AHRF Heritage Awards recognize significant contributions by individuals, teams, organizations, corporations, congregations, institutions, municipalities, First Nations or Metis Settlements, in the protection, preservation and promotion of heritage in the province.

For more information on The City of Calgary’s heritage planning, click here.
For more information on the Calgary Heritage Initiative Society, click here.
For more information on The Alberta Historical Resources Foundation, click here.

Related Calgary City News Blog Posts:

• City wins the Prince of Wales Prize for Municipal Heritage Leadership
• The Lions Have Left the Building - Announcing the 2010 CHA Lion Award Recipients
• 2010 Lion Awards celebrate Calgary's history
• Calgary's Heritage moves forward

***Group Photo, left to right:
Scott Jolliffe, Chair, Calgary Heritage Authority
Bob van Wegen, Vice-President, Calgary Heritage Initiative
Sara Meuilleur, Member, Calgary Heritage Authority
Alderman Carra
Carmel Gatt, Vice-chair, Calgary Heritage Authority
Darryl Cariou, Senior Heritage Planner, City of Calgary
Michelle Reid, Conservation Landscape Architect, City of Calgary

Pedestrian Friendly Centre City Underpasses

Here is a great post from The City's Centre City blog about downtown underpasses and how they affect commuter traffic.

They speak with Lothar Wiwjorra, a Senior Urban Designer in Land Use Planning and Policy with The City of Calgary about those "necessary but sometimes not so user-friendly concrete pass-thrus."

Please take a read and feel free to leave comments or ask questions.

***A rendering from The Downtown Underpass Urban Design Guidelines.

Feline Frenzy at Animal Services

The furry felines sheltered at the city’s Animal Services Centre are looking to move into a healthy, loving home.

With over 60 cats filling their shelter, the staff at The City of Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services is counting on their new initiative, Feline Frenzy, to encourage compassionate Calgarians to adopt a cat.

“It’s very disheartening to see these beautiful cats sitting in a cage in our shelter for months on end," said Bill Bruce, director of Animal & Bylaw Services. “Feline Frenzy is all about increasing awareness and moving these nice, well-socialized cats from our shelter into permanent homes where they belong.”

Feline Frenzy will run from Monday, Nov. 29 to Sunday, Dec.12.  During this time, adult cats which are identified as cats over one year in age, will be available for adoption at half the usual fee.  This means a cat will be spayed/neutered, microchipped, vet checked, dewormed, receive a free 6-month licence, the first set of vaccinations (excluding rabies), and be tested for feline leukemia and FIV all for $75. The new owner will also receive a bag of pet food and an adoption kit to get them started.

Animal Services is also encouraging Calgarians with space and the wherewithal to consider adopting one adult cat for $150 and getting a companion cat at no additional cost.

By introducing Feline Frenzy, Bruce hopes that he will have an empty shelter and happy homes for the cats.

Another goal of Feline Frenzy is to increase awareness of the plight of cats sheltered at the Animal Services Centre, the Calgary Humane Society and MEOW Foundation.

To view the cats available for adoption, visit Calgary.ca/animalservices and click on adoptable cats or contact 3-1-1. Calgarians are also invited to visit the Animal Services Centre at 2201 Portland Street S.E. between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday to Friday or 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.


For more information, please visit Calgary.ca/animalservices



Related Calgary City News Blog Posts:

• Pet of the Week - Scrappy
• Pet of the Week - Emmett
• Calgary Cat Lovers Needed - Impound Lot at Capacity - Animal Adoption Program Information

City temporarily closes pathway outside The Calgary Zoo

As a result of rising water on the pathway due to an ice jam on the Bow River, The City has closed the pathway along the north side of the Bow River at the Zoo east to Nose Creek.

The City was made aware of this flooding mid-afternoon yesterday and immediately put up signage indicating that the pathway had been closed as well as locking the gates which block pathway access on both sides of the impacted area.

Hours later, The City and The Calgary Fire Department was notified that cyclists had entered the closed area and encountered the high water levels which had caused the closure of the pathway and were forced to abandon their bikes and seek aid for cold water exposure. The Calgary Fire Department subsequently issued a news release on the incident.

The City asks all Calgarians to obey all pathway signage. These closures are posted on calgary.ca as they occur. From time to time, The City needs to close pathways for various reasons, including when there are public safety hazards, pathway repairs or lifecycle replacement construction.

The City’s pathway operations staff are currently working on a pathway detour as the usual detour for this section can’t be used as a result of construction and a road closure in the immediate area.As soon as The City has the new detour identified, pathway staff will post signage illustrating the detour.

While The City understands that Calgarians may be frustrated about having to backtrack as a result of pathway detours, pathways are closed to ensure that everyone remains safe with last night’s incident serving as a reminder of the importance of obeying pathway signage.

2010 Stuff-a-Bus a Success

Here are some pics from Saturday's Stuff-a-Bus event. Despite the cold, people donated in droves and volunteers' spirits remained high.

For results on the amount of food donated, please visit The Calgary Food Bank website.

Related Calgary City News Blog Posts:

• 2010 Calgary Transit Stuff-a-Bus Food Drive
• Stuff a Bus brings in record haul for Calgary Food Bank 2009
• Calgarians urged to "Stuff a Bus" for charity 2009

Pet of the Week - Scrappy

Here is our Pet of the Week, Scrappy the kitten.



Calgary.ca/animalservices


Related Calgary City News Blog Posts:

• Pet of the Week - Emmett
• Calgary Cat Lovers Needed - Impound Lot at Capacity - Animal Adoption Program Information

Peace Bridge Update - November 19, 2010

The City has announced the construction schedule for the Peace Bridge has been extended until the spring of 2011.

According to the Transportation Department, the Peace Bridge is the combination of art and infrastructure, resulting in a design that is both unique and extremely complex.

“The contractor evaluated the assembly processes and has determined that additional time is required to construct the bridge and to meet the quality requirements,” said Mac Logan, Transportation General Manager.

“All of the major elements coming from Spain have been delivered, are on-site and the entire length of the bridge is ‘framed up’ with final welding underway.”

Some components continue to arrive such as the deck structure which is being manufactured in Edmonton.

Despite what has been reported, there are no problems with the welding on the Peace Bridge.  Welding the steel elements is extremely important on this project and time is required to ensure high quality for the longest single span structure in Calgary.

 The Peace Bridge has an exceptional length to depth ratio made possible by the advanced helical design. It is a single-span structure 130 m long and over 6 m wide and is designed to be in service for over 100 years.

“The overall structure acts as one element and strength of the assembly welds are crucial,” said Logan. “Also, the design needs to have a perfectly smooth exterior finish so the section joints are not readily apparent.”

The project, financed by capital budget funds, is currently on budget. An exact date for completion will be announced in the New Year.

“We’d like to thank Calgarians for their continued patience,” said Logan.

Related Calgary City News Blog posts:

• Peace Bridge Pieces Pass Through Oyen
• Steel in Transit for Calgary's Santiago Calatrava Peace Bridge
• City unveils design for Peace Bridge
• Peace Bridge: Do we need another pedestrian bridge?
• Peace Bridge: Could The City build it for cheaper?
• Peace Bridge and Bow River pathway and water safety

Please click here for City of Calgary Peace Bridge information.

Pet of the Week - Emmett

Here is the Pet of the Week. I fairly large and lovable cat named Emmett.



Calgary.ca/animalservices

Related Calgary City News Blog Posts:

• Calgary Cat Lovers Needed - Impound Lot at Capacity - Animal Adoption Program Information

November 19th: What Will You Doo to Celebrate World Toilet Day?

It's not a lie. There really is such a thing as World Toilet Day.

And you know, we actually put quite a lot of thought into where Calgarians can find public toilets in their daily travels. . . More on Calgary and our Public Toilets can be found on CentreCityTalk.com

Related Calgary City News Blog Posts:

• Calgary's Automated Public Toilet one of Alberta's "Must Sees"
• The City challenges Calgarians to take the leaky toilet test
• Clean to the Core: a safer inner city, and more

2011 Budget Adjustment Questions Addressed

Thank you, Calgary, for continuing the conversation about the recently released 2011 budget adjustments. Your comments and opinions are being shared with Council and Administration and are very valued as we move towards Council deliberations.

For the 2012 – 14 Business Plans and Budgets cycle, we will fully engage with Calgarians, taking the time to help you understand how we plan and budget, while listening to your input, answering your questions and working together to create business plans and budgets that truly reflect the priorities and aspirations of Calgarians. We look forward to beginning this process in the New Year.

We will be using this forum to answer some of the questions you have raised over the last two days.

1) A number of questions have come up on what is being cut in the proposed business plans and budget adjustments – in many cases the ‘cuts’ are actually new growth that was planned for 2011, which was approved by City Council in 2008. At that time, Calgary was one of the fastest growing cities in North America and expected to continue to grow through to 2011.

Given the economic downturn, it makes sense to reduce this ‘growth’ for 2011, rather than cut existing services that many Calgarians rely on. While some cuts to existing services are required to achieve a balanced budget, efforts have been made to make a minimal impact to citizens.

A good example of this is the adjustment proposal for Calgary Transit that recommends a 2011 increase of 61,000 service hours. This is a reduction in the growth approved back in 2008, but still an increase in the service hours being offered overall for 2011.

2) In terms of efficiencies, Calgary Transit has also identified an opportunity to reduce costs for outside contractual services and rely mainly on CT staff to conduct maintenance in parking lots, with limited impact on customers who park in the lots. This reduction also includes other Calgary Transit parking lots, not just the park and ride lots, as only a portion of the revenue from the park and ride fee is used for parking lot maintenance. The park and ride revenue is also invested in enhancing safety, security and cleanliness of the entire transit system.

3) There are no proposed adjustments to Access Calgary for 2011. The proposal on the table is the Access Calgary Extra (ACE) program, a supplemental taxi service providing fully eligible Access Calgary customers a subsidy up to $50 a month for spontaneous taxi trips that were not booked through Access Calgary’s shared-ride service. ACE users present their card, pay a drop charge of $3.40 and Access Calgary covers the difference, up to $50 a month. ACE customers are expected to use the Access Calgary shared-ride service for the majority of their transportation needs. Access Calgary will still provide shared-ride, door-to-door service for all customers who were issued an ACE card if the 2011 adjustment proposal is approved.

Related Calgary City News Blog Posts:

• City Administration releases proposed adjustments to 2011 Business Plans and Budgets
• Transit Budget Questions Answered

Calgary Transit Stuff-a-Bus Food Drive 2010

How much food can we stuff into a Calgary Transit bus?

Calgary Transit is again teaming up with Calgary Co-op and XL103 in the 18th annual Stuff-a-Bus event in support of the Calgary Food Bank.

A Calgary Transit bus will be parked at all 21 Calgary Co-op locations from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 20, with volunteers accepting grocery and cash donations for the Calgary Food Bank.

“We hope to fill our buses to the brim with non-perishable food and cash donations for the Food Bank,” said Calgary Transit spokesman Ron Collins.

As the holiday season approaches, the Calgary Food Bank is running low on essential supplies.

“This year has been particularly hard for people,” said Heidi Lambie, Development Coordinator for the Calgary Food Bank. “Our goal is to gather as many donations as possible to lessen the burden on individuals and families in need. Stuff a bus is one of the premier Food Bank fundraisers in Calgary and truly helps out community.”

Off-leash plan ready for public review

The City of Calgary Parks is welcoming input from citizens on a draft Off-leash Area Management Plan until Dec. 8, 2010.

This administrative document aims to provide consistent, city-wide policies and procedures for the management of current and future off-leash areas. The draft management plan is based on public input gathered in 2008 and 2009 by Animal & Bylaw Services and Parks, current policies and the best practices of other municipalities.

The draft plan can be found online at: www.calgary.ca/offleash. A link to a feedback form is also on this web site.

In January 2011, a summary of the public input will be posted on the calgary.ca/offleash web site. Public input on the draft Off-leash Area Management Plan will be considered in the second draft, which will be presented to Council's Standing Policy Committee on Community & Protective Services in January 2011.

The City of Calgary operates 150 off-leash areas in our multi-use parks, far more than any other major North American city identified to date. The City of Calgary’s current off-leash area space, accounts for approximately 17 per cent of our entire parkland inventory. The total area of these 150 off-leash areas equals almost 1,600 CFL-sized football fields.

The City of Calgary Parks recognizes that off-leash dog walking is a popular form of recreation for citizens and is working to improve the quality of our off-leash areas. Parks is also working to propose new off-leash areas in new and underserved communities and exploring opportunities to fully fence some existing sites.

City Reports on Growth and Change in Developed Areas

Calgary’s Developed Area population is stable but the number of housing units is rising, according to the Developed Areas Growth & Change 2010 report released today by The City of Calgary.

The size of the housing stock reached a new high of 363,000 in 2010, and many places within the Developed Area are showing population growth. Between 2006 and 2009, the occupancy rate fell from 2.52 to 2.49.

“These occupancy rates are falling because of two factors”, says Darrell Burgess, Coordinator of Geodemographics. “Children are moving out of the family home in single detached units, and overall we are seeing higher density, lower occupancy apartments and townhouses replacing higher occupancy single-detached units.”

The Developed Areas Growth & Change 2010 report highlights the demographic and development trends currently in play in the Developed Areas, using census data, land use data, and development activity data. New to the report this year is a focus on the policies of the Municipal Development Plan.

Highlights from Developed Areas Growth & Change 2010 include:

• Multi-unit and ground-oriented dwellings are making gains, together accounting for 42 per cent of all dwellings in 2010. This is up from 38 per cent in 2000.
• In 2007, the vacancy rate in the Developed Areas was 1.5 per cent, sending housing prices higher and encouraging building activity. By 2010, it has risen to 4.3 per cent. The future pace of unit absorption is 
• Over the past ten years, the population in the aged 45-64 and aged 65+ cohorts has grown by 83,000 people, while the population under 20 has fallen by 25,000. This is consistent with the aging of the baby boom generation, and the process of children growing up and moving out of the family 
• Between 2006 and 2009, close to 4,200 development permit and land use amendment applications have been received by The City’s Corporate Planning Applications Group for sites in the Developed Area. Even as the economy has slowed over the past two years, by many measures the Developed Area has maintained its share of the city’s development activity.

Developed Areas Growth & Change 2010 is available online at: www.calgary.ca/geodemographics.

City Administration releases proposed adjustments to 2011 Business Plans and Budgets

• Related Calgary City News Blog Questions Addressed Here
• More Transit Related Budget Questions Answered Here

Today, City Administration released its proposed adjustments to the 2011 Business Plans and Budgets.

These proposed adjustments will be considered by City Council when they meet to discuss the 2011 Business Plans and Budgets, currently scheduled to begin November 29 at 9:30 a.m.

The annual adjustments process allows Council to respond to changes in the local economy by modifying the original budget plans to reflect changing needs and to ensure affordability for Calgarians.

“Recognizing Calgary’s economy is continuing to recover from the downturn and that a top priority for Calgarians is to live in an affordable city, all City departments were asked to find ways to reduce costs, said Eric Sawyer, The City’s Chief Financial Officer.

“City staff worked very hard to find ways to achieve the cost reductions and show that we are listening to Calgarians’ needs for delivery of City services at affordable property tax rates,” he added.

The proposed 2011 adjustments to business plans and budgets will result in:

• A 2011 budget that is in line with the previously-approved 6.7% property tax rate increase for 2011. This would result in an increase in property tax of approximately $6.60 per month for the median assessed household.
• No increase in the business tax rate for the 18th consecutive year.

The recommendations proposed for Council consideration are not solely focused on cost reductions; the proposal also preserves growth in the 2011 plans and budgets for a number of priority programs and services, including:

• $8.2 million for 65 new additional sworn officers in the Calgary Police Service.
• $2 million for the Calgary Public Library.
• $2.2 million for Public Safety Communications (9-1-1).
• $3.7 million for The Calgary Fire Department which will be used for the Saddle Ridge, Sage Hill and Emergency Operations Centre.

At the same time, the proposed adjustments accommodate increases to the 2011 operating budget to accommodate urgent or emerging needs such as:

• $10 million provision for improved snow and ice control.
• $1 million for one-time operating shortfalls for the Talisman Centre.
• $1.3 million for sustainment of Tangible Capital Assets to meet Public Sector Accounting Board requirements.
• $1 million funding to achieve the full staff complement for the Sage Hill Fire Station.

To address the projected shortfall of $47.4 million, the proposed 2011 adjustments also include select service reductions and other mitigation measures to help reduce the financial impact on citizens including:

• A $3.7 million reduction for the Calgary Fire Department which will be achieved through a combination of administrative efficiencies and a reduction in shift capacity to accommodate training.
• A $3.3 million reduction for Parks reflecting better asset reporting, fleet right-sizing and reduced seasonal maintenance work.
• A reduction of $1.4 million for Calgary Transit for cleaning staff.
• An additional reduction of $465,000 for Calgary Transit for parking lot maintenance
• The elimination of the Access Calgary Extra program.
• A reduction of $950,000 for Community & Neighbourhood Services.
• The elimination of the Surplus School Sites Program in the Office of Land Servicing & Housing.
• A reduction of $234,000 for Assessment expenditures.
• A reduction of $786,000 for IT to sustain internal/external websites
• A Reduction of $1.25 million in the previously approved Civic Partners budget increase.

Administration has also provided Council with an additional $35 million of potential options to reduce the 2011 business plans and budgets.

City Council will meet to review and debate these proposed 2011 adjustments beginning on November 29 at 9:30 a.m. following a non-statutory public hearing in Council Chambers.

Calgarians are invited to attend these discussions and those who wish to make a verbal or written submission to Council are invited to do so at a public hearing in Council Chambers on November 29.

• Related Calgary City News Blog Budget Questions Addressed Here
• More Transit Related Budget Questions Answered Here

City Wins Three Project Management Awards

The City of Calgary has won three project management awards from the southern Alberta chapter of the international Project Management Institute.

Blue Cart Recycling implementation won the community advancement Project of the Year award, the Pine Creek Wastewater Treatment Centre was awarded under the Construction and Engineering project management category and the The People's Choice Award for Project of the Year went to the EMS IT Transition Calgary project.

“All of the project teams are very proud to be recognized by the Project Management Institute in this way,” said Darren Mondor, project manager for EMS IT Transition Calgary.

“The fact that The City claimed three of the four available 2010 Projects of the Year Awards is clear testament to the strength of project management skill and delivery within the corporation.”

According to its website, the Project Management Institute is the global advocacy organization for the project management profession with more than 265,000 members in over 170 countries.

City of Calgary Ready for Snow - Takes New Approach on Major Routes

With the first major snowfall of the 2010 winter season forecasted tonight, The City of Calgary will use a new approach to clear major routes of the white stuff, echelon plowing.

Echelon plowing is the practice of staggered snowplows across all lanes of a roadway in one direction. Plowing in echelon clears all lanes at once by passing a ridge of snow from one plow to the next. While this approach is new to Calgary, echelon plowing is a common practice in many major winter cities throughout North America, and considered the safest and most efficient snow removal method for multi-lane roads.

Even before the snowfall begins, City crews will apply an anti-icing agent on known trouble spots, like bridge decks and steep hills.

Motorists may see a wet, striping effect in these problem areas - this is the anti-icing agent. Crews will also apply salt, gravel or a mixture where appropriate to help melt snow and ice on the road surface.

Drivers are reminded to leave 10 metres distance - about three car lengths - between their vehicle and the working sanders, graders and other snow removal equipment and to not pass working sanders or equipment.

The Calgary Police Service reminds motorists to do their part in the winter to help make their trip safer:

• Tune up and winterize your vehicle.
• Consider installing appropriate tires to the season.
• Clean snow and ice off your vehicle and ensure your lights and your windows are clear.
• Give yourself extra time to reach your destination.
• Reduce your speed and turn on your headlights.
• Drive defensively.
• Leave extra distance between you and the car ahead of you.
• When road conditions are difficult, consider using Calgary Transit.
• Consider delaying your trip until the roads are in better condition.

For more information, please visit calgary.ca

Related Calgary City News blog posts:

• Snow and Ice Control Activated
• Interim Snow and Ice Control Policy to take effect immediately

UNICEF and Calgary Fire Department count millions of coins

Dozens of firefighters and other volunteers went school-to-school recently to pick-up millions of coins collected by children on Halloween.

For 46 years, approximately 80 volunteers have sorted and rolled literally tonnes of money to go to Children in need. Millions of dollars has been raised to date.  Last year, over a quarter of a million dollars was donated and counted in Calgary.

The Calgary Fire Department would like to thank all who have participated this year and over the last almost five decades.

***Photos courtesy of the Calgary Fire Department: 1) A volunteer, Shirley, counts handfuls of coins. 2) CFD's Brian McAsey and UNICEF's Holly Davidson holding some hard earned cold, hard cash. 3) Boxes of coins are ready to be shipped for children in need.

Excessive Vehicle Noise Open House Information

The City of Calgary wants to know how Calgarians feel about vehicles that create excessive amounts of noise.

Council has asked for a report on vehicle noise that includes excessive noise from all types of vehicles, those with modified mufflers and those in need of repair, not the impact of general traffic noise.

“Council has asked us to investigate excessive vehicle noise and to report back by the beginning of March,” said Bill Bruce, director of Animal & Bylaw Services. “We are asking Calgarians to assist us by checking out the information online or attending an open house and then providing feedback by completing a noise survey online or at the open house.”

Information regarding excessive vehicle noise is available online at calgary.ca/animalservices. Calgarians are invited to attend one of three informational open houses scheduled throughout the city:

• Wednesday, Nov. 17. 5:30 to 8:30 at the Animal Services Centre. 2201 Portland Street S.E.
• Thursday, Nov. 25. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Haysboro Community Association. 1204-89 Ave. S.W.
• Tuesday, Nov. 30. 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Triwood Community Association. 2244 Chicoutimi Drive N.W.

At the informational open houses, citizens will have an opportunity to talk to City staff about vehicle noise, get information related to the impact of excessive vehicle noise, listen to videos of recorded noise and complete a noise survey.

Feedback from the surveys and open houses will be included in the March report. Council has also asked for a definition of excessive vehicle noise and the appropriate penalties, available noise enforcement options including the use of technology, a cost estimate for the technology and any constraints in the provincial and federal legislation.

Calgarians can get information about this project by visiting calgary.ca/animalservices or by contacting 3-1-1.

The City of Calgary celebrates 10 years of City Hall School

Ten years ago, the first students stepped into the municipal building’s civic education classroom to take-part in the first City Hall School. Since then, over 7,000 young people, grades three to 12, have attended the school.

The program focuses on the processes, depth and breadth of municipal government.

“The students raved about the experience and their parents said their kids have never had so much to say about school,” said one grade 3 teacher.

Teachers apply to bring their students to the program in spring and align a particular City business with their curriculum. Over 500 staff from specific business units have spoken to the students and many have returned to volunteer their time.

About 27 classes attend each year to speak with Council members, including the Mayor, and members of administration. The students, along with over four thousand volunteer chaperones and 300 teachers, have learned about every City business unit there.

Because the school began in the year 2000 it is very possible that many grade three students from the first year were voters in the last election. Could this be the reason for increased voter turnout?

Secondary Suites Grant Program information

The Secondary Suite Grant Program offers a grant of up to $25,000 to cover up to 70 % of the costs of developing or upgrading a legal secondary suite. It was launched in April 2009 and will run until December 2012.

Here is an interview with Abi Bond, a project manager with Affordable Housing, about the Secondary Suite Grant program.

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

Remembrance Day 2010, Events and City Hours of Operation and Services

Remembrance Day, Thursday November 11, 2010 events:

• Battalion Ridge, overlooking Westhills Towne Centre. Ceremony with scouts from Dover and Victoria Park starts at 9 a.m.
• CPR service, Gulf Canada Square, 10:45 a.m.
• The Naval Museum of Alberta (1820 24th St. S.W.) 11 a.m. ceremony on HMCS Tecumseh Drill Deck.
• Jubilee Auditorium, 14th Street and 16th Avenue N.W. Service begins at 10 a.m., followed by a small ceremony at the Memorial Park Cenotaph, 4th Street and 11th Avenue S.W, at 11 a.m. Wreath laying ceremony at the cenotaph at 12:15 p.m.
• Memorial Park Cenotaph, 4th Street and 11th Avenue S.W, at 11 a.m. Wreath laying ceremony at the cenotaph at 12:15 p.m.
• The Military Museums, 4520 Crowchild Tr. S.W. Ceremony begins at 10:40 a.m. Free parking and admission.

The City of Calgary is adjusting its hours of operation for services and facilities on Remembrance Day, Thursday, November 11, 2010.

City Administrative Offices
All administrative offices are closed on Remembrance Day, Thursday, November 11, 2010 and will reopen Friday, November 12, 2010.

Calgary Transit
Calgary Transit will provide a Saturday level of service on Remembrance Day, Thursday, November 11, 2010. Regular service will resume on Friday, November 12, 2010.

For information and schedules, please visit 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 are not affected by Remembrance Day, Thursday, November 11, 2010.

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

Animal Services Centre 
2201 Portland Street S.E.
Remembrance Day, Thursday, November 11, 2010: Closed
Friday, November 12, 2010: Open 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Recreation 
For more information please visit calgary.ca/recreation

Arenas
The arenas listed below will be open for free public skating from 1-2:30 p.m.:

• Ernie Starr
• Frank McCool
• Murray Copot
• Optimist/George Blundun
• Jimmie Condon
• Shouldice
• Henry Viney
• Stu Peppard

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

Aquatics and Fitness Centres
The following Aquatic & Fitness Centres will be open for free public swimming from 1-2:30 pm and 3-4:30 p.m.:

• Acadia
• Bob Bahan
• Foothills
• Glenmore
• Shouldice
• Thornhill

All other Aquatics & Fitness Centres will be closed on Remembrance Day, Thursday, November 11, 2010.

City Golf Courses
 All golf courses are now closed for the season.

Southland Leisure Centre
Facility open from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Adult shinny hockey: 12 - 1:30 p.m.
Public Skate: 2 – 3:30 p.m.
Village Square Leisure Centre
Facility open from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Adult shinny hockey: 12 - 1:30 p.m.
Public Skate: 12:30 - 2 p.m.


Art Centres
Wildflower Arts Centre and North Mount Pleasant Arts Centre will be closed to the public on Remembrance Day, Thursday, November 11, 2010, and will be reopen on Friday, November 12, 2010.

City of Calgary Parks

Inglewood Bird Sanctuary 
Inglewood Bird Sanctuary Nature Centre will be closed to the public on Remembrance Day, Thursday, November 11, 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
Open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Heritage Park 
Historic Village now closed.
Gasoline Alley Museum open 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Deane House
The Deane House will be closed on Remembrance Day, Thursday, November 11, 2010.

Calgary Zoo
Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily.
TELUS World of Science
Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Remembrance Day, Thursday, November 11, 2010.

The City Repairs the Old Clock in Old City Hall

If you're walking downtown near old City Hall, you may notice the old clock's hands are stuck on the 12.

This is because, beginning, November 8, 2010, the City Hall Clock has been frozen in time for repairs.

The fan, which is part of the fly shaft of the historic clock, is receiving regular life-cycle maintenance and is being removed and taken off-site for the restoration.

The fly shaft is moved by a pendulum and is similar to a second hand on a watch.

Repairs to the fly shaft should take less than two weeks, maybe more if needed.

Background
The clock is an original part of Old City Hall and was completed in 1911. The clock was manufactured by the Seth Thomas Clock Co. of Thomaston, Conn., U.S.A. It was purchased by The City in 1910 and installed by local jeweler, D.E. Black, who was also an Alderman. City Hall - a four-storey sandstone building designed by architect William M. Dodd - was declared a Provincial Historic Resource in 1978.

A clock specialist is replacing the worn-out parts. Because of the age of the clock, replacement parts must be manufactured by a master machinist.

What is life cycle maintenance?
A building and its equipment has a limited life span (life cycle). Building systems are repaired or replaced after their life cycle is over to maintain the existing building standard. Over the lifetime of a building, it costs less to maintain the building standard by doing life cycle maintenance as scheduled than to delay work as the equipment can deteriorate to the point where it cannot be repaired.

Questions?
This project is led by Facility Management (formerly called Facility Operations), a division of Corporate Properties & Buildings.

If you have questions, please call 3-1-1 or the 24/7 Facility Management customer service line at 403-268-5756.

The City of Calgary to lower flags to half-mast on Remembrance Day.

To honour the memory of all Canadians who have served their country in the time of war, The City of Calgary will lower flags to half-mast on Remembrance Day.

Flags on all City buildings/facilities will be flown at half-mast on Thursday, November 11, 2010 from sunrise to sunset.

Flags on all Government of Canada buildings including the Peace Tower in Ottawa, as well as flags at all Government of Alberta buildings will be flown at half-mast from sunrise to sunset.

When half-masting occurs at or near a cenotaph or another place where remembrance is being observed, the half-masting can occur at 11:00 am ( or according to the prescribed order of service) until sunset.

The City of Calgary Launches The City of Calgary Facebook Page

There is a new way to stay connected to The City of Calgary now that we've launched the official Facebook Page.

We encourage you to let us know what you think of the page and what you'd like to see. It is filled with links to City services like the newsroom, career opportunities and traffic updates. It also features all our other Facebook pages such as the Youth Programs page and Toast 'n Jam and links to our blogs and YouTube channels.

Please feel free to 'like' the page if you're inclined, and send us feedback so we can continually improve it.

You can find it at http://www.facebook.com/TheCityofCalgary

Citizens provide record-breaking number of tips to Crime Stoppers

Calgarians are calling Crime Stoppers in record-numbers this year to report suspect activity acccording to the organization.

Tips received so far have resulted in approximately $14 million of drugs being seized, compared to $2 million in the same period last year. Recovered stolen property has also increased from $25 thousand to $30 thousand.

September was the busiest month to date; exceeding September, 2008, by 150 tips.

According to a Crime Stoppers release, information volunteered by the public led to 239 charges laid so far in 2009, compared to 56 charges during the same time-period last year.

“We have been saying for quite some time that we need the assistance and support of the community to help make Calgary even safer, and the public appear to be responding to that call and stepping up to the plate,” said Staff Sergeant Colin Chisholm of the Calgary Police Service.

“I firmly believe that the city is safer thanks to those that have picked up the phone or visited the Crime Stoppers website to provide a tip.”

And the program should continue to grow according to Roger Monette, President of Calgary Crime Stoppers.

“We endeavour to raise these statistics with record setting tips when our Talk, Type, Text initiative is rolled out during the world-wide Crime Stoppers month in January 2010,” said Monette.

“The Crime Stoppers program is laudable as a result of our citizens who proactively ‘unmute’ themselves in the three ways to anonymously submit crime tips.”

In September alone, the following successes can be attributed to the reporting public:

• Four grow operations were dismantled resulting in a seizure of $3.7 million.
• Two drug trafficking cases were solved resulting in two arrests.
• One weapons case was solved.
• One robbery case was solved resulting in an arrest.
• Six people wanted on warrants were arrested.
• Two traffic related cases were solved.

Live Chat: Rubber Sidewalks

Blanka Bracic, a transportation engineer with The City of Calgary, will be here on Wednesday, November 3 at 10:30 a.m. (Mountain Time) to answer your questions about the Rubber Sidewalk pilot program.

Here is a related Calgary City News blog post with additional information: Rubber Sidewalks: A City Pilot Project

Calgary Citizen Satisfaction Survey 2010

Here is Ipsos Reid's Jamie Duncan talking about this year's survey.

The 2010 Citizen Satisfaction Survey results are in.  For the second consecutive year, citizens' perceptions about quality of life, and their rating of The City of Calgary’s overall performance have improved.
94% of Calgarians indicate that the overall quality of services provided by The City is “good”, which is up from 91% in 2009.

Nine-in-ten Calgarians (89%) give The City a “good” rating for overall performance – a significant five (5) percentage point increase from 2009 (84%).

Of those surveyed, 78% consider the overall quality of life in Calgary to be “good," consistent with 2009 (76%). This is in contrast to a two year down turn when ratings were considerably lower (69% in 2008 and 67% in 2007).

“This is a solid and balanced report card for The City of Calgary this year,” says Jamie Duncan, Associate Vice President with Ipsos Reid. “Calgarians’ views and perceptions about The City of Calgary’s performance have improved this year and results continue to generally reflect how the rest of Canadians rate their local government.”

“Infrastructure, traffic and roads” remains in the top position on the issue agenda for 2010, while “crime, safety and policing” has moved down on the issue agenda.

"It's a great compliment for our employees and the work they do,” says Owen Tobert, City Manager. “This feedback from citizens is particularly encouraging, given the financial constraints, coupled with increased demand over the past year.”

Ipsos Reid, on behalf of The City, conducted the telephone survey of 1,000 citizens aged 18 years and older. The survey was conducted August 25 – September 2, 2010. The margin of error for the total sample of 1,000 is ± 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

The City of Calgary has engaged independent research firms to conduct annual citizen satisfaction surveys since 1997 to continually measure citizen satisfaction with services and quality of life.  Where available, the data is benchmarked against other Canadian municipalities.

The 2010 survey report is available on The City of Calgary’s website at calgary.ca/citizensatisfaction.

Related Calgary City News blog posts:

• Calgarians give high grades in 2009 Citizen Satisfaction Survey
• Ipsos Reid discusses Calgary's Citizen Satisfaction Survey