In June we celebrate the special seniors in our lives

Seniors are an important part of our community and every year, from June 6 to 12 during Seniors’ Week, we celebrate their contributions to making Calgary a great place to live.

Province of Alberta recognizes Calgary as an age-friendly city

This year, Seniors’ Week kicked off in Calgary’s Municipal Building with the placement of a plaque recognizing Calgary as an age-friendly city.

Find an event near you

With a variety of events across Calgary, this week is a chance to spend some time celebrating the older adults in our lives, thanking them for the difference they make. There are dozens of events being held across the city all week long.

Some events are specifically for seniors, while others are for the whole family to enjoy. As well, there will be several conversation cafes for you to join and talk about how to address the issue of elder abuse in the lead up to the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day event on June 15.

Seniors take part in staying active during Seniors' Week

This year, the Age-Friendly Calgary Steering Committee has released their first annual Report to the Community on the progress of the Seniors Age-Friendly Strategy and implementation Plan 2015-2018.

You can find the most up-to-date list of events (including conversation cafes) online. Stay informed by following the Seniors’ Week Facebook event page. Check out all the events and find your own special way to celebrate the older adults in your life.

However you chose to celebrate, please share your stories and photos with us on our Seniors' Week Facebook event page or on Twitter, using the hashtag #yycseniors.

2016 JUNO Awards playing it loud in Calgary

In case you haven't heard... the 2016 JUNO Awards are coming to Calgary!

In this Year of Music, The City of Calgary is pleased to be a member of the 2016 JUNO Awards host committee, OutLoudYYC, to showcase our vibrant local music scene and welcome Canada’s top music industry professionals and fans from all over the world.

"Bringing the JUNO Awards to Calgary has great benefit to our city," says Sarah Iley, manager of Arts & Culture with The City of Calgary, "Not only by showcasing
our home-grown talent, but also in terms of economic stimulation for all kinds of local businesses. We encourage Calgarians to demonstrate what a lively music city Calgary is, and take part in the numerous events that are happening leading up to the JUNO Awards.”

Calgarians already have and will continue to enjoy a multitude of JUNO events including local artists at small venues during JUNO Fest, microgrant performances, pop-up concerts, autograph signings, JUNO Cup, JUNOS on the CTrain, Songwriter’s Circle, Canadian art exhibit, the Indigenous Showcase and many more.

First to check out is JUNO Hub, a storefront space celebrating Canada’s musical history that is now open in The Core from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The JUNO Hub features JUNO-related artifacts – photo exhibits, JUNO Cup Jerseys, shoes worn by previous JUNO winners and other musical memorabilia including the JUNO Award itself - and is staffed by music loving volunteers prepared to answer questions about all JUNO week events and community activations.

Find detailed event listings and the most up to date info at outloudyyc.com and invite your friends and family to join The City’s Facebook event.

Songs and blessings for new Calgarians

The Alsheblak family fled their Syrian hometown of Daraa (a city in southwestern Syria) in 2013.

“It wasn’t safe whatsoever to live in Daraa anymore. There was bombing everywhere, airstrikes, and random detention,” says Emad Alsheblak – the father of the family of five.

The Alsheblak family

Emad Alsheblak, his wife Walaa, and their three children -- Ghazal, 4, Ahmad, 2, and Omar, three-months-old -- are some of our newest neighbours in Calgary. Emad and his family are government-assisted refugees who came to Canada as part of the plan to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by February 29, 2016.

The Alsheblak family entered Jordan in 2013 as refugees. In December 2015, he was identified by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) as eligible to come to Canada. On January 9, 2016, they left their extended families and were flown to Toronto, landing in Calgary on January 10, 2016.

Emah’s family is one of the 1,400 Syrian refugees who have come to Calgary since November 4, 2015.

Officially welcoming our new neighbours

The Turning Robe drummers

On March 12, 2016, we hosted a special event for all recent newcomers to Calgary. The Alsheblaks were among 1,300 people in attendance. Mayor Naheed Nenshi and members of the First Nations welcomed them with speeches and ceremonial blessings and songs.

Mayor Nenshi spoke of the importance of making sure they knew they were a part of the fabric of the community from the very first days and weeks in Calgary. He said he believed it was very important they be welcomed properly by the ceremonies of the Indigenous community.

“A warm welcome to our newest neighbours extends well beyond the airport. The most important thing we can do as Calgarians is welcome and support newcomers as they settle in our community,” said Mayor Nenshi.

The City provided free transit on Saturday for those attending the event.

Fair helps newcomers with resources to get settled

The event also featured an information fair with 30 booths hosted by City units as well as community organizations providing programs and services for newcomers. Participants were able to learn about public transit, English classes, fire safety, recreation programs and much more.

City staff at the Fair Entry booth

Susan Fernando is a coordinator for The City’s Property Tax Assistance Program. She was helping as a host at the booth for the Fair Entry program.

“I met a mom with two young kids who had lost her husband before she came here,” said Susan at the resource fair. “I think connecting with these people with these services might help to bring back a sense of normalcy and belonging. Maybe just help them to know care and compassion – that they are accepted amidst all the politics and attention.”

A special thank you goes out to community members who helped out at the event. As well as hosting resource booths, over 30 people volunteered to act as interpreters so event attendees could better understand the information being offered.

View more photos from the event. More information about welcoming newcomers.

Submitted by Stacey Scott, Calgary Neighbourhoods

City celebrates Open Data Day with Regional Hackathon

Over 150 people packed into City Hall this weekend to celebrate International Open Data Day with a Hackathon hosted by The City of Calgary and the Calgary Regional Partnership. Over the course of the weekend, thirty five teams put their heads together to create apps and websites using open data from municipalities across the Calgary region.

"This event gives citizens the opportunity to be innovative, challenge the norms, and use the resources that we already have available in new and thoughtful ways," says Walter Simbirski, Open Data Strategist with The City of Calgary.

“We believe that in opening up government data, we can achieve increased efficiency, increased innovation, and increased transparency – with the goal of making the community better and serving citizens better every single day.”

Teams were judged on a number of criteria including citizen value, a score that assessed the product’s ability to show economic, social, or environmental benefits to the community. After three days of intense brainstorming, programming and pitching, three teams came out on top as this year’s Hackathon winners.

CycloConnect: Ellyn DuMont, Linh Duong, and Maha Jamil

1. CycloConnect
A crowd sourced app for bicyclists to plan their routes and monitor the availability of bike storage around the Calgary region.
Team members: Ellyn DuMont, Linh Duong, and Maha Jamil

2. Plugin Calgary
A citizen engagement tool for municipalities to provide challenges based on their environmental, social, and economic programs and participants would collect points for completing challenges.
Team members: Jill Langer, Ireti Fakinlede, and Stella Lee

3. Transit Krowd
A near-time data collection app that allows bus riders to see how full their upcoming bus is, and share information about the condition of buses, trains, and transportation shelters around the region.
Team members: Teddy Seyed, Abhishek Sharma, Alaa Azazi

The Calgary Region Hackathon was an opportunity to promote the use of open data, and encourage citizens to create innovative solutions to deliver City services in a more efficient and effective manner. Open data refers to data that is available to the public at no cost, and can be used for any purpose including commercial use.

For more information on The City of Calgary’s Open Data Catalogue, visit data.calgary.ca.

Halloween doesn’t have to be a sugar rush: City offers swim coupons for trick-or-treaters

If you’re looking for a healthy alternative to all the candy that comes out during Halloween season, we have a solution that will keep the ghouls and goblins in your neighbourhood happy. Our Halloween swim coupons are back.

“It’s an awesome deal.” says Heather Cowie, regional manager with The City of Calgary Recreation. “For only $5 you get 10 swim coupons, and when you add in the fact that one of those swim coupons is for a leisure centre, it’s easy to understand why these booklets are so popular.”

Each Halloween coupon booklet includes one swim coupon for a City leisure centre (redeemable at either of our leisure centres), in addition to nine coupons to use at any of the City aquatic & fitness centres (redeemable at any of our 12 aquatic & fitness centres). Children from 2 to 17 can use a coupon to enjoy a free swim during public swim times from Nov. 1 – Dec. 31, 2015.

For the past nine years, we have encouraged Calgarians to surprise trick-or-treaters with a free swim coupon instead of a traditional sugar-filled Halloween treat. Simply tear off a free swim coupon and drop it into your trick-or-treater's Halloween bags!

Time is running out. Only a limited number of booklets are printed each year and they do sell out so everyone is encouraged to buy their booklets early to avoid disappointment.

Calgarians can purchase the coupon booklets from a variety of City Recreation locations or online at cityonline.calgary.ca. Halloween swim coupons are on sale until October 31. For more information visit calgary.ca/Recreation.

Free Dog Training: Building a strong relationship between pet and owner

Could your dog benefit from recall training? Could you use a few tips from a professional dog trainer? On Saturday, Oct. 17 join a certified professional dog trainer at the Falconridge off-leash area and learn tips and techniques that will help you and your dog show off their best behaviour when in public.

There will be four 45-minute sessions starting at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Certified professional dog trainers, courtesy of our partnership with the Calgary Humane Society, will demonstrate training methods that help improve the human/animal bond. Proper training helps owners by giving them the know-how to minimize their dog’s bad behaviour and encourage appropriate behaviour. Good animal behaviour requires commitment to building strong relationship between pet and owner.

Along with training, pet owners will also be able to chat with off-leash ambassador volunteers, Animal & Bylaw Services staff and will even be able to renew their animal licence.

This event is one of several offered through the year as part of our Off-leash Ambassador program, which is a community-based program providing a volunteer-led approach to promote and educate citizens about the Responsible Pet Ownership bylaw.

The City is committed to working with and supporting Calgarians and their pets and this event is an example of this commitment.

Visit our website for more information on the Off-leash Ambassador program and responsible pet ownership.

Three reasons why you should attend the nextCITY: Urban Design speaker series

How are great cities planned and built? How do they change and evolve? Urban designers and expert architects from around the world are visiting our city this fall to speak about how their experiences can be applied to a Calgary context.

The first speaker on our roster, Ken Greenberg, is the former director of urban design and architecture for The City of Toronto. He has played a pivotal role in projects for cities like Amsterdam, New York and Paris.

But if you’re not a city planning buff, why should urban design matter to you?
Greenberg weighs in.

1. Planning and development decisions made today affect future generations.
“What we decide today will affect our children, our grandchildren, great-grandchildren. Urban design affects how everybody lives their daily lives. This is something that people need to be deeply involved in and understand. Know what your neighbourhoods are, what they could be and what changes mean for you.” – Ken Greenberg

2. The way cities are planned impacts climate change.
“We are embracing the role of cities like Calgary as the places where the big problems of our time get solved. The change that is occurring is extraordinary. Some of what I’ll be talking about involves the ways in which we are making complete communities to be more sustainable, like embracing mixed use of buildings, key investments in infrastructure, dealing with climate change and the importance of a green economy.” – Ken Greenberg

And another good reason to attend...

3. There’s going to be free food.
Enough said.

nextCITY: Urban Design speaker series
Ken Greenberg
Date and time: Oct. 6, 2015, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Fort Calgary mess hall, 750 9 Ave S.E.
Free and open to the public. No RSVP required.

Ken Greenberg is an urban designer, teacher, writer, former Director of Urban Design and Architecture for the City of Toronto and Principal of Greenberg Consultants. For over four decades he has played a pivotal role on public and private assignments in urban settings throughout North America and Europe, focusing on the rejuvenation of downtowns, waterfronts, neighbourhoods and on campus master planning, regional growth management, and new community planning. Cities as diverse as Toronto, Hartford, Amsterdam, New York, Boston, Montréal, Ottawa, Edmonton, Calgary, St. Louis, Washington DC, Paris, Detroit, Saint Paul and San Juan have benefited from his advocacy and passion for restoring the vitality, relevance and sustainability of the public realm in urban life.

The City's guide to Stampede parading

It's that time of year again... rodeos, midway, shows, exhibitions and everything country. Those of us who know it, know it well.

The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth kicks off tomorrow with the Stampede Parade and The City will be there to help you get around, view the parade, clean up and stay safe.

Getting around
Biking & Walking
Cycle your way down to the Stampede Parade using the city centre cycle track network or ride along part of Calgary's 800 kms of pathways and bikeways.

Take extra caution when passing through intersections. Most Stampede time pedestrian collisions occur on Friday and happen at traffic signals, when vehicles are making right hand turns. It’s important to watch out for one another so we can all enjoy a safe Stampede.

Calgary Transit
Effective the evening before parade day, 'round the clock transit service and discounted day passes will be available for Stampede week.

During the parade about 350,000 float-fanatics line the 4.5 km parade route, so many downtown transit routes will be on detour. Thousands make their way to the Stampede Grounds afterwards and can use bus, CTrain and walking options from the parade to the grounds.

Transit impacts on parade day will include detours for some regular and express bus services.

Driving
There will be a number of road closures to accommodate events all over the city during the Calgary Stampede (July 3-12). Spectators travelling to the Stampede Parade are encouraged to walk, bike or use transit to get into the downtown core.

Road and parking impacts on parade day will include several parking lot closures.

Viewing the parade
The City has reserved and will monitor eight accessible Stampede Parade viewing zones along the parade route for people with mobility challenges (canes, walkers, wheelchairs, scooters) and their friends/families.

Space is limited, so get there early! Look for barricades and signs. If space remains in the viewing areas after 8 a.m., they will be opened up to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.

The City in action
Street sweeper critters have been a Stampede tradition for nearly 15 years, bringing joy to parade goers and youth at the Children's Hospital that are unable to travel to the Stampede parade --  the most rewarding event of the year, according to street sweeper operators.

Representatives from Calgary Stampede, Public Safety Communications,
 Calgary Police Service, Calgary Fire Department, Alberta Health Services,
Animal & Bylaw Services, and Inspections and Permits

City staff collaborate across many departments to ensure the event flows smoothly and safely:

• Parking and traffic control will be coordinated by the Calgary Parking Authority (CPA), Roads, Calgary Police Service (CPS) and Animal & Bylaw Services (ABS).
• Calgary Emergency Management Agency will open the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and activate the Municipal Emergency Plan during the Stampede Parade to monitor and assist as required. 
• CPS have collocated their Tactical Operations Centre in the EOC. This will help to ensure the facilitation of a collaborative, coordinated and multi stakeholder response.
• Fire, ABS and CPS officers will be onsite and in communication for the duration of the Parade for immediate response.

Other Useful Info

• Calgary.ca/calgarystampede
• Calgary Police Stampede safety tips

Unplug for Earth Hour on March 28

Participate in Earth Hour with The City of Calgary by turning off your lights and electronics and attending Calgary Unplugged, a free family event at Olympic Plaza. The event runs from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and features kid-friendly activities, free hot chocolate in compostable cups, an LED lantern parade, and music and lighting generated by pedal-power bikes.

Earth Hour is a global initiative to raise awareness about how energy use contributes to climate change and ways we can all take action to reduce our impact.

Each year The City participates by shutting off non-essential and feature lighting in various buildings and bridges. On March 28, lights will turn off at 8:30 p.m. for one hour at:

• The Municipal Building and old City Hall
• Calgary Public Building
• Manchester Centre Building E
• Ad Valorem Place
• Whitehorn Multi-Services Centre
• all fire stations
• Centre Street Bridge
• the 4th Street S.E. underpass
• the Riverwalk area near Prince’s Island Park
• Langevin Bridge

The City’s commitment to reducing energy use in its operations goes far beyond Earth Hour. Some of the work underway includes converting over 80,000 community streetlights to more energy efficient LED bulbs. Additionally, The City is conducting a pilot to automatically power down desktop computers during non-work hours. If the pilot proves successful, a corporate-wide program could save enough electricity to power over 340 households per year.

Join The City and go beyond the hour by taking action to reduce your energy use every day. Visit Calgary.ca for simple energy saving tips.

City partnership successful at reducing youth crime, gang involvement

Today, The City released results from an independent study that confirm the Youth at Risk Development (YARD) program is reducing criminal activity and gang involvement among Calgary youth.

Launched in 2008, at-risk youth aged 10 to 17 are paired with social workers and police officers who provide mentorship and support.

“Knowing that our combined effort is making a difference in the lives of young Calgarians affirms that we are on the right path,” said Katie Black, Acting Director, Community & Neighbourhood Services.

The study sites a 41 per cent decrease in criminal charges among participants compared to youth not involved in the program.

“Investment in early intervention pays off tenfold, not only because the kids choose a path out of crime, but they also become productive adults. YARD works,” said Calgary Police Service Deputy Chief Trevor Daroux.

Visit Calgary.ca/YouthJustice to download a referral form for the program or view a full summary of the study results.

Skating at Bowness Park to open for Christmas

Lace up your skates - the Bowness Park lagoon will be open for skating on Christmas Day!

“We’re really pleased to be able to open the lagoon for skating this year, after being closed for the past two years due to the park’s redevelopment,” says Doug Marter, manager for Parks.

“There’s just something magical about this park and skating on the lagoon, especially at Christmas with the lights twinkling and the fire crackling.”

Along with skating, visitors will also have the opportunity to enjoy new features. A new central pedestrian area offers visitors a place to sit and warm up by the new fire pits, as well as easier access to the lagoon.

Later in 2015, the stunning new teahouse will feature a restaurant and market aptly named Seasons of Bowness Park which will offer visitors delicious snacks, tasty meals, or a cup of coffee while watching the kids skate or simply taking in the remarkable view of the lagoon.

“The redevelopment of the park was designed to allow Calgarians better access to the water,” says Marter. “We’ve also reconfigured the trails and pathways, and moved the Parks depot away from the river bank so citizens can connect with water and nature while in the park.”

Creating a functional and enjoyable space to be used year-round as well as sustaining the ever-increasing number of visitors was an important priority, adds Marter.

“It’s been a long process,” says Councilor Ward Sutherland. “Especially with Mother Nature throwing us some challenges - the June 2013 flood and the September 2014 snow storm. But, we are excited to once again enjoy this great park and be part of the memories that future generations will treasure.”

NOTE: The concession building is still under construction and skate rentals are not available at this time. Please make sure to bring your skates and any other supplies needed.

Celebration in February

In February 2015, The City of Calgary and the Bowness Community Association will host a city-wide celebratory skating party, with brief speeches from The City of Calgary and Province of Alberta officials, as well as the local community.

All Calgarians will be invited to the skating party on February 7, so be sure to watch for details on the Bowness Park Redevelopment web page. Activities will include skating, a sleigh or wagon ride, local music, hot chocolate and refreshments (while supplies last). We look forward to seeing you there!

The City of Calgary Parks has five other outdoor skating rinks. Please visit calgary.ca for a complete list and the status of skating.

Watch opening ceremonies for new Windsor Park fire station

Join Fire Chief Ken Uzeloc and Councillor Brian Pincott as they officially open the new Windsor Park Fire Station 11 (5506 4 Street S.W.) tomorrow, Dec. 10 at 10:30 a.m.

See a Calgary Fire Department truck helping to cut the ribbon for the new station.

Live streaming of the ceremony starts at 10:30 a.m.

Family-friendly activities

Chief Uzeloc and Councillor Pincott will celebrate with community members of all ages. Kids from the community can take part in craft activities, learn fire prevention and safety tips, and meet Sparky the dog. Everyone is welcome to check out the new station, meet the captain and crew, and see a display of firefighting history from the Calgary Fire Department Museum Society.

Bigger and better-equipped station

The new fire station was needed to replace the original building which had been in service for more than 50 years and was too small to accommodate modern firefighting vehicles and equipment. With three large bays and Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) gold level features, the new Windsor Park Fire Station is now operational and better equipped for emergency response.

The old station next door is being demolished to make way for community green space in the spring.

More information and a map showing the location of the Windsor Park Fire Station.

Submitted by Bridget Cox, Calgary Fire Department

All three pedestrian bridges are now open

All three pedestrian bridges along the Elbow River destroyed in the June 2013 flood are now open for use.

Councillors Evan Woolley & Gian-Carlo Carra with Grade 4 students
from Rideau Park School at Rideau Park Bridge re-opening

Just 18 months after the flood, Mayor Naheed Nenshi was joined by hundreds of residents to cut the ribbon and officially open the Sandy Beach Bridge November 23. Councillors Evan Woolley and Gian-Carlo Carra cut the ribbon at the Rideau Park Bridge with a Grade 4 class from Rideau Park School on hand November 28 and the Riverdale Avenue Bridge opened at noon the same day.

“When we met with the communities after the flood to talk about replacing these bridges, they told us that these bridges were a vital link in their communities and that they really missed them,” says Project Manager Charmaine Buhler. “We are very proud to have restored these vital community links and we hope everyone enjoys using them again.”

Residents and commuters will be able to use the bridges for a very long time, adds Buhler.

“In addition to being designed to withstand future flooding, they are also built to last for 100 years," she explains.

Sandy Beach Bridge re-opening

Landscaping will be completed in the spring at all three bridges. Permanent panels commemorating the old bridges will also be completed in the spring and will be installed where temporary panels are currently located at the bridge entrances.

To view time lapse sequences of the major components of the re-building process, such as the installation of the towers, suspension cables, and bridge decks, and for other project information, please visit www.calgary.ca/elbowbridges.

The completion of the bridges marks an important milestone in The City's ongoing flood recovery efforts. There are 223 projects on the Municipal Infrastructure Recovery Program list. Of those projects, 99 are reported to be either complete or substantially complete (44 per cent). Another 83 projects (37 per cent) have design work underway or are under construction. A total of 38 projects (17 per cent) are in early planning stages and only three projects (two per cent) have not yet started. These either require further investigation or are scheduled for a later start date.

For a complete list of projects and an interactive map of project locations and status, please visit www.calgary.ca/floodrecovery.

Year-end surplus inventory sale

Every Tuesday, The City of Calgary hosts a sale and/or public auction for surplus equipment and materials. The shop shelves are currently stocked with perfumes, electronics, clothing and other items - just waiting to be made into holiday gifts.

To help make room for next year's inventory, we're selling all stock at 10% to 50% off regular prices for the entire month of December.

December Sale Details
50% All footwear/coveralls, all makeup and perfumes, all toner cartridges
25% All clothing except jackets and coveralls (includes shirts, ties, gloves)
20% All computers – desktops and laptops, all cell phones, all headlight bulbs, miscellaneous jackets, all fire hydrants
15% Bicycles
10% Generators – these are new, unused in the box
10% EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE STORE!!!!
10 – 50% Jewellery

Where: Manchester Surplus Store - 3063 Dartmouth Road S.E. - North entrance. The City yard in the 600 block of 25 Avenue S.E.
When: Every Tuesday in December. 8am to 3pm. Cash or cheque only.
Why: We must make room for new inventory coming in 2015.

First come first serve. Cash and carry. Customers are responsible for loading their purchases –we do not provide a forklift. Also, please bring your own tools if items need to be dismantled. For pictures and additional details please visit, www.calgary.ca/surplus

The City sells 66 acres of land to Home Depot

The City is pleased to announce that Home Depot Canada Inc. is the successful purchaser of 66 acres of city-owned land located on the Dufferin North Industrial Park, west of Stoney Trail and 68 Street S.E.

The Home Depot facility will contribute to Calgary’s strong economic growth through the creation of a wide variety of jobs plus the increased investment in other local support services needed to maintain operations.

As part of the City’s 2013-2022 Industrial Land Strategy five per cent of proceeds from gross industrial land sales will go to the Public Housing Reserve in support of affordable housing in Calgary.



Find more information at calgary.ca/OLSH

Dog lovers invited to Working Dogs Day event

Come down to Bowmont Off-Leash Park between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. tomorrow, Sept. 20, to meet working dogs from around the city and learn about responsible pet ownership.

Working Dogs Days will feature demonstrations from working dogs and their handlers from the Calgary Police Department, Calgary Fire Department, Animal & Bylaw Services, Calgary Search & Rescue Association, PADS Calgary (Pacific Assistance Dogs Society), PALS (Pet Access League Society), Canada Border Services Agency and RCMP Police Dog Services. Attendees can also learn about dog recall training and pet first aid.

Working Dogs Day is part of The City of Calgary’s Off-Leash Ambassador program which was launched in 2013. The program relies on volunteers to help promote the Responsible Pet Ownership bylaw and teach dog owners about positive pet interactions and safety. This is accomplished through education, demonstrations and discussions led by the ambassadors who act as positive role models in off-leash areas.

“The Off-Leash Ambassador program is a great example of community and volunteerism,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi. “Once again, we see success when The City and its citizens collaborate —together, we ensure healthy and safe off-leash areas for Calgarians and their pets.”

Councillor Ward Sutherland, who is a long time community volunteer, will attend the event to show his support of the Program and meet the working dogs.

“An event that celebrates volunteers, specifically the ambassadors that support our off-leash parks, is wonderful. The free dog recall training, first aid and service dog demonstrations are a brilliant addition to the event and a great way to educate citizens on how to keep our off-leash parks safe and fun for all of us,” he said.

For more information about responsible pet ownership, up-coming Off-Leash Ambassador events and registering to become an Off-Leash Ambassador, visit calgary.ca/animalservices or follow Animal & Bylaw Services on Facebook.

Please note: the area where the event will be held has been cleaned of tree debris from the recent storm and has been deemed safe. However, we urge all event attendees to be mindful of potential hazards, look up, stay away from large trees and be aware of surroundings.

Submitted by Tara Norton-Merrin, Animal & Bylaw Services

Treat your taste buds at the “green zone” food trucks TODAY

The Aglio E ‘Olio  and Yummi Yogis food trucks will be parked in front of The City’s Administration Building (Old City Hall) TODAY. 

Come down between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and experience the fabulous food.

Aglio E ‘Olio is Calgary’s first authentic and organic pasta truck and Yummi Yogis prepare health conscious meals and offer gluten-free and dairy-free options. 

Celebrate the reappearance of summer with lunch and learning alfresco. 

City staff and Leaders in Environmentally Accountable Foodservice (LEAF) representatives will be on-site to teach Calgarians about the importance of recycling, composting and simply being more environmentally conscious. Join our Facebook event for detailed updates.

We look forward to seeing you.

Submitted by Carissa Vescio, Animal & Bylaw Services

Calgary Fire Department Honour Guard vigilant in honouring fallen

On Sept. 9, The City of Calgary will honour Calgary firefighters who have died in the line of duty, or as result of illnesses relating from their job, at the Fallen Firefighters Memorial.

The event takes place at noon on Sept. 9 in the Police Officers and Firefighters Tribute Plaza outside of the City of Calgary Municipal Building, 800 Macleod Trail SE.

The Calgary Fire Department Honour Guard will stand at attention with flags waving in support of their fallen comrades, and all Calgarians are invited to come out and join them at the Memorial.

Recognizing the risks of the job

The honour guard, made up of more than 25 members of the fire department, is a tradition unique and dear to uniformed professions, including the military and police.

“The purpose is really to ensure that our fellow firefighters, their families and emergency responders, as well as the public we serve, are aware of the sacrifice and courage that it takes to do a job that requires putting your life at risk,” explains Captain Terry Larson, the honour guard's commander. Captain Larson will lead the ceremonial and formal tribute.

“It is our job [as the Calgary Fire Honour Guard] to go to every funeral of a fallen Calgary firefighter alongside the Fire Chief or his representative, and present the family with a firefighter cap and flag. This doesn’t happen in almost any other profession,” says Larson. “The families really do appreciate it, and that makes it even more important for us.”

Fire at the McTavish Block resulted in firefighter's death

The honour guard has a very proud history in Calgary. The group was formed in 1971 following the death of Lieutenant Harold E. Smith. Lieutenant Smith died while fighting a large fire at the McTavish block on 9th Avenue and 2nd Street S.E.

“Whether a firefighter dies swinging the axe, or from an illness related to the job, their efforts in saving the lives of others is vital to our quality of life in Canada,” explains Captain Larson.

Captain Larson, alongside other Calgary firefighters and honour guard members, will also pay tribute to their fallen colleagues from the International Association of Firefighters and from across Canada in two ceremonies later this month.

Learn more about the Calgary Fire Honour Guard and the Calgary Fire Department.

Submitted by Bridget Cox, Fire

Kick off Alberta Culture Days with a FREE block party

On Friday, September 26, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Stephen Avenue Walk and Olympic Plaza will become Calgary’s cultural hub with a variety of activities, exhibits and performances geared to excite and engage everyone from culture sophisticates to those learning to cultivate a love of the local scene.

Attendees will have the chance to take part in dozens of activities that will give a taste of Alberta’s vibrant art and cultural life:

• Dance to live DJs courtesy of the BassBus
• Rock out during performances from Alberta bands, The Wet Secrets and Viet Cong
• Make your own noise at the Instrument Petting Zoo or on the Street Piano
• Be dazzled by a state-of-the-art projection light show from Beama Visual Environments
• Get crafty at the Arts Studio Interactive featuring a potter’s wheel, painting easel and life drawing
• Learn about historic photo-making processes, and get a free photo at the Tintype photographic workshop with Rainika Photo Grafik
• Cheer on the Open Streets bike power bar from Pedal Powered Lights
• Tickle the funny bone with cheeky operatic interpretations during a Cowtown Opera Company performance
• Let the creative juices flow at the EMMedia VJ Demo Station
• Listen to wild storytelling and poetry courtesy of the Alberta League of Encouraging Storytelling
• Sip a beverage and grab a snack on the patios along Stephen Avenue Walk
• And more to be announced!

And the fun doesn't end there! The 7th Annual Alberta Culture Days will feature thousands of free, family-friendly events running throughout the weekend of September 26 to 28. Alberta Culture Days was started to recognize all that Alberta has to offer in the way of arts and culture and last year more than 1,450 events were held in communities across the province.

Visit www.albertaculturedays.ca to learn more or download the Alberta Culture Calendar app from the Apple App Store to find events throughout the province. Stay informed on more party plans and during Alberta Culture Days by following @AlbertaCulture on Twitter, like the Alberta Culture Days Facebook page or join our event on Facebook.

Submitted by Jennifer Storm, Arts and Culture, Recreation

Celebrate the opening of Tuscany Station on Aug. 23

Head over to Tuscany this Saturday, Aug. 23 and celebrate the grand opening of Calgary’s newest CTrain station.

While regular service at Tuscany Station officially begins on Monday, Aug. 25, we’re extending an invitation to Calgarians to join us as the first train pulls in.

The festivities will run from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the south Park and Ride lot at Tuscany Station and we’ll have entertainment, food trucks and plenty of fun activities for all ages.
Below is the schedule of events:

• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. FREE community bus shuttle service to the station every 15 minutes
• 9 a.m. to 12 noon FREE bus shuttle from Crowfoot Station to Tuscany Station running every 10 minutes
• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Food trucks, fun activities and entertainment for all ages
• 11:55 First train arrives at Tuscany Station driven by Mayor Naheed Nenshi from Crowfoot with invited guests
• 12 noon Official welcoming ceremony
• 12 noon to 5 p.m. FREE train service between Tuscany and Crowfoot Stations (fare is required to travel beyond Crowfoot)

* Regular existing bus service will also operate on Saturday, Aug. 23 and Sunday, Aug. 24. There will be no train service to Tuscany Station on Sunday, Aug. 24.

For more information regarding Calgary Transit service to Tuscany Station visit calgarytransit.com, or for further background on the project, visit calgary.ca/nwlrt.