2014 Citizen Satisfaction Survey Results

The 2014 Citizen Satisfaction Survey results are in and perceptions about quality of life in Calgary remain strong.




Ninety one per cent of citizens are proud to be Calgarian. Satisfaction with City services remains high, with six City services seeing increases in satisfaction: land use planning; city operated roads and infrastructure; pathway systems; bylaw services; animal control; and community services (including community associations and not for profit groups).

“The data shows what most Calgarians already know: we live in a great city with a high quality of life. We are proud to live here and, for the most part, we get good value for our tax dollars. I’m proud that the Citizen Satisfaction survey has consistently shown this since I’ve had this role,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

Notable highlights include:

• 87 per cent of Calgarians indicate their quality of life in Calgary is good;
• 86 per cent of Calgarians rated The City’s quality of service as consistently high;
• Close to two-thirds of citizens said The City provides good value for their property tax dollars; and
• Infrastructure, traffic and roads remain at the top of the issue agenda, while Transit continues to hold second place.

“Good data makes for good decisions,” said Mayor Nenshi. “The results we get from the Citizen Satisfaction Survey help City Council as we make decisions about the new four-year budget and business plan so that we can continue to serve Calgarians well.”

The Citizen Satisfaction Survey is one way The City of Calgary can understand Calgarians’ needs and perceptions. The City is continually exploring new ways for citizens to engage with The City and provide feedback. Citizens’ View, The City’s new online panel, is another way for citizens to provide input into City programs and services on an ongoing basis. You have opinions. We want to hear them. Participate in online surveys and discussions by registering at citizensview.ca

View the full Citizen Satisfaction Survey on calgary.ca.

Working to build a great city

The City’s Development & Building Approvals continues to focus on meeting the demands of our growing city, through the many services we provide.  We are in a business that requires quality customer service and continuous process improvements. Throughout 2013, we moved more of our services online as well as endeavoured to increase internal efficiencies in our work.

We are working hard to build a great city. The infographic below provides a high-level overview of some of the great work we accomplished in 2013.

Data/statistics collected is from 2013

Civic Census Takers required

If you'd like to be a part of a team that collects valuable information used in many aspects of City planning, infrastructure and service delivery, apply in person at The City's Election office at 1103 55 Avenue NE, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Mon. - Fri. until February 2.

In order to apply to be a Census taker you must be:

• 18 years of age or over
• available to conduct Census collection in the first three weeks of April
• able to walk in seasonable weather conditions
• available to attend a two hour daytime training session in March
• able to operate a tablet computer

Applicants can find more information and download the application form by visiting Calgary.ca/Census or calling 403-476-4100 (option 3).

City measures progress towards 60-year vision

The population in Calgary’s older neighbourhoods is starting to grow again and Calgary is 10 per cent denser, according to a report by The City. The report is the first monitoring report released on the progress being made towards the 60-year goals outlined in the Municipal Development Plan and Calgary Transportation Plan.

There are 14 indicators used in the report to track The City’s progress towards the vision for Calgary that was shaped through the PlanIt Calgary process five years ago. Of these, eight indicators have shown that The City is moving in the right direction, three have not changed since they were last measured and three have moved farther away from the goals of the Municipal Development Plan and Calgary Transportation Plan.

For more information or to read the full report, please visit Calgary.ca/MDP.

2013 Citizen Satisfaction Survey results

The 2013 Citizen Satisfaction Survey results are in and 88 per cent of citizens are satisfied with the quality of life in Calgary, an increase of 10 per cent over the last three years.

Ninety-two per cent of citizens are proud to be Calgarians and report increased satisfaction
with City programs and services.

Calgarians are invited to participate in the #Heartyyc contest by posting on The City’s Twitter or Facebook page. Share why you love Calgary for a chance to win daily prizes from The City and our civic partners.

The complete survey findings and infographic are available on calgary.ca. 

2013 Civic Census

Today, The City of Calgary released its 2013 Civic Census results.

Calgary’s population has reached 1,149,552; an increase of 29,327 residents or 2.62% from 2012.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi says this year, The City went high-tech using iPads to collect the data.“Accurate census information is essential in decision making and planning for The City’s future needs.”

For complete 2013 Civic Census results please visit calgary.ca/census.

10-year trends show overall safety improvement on Calgary roads

The City of Calgary regularly implements various measures to improve road safety for all users and recent data shows that these efforts are making a difference.

The City’s 10-year collision trends show that overall collisions, and collisions with injuries and fatalities, are occurring less frequently on Calgary roadways. Specifically, the overall collision rate has decreased 15 per cent since 2002 and the casualty (injury and fatality) rate has decreased 51 per cent during this same period.
Calgary continues to have one of the lowest collision injury and fatality rates among Canadian cities. Other trends to highlight include the following:

• Pedestrian injury and fatality rate has decreased by 36% over the past 10 years.


• Cycling injury and fatality rate has decreased by 42% over the past 10 years.

City policies and initiatives such as the Cycling Strategy, Complete Streets Guide, community traffic calming measures, and road, signal and intersection upgrades all contribute to improving safety for Calgary’s road users. Learn more about improvements in road safety on calgary.ca.

City Matters: 2013 Census

Between April 1 and 21, more than 900 City census takers/enumerators will be knocking on resident's doors.

You’ll recognize them by the numbered photo identification they’ll be wearing, issued by The City of Calgary The City conducts a census each year to get an official count of the population and dwelling units.

All census and enumeration information you provide is secure and 2013 results will be available approximately three months after the census It’s very important to count yourself in to ensure your information is collected for the 2013 Census and Enumeration.

If you’re not home when the census/enumerator taker comes to your house, they’ll leave a notice asking you to call them at the number provided. For more information please visit calgary.ca/census

Senior City official retires, leaving a legacy of improvements to life in Calgary

Erika speaking about her career with The City

Dr. Erika Hargesheimer who was responsible for leading valued City services such as Parks, Recreation, Animals & Bylaw Services, Fire, Public Safety Communications (911) and Community and Neighbourhood Services is retiring after 31 years of service.

As General Manger of the department, Erika was the driving force behind policies such as Fair Calgary, ensuring all Calgarians have equal access to programs, services, facilities and public spaces provided by The City.

She also pioneered a long-range planning practice that led to Council creating a $252 million community investment fund to support initiatives such as the new Central Library and four new recreation centres. The fund will also provide for things like personal protective equipment for firefighters; upgrades to community arenas, pools and parks; and support for community associations, social recreation groups and civic partners.

“Investing in communities is an integral part of what makes a great city and I am honoured to have been part of this legacy work that ensures our communities remain vibrant, healthy, safe and caring,” Erika says.

We’d like to thank Erika, for her tremendous commitment and contributions to The City of Calgary.

Please watch the video for more on Erika’s outstanding contributions to our great city.

Crowchild Trail Corridor and HOV implementation study Public Open House

The City of Calgary is conducting a long-term transportation study for the section of Crowchild Trail from 17 Avenue South to 24 Avenue North. The study provides recommendations for future roadway upgrades accommodating all modes of travel while maintaining connections to adjacent communities and amenities, such as the Centre City.

Public open houses are being held to provide citizens with the opportunity to learn more about the study and proposed future concepts for Crowchild Trail. The same information will be presented at both sessions.

The open houses will be held on:

Tuesday, November 13, 2012 - 5 -8 p.m.
Olympic Volunteer Centre, McMahon Stadium, Red and White Club 
*Free parking available on the east side of the building after 5 p.m.

Thursday, November 15, 2012 
5-8 p.m.
Marda Loop Communities Association 
3130 – 16 Street S.W.

Your attendance at this session and feedback regarding the proposed concepts for Crowchild Trail is appreciated. Feedback received will be considered in the final recommendations provided to the City.
For more information about the project please visit www.calgary.ca/crowchild.

The long-term Crowchild Trail Corridor Study will:

• Update the 1978 Crowchild Trail Transportation Plan. 
• Align Crowchild Trail with the Calgary Transportation Plan. 
• Consider walking and cycling connections, Calgary Transit routing, community access, and access to the Centre City.
• Accommodate the Primary Transit Network and the Primary High Occupancy Vehicle Network with a feasibility study from Glenmore Trail S.W. to 16 Avenue N.W., connecting the Activity Centres of the University of Calgary/Foothills Medical Centre, Centre City, and Mount Royal University.
• Consider vehicle movement and capacity including goods and commuters.
• Consider appropriate street connections to Crowchild Trail as part of the Calgary Transportation Plan.
• Allow The City to more accurately evaluate proposed changes to the corridor in the future.
  
  

2013-2014 Proposed Adjustments released

The City of Calgary has released its Proposed Adjustments to 2013-2014 business plans and budgets in advance of Council deliberations, which begin on November 26.

Overall the economy and social outlook for Calgary have remained stable and there have been no major changes since the 2012-2014 Business Plan & Budget was approved by Council.  As a result of this stability, Administration is proposing that adjustments be made only to the most critical areas so the previously approved tax rates of 5.7% and 6.1% for 2013 and 2014, can be maintained.

The proposed adjustments released today, maintain the focus on key priority areas identified in Council’s Fiscal Plan and reflects feedback from citizens.

“We had extensive citizen engagement and a lot of input from City Council into creating our three year budget through something called Council’s fiscal plan. Our goal for this year was to make sure that Calgary’s economy hadn’t changed very much, that we could still capture the millions of dollars in savings from efficiencies that Council approved the last time”, said Mayor Nenshi.

Back in June 2012, The City talked to citizens again to see if Calgarians’ priorities had changed. Then Administration used that feedback to develop the proposed adjustments.

Mayor Nenshi said that “because we think that Calgary’s economy is stable and things are going well, we are only making adjustments in very critical areas. We believe that these investments in areas like 9-1-1 for example, can fit within the funds available now. In short, we can make sure that the previously approved property tax will stay the same even while we make some more investments in things that are important”.

Meeting the demands of growth while balancing affordability with resources needed to deliver front-line services remains a challenge for The City. The demand for City services continues to rise at the same time as The City experiences increasing costs for materials and equipment, and increased competitiveness in the labour market.

Growth in the assessment base has resulted in slightly higher property tax revenues than originally predicted partially offset by higher costs and lower than anticipated franchise fees from the water utility. The net result is an increase in available base funding of $8.5 million in 2013 and $10.4 million in 2014. Administration has proposed adjustments of equal net amounts, resulting in a balanced budget in 2013 and 2014 with no change in the previously-approved tax rates.

Total spending proposed on the adjusted operating budgets is approximately $3.0 billion for 2013 and 3.1 billion for 2014.

The City of Calgary is interested in citizen feedback. The next phase of engagement on the budget adjustment process begins today. There are a variety of opportunities for citizens:

• Visit www.calgary.ca/ourfuture to view the highlights of the proposed adjustments to 2013-2014 business plans and budgets or download an electronic copy of the document. 


• Provide input on specific adjustments through the comment box at the bottom of the “Let’s Talk” page at www.calgary.ca/ourfuture or contact 311. 
• Make a submission to Council. 

Submissions to Council may be written or verbal. Verbal submissions will be heard after an opening presentation to Council on November 26. Anyone wishing to address Council may do so for a maximum of five minutes and may bring 35 copies of their materials for distribution.

Calgarians who are unable to attend the meeting and/or would like their submission to be distributed with the Council meeting agenda, must deliver their submission to the City Clerk on or before November 15, 2012:

Mail to: City Clerk, #8007,
                City of Calgary
                P.O. Box 2100,
                Postal Station M
                Calgary, Alberta T2P 2M5

Fax: (403) 268.2362
Email:       cityclerks@calgary.ca

Hand deliver to: City Clerk’s
          Main Floor, Historic City Hall
          700 Macleod Trail S.E.

For questions regarding meeting procedures or to schedule a time to address Council during the Public Hearing on November 26, contact the City Clerk’s Office at (403) 268.5827 by 4:30 p.m., Friday, November 23.

City Council will review the operating and capital budgets beginning on November 26 at 9:30 a.m. in the Council Chamber.

Survey says: City arenas continue to carve out excellence in recreation

Public skating begins October 1, 2012.

The majority of city-owned arenas were built in the 1960s & 70s and have been operating status quo since then. However, thanks to the first ever ‘Arena Survey’ conducted in 2010 and a subsequent survey in 2012, City of Calgary Recreation has finally been able to capture and leverage this feedback to improve arena experiences for patrons.

 “In 2009, when we first decided to poll our customers we didn’t imagine such great response rates and indeed so much passion about change rooms!” laughs Laurie Darvill, superintendent for arenas. “Yeah, the feedback has been phenomenal and I’m excited to tell our customers that their feedback has really influenced how we’re spending our capital dollars over the next few years.”

Darvill explains that the survey results have been integral to securing funding and prioritizing projects. The City of Calgary owns and operates 19 sheets of ice. She's particularly proud that in 2011 and 2012 Recreation was able to renovate a number of arenas: projects ranging from ice slabs, new boards and change rooms. In addition to these renovations, a number of arenas received environmental upgrades that lend to improved sustainability. Darvill adds that over the next year, customers will continue to see further upgrades.

As for arena staff, they should take pride in their level of work. In 2012, a total of 863 people responded with overwhelmingly positive comments regarding customer service. In fact, increases in satisfaction were evident in a number of customer service categories in comparison to the 2010 results. Darvill credits an increased focus on customer service that's given city-owned arenas an upper-edge.

Moreover, there were a number of comments regarding the high calibre quality of ice. We were told time and time again how players appreciate the dedication and expertise required from City staff to create this level of quality ice.

“We know that Calgarians love their ice sports,” Darvill continues, “listening and then responding to our customers preferences not only generates value for them, it simply makes for a more enjoyable experience.”

Highlights from City of Calgary Arena Survey

Calgary roars in recognition of heritage preservation: Announcing the 2012 Lion Award Winners

The City of Calgary and Calgary Heritage Authority recognized 10 award recipients at the 2012 Lion Awards on Wednesday night for their efforts to preserve Calgary’s heritage. The event is held every two years to highlight the importance of heritage preservation in our city and to showcase some of the sites that defined Calgary’s past and contributed to the essence of our city.

“The Lion Awards are a great opportunity to celebrate the outstanding initiatives that support heritage preservation in Calgary,” says Scott Jolliffe, Chair of the Calgary Heritage Authority. “Tonight’s event showcases the pride that individuals and groups have in our community and the desire they have to help bring our history to life. They are all very deserving of this recognition.”

Over 200 members of the community are planning to attend the awards event, including Mayor Naheed Nenshi.  The event is being hosted at the Calgary Board of Education Headquarters, which is one of Calgary’s most recent examples of how a historic building can be preserved while still meeting a modern need. The new headquarters were built to incorporate the historic Carl Safran Centre – a sandstone school built in 1908 – into a new office tower, earning the Calgary Board of Education the honour of being this year’s Resource Conservation Lion Award recipient.

“The Lions Awaken” – which is the new lighting installed on the Centre Street Bridge – is receiving one of two New Design Lion Awards, with the new SAIT Polytechnic Parking Garage that was built in front of SAIT’s historic Heritage Hall receiving the other.

Other winners include the program to replant the poplar trees along Memorial Drive, the 2010 Chinatown Centenary & Beyond celebration, and a team of tradespeople who helped restore Heritage Park’s Locomotive #2024.The Heritage Canada Foundation and Calgary Heritage Initiative Society are also jointly recognizing the City of Calgary by presenting the City with their National Achievement Award for the restoration of Central Memorial Park.

The Lion Awards are sorted into six different categories that recognize projects and initiatives of any scale.  The award recipients were selected by a jury made up of six distinguished members of the community.

Complete List of 2012 Lion Award Recipients:
Resource Conservation

• Calgary Board of Education Headquarters

New Design

• SAIT Polytechnic Parking Garage
• Centre Street Bridge Lighting – “The Lions Awaken”

Landscape

• Memorial Drive Poplar Trees
• Cultural Landscape Strategic Plan

Community Revitalization
2010 Chinatown Centenary & Beyond

Heritage Tradespeople/Craftspeople

• Doug Sinclair, Horologist
• Brian Manning, Gerry Brown, Pat Malcolmson (Locomotive #2024 Rehabilitation)

Advocacy & Awareness

• Kate Reeves
• RCMP Veterans Association 

Additional award:
Heritage Canada Foundation National Achievement Award

• City of Calgary – Restoration of Central Memorial Park

For more information on The Lion Awards, please visit www.calgary.ca/lionawards

Jury comments about each recipient can be viewed on The City’s YouTube channel.

City Releases 2012 Census Results

Mayor Naheed Nenshi discusses the Census

Today, The City of Calgary released the 2012 Civic Census results for the period from April 2011 to April 2012. Calgary’s population has reached 1,120,225; this is an increase of 29,289 residents from April 2011 when the Civic Census showed the city’s population was 1,090,936. This represents a significant increase in Calgary’s population. At 2.68 per cent, this year’s percent of population growth is similar to the level seen in 2007 where population growth was 28,283 or 2.84 per cent.

“Current and accurate data is a critical part of making good, informed decisions about the future of Calgary,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi. “The 2012 Civic Census includes important information for City Council and Administration.”

Specific results from the 2012 Civic Census  
Community Growth 
Panorama Hills continues to lead the way in growth at a community level with a population increase 2,396.  Other communities that experienced growth of more than 1,000 residents include: Auburn Bay (1,424), Skyview Ranch (1,185) and Cranston (1,026).

Five communities grew by more than 50 per cent. These communities are:

• CFB – Currie (616.67  per cent  or an additional 148 residents)
• Skyview Ranch (65.65 per cent  or an additional 1,185 residents)
• Mahogany (60.66 per cent  or an additional 478 residents)
• Walden (57.41 per cent  or an additional 341 residents)
• Sage Hill (53.61 per cent  or an additional 764 residents)

Net Migration and Natural Increase
From April 2011 to April 2012, 19,658 more people moved to Calgary than moved away from Calgary. As with overall population growth, this level is similar to what was seen in 2007 when natural increase was 17,631. Natural increase (the result of births over deaths) continued to be a source of growth at 9,631, down slightly (227) from last year.  

Housing
The number of housing units, both existing and under construction, increased by 8,387 to 459,339.

The number of vacant dwelling units in Calgary decreased by 3,564 to 12,616 in 2012. Vacant dwelling units are defined as units that are suitable and available for occupancy and does not include those units under construction or renovation. The overall vacancy rate in the city is 2.82 per cent, down 0.87 from 3.69 per cent in 2011.

There are now 434,474 occupied dwellings. Of this number, 301,005 or 69.28 per cent are owner-occupied. In 2011, the comparable percentage was 70.1 per cent.

The Civic Census Results Book and data tables in excel and PDF format will be available at calgary.ca/census

Distinguished Calgary firefighters honoured by Province

Nine firefighters from the Calgary Fire Department were recognized for their distinguished service, among 32 heroes from across Southern Alberta. 

“I’m proud to help honour members of Alberta’s fire services who are willing to put themselves at risk to help others,” said Doug Griffiths, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “The dedication and commitment shown by our fire services exemplifies public service and Albertans are very fortunate that so many individuals unselfishly put their own safety at risk to respond when we need them.”

The Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, The Honourable Donald S. Ethell presented the awards. In attendance along with distinguished firefighters were fire service leaders from fire agencies and government leaders.

“I am proud of all of the recipients for their hard work, dedication and service to Albertans,” says Fire Chief Bruce Burrell. “These recipients have made incredible sacrifices throughout their careers for the safety of others, and I commend them for their efforts.”

The awards were established in 1985 by Her Majesty The Queen, and the Medal is gold with red ribbon embossed with a Maltese Cross, crossed axes, and a fire hydrant against a maple leaf background. It is awarded for 20, 30 and 40 years of exemplary service and worn on special occasions and parade days by firefighters.

Recognizing Outstanding City Services

The City of Calgary aims to provide creative and innovative services to all Calgarians. Without tooting our own horn too loud, we'd like to highlight a few examples while recognizing the Calgary Fire Department, Transportation, Waste & Recycling and The Mayor's Office.

Slave Lake fire response
Last spring, fire trucks and a 16-foot trailer filled with a lot of hope and even more heart were sent to an area then described as a disaster zone: Slave Lake. Canada Task Force 2, Public Safety Communications, the Calgary Fire Department, and the Calgary Emergency Management Agency volunteered countless hours to Slave Lake’s community fire department that had been overwhelmed by wildfire. Calgary’s personnel worked around the clock, and even those off-duty volunteered their time to fight the blaze. 


As well, a private fundraiser was held to collect goods for those in need. The residents of Slave Lake were able to return home just two weeks later thanks to the fast response and selfless efforts of Calgary’s emergency responders.

Glenmore Trail and 37 Street interchange
For years the traffic lights at the Glenmore Trail and 37 Street interchange struck fear into the hearts of commuters. Touted as one of the longest lights in Calgary, it was necessary to pack a light snack if you caught the red light. Council approved the change and a promise was made that within a year, drivers would experience free flowing traffic.

The gridlock-causing lights were replaced with Calgary’s first roundabout interchange. Prefabricated parts were used for the bridge, which allowed it to be finished under budget and ahead of schedule. The potential impact of the SW ring road was taken into account by making the overpass temporary and its pieces reusable. The project’s resourcefulness received the Award of Excellence for Project Management from the Consulting Engineers of Alberta.

Waste & Recycling Black Cart Program (80% satisfaction rate) 
Waste and Recycling Services is taking out the trash – that is your old, outdated garbage cans.

It was time take it to the streets with the new Automated Black Cart Collection Program. Even though the checklist read like a novel, time and extreme dedication was necessary to bring this revolutionary collection method to Calgarians. The result is a system that’s more efficient and tremendously cost- effective. It’s even safer for communities and employees alike with safety incidents at work reduced by over 70 per cent. And Calgarian’s agree: these sleek black carts are keeping the streets cleaner than ever before. Garbage collection is coming up smelling like roses.

Food trucks program pilot
The escargot of France, the pizza of Italy, and... the perogies of Marda Loop? It’s true – with the launch of Calgary’s food truck program pilot, our city was put on the international culinary map.

The Mayor’s Office assembled a collaborative team of stakeholders as varied as food truck cuisine to approve the program. The resulting event was nothing short of record breaking. Featured on the Food Network’s Eat Street, the trucks garnered nationwide attention. With their own Twitter accounts and website, Calgarians are alerted to where they can be found on any particular day. Other Canadian cities are looking to follow Calgary’s model to set up food truck programs of their own. This initiative has helped redefine Calgary as one of Canada’s most vibrant- and delicious – cities.

A tip of the hat to Calgary Transit Operator Elmer Kari

Photo (L-R): Calgary Transit Operators Vikki Feng, Elmer Kari, and Ericka Buhler with Calgary Transit Director Doug Morgan 

Being a host is a lot of work. That's why, each year, Tourism Calgary and our industry partners present the Calgary White Hat Awards, honouring those in the hospitality and tourism industry who provide exceptional customer service.

What better way to celebrate their excellence than with a stunning white hat? After all, it's a symbol of Calgary's legendary western hospitality – hospitality demonstrated by the the award winners every day.

Congratulations to Calgary Transit Operator Elmer Kari. Elmer won a white hat in the 50th annual Calgary White Hat Awards in the category of Best Ground Transportation Driver held on May 16. Elmer says he wore his white hat while driving the next day, and many people congratulated him on the honour.

"It was a great day," Elmer says.

Congratulations also go out to Calgary Transit’s other white hat nominees – Operators Vikky Feng, Ericka Buhler and Art Bittner.

Calling All Youth Environmental Leaders – Funding Available

Last year the EnviroClub at Notre Dame High School received a grant to launch Project Courtyard.

The students purchased seeds and cultivated them in the school’s greenhouse. Once the ground thawed, they were able green the school’s courtyard in an environmentally responsible manner that improved the oxygen content and created a positive green space.

Not only did the project positively impact the school environment with its natural beauty, students were able to learn about the important role plants have in the environment.

2011 Jack Leslie Awards

“These young people are to be commended for their innovation and commitment to making a sustainable Calgary a reality,” said Mayor Nenshi at the 2011 Ecoleaders Conference. “It is up to us and our future leaders, like the students we recognized today, to ensure that we remain committed and continually move towards that goal.”

The Jack Leslie Youth Environment Grant is now accepting applications.

The Grant was initiated in 2004 by The City of Calgary in partnership with the Mayor’s Youth Council (part of Youth Central) and the Parks Foundation to recognize former Mayor of Calgary, Jack Leslie. It recognizes the positive impact Jack made to the city and the environment and encourages youth in Calgary to continue with his efforts.

The Grant helps youth develop environmental projects. Each year, two projects receive up to $1,000 to support project implementation and sustainment.

For more information or to download an application, go to www.calgary.ca/mee.

The Calgary and Area Intergovernmental Weed Committee receives the Industrial Vegetation Management (IMV) Stewardship Award

On Tuesday, March 20,  Dow AgroSciences presented the annual Industrial Vegetation Management (IMV) Stewardship Award to The Calgary and Area Intergovernmental Weed Committee in recognition of their contributions to stewardship within the Industrial business in Canada.

A selection committee for the award is formed every year, consisting of Dow AgroSciences and IVM industry representatives, who evaluate nominees based on their performance in:

• following professional and ethical principles 
• preserving and improving the environment 
• supporting industry stewardship initiatives 
• leading peers in the adoption or creation of industry initiatives 
• actively involvement with industry associations and organizations

The Calgary and Area Intergovernmental Weed Committee is honoured to receive this award, which signifies achievement towards the group’s purpose of developing a regional approach to the management of legislative invasive plant species.

This award is based on the development and implementation of a regional early detection rapid response (EDRR) system that enables all partners to share information regarding the detection and location of new species in the region. This information facilitates effective and rapid management of these species thereby enhancing environmental protection and reducing long term control costs.

The Calgary and Area Intergovernmental Weed Committe is a multi governmental partnership that includes members from The City of Calgary, Government of Alberta, regional municipal districts (Foothills, Rockyview, Bighorn and Wheatland) and other regional municipalities (Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks, and Canmore) and the federal government (CFIA).

For more information visit the Invasive plant prevention and management webpage on calgary.ca.

The People Have Spoken: Calgary's Second Centre City Citizen Perception Survey Released

The results of this year's Centre City Citizen Perception Survey are out and we're here to say, it's great to hear what citizens are thinking and especially to have those thoughts documented with positive, concrete numbers.

“The survey findings show us that people are noticing The City of Calgary’s work to make our Centre City safe, clean, vibrant and vital,” said Dawn Thome, Centre City Planning & Implementation. “This feedback is important because it tells The City we need to sustain the work we are doing and it also informs our future work.”

The Centre City is a critically important area to the rest of Calgary. It is home to over 6,000 businesses, 34,000 Calgarians, over 25 public parks and hundreds of events. And it’s the economic, cultural and social hub of our city.

Find out some of the key findings on the Calgary's Centre City Blog and read the full 18-page survey report on The City of Calgary’s website at Calgary.ca/centrecity.