Calgary AfterSchool has a variety of free programs to keep kids active, creative and social

With our shorter days and freezing temperatures, it's not uncommon for the winter blues to set in. It can be a challenge to keep your child or teen active and engaged as they settle back into the school grind.

A great cure for the winter blues is to help children and youth find new and stimulating activities to keep them active, creative and sociable. An easy remedy is to have kids or teens drop into one of The City of Calgary’s free, safe and fun after school programs.

We have a variety of programs to get kids and youth thinking, creating, moving and socializing. Our unique programming is designed to help children and youth do better in school, stay productive, learn new skills and make new friends.

Best of all, parents will never hear the words, “I’m bored” again.

Held after school hours on school days, there are dozens of locations across the city.

Give Calgary AfterSchool a try. Visit Calgary.ca/AfterSchool to find a program that’s right for you.

Submitted by Eric Michalko, Calgary Neighbourhoods

Youth get unlimited summer recreation access for $50, half price with a youth transit pass

If you are a youth aged 7-17 years, the Summer Youth Passport is your ticket to unlimited swimming, skating and gym activities at all City of Calgary Leisure Centres and Aquatic & Fitness Centres – all summer long.

The Youth Passport costs $50 for access to City of Calgary recreation facilities and is valid from July 1- August 31.

The offer gets even better if you present a valid (July or August) Calgary Transit youth pass at the time of purchase. With proof of purchase of a transit pass, the Summer Youth Passport is only $25.

And there is no shortage of things to do. From outdoor activities, such as cycling our pathways or visiting our spray parks, to bubble soccer or rock climbing - there's a boundless supply of activities, indoors and out, to make the most of summer in Calgary.

If you’re looking for inspiration, check out our essential summer activities list.

Summer is a great time to get active. Share your summer adventures with us on Twitter using the #getmovingyyc hashtag. Follow us on Facebook for more active summer ideas.

Time to pull out the sandals, put on the short sleeves and apply the sunscreen – it's summer!

Submitted by Trudy Jardine, Calgary Recreation

Teens take on adrenaline-pumping challenges in Fire Cadets and Bucket Brigade

This summer, teens between the ages of 14 and 18 year of age (by July 1) from Calgary and surrounding areas can find out if they have what it takes at the Calgary Fire Department Bucket Brigade.

Cadets Mamta Devi and Reid Zaharia each received the
2016 ATCO Scholarship presented by Kelly McCann,
Senior Manager Calgary Operations, ATCO

The four-day summer program gives teens a chance to experience the excitement of firefighting while learning the basics of the technical skills needed for this adrenaline-pumping career

Two program dates are being offered this summer:
• July 19 - 22 Tuesday – Friday 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
• August 16 - 19 Tuesday – Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Registration is now open. Spaces are limited and are filled on a first come-first served basis, so get your application in as soon as possible. There is a cost for the summer camps. Subsidies are available through the Fee Assistance program for those in financial need (call 311 for details on how to apply).

Fire Cadet program

If your teens like what they experience at Bucket Brigade they may also want to think about applying to the Fire Cadet program.

The Fire Cadet program is for youth aged 15 to 18 from Calgary and surrounding areas.



Cadets learn the basics of handling a fire hose, operating an apparatus (fire truck), high angle rescue, CPR and vehicle extrication, among other skills.

Beyond the technical, cadets develop important life skills such as leadership, teamwork, pride and respect while getting more involved in their community through volunteer work.

Cadets can also apply for one of two $1000 education scholarships awarded by ATCO, a long-time partner of the fire department’s Cadet program.

The application process will open in September and interested teens should go over the application now to get ready.

Submitted by Sandra Sweet, Calgary Fire Department

Students learn how to keep #yycsafe at Safety Expo

More than 3,800 students will take over our Municipal Building Atrium to learn how to be safe at home, school and play for the 13th annual Safety Expo.

Making learning fun

Every year, Safety Expo provides registered schools and students with the opportunity to participate in interactive displays and workshops designed to help them make responsible decisions around their own personal safety at home, school and play.

Thirty two exhibits are set up through the Municipal Building Atrium including workshops on anti-bullying, fire safety, internet safety and outdoor safety.

Power in partnerships

Safety Expo remains free for students and exhibitors in thanks to partnerships with community, not-for-profit and corporate organizations who provide both financial and in-kind contributions.

Hundreds of contributors will participate in the two-day event, including volunteers, exhibitors, and presenters.

Committed to public safety

Learn more about best practices in personal and public safety or visit the websites of our various Safety Expo partners, or follow #yycsafe on Twitter.

Submitted by Dustin Rogers, Calgary Community Standards

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.

Canadian Tire Jumpstart Games help level the playing field

We are partnering with Canadian Tire Jumpstart to host an event for 150 grade 4, 5 and 6 students today. Two schools will participate in the event, targeting children from low income families.

An opening rally will kick off the day, which includes broomball, skating, hay rides and a visit from the Calgary Fire Department and Calgary Police Service. Kids are invited to climb aboard a fire truck or meet Honey, a member of the Accelerant Detection Canine Unit.

Outdoor fire pits are a place to warm up and learn about Calgary’s natural environment from our Parks specialists.

A chance to be active

Unfortunately, one in three Canadian families cannot afford to enroll their kids in organized sports or physical activity. This event helps level the playing field, offering more youth a chance to be active.

“The goal is to give kids who might not otherwise have the opportunity a chance to participate in sport and have fun,” says Heather Cowie, Manager of Recreation East Region, City of Calgary.

What is Jumpstart?

Canadian Tire Jumpstart is a registered charity dedicated to removing financial barriers so kids across Canada have the opportunity to get off the sidelines and into the game.

The national program works with volunteers and community partners across Canada to give kids between the ages of four and 18 the chance to participate in sport. More than just a way to stay active, learn new skills and have fun, Jumpstart helps build confidence and leadership skills, while fostering productivity and creativity.

An important partnership

We’ve been working with Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart Charity to offer children from low income families the chance to participate in sport since 2008. Jumpstart provides support by funding Recreation’s Fee Assistance Program and sponsoring events, day camps and programs like Jumpstart I Love to Skate and I Love Soccer.

“We’re thrilled for the opportunity to partner with Jumpstart,” says Cowie. “Our mandate to provide accessible recreation aligns perfectly with Jumpstart’s vision and we’re happy to offer the use of our facilities and staff to help support the program.”

Learn more about The City's Fee Assistance for Recreation program and community partnerships.

Submitted by Jessica Ranger, Recreation

The City of Calgary and partners come together for Halloween safety

Halloween is a fun time of year – with costumes, pumpkin carving, parties, and trick-or-treating. To help Calgary families prepare for the fun-filled night of spookiness The City of Calgary has partnered with Calgary’s Child Magazine and Shaw TV to help promote Halloween safety. 

Together, the Partners for Safety will be out on Halloween night between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. in more than 800 marked vehicles, including police cars, fire trucks, bylaw vehicles, ambulances and Shaw TV vans. These vehicles will be on patrol to provide a safe contact for any child in need of help. 

Trick-or-treaters can also visit any Calgary fire station or talk with a Calgary Transit bus driver if they need assistance or help. 

Safety tips for trick-or-treaters

• Keep an eye open for trick-or-treaters when driving on Oct. 31. 
• Choose or make Halloween costumes which allow your trick-or-treater to see clearly. 
• Avoid costumes that are too loose and could choke, tangle or trip, and ensure costumes are made of bright, reflective material.
• Always find out where your trick-or-treaters are going and when they will be home.
• Trick-or-treaters should remain in the doorway or on the doorstep, when trick-or treating. 
• Travel in groups and avoid short cuts through alleys, lanes or private property.
• Cross the street at intersections, after looking both ways to ensure it's safe to cross.
• Trick-or-treaters that are out after dark should carry a flashlight to help see and be seen.
• Check all Halloween treats before children eat them.

Decorating tips with safety in mind

• Use a flashlight or battery operated candle to light your jack-o-lantern. 
• If you do use a candle, do not leave the jack-o-lantern unattended and ensure it is well away from anything that may burn or cause it to be knocked over. 
• Keep exits clear of decorations. 
• Keep decorations, especially those that are highly flammable like dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper, away from open flames and heat sources including light bulbs and heaters. 

For more information, please visit www.calgary.ca/fire and follow the Partners for Safety on Facebook and Twitter. 

Submitted by Bridget Cox, Calgary Fire Department

Mayor Nenshi's Walk Challenge

On Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, Mayor Naheed Nenshi issued a challenge to encourage Calgary kids to walk (or bike or rollerblade or any form of active transportation) to school this year.

By walking to school, Calgary kids can help reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses in our environment, get additional exercise to stay fit and healthy, and do better in school. With more kids walking to school, we can also reduce the traffic congestion on streets around our schools.



“I know that a lot of families are very busy getting prepared for school and work every day,” said Mayor Nenshi. “But incorporating an additional 15 or 20 minutes into your routine can yield big benefits.”

Learn more about Mayor Nenshi’s Walk Challenge at www.Calgary.ca/WalkChallenge. Anyone taking up the challenge is encouraged to share their experience on Facebook, or Twitter (using #yycwalk).

Mayor Nenshi was joined in his announcement today by:

Tiffany Stones – A parent in Altadore who, with the help of other parents in the area, organized a Walking School Bus.

Lori Beattie - A parent in Elboya who helped her child and his friends set up a “bike gang” that bikes to school year-round.

Debbie Rheinstein – A teacher at Captain Nichola Goddard School who supported her students as they created the Green Commuting Hubs program as part of their 2014 Mayor’s Environment Expo project.

Green Commuting for Mayor’s Environment Expo

For the past two years, students at Captain Nicholla Goddard School have come up with a simple solution to decrease high traffic volume around their school.

For their Eco-leader project for the 2014 Mayor’s Environment Expo, grade 9 students identified a risk and turned it into an opportunity to reduce their school’s ecological footprint by creating the Green Commuting Hub program. This program built on the success of a project many of the students had worked on the previous year for the Mayor’s Expo.

Students, along with parents and teachers, were concerned about the high traffic in the areas surrounding the school. The streets were crowded with vehicles from parents dropping their children off at the school. Concerned for both the health and safety of the kids, a group of grade 9 students under the leadership of Debbie Rheinstein wanted to make a change for the better.

The Green Commuting Hub program is similar to a Walking School Bus. Students registered in a program were assigned a hub meeting point near their house and would walk to school each morning as a group.  Hub leaders were in charge of making the meeting spots visible and kept track of attendance. Each week, students recorded environmental progress and placed in a spreadsheet to tally green commuting trips  and kilometres traveled by participants and carbon offsets.

The Main goal of the program was to reduce the student’s carbon footprint, increase daily activity and improve the safety around the school by reducing the amount of traffic. In addition to the environment and health benefits of the program, the program taught students the importance of alternative transportation methods.

“Our initiative got students excited about green commuting, says teacher Debbie Rheinstein. “It helped students become involved in their community.  Students learned first-hand how they could reduce their impact on the environment and, at the same time, improved the health of our students.”

Students were really excited about the success of the program, having doubled participation from 2013 to 2014. After working with, and being supported by Calgary Police Services  and The City, they are planning to pass the torch to a new set of students for the 2014-2015 school year.

New school and playground zone hours in effect September 1

School and playground zones are an important part of keeping children safe on city streets. Starting September 1, 2014, school and playground zone hours will be changed to one consistent time. Here are the facts.

School and playground zone hours are now the same. Slow down to 30km/h during these times:

Playground zones are in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., all year around.
School zones are in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., on school days only.

There are 180 school zones and 1510 playground zones in the city. Crews have been busy all month changing the times on almost 5,000 signs around Calgary.

Why the change?
Changing school and playground zone hours to one consistent time was a proactive measure to improve pedestrian safety.

The City talked to school boards, the Calgary Police Service, the Alberta Motor Association, and other municipalities in Alberta about changing school and playground zone times.

Through these discussions, we heard the following:

• The “one hour after sunset” end time for playground zones was too open-ended. End times would vary from as early as 5 p.m. in winter, and as late as 11 p.m. in summer.  
• The unspecified end time made it difficult for drivers to consistently follow the rules. 
• Schools are regularly used in the evenings for extracurricular activities, such as community sports – the old times did not take after-hours use into account.

The new hours reflect the times that these areas are being used by children and other pedestrians, and provide drivers with consistent times that can be easily remembered.

How does this impact your commute?
The new school and playground zone times will have a minimal impact on your travel time. Most school and playground zones are 100-200 metres long. Slowing down to 30km/h in these areas will add approximately 4-10 seconds to your commute, but can increase a pedestrians chance of survival by 70 per cent.

Visit Calgary.ca for more information.

Thank you for helping us keep Calgary safe!

Mobile app for active kids

City of Calgary Parks has a fun way to get your kids exploring and learning about nature in our parks.

To find out more, including how to download, visit http://calgary.ca/parks

Young mothers discovering their opportunities

Discovering Your Opportunities (DYO) is a City of Calgary program changing lives of young mothers for 15 years.

Keneisha, 19, participated in the program in 2010.

In 2000, staff at The City of Calgary Youth Employment Centre (YEC) became aware of a variety of research indicating teenage mothers were less likely to have completed high school or post-secondary education. According to the research, this directly impacts their earning potential and occupations, often resulting in their children and themselves living below the poverty line.

“To be able to celebrate 15 years of success is a great honour for all staff, partners and participants who have been involved in the program since its inception,” said Christina David, employment counsellor and DYO coordinator. “It's fantastic to think this program has had a positive impact on over 150 teen moms and their children.”

Working together to make a difference

Staff took this information and designed a program aimed at making a difference in the lives of teen mothers and their children. Supported through a partnership between YEC, the Calgary Board of Education Louise Dean Centre, Catholic Family Services and a number of local employers, the program provides an opportunity for young moms to earn high school credits, gain valuable work experience and earn some money.

The five-week summer program assists participants in developing a career and life plan, as well as focusing on self-esteem and job search strategies. Afternoons provide the participants with valuable work experience, where the women have the opportunity to develop new skills and explore career options.

Celebrating success

A 15th year celebration event will take place this July to reunite both staff, participants, and partners. The event celebrates the program’s longevity and achievements in Calgary.

Taking action to protect land, air and water

In 1989, when the Mayor’s Environmental Expo was created, environmental education was in its infancy. The Expo helped educate a generation of citizens who are more eco-literate than the generation before them. To honour that, this year’s special 25th anniversary Expo theme is The Difference a Generation Makes.

Anna Murynka, Environmental Programs and Services student, has participated in several Expos, first as a young student and as a volunteer educator. Last summer, Anna worked for Waste and Recycling Services as a Summer Educator and will join The City in the Environmental Initiatives group this summer.

Her experience in the Expo as a student was not just fun, but planted the seeds for her future career. “Doing research and taking photos for the photography competition were initial inspirations for my decision to study Environmental Design.”

The Expo has grown, as has The City of Calgary’s own list of environmental ‘firsts’. Calgary was the first Canadian municipality to adopt a sustainable building policy and a wetland conservation plan. When it comes to reducing emissions, from 2002-2005 Calgary was the first city in North America to install flat lens streetlight fixtures, saving $1.7 million a year in reduced energy consumption. The City is also the largest municipal buyer of renewable electricity in Canada.

In addition to our curbside recycling through blue cart collection, other programs like the Leaf and Pumpkin Composting and the Christmas Tree recycling program allow millions of kilograms of compostable materials to be used in our parks and green spaces.

It is important to work together to protect our limited resources for future generations.  In 2003, The City set a 30-year plan to decrease water demand.  “We don’t want to take more water out of our rivers in 2033 than we did in 2003 – even with the population growth,” says Sylvia Trosch, Team Lead, Citizen Programs in Water.

The difference that twenty-five years has made to our environmental performance in Calgary can be seen in The City’s environmental programs and services, and in the young faces, who thanks to educational opportunities like the Mayor’s Environment Expo, will always grow up understanding the importance of protecting our environment.

Calgary's Young Artists "EMERGE"

Join us May 15 for the opening reception of Emerge, which celebrates artwork by young Calgary artists in the spotlight this month as part of The 27th Annual Children’s Art Exhibition.

This exhibit explores the wonder and whimsy of Calgary’s young artists, ages 3 to 17. Their unique artwork will be shared until June 1 at Contemporary Calgary.

"Our annual exhibition provides the opportunity to showcase our young artists’ work in a gorgeous professional gallery space," says Cori Stent, Supervisor at Wildflower Arts Centre. “We never tire of seeing parents, families and the public marvel at children’s artistic ability and limitless imaginations.”

Exhibit runs until June 1

Emerge is a collection of 100+ works of art bringing together youthful imagination and creativity and transforming it into top notch works of art through mediums such as painting, cartooning, clay sculpture, pen and ink drawing, and mixed media.

All works were created at North Mount Pleasant and Wildflower Art Centres.

Where:  Contemporary Calgary (formerly The Museum of Contemporary Art), 800 Macleod Trail SE
When:   Opening Reception: Thursday, May 15 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Exhibition runs: May 16 - June 1, 2014
Cost: FREE

Join our Facebook event, invite friends and see who else is attending.

For more details on The City of Calgary’s arts programs go to calgary.ca/recreation, contact 311, or pick up The City’s Spring/Summer 2014 Recreation Program Guide at any city recreation facility.

City Hall School celebrates 10,000 student milestone

Today, City Hall School celebrated the 10,000 students who have taken part in the program since it began in January 2000.



It allows teachers to move their classrooms to the Municipal Building for a week-long, custom designed learning experience where students meet with elected officials and work alongside City employees.

“Students get an inside look at how The City works and how they can be involved in local government,” says Jody Danchuk, City Hall School Coordinator.

Eight-year-old Milan, a student at Escuela Canyon Meadows School was among the Grade three/four split class, honoured at today’s event.

“I think it’s good because people can learn about art, Calgary and history. They can see the old city hall, learn about how the Mayor and Council make decisions, and learn about leadership,” she said.

Milan's teacher, Cecilia Gutiérrez, says she appreciates how City Hall School teaches students to be great citizens who contribute to their communities.

“This is an amazing program. The teachers here support us so much. Students know how blessed we are to live here. They understand the chances and opportunities we have in this city,” added Gutiérrez.

For more information on City Hall School, please visit calgary.ca.

Hundreds of youth line up for job opportunities with local employers

Youth and young adults were lined up for hours before the doors even opened as The City of Calgary kicked off its 16th Annual Youth Hiring Fair. The fair was held at Stampede Park’s BMO Centre.

In the first half-hour, 1,000 eager young job seekers entered the event with an estimated 500 more lined up outside waiting to get in.  The event was held Tuesday, April 8 from 1:30 to 6 p.m.

“Helping young people get off on the right foot is so important,” says Arlas Gilles, a Youth Hiring Fair organizer with The City of Calgary. “This event provides opportunities for youth to get the experience they need to build confidence and skills in the job market. A strong and productive workforce ultimately benefits our city as a whole.”

Only hiring fair exclusively for youth

Mike Schmidt lined up hours ahead

The Youth Hiring Fair, hosted by The City of Calgary and the Youth Employment Centre, is Calgary’s only hiring fair exclusively for young people aged 15 to 24.

Today’s event features more than 5,000 full-time, part-time, seasonal and career opportunities offered by over 80 local employers.

Mack Skorpack of Shakers

The first through the doors today was 19-year-old Mike Schmidt who had been in line since 9 a.m.

“It seems like there will be a lot of jobs here - a lot of big companies,” said Schmidt as he waited for the doors to open. “I heard there will be on-the-spot interviews.”

More than 80 local employers on hand

Employers, such as Shakers Fun Centre, were equally happy to see so many qualified young people with the potential to fill needed roles within their organizations.

“We hire 40-50 positions around this time of year for summer jobs,” said Mack Skorpack of Shakers. “It would be ideal if we could fill those positions here today.”

For more information regarding the Youth Hiring Fair and opportunities to participate next year, visit www.nextsteps.org.

More photos can be found on Flickr!

Keeping kids happy and active during spring and summer breaks

Keeping kids engaged and active during spring and summer breaks from school is important to parents and guardians, and also to The City of Calgary.

“The City encourages kids to get outdoors as a way of staying active, healthy, and connected to nature,” says Jennifer Makar, Education Coordinator, Parks. “Day camps are a great way for kids to explore the outdoors, experience nature and get active while discovering the world around them and making friends.”

Did you know spots are still available in Parks day camps during spring break next week?

Register now for one of these week-long camps with City Parks:

• Nature Fun Camps (4-5 year olds) at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and Ralph Klein Park provide young children with ample time outside where they can play, explore and experience nature and materials found in it. Campers will learn from play and hands-on experience.
• Nature Spring Camp (6-9 year olds) at Ralph Klein Park will educate your kids about springtime in nature through observation, exploration and play. Experienced environmental educators use games, art and theatre to create an unforgettable week of fun.

Note: Recreation day camps for Spring Break are now full.

Did you also know registration for Parks and Recreation summer day camps is already open?

“Our summer day camps and programs are extremely popular and book up fast,” says Michelle Tait, Program and Services Coordinator, Recreation. “We offer a variety of camps from arts and crafts, swimming, and golf to dancing, gymnastics and soccer. Likewise, Parks has some great summer day camps.”

Recreation day camps during July and August are available online. If your kids aged 7-9 like to cook, you might want to enrol them in ‘Batter’ Up – a one-week camp in July, which will teach them important concepts of health and nutrition, table manners, kitchen science and food-related arts and crafts. This camp even includes swimming. For your sports enthusiasts, there are two All Star Sports day camps – one for 7-9 year olds and one for 10-12 year olds. They will have fun learning basic skills, activities and game play in all kinds of sports such as badminton, soccer, basket ball and swimming.

Drama buffs aged 10-12 will enjoy Backstage, which will culminate at the end of the week with a final production. Kids will learn prop construction, costume design, theatre sports and cooperative games.

There are so many great opportunities for summer day camp experiences through The City of Calgary Recreation: 3D animation camps; music and video production; camping in the outdoors; climbing; racquetball and other court sports; creative arts and crafts; field sports such as flag football and lacrosse; and so much more.

Register here for Recreation summer day camps.

The Nature Discovery summer day camps for 6-9 year olds, available through July and August, will provide a fun-filled week for campers with educational educators. Kids will explore a portion of the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and two other City of Calgary parks during off-site day trips. The Wonders of Nature day camps for 10-12 year olds will connect youth with the natural world through observation, exploration and inquiry. Campers will gain understanding of nature through interactive experiences, art and theatre.

Register here for Parks summer day camps.

Get ready to get active with spring and summer recreation

Our first ever combined Spring & Summer Program Guide has hit the stands. Offering more than 3,000 registered programs and 6,500 drop-in opportunities, there's something to suit just about anyone.

"With warm weather just around the corner, it’s exciting to plan how you will get active and make the most out of your spring and summer,” says Michelle Tait, program and service coordinator in Recreation.

The Spring & Summer Program Guide includes fun day camps like Nature Discovery, Arts Smarts, Junior Golf Camp, or Swim & Fun. There are even sailing and soccer day camps, giving your children a great opportunity to try new activities.

Browse the guide for special offers like Wild Wednesdays at Village Square Leisure Centre for half-price admission, or golf nights, art programs and special events such as the city-wide Canada Day Party.

The online My Rec Guide provides a customized registration experience based on your interests, location and age. In addition, it can be translated into 71 languages.

Registration begins March 3 and spots fill fast, so be sure to strike while the iron's hot!
Sign up online at calgary.ca/recreation or by calling 403-268-3800.

Get active. Get creative. And have fun with City of Calgary Recreation. There’s more than you think.

Report to Calgarians - Parks Spring Camps for Kids

The City of Calgary spring camps offers kids ages 4 to 9 a week long adventure where they can learn about the natural world through games, art and interaction.

For more info visit calgary.ca/parksguide

Community celebration marks opening of new Evergreen Emergency Response Station

The Calgary Fire Department and more than 50 local Grade 1 students from Mosignor J. J. O’Brien School will celebrate the opening of the new Evergreen Emergency Response Station No. 37 on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day.

The students, as well as children from the local neighbourhoods, are welcome to create handmade valentines to display at the event as a demonstration of their affection for their new community emergency response station and the crew members who work there.



Evergreen Emergency Response Station is located at 2511 Eversyde Avenue SW and serves the communities of Evergreen, Evergreen Estates, Everglades, Fish Creek Park, Millrise, Shawnee, Shawnee Slopes, Shawnessy, Silverado and Somerset.

The event is open to the community, starting at 11:30 a.m. members of the community and Grade 1 students are welcome to come and create valentines and decorate the station fire truck with them as well as enjoy some hot chocolate. CFD Community Safety Officers will be available to share fire prevention and safety information and it will be an opportunity for the public to see inside the new building. Craft tables will be set up for kids to create their valentines.

The event will be live streamed at www.bit.ly/CFDstream starting at 12 p.m.

For more information, please visit Calgary.ca/fire.