Keeping Calgary free of cigarette waste: #buttfreeYYC

Smoker or non-smoker, you’ve likely witnessed someone flicking a cigarette butt –­­ disposing of cigarette waste improperly (yes, that is a littering offense), or you have walked by butts that are the casualties of smokers in city streets.

While in recent years Calgary has been reported as one of the cleanest cities in the world, publications such as National Geographic have decreed cigarette butt waste as the world’s number one litter problem, and the proof is visible in municipalities like ours.

Not only is this an infraction of City bylaws, it’s an injustice to fellow citizens; not to mention hazardous to our environment, sidewalks, streets, pathways, wildlife and pets. In some areas, the accumulation of cigarette waste is a priority concern, and while we have many systems in place to manage waste effectively, the solution begins with citizen responsibility when it comes to littering.

We are a proud city and we want to maintain the standard of cleanliness and safety we work toward collectively, so we are looking to Calgarians to help us maintain a #buttfreeYYC.

The law & littering

Improper disposal of cigarette butts is non-compliant with littering associated bylaws, including the Street Bylaw (section 17) and the Parks and Pathways Bylaw (section 27).

From the Calgary Community Standards perspective; leaving litter, garbage or other waste material on private or public property is a violation, as these bylaws help keep communities and public areas clean and safe.

In summary, the bylaws state:

• Waste must not be disposed of on any public property, aside from in an appropriate receptacle. 
• The improper disposal of burning material, including lit cigarettes, will result in an increased fine. 
• If a vehicle is involved in a littering offence, the registered owner of that vehicle may be charged. 
• Fines for violations of these regulations range between $500 and $1000. 

Throw it away: proper disposal

Cigarette butt waste at home

The proper measures to discard of cigarette butt waste are:

1. Cigarette butts should go in the black cart as garbage (they are not compostable). Ensure the cigarette is extinguished before throwing away.
2. Cigarette ashes need to be double bagged, tied closed and thrown away in the black cart as garbage.
3. Never flush cigarette butts or cigarette ashes down your toilet, sink or drain as they are harmful to the environment and may cause damage to the pipes in your home.
4. Cardboard cigarette packaging goes in the blue bin for recycling.

Recycling cigarette butts

Yes, cigarette butts are recyclable! There are eco-friendly recycling companies that specialize in difficult-to-recycle waste streams and offer solutions to these problems. Calgary is one of six Canadian cities with businesses and communities working to recycle cigarette butt waste, including many Business Improvement Areas (BIA) lead incentives.

In 2016, the International Avenue BRZ purchased six cigarette recycling units that they installed in key areas where a need was identified. Their team removed an average of 2,700 cigarette butts from the units monthly. The Calgary Downtown Association also utilizes a recycling program and collected 53,000 units of cigarette waste to recycle last year alone.

Receptacles can be ordered through the recycling companies directly for your community or business location. For citizens looking to recycle independently; cigarette butts, ashes, and the foil and plastic found on cigarette packaging can be collected and mailed using a free shipping label through the same recycling programs.

The end products of these programs include a variety of industrial products and objects (such as park benches or plastic pellets). Remaining tobacco is also recycled as compost.

Cigarette waste receptacles

The city centre is populated with BIA managed cigarette butt receptacles for citizens to utilize in the downtown area. In addition to these receptacles, many communities and businesses self-manage receptacles for proper waste disposal or recycling purposes.

Hazards

The leading cause of outdoor fires within Calgary is the improper disposal of smoking materials. As well, residential fires that start outdoors are among the most dangerous as they are often not detected by indoor home smoke alarms until the fire is well underway. As a safety protocol, the Calgary Fire Department encourages citizens to ensure that smokers in your home douse cigarette butts and ashes with water before placing them into a non-combustible container.

As an added safety precaution, it is also imperative that smokers do not ash out or dispose of cigarette butts in planters, mulch or flower beds. The components of soil include organic material and can easily smolder for hours before igniting.

It starts with you. Please think twice before you flick and dispose of your cigarette butt waste properly to help us maintain a #buttfreeYYC. Our goal is to see butts in bins and receptacles, not on streets, in tree grates or rivers.

Filing a complaint. If you witness a bylaw infraction and would like to report it, please call 311 (from within Calgary) or 403-268-CITY (2489) (from outside Calgary).

Join the conversation. We encourage citizens to suggest areas that would benefit from added cigarette waste receptacles by joining the discussion on social media with #buttfreeYYC.

Consider recycling. If you’re a local business owner or a community representative, consider initiating a cigarette waste recycling program.

Proposed changes on the use of temporary roadside signs going to Council

Updating the list of banned roads, eliminating temporary signs in playground zones and establishing a maximum height for roadside signs are among the recommendations The City will present to Council in the coming weeks.

The Temporary Signs on Highways Bylaw revisions are based on stakeholder engagement, and feedback received from citizens through the Temporary Signs Review Survey. Online and in-person feedback was collected throughout October 2016 of how Calgarians view temporary signs near our roadways, how these signs influence their actions and how they impact Calgary’s streetscape.

The survey results centered on three key themes for improvement:

• Safety
• Standards/best practices
• Customer service

Based on these themes, a number of bylaw revisions are now being recommended including:

• Establishing maximum sign heights above the ground 
• Prohibiting signs in playground zones
• Requiring minimum distances between signs by same owner/business/election candidate

The City will also look to update the list of prohibited roads, and create a map for easy reference. Prohibited roads may include all roads with a speed limit over 60 km/h, lower speed limit roads with high vehicle volumes, and roads where there is no safe vehicle “pull-off” places for those placing the signs.

Andrew Bissett, Leader of Strategic Planning at Roads, said most of the current rules around placement will be maintained, and will continue to support the responsible use of temporary signs. However, there are sections of the bylaw that need to be updated to better reflect the growth of the city and the increased focus on the public and pedestrian realms.

The City gets on average over 4,000 311 Service Requests a year about temporary signs. “Citizens care about these signs, and The City wanted to ensure the bylaw balances the desire to promote community programs or advertise business on public property, with the concerns of the wider community which include safety, mobility, and sign proliferation,” says Bissett.

Bissett said while a number of survey respondents asked for an all-out ban on temporary signs on Calgary streets, The City is prohibited by law from doing that. “The bylaw must align with court decisions that the placing of temporary signs on municipal property may be regulated and controlled but not totally prohibited.”

Next Steps:

On April 19, the recommended changes to the Temporary Signs on Highways Bylaw will go to the Standing Policy Committee (SPC) on Transportation and Transit. Members of the public will have the opportunity to weigh-in on these proposed changes at Committee.

If accepted by the Committee, The City will present the bylaw changes to Council for approval on May 8.

For more information about this bylaw and how you can get involved or participate in Committee meeting, visit Calgary.ca.

UPDATE: April 19, 2017 - This item has been tabled and moved to the Standing Policy Committee (SPC) on Transportation and Transit on May 17.

Quiz: Test your summer safety IQ

It’s officially summertime and the outdoors is calling. Get the most out of our city’s fantastic offerings by taking a few minutes to check your summer safety IQ.

On the water 

You’re packing for a day of rafting on the Bow River. You’ve got snacks, lots of bottled water to keep hydrated and plenty of sunscreen. What else do you need?

1. Weather forecast.
2.  A hat.
3.  Cell phone to call for help if needed.
4.  A life jacket.
5.  All of the above.

Carol Henke, Public Information Officer
for Calgary Fire hams it up.

While items one through three are all really good ideas, hands down, the most important thing to bring is a life jacket. Wearing a life jacket while boating, rafting or using any other kind of watercraft on waterways within city limits is required by law. Plus, it’ll save your life if you get into trouble.

Missing from this list is alcohol. It’s illegal to have alcohol on any watercraft and it will impair your ability to react if something unexpected happens. For more tips on enjoying the water safely and responsibly, check out calgary.ca/watersafety.

Into the fire

A friend is bringing over a guitar and you’ve got all the fixings to make s’mores over a fire in the backyard pit. You’ve checked calgary.ca/firepits to make sure no fire bans are in effect for Calgary. Your next concerns are your neighbours and staying safe. What can you do to stay on your neighbour’s good side and have a safe, fun time?

1. Only burn clean, dry wood to keep the smoke down and mitigate any environmental issues.
2. Stay with the fire at all times.
3. Request a playlist from your neighbour so your guitar friend only plays songs they like.
4. Keep the noise down after 10 p.m. and make sure your fire’s out by 1 a.m.

You’re super thoughtful if you chose number three, but appealing to your neighbour's musical tastes isn’t necessary. You do, however, want to make sure you’re complying with numbers 1, 2 and 4 which reflect Calgary’s fire pit and noise bylaws. There are a couple other requirements you’ll want to be aware of.  Please check them out at calgary.ca/firepits before you strike that match.

In the air

You’re enjoying the view from your friend’s condo balcony on the 6th floor. You’re a smoker but your friend’s not so she doesn’t have an ashtray for you. When it’s time to butt out, you:

1. Put your cigarette out in the closest flower pot
2. Toss it off the balcony
3. Ask for a bit of water to douse your butt before putting it in the garbage

The two definite no-no’s here are the first and the second choices. Flower pots contain flammable material that has caused more than one devastating fire in Calgary. It’s also incredibly dangerous to toss your cigarette butts over the balcony. You can’t control where they land or who they may  land on.

More on safely disposing of cigarette butts, or go to calgary.ca/homesafety.

Now that you’re summer safety IQ is in top form, join our Facebook event and tell us what you’re doing to get the most out of your summer safely and responsibly.

Submitted by Donna Bertrand, Customer Service & Communications

City Council to review mandatory bylaw for building maintenance

What goes up shouldn’t come down.

In the last few years, there have been several incidents of materials and debris falling off tall buildings, particularly in the downtown core. City of Calgary investigations into these events revealed that there’s more to be done to prevent potentially hazardous situations and protect public safety. That’s why the proposed Building Maintenance Bylaw was developed and will be reviewed by City Council on June 20.

“It’s a rather unique bylaw in that it requires building owners and managers to be proactive in their building maintenance,” says Cliff de Jong, senior special projects officer at The City of Calgary.

“It’s about establishing a minimum maintenance requirement that really does not exist in many jurisdictions throughout North America. It puts Calgary at the leading edge.”

The bylaw is proposed to apply to buildings that are five storeys or higher and 10 years and older, which covers about 600 buildings in Calgary. It requires building owners to complete a visual assessment on exterior walls and roofs every five years and resolve issues that require attention. It is planned to be phased in starting in fall 2016 through January 2021.

“I think this is going to be groundbreaking for Calgary,” says Adrian Breitwieser, a building envelope specialist with Entuitive Consulting Engineers. Breitwieser was a part of the stakeholder working group that helped to develop the bylaw.

The Building Maintenance Bylaw stakeholder working group

“It’s going to become a template for other cities all over Canada. What I hope to see is that the buildings that are in poor condition, and those tend to be the owners that really don’t pay attention to their buildings enough, their condition is going to improve.”

Since early 2015, The City has been working on developing the bylaw with a team of stakeholders, including building owners and managers, engineers, architects, industry associations and affordable housing groups. The goal of the group was to find the right balance between safety obligations and preventative maintenance costs.

“We had to find a middle ground to advance our objective of public safety while aligning as much as possible with current industry practices,” says de Jong.

“The reaction we’ve had has changed over time. So when we initially started the consultation, stakeholders had concerns about the direction we were going.

The committee met frequently and discussed the issues of implementation, what the scope should be, what’s in, what’s out. At the end of the day, The City and our stakeholders are comfortable with the content and the approach we are taking to implement the bylaw.”

Gerry Baxter, the executive director of the Calgary Residential Rental Association, had concerns initially about the cost that the bylaw would place on the members of his association. Now, he’s satisfied that the bylaw will establish a minimum standard for building maintenance without being a burden for owners and managers.

“We all wanted to ensure that our buildings are safe; that nothing is going to fall off the building, where somebody passing by could be hurt. Nobody wants that,” said Baxter.

“The City did a great job of listening and they were able to incorporate a lot of that feedback into the final product. So we started with having concerns at the outset, many months ago, to a point now where we’re actually very pleased with what the bylaw looks like. And I think what we have now is a bylaw that’s going to be workable for everybody. This has been one of the best stakeholder consultations that I’ve been involved with.”

If the bylaw is approved by Council, City Administration will implement an education strategy to inform building owners of the bylaw requirements and develop tools to assist with compliance.

For more information, visit calgary.ca/buildingmaintenancebylaw.

Safe Transportation Options on the Way

That’s what The City is delivering because that’s what Calgarians told us they want. We are proposing new changes to our Livery Transport Bylaw that will create the opportunity for Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) such as Uber to legally operate in Calgary. 

The City and Uber had issued a joint agreement in December stating that we were working together to develop solutions for new transportation options that are safe and reliable for Calgarians. Today, Uber told Calgarians that our proposed bylaws are unworkable.

The City believes that the proposed bylaw changes are workable and fair for TNCs. Here’s why:

• We believe that all TNC drivers must undergo a Calgary Police Service (CPS) criminal history check. These criminal history checks are the most thorough background checks available and include vulnerable sector checks (e.g. checks for pardons for such things as sexual offences) as well as national police information. Current taxi drivers must undergo these checks to qualify for a license.

• We believe that all TNC vehicles should undergo a provincially-approved vehicle inspection every six months, a regulation that our taxi industry already complies with. These inspections are widely available throughout Calgary.

• We believe that all TNCs should be required to submit trip data, driver availability, and trip volumes. This allows us to ensure that quality customer service is attained. In fact, this is something our taxi industry already provides us. This data has assisted the police in different types of criminal investigations and is another way to monitor citizen safety. The trip data also helps The City make good evidence-based policy decisions.

• We believe that insurance is a very important part of this equation and we continue to inform drivers, passengers and the general public about risks involved in using private for-hire vehicle services. The Government of Alberta has issued an advisory notice on ride sharing services and the insurance risk they currently pose to drivers and the public, noting any third party involved in an accident in or with one of these vehicles may not have insurance.

• We believe the proposed licensing fee of $220 per driver, per year is reasonable to help with the operational cost of enforcement. In addition, other fees include a Calgary Police Services criminal history check of $30, a vulnerable sector check of $25 (only if finger prints are required) and a vehicle safety inspection fee ranging from $140 to $179. TNCs have the opportunity to subsidize these fees or pay for them outright to support their drivers.

These proposed bylaw changes will allow TNCs to operate in a fair and competitive market. They address citizen, driver and passenger safety and support accessibility, reliability, fairness, competition and customer service.

UPDATE:
Private-for-hire vehicles to operate in Calgary

The City and Uber work on smart ridesharing regulations to serve customers better

Transportation options and expanded service is something we can all agree upon. The City of Calgary and Uber continue to work together to meet the needs of citizens who want safe, reliable, readily-available transportation choices.

Collaborating to create transportation choices
We are happy to announce that we continue to have many positive conversations with industry and stakeholders. These conversations are leading us towards the creation of a regulatory framework, which will allow transportation network companies and private for-hire vehicle drivers to operate in Calgary.

The world is changing
The world is changing the way it does business and The City is working on options that will incorporate new technologies. We strive to create an environment that fosters Calgary’s entrepreneurial spirit and that spirit includes creating smart ridesharing solutions.

Safety
We take our responsibility to keep Calgarians safe very seriously. That’s why we sought and were granted a temporary injunction against private for-hire vehicle drivers using the Uber app. Uber has agreed that it will continue to suspend its private for-hire vehicle operations in Calgary while the temporary injunction is in effect as we work towards creating smart ridesharing options.

Next Steps
On Nov. 16, 2015, City Council instructed Administration to prepare amendments to the Livery Transport Bylaw to regulate transportation network companies and private for-hire vehicle drivers and to present amendments to Council no later than Feb. 22, 2016.

UPDATE:
Private-for-hire vehicles to operate in Calgary

The City cautions Calgarians about Private for Hire Vehicles

The world is changing the way it does business and The City is ready to embrace and adapt to those changes. We welcome the use of new technologies and competition. We support choice and options that make lives easier.

Many citizens have tried private for hire vehicles services here and elsewhere, and want access to those options.



Risks
The City advises citizens that there are risks associated with participating in private for hire vehicle services such as Uber. These risks include the fact that these vehicles are not inspected by The City and the drivers are not licensed by The City. There is also a risk from an insurance prospective for drivers, passengers and any third party involved in an accident in or with one of the vehicles.

Safety and Insurance
The existing Livery Transport Bylaw ensures that taxi and limousine drivers undergo criminal checks, receive training, and are properly licensed and insured. In addition, vehicles are subject to thorough inspections rated on both mechanics and appearance, and meters are checked for accuracy. All of this is done to ensure the safety and protection of passengers, drivers and the general public.

Regulated taxi and limousine drivers are required to have commercial automobile insurance that ensures both passengers and drivers are safe and covered if an accident were to occur.

It is important that citizens and drivers of private for hire vehicles understand the implications currently involved in utilizing such services. Using or driving one of these vehicles could mean you don’t have access to insurance protection and accident benefits under Alberta law.

Consumer Options
On October 5, Council directed Administration to report back to the November 16 Strategic Planning Meeting of Council with options to regulate private for hire vehicles.

The City wants consumers to have options and we are working on ways to provide options. In the meantime, we encourage Calgarians to be informed to make smart transportation choices.

Read the news release in The City of Calgary Newsroom.

City explores allowing secondary suites in four inner-city wards

City Council has requested administration to report back about possible changes to the Land Use Bylaw to allow secondary suites in R1 areas located in Wards 7, 8, 9 and 11. The changes would eliminate the need for single family home owners to apply for a Land Use Redesignation, which typically takes six months before City Council reviews the application during a regular public hearing.

Secondary suites include those within a house, such as a basement suite, as well as those separate from a house, such as an above-garage suite or a garden suite.

These proposed Land Use Bylaw amendments will likely be brought to the Calgary Planning Commission in March 2015. Then, a City Council public hearing is expected to take place in late spring before a decision is made.




“We want the public to be informed about the proposed changes and what they might mean,” says Lesley Kalmakoff, City planner with Planning Development & Assessment. “That’s why we’re holding four information sessions in February and March for anyone to attend. We’ll also go over the requirements to apply and construct a legal and safe secondary suite.”

For more information, visit calgary.ca/secondarysuites or calgary.ca/engage.

Information Sessions

Saturday, February 28
The Alexandra Centre Society
922 9 Ave SE
(Ward 9)
Time: noon to 4 p.m.

Sunday, March 1
Killarney Community Hall
2828 28th St SW
(Ward 8)
Time: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Monday, March 2
The Military Museums of Calgary
4520 Crowchild Trail SW
(Ward 11)
Time: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Wednesday, March 4
Fort Calgary
750 9 Ave SE
(Ward 7)
Time: 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Snow Angels earn their wings

Chris Thomson-Hunter, Snow Angels program

coordinator, and Tom Daumler, Snow Angel

The City's Snow Angels program recognizes Calgarians that help neighbours shovel their walkways, allowing everyone to move safely around the community during the winter.

“Snow Angels are just regular citizens who want to help out older adults and people with mobility or health issues by keeping their sidewalks clear,” says Chris Thomson-Hunter, program coordinator. “Helping out, and recognizing those who have helped, is what this campaign is all about.”

The Streets Bylaw requires sidewalks adjacent to properties be cleared of snow and ice down to pavement within 24 hours after a snowfall stops. This work can be very challenging – even dangerous – for older adults and others with limited mobility.

“Taking a few extra minutes after a snowfall to help a neighbour isn’t too taxing for many of us,” says Thomson-Hunter, “but it means so much to those with physical limitations and others who need to access those walks. Snow Angels directly contribute to the well-being and safety of others and to strong, caring communities – communities people want to live in and be proud of.”



Last winter, Calgarians showed their caring spirit in record numbers in response to snow falls. Over the 2013/14 winter season, there was a 137 per cent increase in people calling The City to have their Snow Angel officially recognized (up 721 nominations from 526 nominations the previous year).

If someone has cleared your sidewalk, you can contact The City to have them officially recognized as a Snow Angel. You can nominate your Snow Angel online, by calling 311, or mailing your nomination to: Snow Angels - #184, P.O. Box 2100, St M, Calgary, AB T2P 2M5. All nominated Snow Angels are officially recognized by Mayor Nenshi and entered into a prize draw.

The Snow Angels campaign has recognized 7,650 Snow Angels since its inception in 2004.

For more information visit Calgary.ca/snowangels

Keeping Calgarians on the move this winter

calgary.ca/snow

The City of Calgary has learned a lot from last year's record breaking snowfall and is taking a coordinated approach to help keep Calgarians on the move this winter.

The main hub for all City snow event information is calgary.ca/snow. Visit the website to find out if a snow route parking ban is in effect, get up-to-date info on snow and ice clearing, and learn how to report snow issues.

In the videos below, City staff explain the seven day snow event plan and other important information for citizens to know this snow season.

Snow and Ice Control - Roads
Bill Biench, Maintenance Manager, Roads, explains changes to better maintain Calgary’s roadways and keep Calgarians on the move.




Snow and Ice Control - Parks
Duane Sutherland, Pathway Lead, Parks, explains that crews are committed to clearing snow on pathways and sidewalks adjacent to parks within 24 hours of when the snow stops falling.



Snow and Ice Control - Bylaws
Damien Cole, Manager, Animal & Bylaw Services, explains how bylaws help keep our walkways safe.



Snow and Ice Control - Parking
Wes Hogman, General Manager, Calgary Parking Authority, explains the new automated vehicle enforcement process on Snow Control Routes during Snow Events.

Report to Calgarians: Taxi and Limousine service safety tips

Taxis and limousines are an important part of our transportation network, and The City of Calgary wants to help you have a safe and enjoyable trip. Taxis and limousines are regulated by The City of Calgary, which ensures passenger and driver safety as well as the quality of the service.



To make your next taxi or limousine trip enjoyable try these tips;

• Plan ahead - being prepared for peak periods will help make your next trip more enjoyable
• Check the Stampede 2014 taxi map for taxi stop locations near the grounds.
• Check that your taxi or limousine is licensed:
• look for a numbered plate on the taxi’s rear bumper or look for a numbered decal on the rear window of a limo
• look for a valid taxi or limousine licence displayed inside the vehicle with the driver’s photograph

If you have any concerns or compliments about your taxi or limousine service, report the issue by:

1. taking note of your driver or vehicle’s licence number
2. report it by contacting 3-1-1 by phone, online or by the App
3. contacting the taxi or limousine service provider

For more information: http://calgary.ca/taxi

What property owners need to know about proposed Land Use Bylaw changes in the Flood Area

Do you live in the Flood Area? Are you wondering about how The City of Calgary’s proposed Land Use Bylaw (LUB) changes in the Flood Area affect your home or property?

Watch our video to find out more about what the proposed LUB changes in the Flood Area do, what they don't do, and examples of the kinds of redevelopment that will trigger flood mitigation measures that would affect your property.

Here's how you can help prevent dog bites

Every spring and summer, the City of Calgary sees a spike in the number of dog bite incidents – with the majority of the roughly 200 reported dog bite incidents each year taking place in the warm months.

“Safety is our top priority. We see so many dog bites every summer that could have been prevented and many time it's children who are bitten because they are so trusting,” says Alvin Murray, Animal & Bylaw Services (ABS) North Operation Manager.

“Teaching ourselves and our children how to stay safe is the best way to prevent a dog bite.”

ABS has a few tips to help ensure people and pets interact in a safe and responsible way. Many of these tips also apply within your own home and with your own pets. ABS is also seeing an increase in dog bites to children in their own homes.

Safety around dogs

• Always stay away from stray dogs even if you think you know the dog. 
• Never try to break up a fight between two animals even if one is your own. 
• Never tease a dog, or do anything that may hurt it. 
• Never take away a dog's food or bone, or pull a toy from his mouth. 
• Never disturb a dog that's sleeping or eating. 
• Never approach a dog that's with her puppies. 
• Stay away from a dog that has been tied up and left alone in a public place. 
• Always keep your face away from dogs. 
• Never run away from a dog that scares you. Instead, stand like a tree by making your hands into fists and placing them under your chin. Stand still, do not speak to the dog, and look at the ground. Never stare into the dog's eyes. Doing these things will show the dog that you are not a threat.

Meeting a dog

• Always ask the owner's permission to pet the dog first. 
• If the owner gives you permission to pet the dog, let the dog sniff your hand, being sure not to place your hand in its face.
• Pet the dog gently under the chin. Do not pet the dog on its head, as not all dogs like to be touched on the top of their heads.

Dog owners

• Neuter your male dog. Unneutered dogs may be more aggressive than neutered dogs. 
• Control your dog at all times. 
• Do not encourage aggressive behaviour by playing rough or pulling toys or bones from your dog's mouth. 
• Properly socialize your dog. 
• Keep your dog out of situations you know may cause problems.

For more information on how to prevent dog bites and other important information on animal-related services in Calgary visit calgary.ca/animalservices.

Boating advisory for Bow and Elbow Rivers still in place

With summer and the promise of warm weather coming, many Calgarians are looking to the rivers for a source of recreation. However, with the flooding of last year, Calgarians are reminded that many parts of the Bow and Elbow Rivers have changed – from the flow of the river near the 10th Street Bridge, to the metal and concrete debris which are scattered through the riverbed and riverbanks.

A river safety advisory was re-issued this week to remind river users that due to these conditions, they should exercise caution and always scout, assess and decide from shore before going on the water.


Due to these changes presenting new dangers, the Calgary Fire Department, along with their Partners in River Safety at Animal & Bylaw Services and the Calgary Police Service, recommend Calgarians exercise caution when considering going out on the city’s rivers.

New hazards to consider

“The debris that is in and around our rivers, as well as other changes caused by last year’s flood, mean there are many new hazards to consider when assessing the safety of going on the river,” said Ken Uzeloc, Deputy Chief with the Calgary Fire Department.

“You can see around the Louise Bridge abutment that with this new river flow, strong current and the logs that are in the way, it can be dangerous for a raft, canoe or boat to pass through,” said Deputy Chief Uzeloc. “Last year we attended more than 20 calls near the Louis Bridge where we attended to boaters who were in trouble. We want to prevent these incidents from happening this year.”

Construction projects along riverbanks

In addition to the changes to the river caused by the June 2013 flood, there are also several City of Calgary construction and development projects happening along the riverbanks that may affect safe boating. Please visit The City of Calgary’s interactive map and select “flood recovery” to learn about ongoing projects.

For more information on river safety the Calgary Fire Department shares valuable tips for safety in around our rivers and important tips for safe rafting.

Calgary’s Partners in River Safety share May long weekend message

May long weekend typically kicks off Calgary's recreational river activity season. The Partners in River Safety will share information on how the river has changed since the 2013 flood and how these changes impact river safety.

Tune in to our live stream of this message (right here on the blog) streaming in from the Louise Bridge at 9:30 a.m.



The Partners in River Safety, including Deputy Chief Uzeloc from the Calgary Fire Department, Dorlene Hemm from Animal & Bylaw Services, and Inspector O'Brien from the Calgary Police Service, as well as Deputy Chief Sampson will be on location this morning, along with the Calgary Fire Department’s Aquatic Rescue boat.

New Emergency Response Station serves four growing SE communities

An exciting firefighter relay including kids and adults was part of the March 26 celebration to officially open the Calgary Fire Department’s new Seton Emergency Response Station and Seton Multi-Service Facility in the southeast.

The adults, however, were not your everyday citizens. Calgary Fire Chief Bruce Burrell along with MLA and Associate Minister of Public Safety Rick Fraser, Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, and City Councillor Shane Keating assisted four local children in a fun relay. The adults helped the kids quickly put on child-size firefighter gear, pull heavy fire hoses, attach nozzles and then run to ring a fire bell.

“Our favourite part was ringing the bell,” said six year-olds Sophie Ramsay-Mathias and Eva Taylor, who participated in the relay. They both agreed that dragging the fire hose was the toughest part of the challenge. The other mini-firefighters were Liam Cox and William Thompson, also six years old. William, who was teamed up with Councillor Keating, was the first to finish and ring the bell.

The public event, which attracted more than 400 people from the community, included a chilli lunch and interactive booths hosted by the Calgary Police Service, Animal & Bylaw Services, Calgary Parks, Calgary Firefighters Museum and the Calgary Fire Department.

Fire Chief Burrell said the new Seton Emergency Response Station opened at just the right time for the Calgary Fire Department to keep pace with community growth.

“The critical point at which we want to have fire protection in place for new communities is a population of 25,000. This fire station opened when the population was 24,000,” explained Chief Burrell.

The new facility is located next to the South Health Campus on Seton Drive S.E. and provides services to the communities of Auburn Bay, Cranston, Mahogany and Seton. Besides housing the Seton Emergency Response Station, the multi-service facility also holds offices for the City of Calgary Parks, and will eventually be a home for the Calgary Police Service and Animal & Bylaw Services.

See the whole event in our LIVE VIDEO Video recording of the Seton Multi-Service Facility grand opening.

Be a Snow Angel – Adopt a sidewalk this winter

The Snow Angels campaign was initiated as a way to respond to the growing number of older adults affected by icy sidewalks. The campaign encourages residents to lend a helping hand where they can. 

Keeping walks and driveways clear can be very challenging – even dangerous – for older adults and others who have limited mobility.

“Helping your neighbour keep their walks clear is not only important so sidewalks are passable, it’s important because it’s part of how we look out for one another,” says Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

Click to learn more about how you can become a Snow Angel.

City Matters – Snow and Ice Removal

Each year The City receives over 6600 concerns about snow and ice on public sidewalks. Today's big snowfall acts as an important reminder to keep walks clear in the winter months as it helps keep citizens safe.

Homeowners have 24 hours after the last snow fall to clear snow and ice from the walks surrounding their property.  If you’re concerned about snow and ice on a public sidewalk, the 311 Calgary app makes it easy to let The City know.

To learn more, visit calgary.ca/snow or download the 311 Calgary app.

Report to Calgarians - Snow & Ice Concerns

You can help keep Calgarians safe this winter by working with The City to keep public sidewalks clear of snow and ice.

If you’re a homeowner, you have 24 hours after the last snow fall to shovel the walks surrounding your home. As a citizen, if you have a snow and ice concern, you can let The City know by submitting a request through the 311 Calgary app.

To learn more, visit calgary.ca/snow or download the 311 Calgary app.

Pet of the Week: Frankie

Frankie was injured by a car before he was brought to the Animal Services Centre. Our veterinarian fixed him up and Frankie’s healing nicely while waiting to find his fur-ever home.

For more information on adopting cats or dogs from Animal & Bylaw Services visit Calgary.ca/animalservices.