December 2024 Newsletter

Season's Greetings!

It is that time of year again. Whether it be around the house or out and about, I hope you get a chance to spend special time with your loved ones. There will be many festivities to take part in and I will share what I think will be some useful winter information with you, but first I want to share a personal note.

Councillor Richard Pootmans

Councillor Pootmans, as you likely are aware, has made the decision to resign from his position on Council for family and personal reasons. Until the next election his staff, and Councillors Walcott, Sharp, and Penner will represent the Ward 6 area in his absence. You can learn more at calgary.ca/ward6.

With that out of the way, I want to take a moment to comment on a long-time colleague of mine—someone I have an enormous amount of respect for and someone who has made an enormous contribution to Calgary.

Councillor Pootmans was the kind of Councillor we need more of. He made sure he was taking care of the basics. He focused on his communities. He put time and effort into understanding every decision that came before him and he asked questions. He rolled up his sleeves and took on the hard jobs, rather than chasing the splashy headlines.

Councillor Pootmans has earned my deepest respect and admiration. I wish him and his family the best in the next chapter.

Ward 14 Food Bank Drive

Food Banks help many Canadians—our friends and neighbours—get through tough times, but right now they are carrying a heavier load than ever. With the Calgary Food Bank under more pressure to step up for those in need, my Council Colleagues and I are chipping in this December with a bit of friendly competition.

Let us show the rest of Calgary just how giving Ward 14 is! I understand the Knights U13 Div 2 White hockey team has already filled the Lake Bonavista box as part of their Noble Knights Challenge. Nice work Knights!

You can drop off donations at any of the locations below. You can also donate money (which is just as important) at the Ward 14 canadahelps.org page. The boxes will be out until Dec. 8.

Bring your food donations here:

• Lake Bonavista Community Association (1401 Acadia Drive SE)
• Queensland Community Association (649 Queensland Drive SE)
• Deer Run Community Association (2223 146th Avenue SE)
• Mid-Sun Community Association (50 Midpark Rise SE)

Of course, the Calgary Food Bank doesn’t just TAKE food. If you or someone you know is in need, visit Need Food? Get Your Food Hamper | Calgary Food Bank for more information.

Calgary Holiday Magic

Are you looking to get out of the house over the next few weeks? Looking to see the sunshine for those few precious hours? Looking for a chance to enjoy Calgary’s beautiful downtown?

If so, I have found a website that might be useful. It is Holiday Magic! You will find Shopping and Holiday Markets, Holiday Events, Brunches, Festive Pop-up Bars, and even some New Year’s options.

The link to follow is www.calgary.ca/major-projects/holiday-magic.html.

Holiday and winter fire safety

Lithium-ion batteries can be found everywhere these days; they power our phones, laptops, scooters, e-bikes, and even our cars. While convenient and increasingly popular, these batteries also carry risks. It’s important to be aware of the potential dangers and know how to stay safe.

All lithium-ion batteries have the potential to overheat, catch fire or even explode with little to no warning. This risk is even higher for non-certified batteries. When lithium-ion batteries fail, they can reach temperatures of up to 537°C. This extreme heat causes the cells to release toxic gases, potentially leading to uncontrollable fires that cannot be extinguished with water.

In Calgary, we are seeing an increase in fires related to lithium-ion batteries. Every household with these batteries is at some level of risk, so the Calgary Fire Department would like you to take the following steps to prevent fires:

1. Only use certified batteries and chargers with the ULC OR CSA logos visible on the packaging.
2. Charge safely – avoid charging overnight, overcharging, or charging your e-mobility device batteries in exits, such as doorways or hallways. If there is a fire, your escape route will be blocked.
3. Store batteries safely – keep batteries at room temperature, away from heaters and anything that can catch fire.

In case of a lithium-ion battery fire, leave the area immediately and phone 911. These fires release toxic gases and are difficult to put out, so avoid inhaling the fumes and don’t try to put them out yourself.

Also, handle damaged batteries with care. If a battery is hot, swollen, leaking, or producing smoke, do not use it. Dispose of lithium-ion batteries responsibly by taking them to one of The City of Calgary’s Eco Centres or visit recycleyourbatteries.ca for more recycling locations.

Snow

The City keeps a supply of free salt-sand mix at various locations across Calgary for you to pick up for your own use. You can recognize someone who selflessly clears their neighbours snow with the help of the City of Calgary. Those a just a couple of things that you might find useful this time of year, and they are two of many things you find at calgary.ca/snow.

It is the time of year where information about snow is in demand. I recommend visiting calgary.ca/snow to see what you might find. It will include information on snow routes, parking bans, snow bylaws, emergency declarations, and much more. Let me know if you think it should include anything else.

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Feel free to contact me any time. The best way to contact me is by visiting calgary.ca/contactward14 or calling (403) 268-1653.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,

Councillor Peter Demong