April 2013 Newsletter

Happy April and Happy Easter. I have a lot to say, so let's get to it!

First off, I will be holding another Aldertalk session on April 20th from 1pm to 3pm at the Deer Run Community Centre (2223 146 Avenue S.E.). Please feel free to join me there for some coffee, donuts, and a chat. You can find more information at calgary.ca/aldertalk.

City Council will be having some very special guests on the morning of April 22nd. In the second edition of my Ward 14 Wordsmith Awards, one skilled writer will win their entire grade six class a tour of City Hall, a trip to the Zoo, and have their essay read in Council by me, on television! In December, I asked grade six students to answer the question "Why should I care about Municipal Government?" Since then we have doubled the number of participating Ward 14 schools, and each will be getting a visit for from Yours Truly. It makes me very happy to see that so many Ward 14 students are taking an interest in municipal government.

While my team and I are busy reading grade six essays, the City of Calgary's Waste & Recycling Services Unit will be busy preparing to accept your yard waste at no charge. Between April 19th and June 2nd, all of the City's landfills will be accepting yard waste for free. Waste & Recycling Services will be composting the material and putting it to good use by recycling it into a useful product. Common Spring waste like leaves, branches, and plants will be accepted loose or in paper yard waste bags. For more information on the Spring Yard Waste Drop-off Program and landfills in general, you can visit calgary.ca/waste or contact 311.

Many Calgarians are budgeting and making sacrifices to get by, and that is why I am constantly pushing for taxation control at City Hall. Perhaps more than anyone, property-owning seniors are feeling the burden of taxation. I would encourage any seniors looking for tax help to determine if they are eligible for the Seniors Property Tax Deferral Program by contacting the Alberta Supports Contact Centre at 1-877-644-9992 or by visiting SeniorsPTDP.alberta.ca. The program is new for 2013 and offers eligible senior homeowners a low-interest home equity loan to defer all, or some, of their property taxes.

So look for updates on the 2013 Ward 14 Wordsmith Awards on Ward 14 and keep an eye on City Council, if only to hear the winning essay. For any other topics you might want to discuss you can email at eaward14@calgary.ca, or contact me online. I will always make time to chat.​