December 2024 Newsletter: Ward 6 Year in Review

Hello Ward 6!

Looking back on the year 2024, the Ward 6 office staff are pleased to be your advocates, working with both your community and the City Administration. Some of the things that our office was asked to advocate for this past year were:  increased public safety, the Sarcee Trail Bow Trail Functional Planning Study, and continued collaboration with developers and community members to shape our communities.

During this holiday season, we hope you find joy and connection with your family and friends. Let us celebrate our shared achievements and look forward to a new year filled with opportunities, hope and health. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Sincerely,

The Ward 6 Team

WARD 6 YEAR IN REVIEW- 2024

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We would like to thank residents for bringing their community concerns to the attention of the Ward 6 office. We would also like to extend a big thank you to all our City colleagues who support and collaborate with the Ward 6 office on these matters. The hard work that goes into planning, strategizing, and implementing requests into the best possible solutions are appreciated. Your efforts and engagement are instrumental in making our community a better place for everyone. We look forward to continuing to work together toward a vibrant and thriving Ward 6.

In this edition of the December Ward 6 year in review we will highlight some of the improvements that all our city departments have done for the betterment of the ward.

MOBILITY: Ward 6 Year in Review

Some of the major highlights of the above 2024 Mobility workplan include:

• Asphalt resurfacing in the Coach Hill community
• The completed construction of three new traffic signals, with two more scheduled for early 2025 completion
• Major streetlighting improvements in Spruce Cliff (critical pole program)

TRANSIT: Ward 6 Year in Review

• Route 26 - Sarcee Trail Crosstown is a new route connecting the Red Line Tuscany Station to the Blue Line Westbrook Station via Tuscany, Bowness, Sarcee Trail SW, and Bow Trail SW.  This route also replaces previous school express Route 723 – Bowness High/Tuscany Hills, providing enhanced service with similar routing.

• CTrain - Blue Line – service frequency for weekend improved to 10 min.

• MAX Teal schedule – weekend frequency updated to run every 20 minutes throughout the day. Service span extended to run until midnight.

WASTE & RECYCLING SERVICES: Ward 6 Year in Review

• In 2024, Waste & Recycling Services (WRS) launched Eco Centres at all three waste management facilities. Eco Centres are a convenient way to recycle, reuse and dispose of old and unwanted household items. These drop-off locations allow Calgarians to bring many different types of materials that either don’t fit or belong in the carts. It’s helpful for materials like oversized furniture and appliances, hazardous chemicals, electronics, and much more in addition to garbage disposal. The Eco Centres and landfills are two very important components of our waste management services. They are separate facilities that work together to help Calgarians, and businesses responsibly manage their waste.

• This Fall, due to reports of concerning bear activity in the Ward 6 community, Discovery Ridge was temporarily designated a “wildlife affected” area. The City temporarily designated specific areas of the City as “wildlife affected” areas in response to situations when public safety is at risk. Thank you to the residents of Discovery Ridge for your diligence in following the changes required for your waste storage and collection. By following these protocols, we can significantly reduce human and wildlife interactions.

• Holiday Collection Changes: This year, there is no cart pick-up on Christmas Day or New Year's Day. Residents with regular Wednesday blue, black or green cart collection will be required to put their carts out the Monday before.
  • For December 25, 2024, carts should be out by Monday, December 23.  
  • For January 1, 2025, carts should be out by Monday, December 30.
  • Regular Wednesday collection resumes after the holidays on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.

For more information go to Black Cart garbage collection

PARKS AND OPEN SPACES: Ward 6 Year in Review

Below are some highlights of the work completed in your regional parks, neighbourhood parks and open spaces in 2024.

Edworthy Park

• 170 native trees and shrubs were planted at the TD Tree Day Volunteer Planting event held in September.
• Restoration completed on two undesignated trails.
• Edworthy Habitat Management Plan on schedule for completion in 2025.
• 11,700 native tree and shrub seedlings planted by Urban Forestry as part of the canopy expansion program.
• New all-season washrooms installed.

Griffith Woods

• Restoration projects on undesignated trails were completed with continued maintenance in 2025-2026.
• Media education conducted for the work of the Elbow River Watershed Partnership
• Tsuut’ina Nation artist hired to create artwork for three boundary signs to be installed in 2025.
• 400 native balsam poplar and willow planted at the west end of the park.

Community work

• Master Plan for the Medicine Hill natural area in progress including a Habitat Management Plan for the park.
• Plantings and maintenance of restoration sites in West Springs and Coach Hill including weed control, adding bee hotel logs, native seed mixes, and adding additional plantings and mulch. 
• Hillside erosion control was completed in Patterson with the removal of disturbed grasses and native seed mix application.
• Community shrub bed work completed in targeted communities.
• Sports fields enhanced cuts completed.
• Mechanical control of Canadian thistle was completed at 13 sites in natural areas.
• Fall clean-up completed at leaf-heavy sites within all communities of Ward 6.
• Support with the Remembrance Day Ceremony at Battalion Park.

RECREATIONAL & SOCIAL PROGRAMS: Ward 6 Year in Review

Summer Programs

During July and August 2024, we hosted five Park ‘n Play and Stay ‘n Play programs in the communities of Glenbrook, Glendale, Signal Hill, Springbank Hill, and West Spring. These programs saw an impressive turnout, with 1,126 participants joining in the fun. This strong community engagement highlights the enthusiasm for recreational activities that promote physical activity, social interaction, and skill development for children and youth aged 3 to 12 years.

Youth Leadership Program (LEAD)

Youth in Ward 6 had the chance to join two summer LEAD programs at Spruce Cliff and Glenbrook School. These programs are designed for young people aged 12-17 who are eager to develop and gain hands-on leadership skills.

Calgary After School

The City of Calgary offers a variety of after-school programs that provide safe, engaging, and educational experiences for children and youth. These programs aim to keep young people active, foster creativity, and promote positive social interactions in a supervised environment. The Social Program focuses on activities from the Social and Emotional learning curriculum, emphasizing social skills, self-awareness, teamwork, and community engagement.

In 2024, the following locations in Ward 6 received these programs:

• Shaganappi Housing Complex
• Glenbrook School
• A.E. Cross (LEAD Program)
• Vincent Massey (LEAD Program)

Shouldice Park – Flood Response

The Shouldice flood was a significant event that required a coordinated response from the staff. The flood impacted various areas, with significant impact to the quad softball area. The staff leapt into action to handle the situation effectively, with the softball area partially running by late August.

The staff shut down all equipment to avoid power spikes and responded to power hazards. Additionally, our staff coordinated with various City of Calgary departments to manage the flood's impact and communicated with community, council members, passholders and facility users to keep them informed about the situation and the steps being taken to address it. Hours of operations were extended at nearby facilities to accommodate users affected by the closure of Shouldice Aquatic Centre.

Overall, the staff's prompt and coordinated response helped mitigate the impact of the flood and ensured the safety and well-being of the community.

Field Light Upgrades on Optimist Soccer Field (#12)

This summer, we completed lighting upgrades in playfield 12 at Optimist Park. These lights were previously identified as reaching the end of their useful life; we removed the existing poles and replaced them with enhanced infrastructure. This work was also required replacement of a fallen pole.

Upgraded LED lights improve visibility for Calgarians, are more energy efficient, and reduce maintenance costs of our outdoor playfields. This project also supports safety, accessibility, and sustainability in our recreation spaces.

New artificial turf installed at Ernest Manning Athletic Park

In September, we announced the successful completion of the new artificial turf at Ernest Manning Athletic Park, located at 20 Springborough Blvd. S.W.

The competition-sized field first opened in 2012 and can accommodate a variety of sports and activities, including football, soccer, field lacrosse, ultimate frisbee, field hockey, rugby, and special events. We look forward to seeing the community enjoy this enhanced facility.

Fair Entry Update

The City’s Fair Entry program, which helps Calgarians with low-income access subsidized services, is on track to serve over 150,000 applicants in 2024. These fee-reduced services are a crucial part of The City’s efforts to reduce financial barriers for equity-deserving populations.

City Hall School

In September and October, three grade 6 classes from Battalion Park School participated in City Hall School. Their study question was, "How can my voice and actions protect democracy, enhance my community, support the environment, and be a positive force for the world?" During their time at the school, they met with Mayor Gondek and Councillor Pootmans, attended meetings in the Council Chamber and heard from Eric McNaughton with Calgary Foresight, as well as Cat, Ali, Tracey and Brian with Public Engagement.

Each group also took part in a special event or presentation, including the 25th Anniversary of the International Year of Older Persons, the Art Bus launch and a presentation from Michelle Dias on Waste and Recycling.

Mobile Skate & Scoot Spot

The Mobile Skate & Scoot Spot is a City of Calgary program offering free drop-in wheeled sport opportunities. This program provides affordable and accessible recreation activities that naturally encourage free play and physical activity. Mobile skateparks promote active, healthy, fun, and creative living for both beginners and skilled in-line skaters, skateboarders and scooter users of all ages.

At the request of the Glamorgan Community Association, the Mobile Skate & Scoot Spot was installed in the outdoor rink from July 4 – 16. The park was open for 13 days, attracting 227 unique park users for a total of 426 park visits (excluding spectators). The average daily attendance was 33, with the busiest day being July 4th, which saw 56 park users.Similarly, the West Springs/Cougar Ridge Community Association requested the Mobile Skate & Scoot Spot, which was installed in the West Ridge School parking lot from July 18 – 30. Despite the weather, the park was open for 10 out of the possible 13 days, attracting 233 unique park users for a total of 436 park visits (excluding spectators). The average daily attendance was 44, with the busiest day being July 29th, which saw 62 park users.

Both parks were open seven days a week from 11 am to 7 pm and were monitored by City of Calgary instructors who provided tips and tricks upon request. Additionally, both communities were offered two free registered group lessons and an Olympic-themed competition day for participants to showcase their skills, with prizes and food provided.

We received positive feedback while we were in Glamorgan.

• “The staff are great. Need to be at Glamorgan longer.”

• “Love this program, it makes my son’s day to come whenever he wants. Leaders are always willing to help, and he has come so far in 2 summers. Please come back to Glamorgan (longer would be fantastic).”

• “This is the first time my son has come to the skatepark. The instructors, Matt & Eve were very helpful and welcoming. My son now wants to learn how to skateboard. Thank you for providing such a wonderful introduction to this activity/sport!”

• “This program was really helpful in getting my son started in skateboarding. The instructors were nice and helpful in guiding my son to learn skateboarding. If time permits, I would like to bring him more to such programs. Thank you!”

Wildflower Arts Centre

In March and April 2024, 12 separate classes from Calgary Quest School (Spruce Cliff) visited WFAC for art field trips every Monday. Additionally, WFAC delivered twelve-week art programs in Winter, Spring and Fall for 8-10 adults recovering from brain injuries through the Association for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured (ARBI).

At Rundle College School in Strathcona, an in-school Artist Residency focused on upcycling household materials, which was a huge success. These initiatives are in addition to the many registered program participants in our arts programs each session who live in Ward 6.

From May 23rd to 31st, 2024, we celebrated the 34th Exhibition of Children’s Art entitled Knock! Knock! This exhibition showcased the creative accomplishments of over 120 young artists from both the North Mount Pleasant and Wildflower Arts Centres. Visitors to Wildflower Arts Centre enjoyed artworks across a broad range of 2D and 3D art mediums, including drawing, painting, clay, mixed media and more.

All the young artists were honoured at the Opening Reception on May 23rd, which saw over 250 people in attendance. Along with their family and friends, the young artists enjoyed light refreshments and had the opportunity to share, discuss and take photos alongside their artworks.

Tips on registering for programs, classes and lessons with The City of Calgary

• Get ready: ensure your account info is up to date- To ensure that your Live and Play account is ready on registration day, take a moment to log in and verify that your information is up to date.

If you have any issues accessing your account, email liveandplay@calgary.ca

• Plan to be online between 5:30 - 5:59 a.m. on registration day

We continue to use a virtual waiting room to help your online experience on registration days.

Customers who arrive on our website between 5:30 a.m. and 5:59 a.m. on each registration day will be put into a virtual waiting room. At 6 a.m. all customers in the waiting room will be randomly placed in line to await their turn to access the website.

There is no advantage to arriving on our website before 5:30 a.m.

Anyone who visits the website after 6 a.m. will be placed in order of arrival after those who were in the virtual waiting room.

• Have your preferred Course IDs ready- Seasonal schedules are posted in the days leading up to registration so you can learn what's available. Plan your family’s schedule ahead of time, write down your preferred Course IDs and be ready when registration opens. Find the schedules at calgary.ca/register

• Never miss a registration date- Sign up to receive emails when registration dates are announced, get info on programs and services that interest you or help us conduct research.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT & COMMUNITY SAFETY: Ward 6 Year in Review

The City of Calgary’s Emergency Management and Community Safety (EMCS) team has made great strides in improving safety for Calgarians throughout 2024 and is excited to build on this momentum into 2025.

Improving transit safety

2024 was the year of implementation of the Public Transit Safety Strategy , which was approved by Council in November of 2023. 

• This strategy included a significant growth in Transit Peace Officers, and we are proud to share that our total number of officers has grown to 185. This represents an approximate doubling of our total operational officers.
• We have implemented a new district response model, which has 4 districts, including 1 in downtown. This model is improving response times and we are confident we will reach our goal of 7-10 minutes.
• The Community Outreach Team (COT) has added team members and connected with an average of 300 individuals experiencing vulnerability per month. This has resulted in 21 housing assessments and 88 social agency referrals among other positive outcomes.
• This work takes time, but we are encouraged to see perceptions of safety on transit rising in this year’s Fall Survey of Calgarians

Dealing with problem properties

In 2024, the Community Standards Coordinated Safety Response Team (CSRT) expanded to proactively address more abandoned derelict buildings, unsafe rental properties and other problematic properties that created public safety concerns. In 2024, this team addressed over 100 properties, and increased its number of inspections by over 60% (84 in 2024 compared to 54 in 2023). The CSRT oversaw the demolition of 17 properties due to safety concerns, and have secured permits on an additional 10 to take place in the near future.

Addressing vehicle noise and community traffic safety

The Community Safety Traffic Program will enable a team of City of Calgary Peace Officers to collaborate with The Calgary Police Service on addressing noisy vehicle concerns and residential traffic enforcement. In 2024, we recruited 10 members for this team, and developed its Traffic Safety Plan with the Calgary Police Service. Noise monitoring devices have been deployed in multiple areas of the City, allowing our team to begin collecting valuable noise data. The data collected through these noise-monitoring devices will inform the Traffic Safety team’s deployment in the Spring of 2025.

CALGARY POLICE SERVICE: Ward 6 Year in Review

For more information on your community go to community safety dashboard

CALGARY FIREFIGHTER DEPARTMENT: Ward 6 Year in Review

EVENTS

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Plaza Palooza

Get together outdoors with your friends, family and fellow Calgarians to check out four weekends of free festival fun at Olympic Plaza.  

Website: Plaza Palooza 
Where: Olympic Plaza
When: Dec. 20-22

City of Calgary New Year’s Eve

Celebrate New Year’s Eve with free, family-friendly fun at Prince’s Island Park and Lot 59 (200 Memorial Dr. N.W.) starting at 8 p.m. Enjoy activities, live entertainment, food trucks, a dance party and more! The night will cap off with a midnight fireworks show launched from Prince’s Island Park, synchronized to music by Canadian artists on CJSW 90.9FM. Watch the spectacular fireworks in person from Prince’s Island Park or Lot 59. You can also enjoy the show online via the livestream at calgary.ca/NYE. 

Website: New Year's Eve Celebrations
Where: Prince’s Island Park
When: Dec. 31

Coach Hill, Patterson Heights Community Association- www.chph.ca

Check the link below for more registration and information.

https://forms.gle/hnQ6si8tvYTAxbDn8