Be Flood Ready. High River Flow Season Is May 15 – July 15

Submitted by The City of Calgary

Did you know heavy rainfall upstream of Calgary can make up 80 per cent of the river flow during a flood? A single day of heavy rainfall in the mountains, combined with a melting snowpack can change river flows enough to cause flooding in Calgary.

During the spring, we’re monitoring conditions all the time, but the mountains can change our weather quickly and we may have less than 24 hours to really confirm what’s coming. That’s why it’s so important we’re all prepared.

Starting in mid-May, visit calgary.ca/floodinfo for a daily quick snapshot of the river conditions along with details on the days’ forecast.  We’ll let you know how we’re responding to the current conditions, and what actions you may need to take to be prepared based on the current and forecast conditions. Be sure to check it out and sign up for our e-newsletter to get information every week!

We’re ready

This June marks 10 years since the 2013 flood. Over the past decade, we’ve made a lot of progress in increasing Calgary’s flood resilience. We’ve invested in dedicated infrastructure to protect Calgarians, which has already reduced our flood risk by approximately 55 per cent.

What’s new along the Elbow & Bow Rivers?

Construction continues on the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir. Together with the higher gates at the Glenmore Dam, they will protect Elbow River communities from a 2013-sized flood. It’s expected to be operational in 2024 and fully complete in 2025. When the Springbank Reservoir is complete, our flood risk will be reduced by an additional 15 per cent. This means we will have reduced our flood risk by a total of 70 per cent, just 12 years after the 2013 flood.  Until the Springbank Reservoir is operational, the Glenmore Dam provides flood resilience for Elbow communities. With the installation of steel gates on Glenmore Dam’s crest in 2020, the dam has doubled its capacity to hold flood water.

On the Bow River, the downtown flood barrier will be operational for the 2023 flood season, protecting Downtown, Chinatown, East Village and Eau Claire communities from a 1:200 flood. The rest of the improvements planned for the Eau Claire area are anticipated to be completed towards the end of 2023.

In Sunnyside, design work is progressing on the Sunnyside Flood Barrier project as part of the Memorial Parkway Program.   Construction on the flood barrier component is expected to start in 2023 with completion anticipated in 2025.

The Government of Alberta’s agreement with TransAlta remains in place for the operation of the Ghost Reservoir on the Bow River during flood season. This agreement means the Ghost Reservoir is kept low during flood season to capture potential flood water. This prevents overbank flooding along the Bow for smaller flood events and helps reduce the peak flow for larger floods. 

The Government of Alberta continues to evaluate the feasibility of three sites for an upstream reservoir on the Bow River with the study expected to be completed in 2024. If a location is approved, an upstream reservoir is at least 12 years away but is critical for future flood and drought management. The City is actively supporting this important project.

Flood resilience throughout Calgary is also built through flood-smart development, awareness and preparedness, and emergency response.

How you can be ready

Understand.  Use our online interactive flood map to see if you live or work in an area at risk.

Be prepared.

• Review your insurance. Learn about the different coverages available for overland flooding and your eligibility.

• Move valuables and documents out of your basement.

• Clean out your eavestroughs, downspouts and drainage gutters. 

• Check your sump pump and backflow preventer valve if you have one.

• Be ready with a 72-hr kit and an emergency plan if you need to leave quickly.

• Know how to quickly turn off your water, gas and electricity mains.

• Park vehicles on higher ground.

Stay informed. Follow local media and sign up for emergency alerts.

If flooding is forecast, The City will utilize local media channels to provide Calgarians with the most up-to-date information available. Because forecasts can change quickly during an event, early communication and preparation is critical to ensure there is always enough time to protect Calgarians if needed.

For details, visit calgary.ca/floodinfo

Beyond flooding: Living in Calgary’s river valleys

We are updating the Calgary River Valleys Plan, including planning policies and floodplain regulations, to protect and enhance our river valleys and create more resilient river communities.

To inform the update, we are embarking on a multi-phased public engagement process. The first phase will seek to clarify priorities and values for our river valley communities. Engagement begins April 27, 2023 and will continue throughout May. Learn more about the project and how you can participate by visiting Calgary.ca/RiverValleys.

Motorcycles

Submitted by Cst. Jeff LEIMER #3503 Calgary Police Service, CPS, Traffic Section Residential Traffic Safety Unit, RTSU

So it begins that we must become more aware of those quick and tinny 2 wheeled objects. However, this awareness must be for both drivers.

As a rider we must retune our riding skills from the lost months of winter while watching out for the debris on the roadway. And as a motorist we must remember that the bike is a smaller object that can accelerate and stop faster then most cars.

A rider MUST have a class 6 license to ride on their own and obtaining this takes two tests, an aptitude and a practical. As a first-time inexperienced rider looking for a bike to buy don’t extend your skills and get a large bike, start off and gain that important experience on a smaller one.

Like cars and trucks, the motorcycle must have the license plate clear and visible (NOT TUCKED UNDER THE SEAT), signal and brake lights are NOT to be as one unit the signal lights must be separated and defined as separate. A helmet must be either ECE, DOT, or SNELL approved which will be clearly marked.

Possible charging sections for license or equipment violations.

-       Operate M/V without proper license 51(b) $324.00

-       Turn signals not mounted latterly as possible 23(3)(b) $81.00

-       Helmet does not comply with standards 108(1) $162.00

-       Fail to keep license plate visible 71(1) $162.00

Our 100-Year-Old Fifteen Minute Neighbourhood

By Tim Schaefer, Sunnyside Resident

Last year, in May 2022, I wrote how Hillhurst Sunnyside is a 15-minute neighbourhood, an urban design concept where most daily activities can be accomplished within a 15-minute human powered journey from your home.

This wasn’t news, the area has been this way since the 1900s when it was built. In fact, all cities and towns used to be built this way.  Things only changed in the 1950s when car centric development became the focus. So, the 15-minute concept is just taking the best practices of the walkable 1920s and applying them to our car dominated 2020s.

Earlier this year, the 15 min city began to receive quite a bit of attention but not for its merits of walkable convenience. Instead, it’s been manipulated, mostly in bad faith, as a dystopian initiative to control individual freedoms like in Suzanne Collin’s Hunger Games. This conspiracy is strangely based on the premise that somehow once everything is a short walk nearby, the “authorities” will be able to confine your movement. This is a real stretch, but some have held protests over it.

When you think about it, do you have greater freedom when you have multiple viable mobility options, and when many things are close by?  Or is there greater freedom when there’s only one viable way to travel (must own car) and you must travel very far to reach most things (must consume lots of energy)?  Kind of makes you question the motives of the conspiracy messengers.

Without going down that rabbit hole any further, let’s revisit the 15-min question and why that’s a great thing.

Is Hillhurst Sunnyside a 15-Minute Neighbourhood? To answer this question let’s look at the distance you can cover in a 15 min human powered journey and whether most daily activities could be accomplished in that space.

The average walking speed for an able-bodied adult is 5 km/h. This means in 15 min you should be able to travel 1.25 km.  For simplicity and to factor different walking abilities, let’s round that down to 1 km. How far will a 1 km walk get you in Hillhurst Sunnyside? 

Looking at a map of our neighbourhood (see image), we have a uniquely shaped space that is bounded by the Bow River to the south, McHugh Bluff to the NE and several streets on the NW and West sides. The geographical center of the neighbourhood is in Kensington at the corner of 3 Ave and 10 St NW.

Coincidentally, this spot is also adjacent to two grocery stores, as well as several shops, and restaurants. These are all typical destinations for your daily needs.  For the purposes of answering the question whether Hillhurst Sunnyside is a 15-Minute Neighbourhood, we’ll use the corner of 3 Ave and 10 St NW as the evaluation point.

Drawing a 1 km radius circle from this center point (see image again), almost all the neighbourhood is covered except for the outer edges.

What this means is YES, Hillhurst Sunnyside is almost entirely a 15-Minute neighbourhood just by walking!  Within this space we have shops, restaurants, businesses as well as grade schools for our kids and SAIT for post-secondary studies. Not only is the distance 1 km, the quality of our sidewalks is also good which allows us to safely reach everything by foot. Sadly, that’s not the case in other places.

Let’s not forget, not everyone is able to walk very far or even walk at all. This is where human powered wheels, e-powered assisted wheels and accessibility devices become great tools in allowing almost everyone to enjoy the 15 min lifestyle without having to use a car. It also brings those living outside the 1 km radius into the 15 min fold because you can cover more distance in 15 min on wheels. 

Like our sidewalks, Hillhurst Sunnyside has some good pathways and quiet residential streets (some with painted mobility lanes) that make wheeling options viable for many, but not for all. That’s where the addition of protected mobility lanes on some key streets will make human powered and e-assisted wheels a safe option for many more to move around the area.

Yes, Hillhurst Sunnyside is a 15-min neighbourhood, and it has been for over 100 years. Having the freedom to safely move about by various means is part of what makes this place so great! Having everyday destinations right in the neighbourhood is also a great time saver. Driving to a destination within Hillhurst Sunnyside or beyond is also an option and choice for many and let’s not forget Calgary Transit and taxis are options too.

Please remember, the idea of a 15-minute city isn’t about removing the freedom to drive as some conspirators may try to peddle. Rather it’s about removing car dependance by providing freedom of choice to move about safely on foot, on human powered wheels, or e-assisted wheels. Those mode options become viable when you don’t have to travel far to reach your destination of choice.

Crime and Art

Submitted by Christie Page

Our inner-city neighborhoods are walkable places where the residents are out interacting with the landscape around them on a regular basis. Some spaces are community spaces, like parks for gathering. Some spaces are private spaces, like fenced in yards. There are spaces in between that are private but public facing, like front steps or garage doors. 

When you walk along a front street with boulevards and beautiful tree canopies you see the effort that homeowners put into making their homes feel welcoming. There are also big windows looking out, and doors that might open with people coming and going. The behavior you portray is somewhat based on knowing you might be seen. That very quickly you could end up face to face with another person.

Back alleys are different. They were built with service in mind, not connectivity. Alleys prioritize vehicles coming and going, along with garbage, recycling, and compost removal. If you were to walk down a back alley with a line of closed garage doors on either side of you, you might feel very alone. Green, Blue, and Black bins, Enmax poles, evenly spaced and not much else.

If you were someone who had nefarious intentions, you might be under the impression that this was a space full of opportunity. No one is around to challenge your actions; you could likely go unseen for a while. You might think to yourself, how could you use this situation to your advantage? 

What might take away from this feeling? The obvious are things like lights that activate with motion but after a moment of stillness a criminal will know no one is actually, watching them. Bells on doors and gates that make it very hard to enter quietly can be a great deterrent. But what else can be done to deter bad behavior?

When you look down a back alley that has a garage door not blank and sterile, but with a mural painted on it, do you feel a pull to go take in the art? Others do. People from all over Calgary come to view Sunnyside's Garage Art Gallery. Could your garage door or fence be part of this effort and be a tool to dissuade crime?

Photo submitted by Christie Page. Visit the Sunnyside Art Crawl map to view the gallery right in our community.

Other things you might do is plant an apple tree or some rhubarb or raspberries in the alley inviting people to come help themselves. A bench giving neighbors a spot to sit is a great way to give the feeling that people gather here. A basketball net or a chalk board shows this space is for play. This space is not always empty. This space is not full of opportunity but is designed for the community. All these ideas make your home feel safer and more connected to the community at large. 

Many cities around the globe have found that activating a space to welcome more eyes on the street is game changing to keeping criminal behavior at bay. This has been proven to work on a large scale. Could we here in Hillhurst and Sunnyside do this piecemeal, each making improvements to our own plots of land? We have already started and we would love you to be part of the change. 

April's Neighbour Night- DIY Deodorant Recipe

Submitted by Sima Chowdhury, HSCA Community Connector Volunteer and Make Mindfully Co-creator

HSCA’s April’s Neighbour Night featured Melisa Centofanti leading our group activity, showing participants how to make a natural deodorant. She went through the process and some of the chemicals found in cosmetic products. The following is from her recipe that she handed out in class. The class was so popular that we ran out of copies! Here is the recipe below:

Deodorant recipe:

¾ cup of cornstarch (or 1/4 cup cornstarch and 1/2 cup arrowroot powder)
¼ cup of diatomaceous earth
½ tsp of activated charcoal
½ cup melted coconut oil
½ tsp essential oils (optional) you can purchase a deodorizing essential oil online

Mix all ingredients together adding the liquid ingredients last.

The Finished Product- DIY Deodorant from this month’s Neighbour Night

Activated Charcoal:
Activated coconut charcoal is made by burning coconut shells at a very high heat then
activating the charcoal in a furnace at high temperatures. This creates millions of tiny pores on
the surface. That is why it is used for water filtration.

Diatomaceous earth:
Diatomaceous earth is a natural remedy with hundreds of uses. It is made from tiny fossilized
plankton (diatoms) that accumulate in freshwater lakes. The remains of these organisms
contain silica, which is a major component of healthy ligaments and cartilage. Diatomaceous
earth is a gentle abrasive available in food grade and non-food grade forms. People add the
powder to drinks, foods, or pill capsules for internal use, or combine it with dozens of products
for external use.

Coconut oil:
Coconut oil has antibacterial properties and can reduce candida, fight bacteria, and create a
hostile environment for viruses.

Cornstarch:
Thanks to its moisture-absorbing properties, it acts as a natural deodorant to decrease sweat
and odor

Arrowroot powder:
Arrowroot powder is a natural sweat absorbent, clearly perfect for deodorants, and is gentle
enough for even the most sensitive armpits.

The recipe makes about 10 of the 75 mL deodorant bars. I had purchased them on clearance at Soap and More in Calgary. Melisa cautioned that this recipe is best used in winter and kept in the fridge.

My suggestion for a summer formulation would be to melt 5 g of beeswax or candelila wax if you want a vegan formulation with the coconut oil. Another option might be to have 1/4 cup coconut oil and 1/4 cup cocoa, shea or mango butter. 

The small containers mean that the deodorant will be used up quickly and there's no water in the formulation so microbe growth is not a huge concern. Essential oils such as tea tree and neem have strong anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. Lavender and eucalyptus also have these properties but are not as strong. Melisa and I had pure essential oils which are quite strong. We asked people to put a few drops into their deodorant tube and then add the mixture on top. The oils will diffuse through the product especially when closed. 

Neighbour Night runs every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month. Check out our Calendar for all HSCA programs, recreation, and events.

HSCA Soccer Is Back for 2023

Program & Recreation Update

This year, HSCA has formed a partnership with SoccerTech to deliver a community soccer program for the 2023 Season. The season will take place on the fields at HSCA May 2-June 29th on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Registration must be done through SoccerTech directly. Led by US-Soccer Federation A-licensed Technical Director Glenn Ramsay! Train with Calgary Rockies Coaches! No Volunteers.

COST

U4 (2019-21) $80 - 8 sessions

U5/6 (2017/18) $105 - 16 sessions

U8 (2015/16) $137 - 16 sessions

U10 (2013/14) $147 - 16 sessions

(Payment Plans Available)

Speed

Submitted by Cst. Jeff LEIMER #3503 Calgary Police Service, CPS, Traffic Section Residential Traffic Safety Unit, RTSU

April is Speed Awareness and Enforcement month. Fines start at 1 km/h over the speed limit at $81.00 and go up to 50 km/h at $495.00. Demerit points are assessed to speed fines starting at 2 demerits and increase as speed increases.

Speed fines double if one is charged for speeding in a construction zone or passing Emergency vehicles or tow trucks. If speeds are in excess of 50 km/h over the speed limit the ticket will be for mandatory court in which the courts will set the fine and license suspension timeline.

Starting March 1, 2023, a change to the Traffic Safety Act (TSA) will occur, being that ALL lanes of travel must slow to 60 km/h when passing Emergency vehicles when traveling in the same direction. This is a change in that currently it is only the lane adjacent or one lane beside the Emergency vehicle must slow. You wouldn’t want emergency vehicle ripping past you in your office, would you?

In relation to speed, the distance your vehicle travels increase considerably for reaction time and braking distance if an emergency arises.

• Average vehicle in good repair driving on dry and good repair roads at 50 km/h

• Average perception and reaction time 1.5 seconds (brain to see danger and then reaction time to step on brakes) this can vary depending on driving experience

• Vehicle travels approx. 18 m/sec at 50 km/h

• Vehicle from start of braking to complete stop approx. 25 m

• So it will be approx. 60 m travel distance half a football field

100 km/h you can quadruple that so approx. 200 m (2 football fields) to stop.

So something to remember this is for ideal road conditions, wet & snow etc will extend this considerably.

Hillhurst Sunnyside’s Truck Route

By Tim Schaefer, Sunnyside Resident

The City of Calgary’s Truck Route bylaw has been on the books since 1990. It spells out which streets and roads people can operate trucks on and which ones they cannot. The idea behind the bylaw is to maintain safe, quiet, and comfortable streets for people by limiting what roads trucks can use to move around the city.

The Truck Route bylaw (60M90) defines what a truck means according to its maximum weight. The threshold is 5,450kg, so anything above that weight is a “truck” according to the bylaw. That’s a pretty heavy weight, so in case you’re wondering, most personally owned pickup trucks will be less than that but some new EV trucks are getting close.

What does a truck weighing more than 5,450kg look like? Generally speaking, it’s a vehicle that has a cab with a large square box behind it. But it could also have a flatbed, or a trailer. A sure-fire way to verify is to look at the posted weight listed on the side of the truck, usually on its door. All commercial trucks above 4,500kg are required to list both their unloaded weight (TARE) and their maximum loaded weight (GVW). If the maximum weight value is greater than 5,450kg then the Truck Route bylaw applies to that vehicle.

To help truck operators understand where they can operate, the City of Calgary provides a map to explain the Truck Route bylaw.  Streets and roads marked in green are okay, while white streets are “No Trucks Allowed”. The only exception is if the truck is being operated for local delivery or for work that is being conducted in the area.

The streets in Hillhurst Sunnyside that are part of Calgary’s Truck Route are:

• 10 Street NW

• 14 Street NW

• Kensington Road NW

• Memorial Drive but only West of 10 St NW

That means trucks are not allowed on any other streets, unless of course it’s for a local delivery or for conducting work specific to the area. Note Memorial Drive is not on the truck route between 10 St NW and Edmonton Trail NW. This is to avoid turning Memorial Drive into a major truck thoroughfare. Calgary does not have many East-West Truck Route roads, but 16 Ave NW is one that’s not too far away. Despite this, many truck operators will still attempt to use Memorial Drive as a short cut. It’s a risky proposition as the fine is $500 if caught.

Enforcement of Calgary’s Truck Bylaw is handled by the Calgary Police Service’s dedicated Truck Unit. If you have a concern with where trucks are operating, you can submit a Traffic Service Request with the Calgary Police (see QR Code). The CPS Truck Unit will be assigned your request and they will investigate your concern which may include focused enforcement of a problem area.

Calgary’s truck bylaw has not really changed in 30 years so the question bears asking, does it still work for Calgary or for Hillhurst Sunnyside? For example, is it still appropriate for Kensington Road NW to be designated part of the Truck Route? This is likely a relic from the past when it was the only major East-West road to reach the Louise 10 St NW bridge. Maybe it’s time to remove it as a designated truck route and allow this area to become a little quieter and safer for kids making their way to school.

Another question is whether $500 still serves as enough of a deterrent to stay on designated truck roads. It seems that inflation has diminished the effectiveness of a $500 fine, because anecdotally, many trucks seem to use Memorial as a short cut despite there being signs advising Trucks are not allowed.

It may be time to revisit this bylaw to ensure it’s still delivering on its objective.

Heritage Update: The Upton Residence Is on the Move!

One of Sunnyside's oldest homes (if not the oldest) built in 1908 has been temporarily moved in order that a new foundation be poured and a large functional addition be built. The Upton Residence is considered significant by Heritage Calgary and is on the City's Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources. More info on the Upton Residence can be found on the City of Calgary’s Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources page (or google Heritage Calgary Inventory).

We are thrilled that the new owners have the vision and foresight to work with the City & Heritage Calgary to restore and retain this Edwardian worker's cottage through adaptive reuse. Once the work has been completed, the Upton Residence will be designated by the City in partnership with the owners.

Photo of the Upton Residence moved off its foundation (courtesy of Christie Page)

Draft design of completed residence - Upton Residence in forefront (courtesy of Marre Design Group)

More on Designation in our community: Heritage Calgary (civic partner of the City) is experiencing a significant increase in demand from homeowners asking to have their homes added to the Municipal Inventory and potentially designated. This increase may be attributed to a shifting focus and interest in Calgary's built history, support/grants available for maintenance and more education on the business case for designation. Currently our community contains 3 designated residences, the William J Gray home in HIllhurst and in Sunnyside, the Orman Residence and Glenwood Manor. However this will be changing soon. In the past year, at least 4 homeowners have asked that their homes be added to the Municipal Inventory and potentially designated. More info to come!

For more information on built or cultural heritage in our community, contact the HS Heritage sub-committee at planning@hsca.ca

Please Welcome Our “New” Flea Market Manager: Angel!

With Bonnie now retired from the position after 37 years (wow!), Angel has now stepped in to fill her shoes. This might be intimidating to some, but Angel is no spring chicken when it comes to HSCA.

Angel ran the Flea Market kitchen at HSCA for three separate stints, one of which lasted over three years. She assisted with the HSCA Antique Market for 11 years, and she even worked with Bonnie at Sunnyside Grocery for over 10 years. Needless to say, the Flea Market is in good hands!

Even though Angel isn’t exactly new here, feel free to give her a warm welcome anyways!

The HSCA Flea Market has been an important community building event since 1985! It runs every Sunday, 7am-3pm.

Healthy Living at HSCA

By Sima Chowdhury

We're starting the mental health conversation on the blog a bit earlier this year as HSCA wants to encourage people to start thinking about the importance of mental fitness before Mental Health week in May.

Programs at Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association speak to healthy living through their myriad of programs. Fresh Routes offers lower cost produce, and Community Walkabouts encourage people to go outside to explore their neighborhoods. Beyond eating well and exercising, exploring creativity and social wellbeing are also components of good health. Make Mindfully is a project I started with my friend Abir as we both had similar experiences using artistic pursuits to promote mental health. Since 2019, we have offered programs at HSCA as part of Neighbour Night, even online. Usually, after a healthy dinner, we would do an activity and a mindfulness piece around self-acceptance and gratitude for being able to come together as a group. During the pandemic, when we couldn't meet in person, I would screen various films and have a short discussion about them if people wanted to chat. 

A Naloxone kit. Visit the AHS website for more details on how to find Naloxone kits.

For Mental Health week in May this year, we have a special presentation. As a provisional social worker, I wanted to highlight some of the concerns people in the neighborhood have expressed. Before we do our usual craft activity, I'll demonstrate how to use a Naxolone kit to reverse an opioid overdose. Because my practicum is in the Beltline area, I always have a kit in my backpack just in case something happens on my walk to work. The kits are available for free from local pharmacies. The pharmacist will teach you how to use it, and inside the kit, there is a website where you can refresh your memory with a video. The ones available at the pharmacy are injectable, but I will show the nasal ones as well. The demonstration doesn't take long, and it's great to learn together because then we can discuss questions or comments people may have. 

In my first practicum, I learned about Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) using a combination of lectures and hands-on crafts. DBT is a mental health intervention based on mindfulness and cognitive behaviour therapy to help people emotionally regulate. One part is to accept who we are and the other part is to make small changes with the intention to cope with difficult emotions better. We are the product of both our environment and our genes, which we will explore through our May activity.

If you can't wait to see us, come to our April 6th HSCA event, we'll be making deodorant. Hope to see you there.

Neighbour Night runs every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month. Check out our calendar for all HSCA programs, recreation, and events.

About Sima: Sima is HSCA’s Community Connector Volunteer and Makemindfully co-creator. Sima is also the author of ‘Mindful Meditation’ available on Amazon.  You can check out her author profile here. Check out Make Mindfully’s Instagram and Facebook page to follow along. You can also check out Sima’s ‘Spotlight’ on our blog from 2022.

Meet Edward! HSCA’s Newest Practicum Student

Where are you from originally? Have you lived elsewhere before now?

I was born and raised in Newfoundland. In the 1970s, I got a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education at Memorial University. For about 15 years, I taught high school and worked as a school board administrator. I also taught in Ontario and Quebec. I moved to Toronto in the 1980s. After battling an addiction to alcohol, I finally got sober in 1984. I have been continuously sober for the past 38 years. Around the same time, I also came out as a gay man when I realized that the main reason for my drinking was living a closeted life trying to hide my sexual orientation.

What were you up to before beginning your internship?

In the 1990s, I studied addiction counselling at George Brown College and sat on their Board of Governors for two years. I graduated with an honours diploma in addiction counselling. I did various jobs including crisis counselling at the AIDS Committee of Toronto helping people who were diagnosed with HIV and later AIDS. It was challenging work.

After moving to Alberta in 2010, I learned how to drive the largest haul truck in the world, a Caterpillar 797 -- even though I had never even driven a pick-up truck! I learned that, with a focused mind, I can reach any goal that I want to achieve. However, the shift work required for driving haul trucks was not for me. Instead, I worked in remote camp kitchens in Fort McMurray for 10 years. Despite the great salary, I was still not happy and decided to return to university in 2021. I am almost didn't succeed with this goal as I was diagnosed with cancer for the second time in 2020. After that cancer went into remission, I was diagnosed with cancer again in 2022, along with diabetes. I am currently working on reversing both diagnoses by adopting a whole foods plant-based way of eating. So far, so good!

What’s your current field of study and why did you choose it?

Before this internship, I did a practicum at the Calgary Distress Centre answering crisis calls including suicide calls. I am currently in my final year of studies for a Bachelor of Social Work. In 2024, I will start studying for a Master of Social Work. I chose social work because of a growing sense of urgency to make positive change in the world. I think change begins with building relationships. Mahatma Ghandi said, "Relationships are based on four principles: respect, understanding, acceptance and appreciation," and I think that by building relationships in the community we can better address addictions, poverty, homelessness, oppression and discrimination, and give vulnerable people a helping hand. And this is not easy work. Famed American social worker, Dr. Brené Brown, has said that in our work we often need to choose courage over comfort. In short, I think the job of social workers can be summed up by the phrase "comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable."

 Did you have a pre-existing relationship with our community? What is your impression of Hillhurst-Sunnyside?

I am relatively new to Hillhurst-Sunnyside and in fact to Calgary. I moved to the city from Edmonton in July 2021 to start my studies. I became familiar with the Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Association (HSCA) last year when one of our social work classes used the Heritage Room to do a pop-art display of works by residents of James House which helps people transition from homelessness to being housed and living a more settled life. At that time, I began to learn about the community development work that HSCA does, including the day care and out-of-school care programs. In my practicum, I like that HSCA builds relationships through Community Connections programs such as Sip 'n Chat, the Sustainable Food program, and Neighbour Nights, to mention a few. Also, I recently visited HSCA's Farmers' Market and Flea Market which were all abuzz with visitors. I am glad I decided to do my final practicum at HSCA before finishing my studies in the spring of 2023.

I really like Hillhurst-Sunnyside area and I am starting to explore the neighbourhood. Just recently during a morning stroll, I stumbled on The Roasterie which roasts its own coffee. I really enjoyed stopping by there to have an Americano and want to explore more. I like the neighbourhood so much that I am considering moving here once I finish my studies and move out off campus. I proud to be part of the community development work that HSCA does and I admire the genuine commitment by volunteers and staff to help HSCA reach its goals. 

Meet the artist behind HSCA’s mural: Daniel J Kirk

1. Can you describe your relationship to the community of Hillhurst Sunnyside?

 I am a long time resident of Hillhurst Sunnyside. Currently, I live in Sunnyside and operate a creative studio on Kensington Rd. called Blank Page Studio.

 2. How would you describe your art to someone who's never seen it?

 I work in many different mediums, exploring connections and relationships. My paintings use transitions of colour to explore natural forms and rhythms. 

 3. What are some notable past projects of yours in the neighbourhood?

 -The HSCA mural project, to be completed in spring 2023 (currently being reworked) based upon an artist in residency in 2012

- Dale - a pedal powered USB charging station on the corner of Memorial Dr. and 10 St.

- The Kensington mural project - behind the Plaza theatre that spans five commercial buildings in the alleyway of the Kensington business district.

- Sunnyside Lift Station murals by the curling club 

 4. How did this recent mural project come about?

 The result of my work as the artist in residence in 2012 was a mural on the exterior wall of the HSCA building. This work connects to a compilation of stories, gathered from the community that circles the main hearth room inside. Now that that mural project is 10 years old and showing it’s age, I was asked to rethink the outside mural, to explore and expand upon the content within the stories.

 5. How do you hope the mural will be received, what effect do you hope it will have on the community?

 I hope that the work will be something enjoyable for folks passing by and for those that use the space regularly. I see the project as an offer of beauty to our community, something to soften the edges of the challenging times we are navigating together.

 6. What role do you feel public art/beautification plays in urban living more generally?

 Public Art offers the opportunity to have discourse about our shared world in an open and unsolicited way. It is a vital part of an urban space and can not only connect people to each other and their world but can function to build/create community. It beautifies spaces and creates a feeling of place for folks as well as it provides vital economic support for artists, fabricators, designers and other professionals to exist and make Calgary their home.

Unlock your Walk with a Cart

By Tim Schaefer, Sunnyside Resident

Call them a trolley dolly, a rolling cart, or a shopping caddy, those personal rolling carriers that are used to carry your shopping items back home just have a certain persona to them. It’s a strange cultural phenomenon that I hit head-on one day when I bought one and had several family members say, “You’re a grown man, why did you buy a granny cart?”

It wasn’t exactly the warm enthusiastic welcome I was expecting to hear, but I was familiar with this sentiment, so I wasn’t entirely surprised. I too have often looked at these carts with a disparaging lens, but I have noticed many more people using them these days. So why did I buy it?

 Well, it starts with my family’s habit of going for walks on a daily basis. Hillhurst Sunnyside is a great walkable neighbourhood, so walking is an easy thing to do here. The website walkscore.com ranks Hillhurst and Sunnyside as 12th and 13th most walkable in Calgary, both with a score of 75. That’s impressive!

 When we go for walks, we’ll often include a shopping trip for groceries or other items in Kensington at the same time. Accomplishing a recharge of the mind after a day’s work, connecting with a family member, and tending to some errands is really a win-win-win. But when there are more than a few items it becomes a bit challenging to carry it all home. I have brought a backpack on some occasions and still do, but sometimes there’s just too many items or it’s just a bit too heavy to carry everything in a backpack. This is where your own mini shopping cart becomes a great option.

 In the past when I reached such a point, I would have simply chosen to unlock my vehicle and drive. When you own a vehicle, it can be too easy to cave in and drive. Like most people, my vehicle sits most of the time just waiting to be used. It’s an easy choice to make. The trouble is when I drive to run an errand, it means I don’t get to integrate a walk into the task. With a busy schedule, it might also mean foregoing the opportunity to recharge and get some mild exercise on an otherwise busy weeknight.  When we live in a walkable neighbourhood like Hillhurst Sunnyside that’s a missed opportunity!

 While we don’t use our cart every time we shop, it has proven to be a great option. Plus, the great thing with shopping trolleys is they fold up nicely so you can store them away without requiring much space. There are also lots of styles and colours of carts to choose from these days. Carts are no longer just wire baskets on wheels, most come with an insulated compartment to keep things cool in the summer and keep things from freezing in the winter.  You can even get stylish rollerblade type wheels.  So, if you’ve been eyeing up a cart yourself, my advice: Go for it! You’ll find yourself unlocking your walk instead of your car.

Bonnie, our Flea Market Manager, is Retiring!

After 37 years managing the HSCA Flea Market, Bonnie Constable is moving on to greener pastures.

 Bonnie started part time in July of 1985 and never looked back. “The Flea Market became the love of my life,” she says. “The vendors are like family. I never in 37 years woke up Sunday morning not looking forward to going to work. It wasn't like a normal job. It was a Family Sunday and you never knew what adventure, good or bad, awaited the day. Or what treasure would surface.”

 When asked about the more memorable moments during her incredible tenure, Bonnie notes some emotional highs but also some terrible lows. Vendors stepping up to the plate to donate goods and financial aid to their community during the 2013 flood remains a highlight for her, but the passing of certain vendors have also meant some darker days. All in all, the social need the flea market fulfills for community members, as well as the positive environmental impact, have made the Flea Market an important part of neighbourhood life, according to Bonnie.

 “I will always be grateful for having been a part of that for so many years.”

 Stepping in for Bonnie as Flea Market Manager is the wonderful Angel Davis, who will be introduced in a future piece here in The Voice. All of us at HSCA would like to thank Bonnie for her remarkable dedication to our community, and wish her the best of luck in her future, which already sounds bright!

 “I will be retiring to do what ever makes me happy. Hobby of jewelry making, looking forward to a garden this year. Might even do a little travelling.” Sounds great Bonnie, you’ve earned it!

Distracted Driving

By Cst. Jeff Leimer, CPS

Did you know that distracted driving encompasses many things, just not cell phones? All penalties that fall under Distracted Driving carry a minimum $300.00 fine and 3 demerits, further the courts can also raise the specified penalty upon each conviction.

Under the Alberta Traffic Safety Act (TSA)

Section 115.1(1)(a) Drive or operate a motor vehicle while holding/viewing/using cell phone or other communication device. Even holding the device creates the offence and you must be legally parked. So, no holding your phone while at a traffic light.

Section 115.1(1)(b) Drive or operate a motor vehicle while viewing/holding or using a handheld wireless electronic device. This would be an iPad, Notebook, or separate GPS system.

Section 115.2(1) Display screen active and visible to the driver other then GPS, cell phone, etc. This would be watching YouTube or videos on a screen while driving. Yes, I have seen this happen, a person watching music videos and another watching a movie while driving.

Section 115.4(1) Drive or operate a motor vehicle while reading/viewing printed material, writing, sketching, or engaged in personal grooming/hygiene. So, no shaving, doing make-up, or brushing teeth.

And for people that like or allow their dog/cat to sit on their lap and watch the world go by or hang out the window; Section 115(2)(i) Driver permit person, animal, or thing to impede safe operation of a motor vehicle, a $243.00 Specified Penalty.

In a busy world filled with electronics, taking pets on road trips, reviewing documents from work, we should be setting aside all these things. All these actions remove your responsibility from what you should be concentrating on, being safe operation of your motor vehicle. Best to make it home so that we can enjoy the special things in life.

Drive and be safe

Cst. Jeff LEIMER

Calgary Police Service, Traffic Section

Heritage Moment - The Riley family, a legacy in the landscape

 From hsca.ca/historical-context-paper

 The Riley pioneer ranch family settled in today’s Hillhurst, gradually increasing their land holdings until they owned a significant portion26 of inner-city Calgary north of the Bow River. City-builders, the Rileys left a legacy in the landscape with the subdivisions they established, the land they donated for park space and education, and the institutions they created and supported.

Thomas & Georgiana Riley

 Thomas Riley (1842-1909) immigrated to Canada from Derbyshire, England in 1862, first settling in eastern Canada where he and Georgiana Hounsfield (18431907) married and raised their family of ten before putting down roots in Calgary in 188727. They arrived with their youngest children, the older siblings joining them over time until the whole family was together in Calgary. Within a year they were homesteading just north of the town’s limits at that time, on the northwest quarter of Section 20 (today’s Briar Hill). By 1903, their farm had barns, stables, granaries and a corral, and after receiving patent in 1904, they built their permanent dwelling, Hounsfield Lodge (nonextant). Thomas raised livestock and crops including wheat, oats and potatoes. He also had a strong interest in politics, was active in the Liberal party and ran for political office for the North-West Territories.

Thomas Riley homestead house and farm building. Thomas and Georgiana Riley in pony cart, daughters Louise and Emily and son Thomas on horseback, between 1895 and1899 [Credits: Glenbow Archives M-8375-11-2]

His sons worked on the family farm and also acquired homesteads nearby as they reached the eligible age to apply. They entered into partnership with their father as the Riley & Sons agricultural enterprise. Georgiana acquired the east half of Section 20 in 190228, and in 1902-3, Georgiana and her son Albert purchased Section 31 from the CPR for ranching, their two portions flanking the Morley Trail29. The Riley & Sons lands were known collectively as the Ranche. In 1906, the Rileys sold 1280 acres of their lands near Nose Creek as well as 400 cattle to P. Burns & Co, retaining their horses but moving from grade cattle to raising pure breeds. The same year plans were drawn up for a second permanent house by an architect referred to in Thomas’ diary as Wilson30. Following Georgiana’s death in 1907, her portion of Section 31 and her land in Section 20 went to her family; Thomas reserved a 10 acre parcel for the new house. Upon Thomas’ passing in 1909 Riley & Sons dissolved; their three daughters - Louise, Emily and Maria - inherited the original homestead and Hounsfield Lodge. In 1910 Edmunde and Thomas Jr registered the northeast quarter of Section 20 as the Hounsfield Heights subdivision Plan 5625AC. By 1912, the daughters had married; it was son Frank’s family who would next live in the Hounsfield Lodge until some time after his death in 1939. The lodge and almost five acres were sold to the Bethany Care Society which opened in that house in 1946.

To be continued…

Calgary’s Property Tax Productivity Dilemma

By Tim Schaefer, Sunnyside Resident

In November 2022, Calgary’s City Council approved a 4-year Service Plan and Budget that included a Revenue Expenditure infographic to help explain where its revenue comes from and where it spends its budget.

 Over the years, Calgary has slowly shifted revenue away from property tax and over to fees based on services provided. This is demonstrated in the infographic where in 2022 less than half of the city’s revenue came from property tax. The same will be true over the next 4-year budget cycle.  This fee based approach is viewed as more equitable as it places the cost of the services on to the people who use them. It also influences consumption when proportion of use is tied to cost (Example: Entry fees at City of Calgary Recreation Facilities).

 One aspect of property tax that was also discussed in council but did not receive much attention is the idea of property tax productivity. This is the concept of measuring how much property tax is generated in a unit of area (say 0.1 square km). As any property owner will know, in Calgary, property is taxed based on its assessed value multiplied by a mill rate to cover the city budget. This is considered a progressive or “fair” approach because those with lesser valued property, and presumably less income, will pay proportionately less in property tax.

 Where this approach fails the city and its residents is when property tax productivity is so disproportionately high in some specific areas of the city, it causes many other areas to have a very low tax productivity. It can be so low that the tax collected in a low area doesn’t even come close to covering the costs. In short, those areas operate at a loss to the City. On the surface this may also seem as being progressive. Neighbourhoods with low property value are presumed to have low tax productivity. Right?   

 Unfortunately, the opposite is what typically happens in North America. Neighbourhoods with high assessed property values will typically have low tax productivity. Likewise, neighbourhoods with low property values will often have high tax productivity. This happens because of the relative density of the properties. In other words, having many lower valued properties in the same amount of area as a single high value property will bring in more tax revenue for the city compared to a single property.

 Managing property tax productivity can become a big problem if a city doesn’t recognize the issue and continues to allow too much development that is not productive from a property tax perspective.

 The concept of tax productivity was covered in a NJB YouTube video. The video covers some StrongTowns and Urban3 studies where it looked at the revenue and costs of some American and Canadian cities. In the worse cases, some US cities actually went bankrupt!  Fortunately, Canadian cities cannot go into as much debt as American cities, so while bankruptcy is unlikely for Calgary, it still has a property tax productivity dilemma.

 In a December 2022 tweet by Evan Spencer (Ward 12 Councillor), the same sort of 3D graph shown in the NJB YouTube video was shared that clearly shows an intense concentration of property tax productivity in the inner city and a few other spots.  There are also large vast areas with very low tax productivity that are best described as residential neighbourhoods built less than 70 years ago.

From an income statement perspective, this 3D graph for Calgary shared by Spencer is an incomplete picture because the costs have not been factored. At this time, the City has not yet determined how to assign costs in this sort of model. However, it is safe to say Calgary has built and continues to focus on building neighbourhoods that, from a City cost-to-serve perspective, are likely financially insolvent.

 What can Calgary do to address this dilemma? The City must complete the work of determining the costs to serve properties throughout the city so that areas that are costing the city more than the revenue they generate are understood and minimized.  From there, property tax needs to evolve further so the costs to serve a given property are reflected in the taxes collected. With that in place, the real estate market will evolve.  People will continue to buy property based on what they value, but instead it will factor City taxes and fees that better match what it costs to actually serve those properties and not a subsidized model that we seemingly have today.

A Conservative’s Case for Bike Lanes

By Tim Schaefer, Sunnyside Resident

When the discussion about investing in bike lanes comes up, the political right seems to take a default position against it. Why? Is it only to be contrarian to the political left, where bike lanes are generally more accepted? Are conservative advocates assuming that nobody on the political right are interested in safe bike infrastructure. This seems like a short sighted position of spite towards a topic that really should be bipartisan.

 Setting aside any preconceived notions or beliefs, having more bike infrastructure actually aligns greatly with conservative values. Let’s park our political biases and examine them.

Freedom. All conservatives, particularly libertarian conservatives, love freedom. Especially the freedom of choice. Today’s built environment, such as our streets and gathering places, primarily cater to people driving personal vehicles. That effectively means for most people there’s only one viable option to travel. This fundamentally goes against the principle of freedom of choice.

 Some may argue if you need to bike on the street to reach a destination you are free to do that. Let’s not kid ourselves, bikes may be allowed on streets today, but if a street is busy and fast moving only the very brave will ride a bike on it because the stakes are high. Cars and trucks have become increasingly larger, and drivers are increasingly distracted. Shared streets are not a viable option for most people due to this risk of injury or death.

 Fiscally Prudent. Bike infrastructure aligns greatly with fiscal conservative values. Building and maintaining vehicle infrastructure is very costly for governments. On the other hand, bike infrastructure is significantly cheaper to build and maintain. The reasons are simple, bikes just don’t need as much space and they don’t wear the surface down like heavy cars and trucks. So the smaller size requirements and less frequent maintenance makes bike infrastructure significantly less expensive for cities to build and operate which in turn means less taxes.

 Good for the Economy. Calgary has for decades talked about the importance of diversifying its economy. Growing the business sector of bike sales and service is a great way to do that. Today Calgary's bike shops cater mostly to recreational users with a portion of business going to bikes as transportation. Having more people bike for transportation will grow this sector. This brings up the topic of what can be used in the bike lane and it’s not just bikes. There are ebikes, cargo bikes, scooters, trikes and various e-powered products including wheelchairs that all can be used in active mobility lanes.

 Great for Main Streets. Since the 1950’s we’ve been sold the message that having our Main Streets dedicated to cars and on-street parking are good for shops and restaurants. The reality is most vehicles are just passing through without stopping and our ever-increasing size of vehicles makes on-street parking very inefficient use of space per customer. Having safe wheeling infrastructure on our main streets brings many more customers who have a higher likelihood to actually stop and spend money compared to customers in cars.

 The good news is Calgary’s City Council has decided to further invest in active mobility infrastructure in its 2023-26 budget cycle. When that investment becomes reality through building safe dedicated space, let’s take a conservative perspective on them and celebrate the freedom, the fiscal prudence, the economic diversification, and the increased business it will bring to our city and our Main Streets.

Heritage Moment

From the Hillhurst Sunnyside Historical Context paper (pp 19-21). For more on the history of our neighborhood check out https://www.hsca.ca/historical-context-paper

 In May 1901, Lawrence William Herchmer (1840-1915) purchased CPR land in the north half of Section 17 north of the river, in the southwest part of today’s Hillhurst, where he built and resided in the ca1901- 1903 ‘old colonial Herchmer House’ (extant, relocated to Broadview Rd) for several years. He had been serving in the South African War from 1899 but in 1900 had been involuntarily retired from his position as Commissioner for the NWMP, a role he had held since 1886 when he was selected by Sir John A Macdonald. He came from a staunch Loyalist family based in Kingston, Ontario, and he and his wife’s families had extensive political connections. His Oxford-educated father was a schoolmate and friend of Sir John A Macdonald. As with all his siblings he was born in England, where he and his brothers were educated. His diverse experience in Canada and abroad with the military, farming, business and Indian agencies led to his selection as Commissioner.   

Herchmer is credited with shaping the early NWMP into an efficient organization and effective military operation, improving training and living conditions, and introducing a pension plan and medical examinations. By no means a popular figure, his uneven temperament, political associations and strict enforcement of disciplinary actions attracted enemies and campaigns against him, and led to his early retirement. But he left a legacy of a NWMP with significantly higher morale and reputation, and the wide-brimmed felt hat and the musical rides that he adopted have become widely popular. He and his second wife, Jane Ashworth, developed the land in 1907 as the ‘Westmont’ subdivision of Hillhurst, reserving an acreage for them to live in their colonial home.    

Courtesy of William Hopson