HSCA Mobility Sub-Committee

By Tim Schaefer, Sunnyside Resident

Hillhurst-Sunnyside is a great community for walking, wheeling, and using public transportation. This is thanks to the fact it was developed in the early 1900’s before vehicles became a dominant form of mobility in Calgary. However, from the 1950’s onwards the influence of the car changed the streetscape in the neighbourhood making it more challenging for people seeking to move about outside of the car. Hillhurst-Sunnyside was also impacted during this time by the choice of the city to use the community’s streets for residents outside the neighbourhood to drive through it to reach downtown. For example, 14 Street NW in 2019 served a daily volume of 38,000 vehicles per day.

The HSCA Mobility Sub-committee represents the community’s interests in seeking out equity for people moving about the neighbourhood by active means. This involves working with the City of Calgary to identify and create safe routes (streets, bikeways, pathways and sidewalks) and safe crossing points across streets. This will in turn allow residents, particularly our kids, to be able to safely use active means to reach everyday destinations like schools, parks, and friends. It will also position the neighbourhood to better support mobility for seniors who wish to continue living here when they can no longer drive themselves.

The Mobility Sub-committee values choice in transportation and that our neighbourhood streets are for people of all ages and abilities. Not everyone will want to always walk, bike or use transit and that’s okay. However, the infrastructure made available for vehicles must not discourage or effectively dissuade residents from choosing active means due to safety concerns or because it is impractical.

Are you passionate about walking, riding a bike, or using your accessibility device to make your way around Hillhurst and Sunnyside? Do you think our community would serve us better if we had less car dependency and had safer routes for traditional means of local transportation? If so, you may want to join or get involved with the mobility sub-committee.  To learn more, connect with the Community Planning Coordinator who will place you in contact with the Chair of the Mobility team.

District 3 September 1- 15 Stats

This post was submitted by Calgary Police Service- District 3, Community Engagement Team

It has been a steady few weeks in District Three with break and enters. Most of these occurrences have been concentrated on detached garages by either unlocked man doors or garage door openers accessed through unlocked car doors. I wish I could support a trend leaning towards forced entries, however this is not the case. These are very preventable, so I want to kindly remind everyone of the 9PM Routine. We all play a piece in community safety and security, and it starts with our homes and our responsibilities around keeping it secured.

As it relates to our Business Improvement Districts, stores are often if not always targeted through the

back service doors or smashed glass on the front door or windows. There are several steps you can

take to minimize crime to your property and here are just a few:

1. Place sensor alarms and sirens in your premises be it a commercial shop or detached garage.

2. There are several reenforced door jam products on the market to prevent culprits from forcing their

way through doors.

3. 3M Security Film is an excellent option as a cost effectiveness application to roll shutters. This is

specifically applied to glass to prevent anyone from smashing a window to gain access.

4. CCTV both on the interior and exterior, coupled with motion sensor lights pays dividends as well in

preventing break and enter crimes.

These are just a few tips to be mindful of. The main goal should always be to ensure you are not a

target and if offenders are getting no results in a specific area, they are always inclined to move along

to somewhere less secured. Crime prevention is everyone’s responsibility. Let’s all play our part in

the safety and security of our communities.

To put things in perspective to the above numbers, the following is a snapshot of last year in this

same timeframe:

1. Break and Enter Residential 41

2. Break and Enter Commercial 29

3. Stolen Auto’s 34

4. Car Prowling 131

That is a decent decrease across the board for these four occurances. Still we need to remain vigilant

and proactive out there. Lets watch out for each other and our communities. Thank you for your time

everyone, and I look forward to posting even lower numbers in a few weeks.

The Samaritan Sale Returns to HSCA

Saturday, September 23, 9:00am-1:00pm

It’s that time of year again! The Samaritan Club of Calgary hosts their Fall Super sale at HSCA on Saturday, September 23, 9:00am-1:00pm. Grab your bags and check out the deals on household goods, clothes, art, toys, books and more! The sale is a special one and will feature some exciting and unique treasures from an Alberta Film Industry set.

You can even grab a bite at one of the food trucks!

Did you know the Samaritan Club of Calgary has been hosting these semi-annual sales for 38 years? All proceeds from the sale go to Calgarians in need.

For more information about this event, visit https://www.samaritanclub.ca/events .

HSCA Hosts Repair Exchange

This project is in partnership with the City of Calgary and the Arusha Centre

The Repair Exchange is HERE! Stop in at HSCA on Sunday, September 17th & Sunday, October 15th for an exciting community building event! Instead of throwing away broken items, we encourage everyone to bring them to one of the Repair Exchanges, where community volunteers will help fix and give them a second life, avoiding the landfill. The Repair Exchange will run alongside our Sunday Flea Market, 7am-3pm and is in partnership with the City of Calgary and the Arusha Centre.

Items that volunteers the HSCA is prepared to help fix are:

• Small household appliances (lamps, counter top appliances),

• Bike tune ups (oil and cable adjustments),

• Clothing repairs (sewing patches or holes),

• Zippers slider maintenance and replacement.

Items and services that will not be accepted or provided are large appliances, furniture or vehicle repairs, custom tailoring and hemming, full zipper replacements, etc.

Become a fixer or join us on the day of the event to work together to give items a second life.

Find out more below!  

“What is a Repair Exchange?” 

 Repair Exchanges are family friendly free events hosted by community associations where community volunteers will help you fix your broken item. Learn new skills and give items a second life! This project is in partnership with the City of Calgary, and the Arusha Centre.

“Toronto’s Repair Cafe” 

We're thrilled to share an amazing success story from Toronto, the city’s Repair Cafe has been around since 2013, marking this year as its 10th anniversary. They have regular events that encourage sustainability and connection. Let’s get Calgary’s Repair Exchange Started! For more information visit arusha.org/repair-exchange .

“Calgary’s Circular Economy Club” 

Want to host your own Repair Exchange? Check out Calgary’s Circular Economy Club’s handbook—it shares knowledge and tips to organizing your own repair event. Check it out now! 

Pre war Urban Development in Hillhurst Sunnyside- Heritage Moment

This is an excerpt from the Hillhurst Sunnyside Historical Context paper, ‘Urban Development: Pre-war boom and First World War development (1904-1918)’ section (pp.40-63). For more on the history of our neighborhood, check out the full paper: https://www.hsca.ca/historical-context-paper.

From 1904, the year the Hillhurst subdivision was registered, until just prior to the outbreak of war in 1914, Calgary and her communities experienced a significant construction boom. Calgary had been advancing as a city, and Alberta had been established as a province in 1905. The boom was reflected early on in land costs: in 1905, lot prices were $25, but in 1906, the year before the major annexation, lot prices soared to between $200 and $400. By 1911, both Sunnyside and Hillhurst were over fifty per cent built out on average, although some streets in both neighbourhoods developed more quickly than others, typically due to lot location - especially those with river view - and price. The southwest part of Sunnyside, in particular, was almost fully developed by that time.

Construction peaked in 1912 and by the end of the boom Hillhurst-Sunnyside was almost fully developed east of 14th Street, with build-out well underway between 14th and 16th streets.

Although some realtors attempted to market the area as exclusive, the reality was that much of the land in the two communities was a slough, reclaimed slough or subject to regular flooding. As a result, residential lots were affordable, which in turn was reflected in the main buyers, working-class residents, and in their choice of housing types. The most popular housing types by far during the boom were one-storey and one and one-half storey cottages, with twice as many one- storey homes being built. This is not surprising since cottages were affordable and especially appealed to first-time working-class and lower middle-class buyers. Approximately one third of the one and one-half storey houses (houses where the entire upper storey is contained within the roofline) were constructed with undeveloped upper storeys. This further reduced the initial cost of the home, while permitting owners to develop the attic space in the future to accommodate their growing families.

Two-storey homes were less common, especially in Sunnyside where a relatively small number were built 64; their first owners had a wide variety of occupations. Most buildings were wooden-frame with bevelled wood siding with notable exceptions in Sunnyside. By 1911 a little over one per cent of houses in Alberta were brick, and by 1921 just over two per cent were brick. The use of stone as a building material was even more uncommon; Hillhurst School, constructed with rough- cut yellow Paskapoo sandstone 65, is a rare instance.

The overwhelming majority of Hillhurst-Sunnyside’s working-class and lower middle-class new home owners were trades persons employed in the construction industry, reflecting the demands of the boom for a complete range of services: carpenters (by far the most common occupation in the community), builders, stone masons and cutters, brick-layers, steam-fitters, tinsmiths and blacksmiths, steel and iron workers, millwrights, plasterers, painters and electricians. There were also many labourers, many of whom would have been employed in the construction sector. Transportation was also a sector where many early residents worked, their roles identified as teamsters, drivers, warehousemen, shippers, and liverymen. Most residents did not identify an employer, and there were no employers who employed more than five per cent of the residents, but three employers appeared more frequently than others and represented these two sectors: the railway, most commonly the CPR, the streetcar and Riverside Lumber.

64 Housing typologies 1908-1918 listed in Green (1996); note that this study does not cover buildings west of 11th Street.
65 From the Oliver Quarry.

HSCA’s Farmers Market – The Ultimate Neighbourhood Nexus

Resident Perspective

If you are a Hillhurst Sunnyside Resident that would like to share content to the HSCA blog or newsletter, we would love to hear from you! Visit our Resident Submissions page for more details on how you can get involved!

By Ozair Khan

Want to learn how to prepare the perfect filling for a Ukrainian pierogi, an Italian gnocchi, or an Indian samosa, or what happens to a coffee bean cultivated in the Peruvian highlands before it ends up in our morning cuppa or perhaps what prevents creamed honey from solidifying? Every Wednesday 3-7 PM we can buy and learn directly from food growers and producers at the HSCA Farmers Market.

Removing the wholesaler from the food supply chain, we get fresher, natural, and more varieties of food directly from local producers and distributors who are passionate about what they do. Growers, producers, distributors, artists, authors, artisans, community workers, onsite fresh snack sellers, and local community non-food vendors sell/barter in Canadian and Calgary dollars weekly here. The public strolls through the 25+ stalls with their loved ones to soak up the experience, conversation, and entertainment. Complimentary music is churned out by CJSW public radio, and the Frozen Assets ice cream truck enhances the Farmers Market’s cultural ambience.    

To officially be called a “Farmers Market”, at least 80% of the products need to be sourced locally. Unlike other Calgary Farmers Markets, the HSCA Farmers Market has 97% local products, making it a unique promoter of Calgary businesses. The public has access to locally grown produce through YYC Growers and Distributors, Michelle’s Market, Walker’s Own, and Shirley’s Greenhouse. YYC sells vegetables and fruit jams on behalf of local growers. Michelle’s Market supplies Brooks family farm grown pesticide-free vegetables. Walker’s Own provides picture perfect BC organic berries, peaches, and apricots, while Shirley’s Greenhouse produce are hydroponically grown east of Didsbury.

Among the locally prepared food vendors, local Buzzy Bee Honey producer, Ma Pies frozen sweet and savory pie maker, Highwood Coffee Latin American coffee roaster/distributor, Prairie Mill Bread Company signature multigrain baker, Odd Sausage's original sausage variety flavored family enterprise, Sunnyside's very own SunnyCider flavoured drinks, Natural Food's music/cuisine fusion, Ukrainian Fine Foods traditional fresh hot meals, and superwoman Shammi’s Kitchen East Indian snacks and crafts are worth special mention.

The HSCA's Farmers Market is also a platform for Calgary Dollars to rotate vendor representation. Local authors G.W. Renshaw explained how their intrinsic sense of justice led them to churn out fiction after fiction touching that theme. Cultural artisans like Jennifer Heartly Illanes and Bright Swan Creations eagerly demonstrated their medieval European art and indigenous craft respectively, while at the next stall, Chento Nutrition's Melisa Centofanti took time to explain the benefits of her varied Italian seasoning concoctions.  

Visitors to the HSCA Farmers Market get a chance to try selling at the market. The HSCA provides a platform and promotes new vendors through its Incubator program – whether they have ambition to earn, find new markets, introduce products, vent entrepreneurial passions, or simply want to pursue a hobby while socializing with their community.

Hillhurst Sunnyside Streetcar System- Heritage Moment

This is an excerpt from the Hillhurst Sunnyside Historical Context paper, ‘Early Commerce & Industry’ section (pp.28-38). For more on the history of our neighborhood, check out the full paper: https://www.hsca.ca/historical-context-paper.

Hillhurst-Sunnyside’s streetcar system was one of the earliest to develop - from 1909 - and offered the best service outside the city centre. Part of the rollout of the Calgary Municipal Railway’s first network in 1909, it was the only service north of the Bow. The river crossing selected was the Louise Bridge at 10th Street in favour of Centre Street which had steeper grades49. The streetcars ran across the Louise Bridge along 10th Street to a turn-around near 5th (Victoria) Street at Riley Park; naturally 10th Street saw the community’s first commercial development.

By 1912 the neighbourhood’s service had significantly expanded. In Hillhurst, it expanded west with a loop (the ‘red line’) that ran along 5th Avenue from 10th to 14th Street, along 14th Street to Kensington Road - enabling those two roads to develop commercially after 1912 - and returned to 10th Street. On 10th Street the line also extended further north to 16th Avenue where it accessed areas outside the community to the northeast.

In Sunnyside, a new route was introduced to residential streets along 2nd, 7th and 6th Avenues, traversing most of the subdivision before reaching a turnaround. In July 1912 Hillhurst was part of the inaugural run of an impressive new 50-passenger scenic car which ran along various scenic routes in the city, including the panoramic Sunnyside Loop. The canvas-covered open car featured bronze gates, and varnished seats in elevated tiers.

The neighbourhood’s streetcar service expanded further between 1913 and 1921. In Hillhurst service on 8th Avenue, 14th Street and Kensington Road was extended west to interface a loop that accessed the west-most part of Hillhurst, ‘Grand Trunk’ and east Parkdale in 1913. Residents recall the smaller- sized trams (another name for streetcars) employed on this route which they nick-named the ‘Toonerville Trolley’. Service in Sunnyside was extended by the short distance east required to reach Centre Street (an extension that was discontinued in 1944 due to recurring washouts that year)50. Also in 1921, streetcar service in the community was significantly facilitated by the construction of the new concrete-arch Hillhurst Bridge just east of the Louise Bridge.

As with the rest of the city, the conversion from trams to buses (also called coaches) began taking place in 1946. The first step was a new corporate name that did not include ‘railway’: the Calgary Transit System. The same year, an interim phase began during which streetcars were converted to trolley trams. For a period both the converted trolley trams and trolley coaches were operating in the system, until eventually only trolley coaches remained in the system and the tracks were dug up from roadways. The trolley system was eventually replaced by diesel-powered buses. Electric railways would not return to the community until light rail transit was introduced in 1987.

49 Foran (1978); Melnyk (1985).

50 Hatcher (1975).

Bike Bus to Sunnyside School

By Tim Schaefer, Sunnyside Resident

The very first bike bus to Sunnyside School was held on June 7, 2023. What’s a bike bus? It’s a group ride of children, parents and community members where everyone travels together to school on bicycles. The idea behind a group ride is it encourages young riders to ride who may not otherwise be confident to ride to school on their own. It also allows busy parents to feel comfortable having their kids ride to school in the company of others.

The bike bus concept may be new to Sunnyside, but they have been happening all over North America with one of the more famous ones organized by Coach Balto in Portland, Oregon. In that bike bus they regularly have around 100 participants.

Back here in Calgary, the bike bus to Sunnyside School on June 7 also happened to be bike day at Sunnyside School, which was part of a weeklong engagement with Ever Active, an Alberta charity that promotes active mobility in youth. The result was a great turn out of about 30 riders on the bike bus. There were also many children who arrived on bicycle after the bus arrived, so the newly upgraded racks were filled beyond their 50 bike capacity!

Sunnyside’s first bike bus was more of a parade where everyone started and finished the ride together.  Subsequent bike busses held in June 2023 were held more like a bus route where kids joined in from specific meeting places or wherever they liked.

The bike bus to Sunnyside School is an event organized by parents in the community. It is not organized by the school or the Calgary Board of Education. There are plans to hold regular bike buses next school year. To get involved or participate look for updates through the parent council communications.

Click the link below for a video of the first bike bus:

Bike Bus to Sunnyside School June 7, 2023 [YouTube]

HSCA Celebrated 75 Years!

Card by Abir from Little Red Hen

July marked the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association’s 75th Anniversary! On Wednesday, July 12th we celebrated during our weekly Farmers’ Market and enjoyed some cake with our community.

HSCA has been serving our community since 1948! Thank you to all who joined us! We would also like to thank our community members, volunteers, community partners, and staff for their incredible work and dedication over the years.

Here are a few snapshots from the celebration. A special thanks to C Tahum for capturing these photos and to Abir from Little Red Hen for the BEAUTIFUL card!

To learn more about the history of Hillhurst Sunnyside, check out these two great resources:

• Check out the Hillhurst Sunnyside Context Paper

• Read through the digital version of Hillhurst Sunnyside Remembers by Margaret Tanko

Photo credit C. Tahum

Photo credit C. Tahum

Photo credit C. Tahum

Essential Oils for Everyone

By Sima Chowdhury

A special Farmers’ Market Event! Pop by Wednesday, July 19th at 4:30 pm for the Essential Oils for Everyone class! The HSCA Farmers’ Market runs EVERY Wednesday, 3-7pm.

Join Sima and Deanna on Wednesday, July 19th, at the HSCA farmer's market as they explore the world of essential oils. Deanna from Nature Notes will discuss their health and wellness benefits starting at 4:30pm.

Once you've gathered all your information and are ready to make your first blend, Sima from Lotions and Potions Virtual Workshops will show you how to make your own shower steamer or for those who like a hot bath, a bath bomb. I will have enough supplies for people to make a small product to take home.

Shower steamers are lovely for people who love the spa experience. As the steamer dissolves, the essential oils are released into the air. Eucalyptus, a popular essential oil used at the spa, eases congestion when mixed with the steam from the shower, a great product to use during cold and flu season. Lavender and orange oils are also popular for relaxation and fresh scents.

Deanna and I hope that you will learn with us. Until then, check out Deanna’s website www.naturenotes.ca, and I have a special offer available until the end of the month on Udemy teaching people how to make cream and liquid soap: https://www.udemy.com/course/create-cream-liquid-soaps-with-sima/learn/lecture/37540054?referralCode=63F5DD33B176FDF20F99#content

Local Farmers' Markets: A Bounty of Freshness and Community

The HSCA Farmers Market is an accredited Alberta Farmers’ Market, open year-round. Summer hours are 3– 7 pm every Wednesday (rain or shine!)

Farmers markets are not just a place to buy fresh produce; they are vibrant hubs of community engagement, culinary exploration, and sustainable living. With an array of locally grown fruits, vegetables, artisanal products, and the opportunity to connect with local farmers, farmers' markets offer a unique experience that transcends the act of shopping. Let's dive into the delights of farmers markets and uncover why they have become beloved destinations for food enthusiasts and community members alike.

1. A Cornucopia of Freshness:

One of the most compelling aspects of farmers' markets is the unmatched freshness of their offerings. Unlike supermarket produce, which may travel long distances before reaching shelves, the produce at farmers markets is typically harvested at its peak ripeness, often on the same day. This translates into exceptional flavor, nutritional value, and extended shelf life. Strolling through the market, one can find a rich assortment of vibrant fruits, vegetables, herbs, and even exotic or heirloom varieties that may be hard to find elsewhere. The opportunity to savor these fresh treasures is a genuine treat for the taste buds.

2. Supporting Local Agriculture:

Farmers markets play a vital role in supporting local agriculture and the farmers who work tirelessly to cultivate our food. By buying directly from farmers, consumers help sustain small-scale, family-owned farms and promote environmentally friendly practices. These markets provide a platform for farmers to showcase their hard work and dedication, ensuring fair compensation and fostering a deeper connection between consumers and producers. Through this direct relationship, consumers gain a better understanding of where their food comes from, while farmers receive the recognition and support they deserve.

3. Culinary Exploration and Artisanal Goods:

Farmers markets are not limited to fresh produce alone; they also boast a diverse array of culinary delights and artisanal products. Bakers, brewers, butchers, and other local artisans bring their craft to the market, offering unique and high-quality goods. From freshly baked bread and pastries to homemade jams, local honey, and handcrafted soaps, the market becomes a treasure trove of flavors and craftsmanship. Exploring these stalls encourages consumers to expand their culinary horizons, experiment with new ingredients, and savor the creativity of local producers.

4. Fostering Community Engagement:

“Sharing recipes, exchanging cooking tips, or simply engaging in friendly conversation cultivates a deeper appreciation for the food we consume and the people who produce it, strengthening the bonds within the community.”

Farmers markets serve as community gathering spaces, fostering social connections and a sense of belonging. They provide an opportunity to interact with farmers, fellow shoppers, and local vendors, creating a vibrant atmosphere of camaraderie. Farmers markets often feature live music, cooking demonstrations, and educational workshops, enriching the experience and offering a platform for community learning. Sharing recipes, exchanging cooking tips, or simply engaging in friendly conversation cultivates a deeper appreciation for the food we consume and the people who produce it, strengthening the bonds within the community.

Farmers markets are more than just a place to buy fresh produce; they are vibrant hubs that celebrate the joys of local agriculture, culinary exploration, and community engagement. By supporting farmers markets, we embrace sustainability, nurture our local economy, and savor the abundance of flavors and experiences they offer. So, let's explore the delights of farmers markets and bask in the rich tapestry of freshness and community they provide.

Calgary’s Secret - The HSCA Flea Market

By Resident Ozair Khan

They say, “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure”. That certainly is true at the HSCA (Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association) Flea Market that has been a regular feature every Sunday at HSCA (1320 – 5 Avenue N.W, Calgary) from 7AM to 3PM. Hillhurst and Sunnyside are two of the oldest neighborhoods of Calgary and have been populated since the 1880s. They have been redeveloped recently and that part of Calgary just north of downtown is a nice residential location which people of diverse backgrounds call home.

Although there are other community markets in Calgary, the HSCA Flea Market is unique in that it is neither strictly an antique market nor a farmer’s market and has been around since 1985! The community feeling is strong as the same vendors set up stalls weekly. Some sell their own belongings before moving on, whereas for others it is a hobby and they do not earn much out of it. Some are into collecting rare items or antiques. Some test the market for their product here before selling them elsewhere. We all love the vibe and the social interaction with so many interesting people. Bartering is rife and vendors build and refine their collections over the years.

If you want to go down nostalgia lane head for the 100+ stalls of the flea market. Whether it is hardware tools, bicycles, toys, semi-precious stones, handmade soap, perfumes, books, VHS video tapes, CDs, DVDs, clothes, collectables, art, craft, or decoration pieces, it's all there. For a couple of hours we can be swept back to our childhood days while chatting with the vendors about what they are passionate about. The whole social cross section of Calgary is represented at the HSCA flea market. Some vendors travel every week from other neighborhoods to set up stalls there. The indigenous, francophones, immigrants, and long term Calgary residents brush shoulders as they hunt for that special bargain in a cacophony of languages. Social interaction is all about learning from each other - whether it is about how Calgary was in the 1960s, or what was the use of dream catchers in the indigenous cultures or all about the crocheting yarn from Brazil. There are many hidden treasures for the seeker if they are patient and thorough in their hunt.

The vendors and the visitors are regulars here and know each other on a first name basis. In a world where the mainstream markets try to set the trends in shopping, the HSCA flea market is a grassroots alternate phenomenon that weaves the community together. In an age when it seems difficult to make our money stretch, every week it is still possible to scoop up goodies which have special meaning to us while meeting interesting people and spending perhaps $10.

Bike Parking Upgrade at Sunnyside School

By Tim Schaefer, Sunnyside Resident

Hillhurst Sunnyside is a great neighbourhood to get around on your bicycle, but to use a bike as a means of transportation you need good bike parking. To make the experience of parking a bicycle at Sunnyside School a bit easier and a whole lot more secure, the racks were upgraded in May 2023. 

The two racks that were at the school were the old wheel-bender style, that are sadly very common in Calgary.  This style of rack is intended to hold the bike upright by one of the bike’s wheels, usually the front. Unfortunately using this type of rack brings the risk of bending the wheel, hence the name “wheel bender”. 

The bigger issue with Sunnyside school’s bike racks was that they simply didn’t fit bikes properly. Bicycles have evolved over the years and most of the bikes that kids and adults ride these days, like mountain bikes, simply didn’t fit in the old racks. The openings between uprights were just too narrow.

To remedy the situation, the bike racks were modified by having most of the uprights removed and replaced with metal hoops. Those new hoops are spaced further apart to fit today’s bikes.  Using a hoop instead of an upright provides a locking point that is close to the bike frame, thus making bike parking more secure in the modified rack.  

If you are a student, parent, or volunteer you can now rest assured that you now have a more secure way to lock your bicycle when visiting Sunnyside School.

A big thank you to the Sunnyside School Council, the Parent Society and Principal Krista Schmitt for supporting active mobility in the community! Special thanks to Stacy Cockwill and Christie Hurrell for their hard work in making this happen.

The First Nations, Trails and Crossings- Heritage Moment

This is an excerpt from the Hillhurst Sunnyside Historical Context paper, ‘First Nations, Trails and Crossings’ section (pp. 6-9). The Hillhurst Sunnyside Historical Context Paper was prepared in 2021-2022 by Marilyn Williams and Gillian Sissons to read more about this project, visit HSCA’s Historical Context Paper page.

The First Nations

The first peoples to traverse this area were the Blackfoot peoples, comprising the Siksika (Blackfoot), the Kainai (Blood) and the Piikani (Peigan); the Stoney Nakoda comprising the Bearspaw, Wesley and Chiniki; and the Tsuu T’ina (Sarcee) peoples. The lands were part of their traditional territory for hunting and gathering supplies and food. They followed the migration of the bison. The bison were central to their way of life and essential for their survival. The Bow River, like other Canadian plains rivers, was too shallow to be reliably used as transport, but was important for navigation, its life-giving waters, and sustaining the plants and game that the First Nations peoples would use for medicines and food. The sheltered river valley was also an ideal location for winter camps.

Prior to 1880 Sunnyside was the site of indigenous encampments, and residents have uncovered artefacts have that date to pre-contact times. A long-time resident, Harold Pemberton, recalled the hill below SAIT where local children played being covered with sun-bleached bison skulls and bones, and believed the area to be an indigenous killsite10. He also remembered these remains being gathered by the ‘government’ after the outbreak of the First World War.

Pre-contact trails

Today’s 10th Street corridor was part of a trail first used by indigenous peoples as a route to the Rocky Mountains through the Bow Valley11. It later became the Morleyville Trail, the route from Calgary to Morleyville, where a Methodist mission was established in 1873 by missionaries George McDougall12 and his son John. When Hillhurst was subdivided in 1904, the section of the trail in Hillhurst was renamed Morleyville Road.

The road ran between the two sloughs. By By at least 1911 the name had changed to 10th Street, although the original name remained in common use, and by 1915 13 the earth road was paved.

Another trail used in pre-contact times ran diagonally across the communities towards the northeast, skirting the north edge of the sloughs, to the Sunnyside bluffs14. When the communities were subdivided in the early 20th Century, the trail took the name Gladstone Avenue (later Gladstone Road) in Hillhurst, and became 4th Avenue east of Morleyville Road in Sunnyside.

In 1907 15 the Morleyville Road Baptist Church (later Hillhurst Baptist Church) was erected at the intersection of the two historic trails for Baptist residents and homesteaders in the surrounding area.

10 Tanko (1978).

11 Peach (1986)
12 Alberta Register of Historic Places, Morleyville Methodist Mission

13 Smith (1977).

14 Tanko (1978).
15 McTaggert (1957).

Felix and Florence McHugh- Heritage Moment

This is an excerpt from the Hillhurst Sunnyside Historical Context paper, ‘Early Homesteaders and Pioneer Settlement (1883-1907)’ section, p. 11.  The Hillhurst Sunnyside Historical Context Paper was prepared in 2021-2022 by Marilyn Williams and Gillian Sissons to read more about this project, visit HSCA’s Historical Context Paper page.

When viewed in terms of the Dominion Land Survey, today’s Hillhurst-Sunnyside covers much of the southeast quarter of section 20, the parts of section 21 and the southwest quarter of Section 22 that lie north of the Bow, and the parts of the northwest quarter of Section 16 and northeast quarter of Section 17 that lie north of the Bow. The Township map below shows some of the early homesteaders of those lands, including BM Godsal, Philip Van Cortlandt and Felix McHugh.

Well-known pioneer rancher and contractor Felix Alexander McHugh (1851-1912) came west in 1883 shortly after his marriage to Florence O’Doherty (1861- 1933). Both were of Irish descent and born in Ontario, he in Ottawa and she in Gloucester. He arrived with his Clydesdales, vehicles and farm equipment at the end of the rail line in Maple Creek, and continued on to the Bow River. That summer21 he established his 21-acre homestead in the southeast part of Section 21 on the north bank of the Bow across from Prince’s Island, his dwelling just west of today’s 3rd Street. Together with his brother Thomas, he cultivated about 8 hectares east of 10th Street in today’s Sunnyside22. Since his land claim was located on an odd-numbered Section and all of Section 21 was allocated to the Canadian Pacific Railway’s (CPR) subsidiary, the Canadian North West Land Company, and formally granted to them in 1889, McHugh’s claim was disputed by the CPR and Felix was obliged to relinquish most of his claim. However, as settlement he later was awarded an acre of land at 9A Street and Memorial Drive (named Boulevard at that time) where he built the family house (non-extant)23. He began logging on leased land upstream of Calgary on the Elbow River, and was awarded a substantial contract with the NWMP. In 1885 he went into partnership with brothers John Joseph (JJ), who first came west in 1878, and Thomas as the JJ Ranch24, which they established near the Blackfoot (Siksika) Reserve. Florence was still living there in 1929 when her youngest daughter, actress Florence McHugh Piercy, visited from London, England.

Section 21 (north of the Bow) was acquired from the CPR by The Calgary and Medicine Hat Land Company in 1890 and by James Heath of London, England in 1904. Later in 1904, Ezra Riley obtained the west half for his Hillhurst subdivisions. In 1905, Heath sold the south half to two gentlemen from Wichita, Kansas, who in turn sold it to a gentleman in North Dakota in summer 1906. That same summer, Arthur Bennett and William Ross acquired the southeast quarter and registered Plan 2448O ‘Sunnyside’25 later that year and its addition, Plan 1948P, in 1907. New Edinburgh was part of this subdivision plan. The natural area bluff between 10th Street NW and Centre Street was named ‘McHugh Bluff’ in summer 1990 in recognition of the pioneer’s connections to the area.

21 Per McHugh’s claim in homestead application file 43503.
22 Peach (1982); Zakrison (2012).
23 The Calgary Daily Herald, December 6, 1929; Zakrison (2012).
24 This subdivision also includes a very small portion of the northwest quarter of Section 16.
25 This subdivision also includes a very small portion of the northwest quarter of Section 16.

Join Us for Paper-Bead Making on July 6 at HSCA's Neighbour Night!

By Abir Bachir- Neighbour Night Facilitator

Neighbour Night runs every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month from 5:30pm-7:30pm. Check out our calendar for all HSCA programs, recreation, and events.

At 5:30pm we will enjoy a wholesome vegetarian meal cooked by volunteers, then at 6:30pm we will make paper beads. This is a popular craft in parts of the world where items are regularly repurposed and in cultures where upcycling is common practice. 

We will cut the magazine paper into long slim triangles and then roll them into the bead shape. The cut of the triangle determines the shape of your bead, have fun experimenting with the cutting and rolling portion of the activity! 

Once you have the dozen paper beads you made that you like, we will varnish them. Once the varnish is dry, we will bead them along with spacers onto elastic string to make a unique bracelet design. 

No two bracelets will look the same because the paper, cut, and style will be different. It is fun to express ourselves by proudly wearing colors we enjoy, and items we made for ourselves with love and care. 

Your facilitators for this activity will be Vi Kopp, Melisa Centofanti, and me, Abir Bachir. Vi has saved an assortment of colorful glossy papered magazines from going in the recycling for us and HSCA is covering the cost of the glue, varnish, and other supplies Abir & Melisa will gather for this activity.

Bring your family and friends, this event is open to residents of all Calgary communities, just make sure to RSVP with Reiko (Reiko.y@hsca.ca) at HSCA so we can have enough supplies for everyone.

Neighbour Night: Neighbour Day Parade Prep

This Thursday, June 15th our Neighbour Night facilitators have some exciting things planned in preparation for Neighbour Day (Saturday, June 17th). Read more about this week’s Neighbour Night event below.

By Abir Bachir (Co-creator at Make Mindfully)

The fabric has been gathered; sari fabric from Sima Chowdhury's aunt and leftover fabric from a theatre costume shop. Sewing items like thread, zippers, ribbon, buttons, needles, iron-on webbing and measuring tape have been donated by community members like Luminea Meredith.  The facilitators have been assembled, Melisa Centofanti and me, Abir Bachir. The flag poles have been supplied by The Arusha Centre.

Get ready to start sewing and crafting! 

On Thursday evening on June 15, at HSCA Neighbour Night, we will have a wholesome vegetarian dinner cooked by volunteers at 5:30pm, then at 6:30pm we will start to put our flags and capes together for the parade using donated materials. 

We hope that your outfit pops in pictures this year for the Sunnyside Neighbour Day Parade on June 17 and we want to help you do just that. Start collecting your supplies and brainstorming your outfit, then join us to put together the finishing touches. 

Visit HSCA’s Neighbour Day page for more details and events happening right here in our community!

HSCA Spotlight: Meet Reiko

I am truly grateful to be a part of the HSCA community and association! My name, Reiko, sounds like a "rain coat" - Please say hi when you see me!

HSCA is pleased to introduce Reiko Yamagishi as our new Community Connections Coordinator. Reiko brings a wealth of knowledge in community development, gender studies research, anti-racism training and so much more!  

You may have already seen Reiko around the building! Over the last few weeks, Reiko has been working closely with Shaye as she prepares for her maternity and parental leave. If you see Reiko around, please say hello! We’re so excited to have you join our community, Reiko!

Get to know Reiko (In 5 Questions or Less)

Q: What is your favourite part about HSCA?

A: People are SO welcoming and supportive! Smile is always in this community! I also love HSCA as I feel I can be true to myself.

Q: What topic could you give a 20-minute presentation on without any preparation?

A: Topics on Race, Class and Gender and Origami!! Japanese origami is a great source of mindfulness, creativity and cognitive development!

Q: What's your most used app on your phone?

A: Google map...As I am new here, my life is depending on google map. I memorize my routes before starting driving!

Q. What does Community mean to you?

A: A sense of being welcomed, accepted and supporting each other.

Q: Anything else you’d like to share?

 A:  I am truly grateful to be a part of the HSCA community and association! My name, Reiko, sounds like a "rain coat" - Please say hi when you see me!

Hillhurst Sunnyside: Neighbour Day is Saturday June 17th!

Saturday, June 17th marks the 10th annual Neighbour Day in our city. Neighbour Day is an important event in our community because it marks the tremendous support and community spirit that occurred following the 2013 floods.

Community members have been planning and working away to bring you some exciting events and activities to celebrate this year! Join the fun and be sure to check out these two AWESOME events for Neighbour Day right here in our community (be sure to visit our Neighbour Day page for the most up-to-date information).

Neighbour Day Events in Hillhurst Sunnyside

CALGARY FLOOD 10 YEAR PARADE & GATHERING

Calgarians! Bring costumes and instruments for the Parade in Sunnyside!

Day: Saturday, June 17th

Time: Meet at 12 noon

Where: 7 Ave & 5 St NW

Followed by: ContainR Party, 2-5pm (beside the C-train station). Featuring live music, mural painting, and a beer garden.

Contact: sunnysidebrightening@gmail.com

HILLHURST’S ANNUAL AREA-WIDE PARADE OF YARD-SALES

Day: Saturday, June 17th

Time: 9am-2pm

Where: NUMEROUS houses spanning 10a to 13th Streets NW (~100-500 blocks)

More info

• Volunteer Photographer- Are you interested in taking photos for Neighbour Day? Contact stephanie.c@hsca.ca

• If you would like your Neighbour Day event promoted and shared with our community, please contact stephanie.c@hsca.ca or tag us on Facebook @hillhurstsunnyside or on Instagram @hillhurst_sunnyside. To read more about Neighbour Day and ideas to celebrate, visit the City's Neighbour Day page. 

• Plus keep an eye out for your I ❤️Hillhurst & I ❤️Sunnyside stickers!

Bike Parking gets an Upgrade at the HSCA

By Tim Schaefer, Sunnyside Resident

Hillhurst Sunnyside is a great neighbourhood to get around on your bicycle. To make the experience of parking your bicycle just a bit easier and a whole lot more secure, the HSCA has recently upgraded the bike racks at the community centre (1320 5 Av NW). 

Before photo of bike racks at HSCA. Photo credit: Tim Schaefer

The two racks at the HSCA were the old wheel-bender style, that are sadly very common in Calgary.  This style of rack is intended to hold the bike upright from one of the bike’s wheels, usually the front wheel. Unfortunately using this type of rack brings the risk of bending the wheel, hence the name “wheel bender”. 

More importantly the HSCA racks simply didn’t fit bikes anymore.  Bicycles have evolved over the years and most of the bikes that people ride these days, like mountain bikes and e-bikes, simply didn’t fit in the old racks because the openings between uprights were too narrow or not high enough.

To remedy the situation, the bike racks were modified by having all the uprights removed and replaced with metal hoops spaced further apart to fit today’s bikes.  Using a hoop instead of an upright provides a locking point that is close to the bike frame, thus making bike parking more secure.

At the time of publishing, only the first rack had been converted, but you can see in the photo that the openings are much wider to fit today’s bikes and the hoops provide a secure locking point.

Next time you are visiting the HSCA come check out the updated bike racks yourself.

A big thank you to the HSCA for supporting active mobility in the community!

Photo of bike racks at HSCA after upgrade. Photo credit: Tim Schaefer