st. andrews heights community...
TRANSCRIPT
St. Andrews Heights
Community Newsletter
February 2015
President’s Report
On behalf of the SAH Executive, a belated but sincere Happy New Year to all of our fellow
residents.
It has been a couple of months since we last communicated. The major event for some of the
Executive members was a presentation to City Council on December 8. A total of eight community
associations were represented at Council. The presentation to Council opposed the sale of Municipal
Reserve (MR) land along the north side of 16th Ave., adjacent to Stadium Shopping Centre, to
Western Securities. The communities opposed the sale on the grounds that major studies for several
NW transportation projects have yet to be completed, hence the sale may be premature. These
studies include the new Cancer Centre Transportation Impact Assessment, the NW Transit Hub Service Review, the South Shaganappi Trail Corridor Study, the Crowchild Trail Corridor Study and
a proposed 16th Ave. Corridor Study. All of these are slated to be completed in the next two to three
years, subject to Council priorities, of course. Stadium redevelopment is still scheduled to proceed
late this year or early next year. As such, Council rejected the communities’ concerns and
unanimously approved the sale of the MR land.
We were given assurances that City Transportation has a long-term plan for 16th Ave. from Home
Road through to 19th St. NW, including how the intersections at 16th Ave. and Shaganappi, 16th
Ave. and University Drive, and 16th Ave. and Crowchild Trail might be impacted. Councillor
Sutherland committed to the establishment of a Transportation Liaison Committee to keep the
communities informed of the progress of the various studies. I believe it is fair to say Council had no
intention of delaying the Stadium project even though eight communities expressed valid concerns
about the real state of long-term transportation planning for 16th Ave. In the end, it was summed up
by Councillor Sutherland as the communities would have to trust Council and City Administration to
do the right thing. We have little choice but to make our participation in the Committee as effective
as possible and hold Council and City Administration accountable for their commitment to do the
right thing. The challenging part comes with the time frames for all of the proposed corridor,
residential and commercial developments proposed for 16th Ave. and areas adjacent to 16th Ave.
going out as far west as the Springbank airport. These various projects will unfold over the next 10 to 15 years. Many of the current Councillors and City Administrators won’t be around by that point, so
any fallout from less-than-effective transportation planning will be left to the affected communities
to deal with. We will provide SAH residents with regular updates on the activities of the Committee.
Just a note that there have been recent coyote sightings in the neighbourhood, so keep a watchful eye
on your pets. Remember never to approach or feed coyotes.
Jacques Gendron ([email protected])
Community Executive 2014-15
Other Contact Information
St. Andrews Heights
Community Association
2504–13th Avenue NW
Calgary, AB T2N 1L8
www.standrewsheights.ca
February 20
…is the deadline for submissions for the next issue of the newsletter.
This newsletter is delivered nine times a year (September
through December, and February through June) to over 400
homes. You can also find it on the website at:
www.standrewsheights.ca.
Please direct all requests to the Editor at:
or
403-283-7085
Advertising Rates
Half page $50.00
Quarter page $40.00
Business card $28.00
Classified ad $3.00
Lost or found no charge
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sale or rent $25.00
In this issue:
President’s Report 1
What We Love… 3
Soccer Registration 3, 4
Discerning Diners 5
Little League 7
Councillor’s Message 9
Louise Riley Library 10
Softball 10
Community Events 12
Classified Ads 12
St. Andrews Heights Community Newsletter 2
President Jacques Gendron 403-283-5052
Past President Jeff Schaefer 403-289-0625
Secretary Lea Meadows [email protected]
Treasurer Ken Zdunich 403-289-8829
VP Sports Kevin Noakes 403-220-9195
VP Facilities Michael Fuchs 403-282-5246
VP Communications & Events vacant
VP Planning, Non-Residential Liz Murray 403-282-8309
VP Planning, Residential Julia Stadnyk 403-828-7199
Hall Rentals Allan and Meredith Simon
Hall Telephone 403-282-5211
Membership
Coordinator
Gwen Schaefer 403-289-0625
Newsletter Sylvia Siemens
403-283-7085
Policing Officer Constable Kastamonitis 403-567-6300
Tennis
Coordinator
Gwen Schaefer
403-289-0625
Website
Administrator
Gwen Schaefer
403-289-0625
♲
Please recycle
this newsletter
when you are
finished with it.
February 2015 3
What We LOVE About St. Andrews Heights: Location, and Neighbourliness from Rundle School Students a monthly column by the Smith-MacDonald family
The weather has been fabulous, so this week-
end we are heading to Canmore.
So it reminded me that another thing I love
about St. Andrews Heights is the location.
It is close to downtown, a number of ameni-
ties (hospitals, shopping—really important to
teens!—Calgary Stampeders games, schools)
and of course it is easy to get to the moun-
tains.
Next month I would like to celebrate the res-
idents who have lived in St. Andrews
Heights the longest, and I will ask them what
they love about living here.
Drop me a note if you know someone who
has lived here more than 50 years, to
Happy Family Day Weekend!
– Allison, Bryan, Nick & Olivia
Rundle School Neighbourliness I would like to thank the students of Rundle School for their random acts of kindness over the years.
They occasionally shovel the walks of the residents that live around the school, and in December the grade 6 leadership group dropped off Christmas cards and chocolates.
– Meriel, resident since 1966 (49 years)
Sports Update: Soccer
Kevin Noakes, VP Sports
In about two and a half months, soccer sea-
son for your children begins and organizing
for this is now underway. The St. Andrews
Heights Community Recreational Soccer
league will hold registration for the 2015
community soccer season from February 2 to
March 7.
You cannot register online this year; howev-
er, the registration form and additional infor-
mation can be found on the St. Andrews
Heights Community Association website at
www.standrewsheights.ca.
See page 4 for more details.
St. Andrews Heights Community Newsletter 4
2015 St. Andrews Heights Soccer
Registration and Equipment Exchange
Where: SAH Community Hall
When: Sunday, February 16, 2:00–5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February 25, 5:00–8:00 p.m.
Register any time before March 7 (Team jerseys will be ordered the following week.)
How
To register, download the Registration Form from www.standrewsheights.ca/sports_soccer.html. Complete the
form and bring it to the Community Hall on one of the two registration and equipment exchange days shown
above OR send it directly to the Soccer Coordinator (either bring it, with payment, to 1311 University Drive or
scan and email it to [email protected]) at any time before March 7. Do not mail the form or drop it off in the
Community Hall mailbox. Team jerseys will be on display on the registration and equipment exchange days for
proper sizing and can be ordered when you register (please indicate if you have a desired jersey number). Jer-
seys will be purchased after the close of registration. The registration fee includes: play field rental, coaching
and referee clinics, referee fees, jersey (except U4), medallions, and team and individual photos.
Current Community Membership is required. Contact Gwen Schaefer, Membership Coordinator, for infor-
mation (phone 403-289-0625).
Make the cheque payable to St. Andrews Heights Community Association (SAHCA).
Bring any soccer equipment you would like to exchange.
Volunteers make it happen! The community soccer program needs coaches, assistant coaches, equipment
managers, linesmen, referees, field maintenance and refreshment coordinators, as well as end-of-season
Soccerfest and BBQ organizers. Please note on your registration form if you would like to volunteer.
Soccer Coach and Referee Clinics for all age groups will be held on a Saturday in April at the Brentwood
Sportsplex. Access to coaching and referee websites will be provided. Get game ideas, practice drills that
really work and strategies for coaching at every age level.
This is a wonderful opportunity for your children and you to meet other neighbourhood parents and children.
Who and When
U4, U6, U8 and U10 ICL (Inter Community League) will begin the week of April 13. ICL Games for U8 and U10
will be scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning the week of April 20 to the week of June 22. U4 will
play on Mondays and Wednesdays but there are no scheduled games outside of the SAH community. U6 will
also play on Mondays and Wednesdays and may have scheduled games depending on parent and player
preference. This will be determined after the registration.
U12, U14, U16 and U18 ICHL (Inter Community House League) practices begin the week of April 20 and the
games will be scheduled (twice a week) to begin the week of May 4 through to the week of June 22. Practices
will be scheduled outside of the game time scheduled days by the team coach. The days of play (Monday and
Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday) for the U12-U14 have not yet been determined. There are all girls, all
boys and mixed teams formed for these two age groups so the scheduled play will depend on player
registration turnout and team number formation. U16 and U18 play on Tuesday and Thursday.
A play and practice schedule will be provided for you in the first or second week of April.
For more information on registration, please visit www.standrewsheights.ca/sports_soccer.html or contact the
Soccer Coordinator, Kevin Noakes, at 403-220-9195 or [email protected].
February 2015 5
The Discerning Diners
In this monthly feature, two community residents, who prefer to stay anonymous, rate neighbourhood restaurants.
Best Western Village Park Inn
1804 Crowchild Trail NW
Ph. 403-289-0241, villageparkinn.com
Food
Very good
Decor
Very good
Service
Amazing
For a change of pace, we went out for Sun-
day brunch and chose the buffet at the
Village Park Inn.
At $20.95 ($16.95 for children and seniors),
it was quite a good value, especially consid-
ering the outstanding service. By the time we
returned from the buffet with another help-
ing, our dirty plates from the previous course
had unfailingly disappeared. Whenever our
coffee cup was half empty, a polite server
materialized by our side with a fresh pot.
And the cook who prepared the omelettes
kept up a friendly chatter as he went about
his work. The service was so nice we won-
dered if we had been recognized as
the “Discerning Diners”! If you are
especially lucky you will be personal-
ly served by the manager, Jaynon,
who will regale you with stories about
his native Honduras.
The selection is pretty well what you
would expect from a Sunday brunch
in this price range: for breakfast they
offer scrambled eggs, eggs benedict
and omelettes; sausages and bacon; and toast
and hash browns.
The lunch entrees included a delicious butter
chicken, basa filets, pork chops, and, of
course, the mandatory carved roast beef. We
did not see any shellfish, which does help
keep the price down.
The dessert table beckoned. We were full but
duty called—we sampled the various cakes
and pies, but most of all we enjoyed the
chocolate fountain with fresh fruit.
The sign at the entrance to the underground
parking is misleading: in fact you can just
drive in and park for free. There’s no need to
obtain a ticket from the front desk.
Special bonus for readers of this newsletter:
tell Jaynon you heard there was a 10% dis-
count for the asking, and he will cheerfully
oblige you.
In a nutshell: Predictable, but you will be
glad you went.
St. Andrews Heights Community Newsletter 6
February 2015 7
Bow Ridge Little League
Don Tetreault
Bow Ridge Little League reminds boys and
girls ages 5 to 18 that baseball registration is
open until February 28, 2015. The League ca-
ters to all interested players from first time to
advance skilled. The season begins as soon as
our spring weather permits—generally late
April—with opportunities to attend indoor clin-
ics beginning in March.
Like all youth athletic organizations, Bow
Ridge has an ongoing need for volunteers to
fill various positions. Bring your enthusiasm
and skills to help our youth enjoy another great
season of baseball. Everyone can contribute!
New and experienced umpires are always in de-
mand and any adult or youth age 11 or older has
the opportunity to receive free umpire training
and certification. Umpires are paid on a per-
game basis during the season, so a passion and
knowledge of baseball can be rewarded in many
ways! Please contact [email protected]
if you are interested, or visit the website for more
information.
Depending on the age group, player clinics
usually begin in early March with the regular
season beginning in May and running until the
end of June. Once again, Coach Pitch and Ma-
chine Pitch division players will have the op-
tion to play into July at no additional cost,
while all-star programs are available to players
age 9-14 in July on a tryout basis.
Register online!
2015 Registration closes on February 28
Check our website for details: www.bowridgebaseball.com
or email [email protected]
St. Andrews Heights Community Newsletter 8
February 2015 9
Civic Charters: A tool for financing growth
Druh Farrell Councillor, Ward 7
In keeping with our recent (and rather dry)
newsletter theme on growth and taxes, I
wanted to share one solution under consider-
ation: the Civic Charter.
A bit of history: the City of Calgary’s current
legal arrangement with the Province of Al-
berta stems back to the days of Confedera-
tion when over 80 percent of Albertans lived
on the family farm. Canadian cities were
considered “creatures” of their province, with
limited powers of self-determination. Now,
over 100 years later, with 83 percent of Al-
bertans living in cities, little has changed in
our regulatory relationship. (Fun fact: munic-
ipalities in Alberta are only required to do
two things—hold elections and bury people.)
To raise revenue, Alberta cities are limited
by the Province to property taxes (widely
considered a regressive tax) and user fees.
Faced with extreme growth bursts, Calgary is
unable to charge for the full cost of new de-
velopment. We are dependent on other orders
of government for grants, while services long
considered Federal or Provincial responsibil-
ity, like affordable housing or low-income
subsidies, are being downloaded to the City.
After decades of discussion, the Government
of Alberta, the City of Calgary, and the City
of Edmonton signed an agreement in late
2014 to negotiate a Civic Charter. The key
areas under discussion are Governance, Plan-
ning and Development, and Assessment and
Taxation.
A Civic Charter could allow Calgary to look
at different funding methods other than prop-
erty taxes, including the ability to negotiate
with developers for full cost recovery rather
than the current system of taxpayer-funded
operating costs and debt-financed infrastruc-
ture costs. A charter could also help Calgary
be more nimble and responsive to wild
growth swings.
The concept of a charter goes far beyond fi-
nancial independance. It could also allow us
to make our own decisions on important is-
sues like campaign finance reform, residen-
tial speed limits, building codes and safety
standards, and quotas for affordable housing
in new communities.
The issues around funding growth will con-
tinue to be part of our discussions at Council.
I will share more about the Charter negotia-
tions as they progress. In the meantime,
please feel free to visit druhfarrell.ca for
more information regarding Ward 7 and oth-
er issues facing our city.
Family Day is February 16
Did you know...?
Alberta was the first province to have a
statutory holiday in the month of February. It
was first celebrated in 1990.
St. Andrews Heights Community Newsletter 10
West Valley Softball
Sherry Gavlin
Registration began January 5 for the upcom-
ing 2015 season. West Valley is the desig-
nated softball program for children in your
community wishing to play softball. West
Valley offers a Learn To Play program for
children born between 2007 and 2010 and a
softball program for those born between
1996 and 2007.
The softball season runs from late April to
mid-July. For more information check out
the www.westvalleysoftball.com, email me
at [email protected] or give me a call at 403-
288-2616. West Valley happily accepts Kid-
Sport funding. Call for more information.
February 2015 11
Community Events
Keep Fit Classes
Classes are Mondays, 7:00–8:00 p.m., in
the school gym. Cost is $6 for drop-in.
All activities are low impact within a
supportive and relaxed atmosphere. Come
and have a fun workout with your
neighbours! Contact Karen at 403-289-
7820 for more information.
St. Andrews Heights Artists’ Society
(SAHAS)
SAHAS meets Wednesdays, 12:30–3:30
p.m., in the community hall. The Spring
Art Show will be held on April 25, 2015,
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., in the Rundle
College Elementary (Chief Crowfoot)
School gym. For more information,
contact Laura at 403-289-6484.
St. Andrews Heights Community Newsletter 12
Classified Ads
Cleaning service
Small reliable cleaning service of two will
clean your home weekly or biweekly.
Reasonable rates. 15 years’ experience.
Excellent references. Call Florence at
403-247-6821.
Snow shovelling services
If you need snow shovelling services,
contact:
Nick at 403-270-7910 or
Sean at 403-284-1021
Do you know a Calgarian who has made a difference?
Nominate them for a Calgary Award! The deadline is February 27th. For details, visit calgary.ca/calgaryawards.
Happy
Valentine’s Day!