At the writing of this message, the Provincial government has announced new restrictive measures to reduce social interactions in an attempt to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus. While the Community Hall had been ordered to be closed in November, this announcement continues such closure into 2021. We sympathize with all the community residents, particularly our seniors, who had to forgo the traditional family gatherings that provide the true meaning of Christmas and the Holiday Season. We also sympathize with the local businesses that had to shut down or restrict entry at this critical time to their continued operations. We, like all communities in Calgary, value the contribution of such businesses to the well being of our neighbourhoods and encourage support of these stores and facilities.

At Cambrian Heights, we will continue to provide our two ice rinks to support outdoor activity. If you are available to help out with the maintenance of the rink please contact the team headed by Scott at scottcolleenj@gmail.com to offer some hours of worthwhile effort for the kids. We also encourage residents to utilize Confederation Park for sliding and walking during this winter season. If you are not aware, Nordic skiing is available at Confederation Golf Course thanks to volunteers from various organizations grooming trails. Nordic trails are also available at Bowness Park, Shaganappi Golf course and South Glenmore Park. As well we are fortunate to have Nose Hill Park for snowshoeing after fresh snowfalls or walks on warmer winter days.

The annual children’s Lego Contest was not held live this year for safety reasons. We did however sponsor an online virtual contest which was judged on November 21. Some pictures from that contest are shown here with the remainder being available on our website.

We will continue to explore options for online programs focusing on informational and social activities. If you have ideas in this regard please feel free to contact us at one of the email addresses provided in this Newsletter.

While the COVID -19 pandemic has forced the cancellation of social events our weekly drop-in Yoga Program and our general Fitness Programs will continue to be offered online into 2021. Both Lorene Hughes – Fitness (scarybunnybefit@gmail.com) and Kyrsten Blair – Yoga (kyrstenblair@icloud.com) will operate these programs, gaining from their experience when COVID-19 forced this change in March. Please consult the advertisement posters in this issue or our website for further details. A review will be made in the first quarter of 2021 towards returning to in Community Hall sessions starting in April.

Our first 12-week language class was concluded in December. It was a great success involving in-person classes until late November when it was switched to online due to Provincial orders to close Community Centres. We would like to hear your thoughts on conducting another such class in early 2021 focusing on Spanish, French, German or Mandarin. Class size is restricted to 6-8 to maintain maximum individual attention, with a cost of $120. If you are interested in either online or in-person lessons please let us know by emailing cambrianheights@gmail.com.

The Community Association continues to look for residents interested in volunteering to help develop programs and activities for adults and children living in Cambrian Heights. Currently, we are actively looking to recruit someone to replace our current Secretary later in 2021. This is an opportunity to join the Board of Directors and learn the job from the current Secretary and contribute to the successful running of the Cambrian Heights Community Association.  To get involved or for more information please contact us at president@cambrianheightscommunity.com.

The Planning Committee continues to work on both near term responses to Development Permits and the longer-term issue involving such City projects as the Green Line LRT and the changes coming in development planning detailed in the updated Guidebook for Great Communities available on the City website (www.calgary.ca) in late December. As a recent City of Calgary initiative, concerned residents can now view online proposed development permits after filling out a Viewing Authorization form. Simply email PropertyResearch@calgary.ca to start the process. Previously, a resident had to view the plans at the downtown Municipal Building or by contacting the Community Association. Residents wishing henceforth to view such plans will be referenced by Cambrian Heights to this new online service.

While interrupted with the pandemic early in 2020 a Committee, looking into enhancements of the 32nd Avenue Dog Park, has refocused and is exploring various designs and concepts to enhance the space for residents and their dogs. We are currently working with Calgary Parks in this initiative. We have also recently partnered with a Mount Royal student program to develop an effective resident communication platform and fundraising effort. The Committee, made up of resident volunteers from Cambrian Heights and Rosemont communities, expects to have a preliminary design concept for comments posted on a bulletin board at the 32nd Avenue Dog Park and on our website in late January or early February. It is imperative we have effective consultations before project initiation during the spring/summer of 2021. It is further expected that this will be a multi-year process as funds need to be raised for each stage of development. Critical to this process is that residents come forward and involve themselves with all stages of design, fundraising and implementation. It is hoped that this will be the first step in our program to enhance all the parks in the community to make them more useful as green spaces for community area residents. If you wish to be part of this process, working with other volunteers in a partnered effort, please contact us at cambrianheights@gmail.com.

The next meeting of the Board is scheduled for January 4.  With the Hall closure mandate, these meetings are being conducted online. If you wish to bring some issue forward to the Board please contact me in advance of any meeting. We can then make arrangements for you to attend through video conferencing.

Stay Healthy, Safe and Best Wishes for You and Your Family in 2021.

Daryl Connolly, President CHCA

The Community Hall remains open for rentals and the Edelweiss Preparatory School resumed classes in September. Obviously, with the COVID-19 pandemic and the provincial and City regulations rentals and normal social and fitness programs have been impacted. Recent levels of COVID infections have resulted in a Provincial mandate of a 15 person maximum for private social events, which in fact are being discouraged. As a consequence, our yoga and fitness programs have been switched to online broadcasts and will continue into 2021 with this format.

As a new initiative in these restrictive times, the Community Association sponsored a free pumpkin patch giveaway on Saturday, October 3. Over 160 pumpkins were distributed to families in Cambrian Heights. In addition, during the rest of October, an online contest was held for best costumes in adult, children and pet categories. A best decorated front yard and house award was also judged. Some of the pictures from Halloween are shown here but a full catalogue may be found on our website.

The annual children’s Lego Contest will not be held live this year for safety reasons. We did however sponsor an online virtual contest which was judged on November 21. Pictures from that contest are not available at the publication deadline of this issue but will be placed on the website and highlighted in the January Newsletter.

We will continue to explore options for online programs focusing on informational and social activities. If you have ideas in this regard please feel free to contact us at one of the email addresses provided in this update.

As indicated our weekly drop-in Yoga Program and our general Fitness Programs will continue to be offered online into 2021. Both Lorene Hughes – Fitness (scarybunnybefit@gmail.com) and Kyrsten Blair – Yoga (kyrstenblair@icloud.com) will operate these programs, gaining from their experience when COVID-19 forced this change in March. Please consult the advertisement posters in this issue for further details.

The introductory 12-week Spanish language class at the Community Hall was concluded on December 8. It was a great success from the participants’ viewpoint of which I was one. We would like to hear your thoughts on conducting another such class in early 2021 focusing on Spanish, French, German or Mandarin. Class size is restricted to 6-8 to maintain maximum individual attention. If you are interested please let us know by emailing cambrianheights@gmail.com.

On the positive side, with the advent of winter, our two outdoor ice rinks will once again provide a first-class recreational activity for young and old. Enjoy the outdoors and our rinks either in the light of day or the artificial lights illuminating the evening behind the Hall. Once again volunteers make this possible. If you are available to help out please contact the team headed by Scott at scottcolleenj@gmail.com to offer some hours of worthwhile effort for the kids.

The Community Association is also looking for a volunteer to undertake the job of Secretary for the 2021 year. There remains an opportunity to join the Board of Directors and learn the job from the current Secretary and contribute to the successful running of the Cambrian Heights Community while contributing new ideas and joining an active group of volunteers that are your neighbours. Please contact me at president@cambrianheightscommunity.com for more information.

While interrupted with the pandemic early in 2020, the Committee, looking into enhancements of the 32nd Avenue Dog Park, has refocused and is exploring various designs and concepts with the support of Calgary Parks. They expect to have a preliminary design concept for resident comments late this year. It is imperative we have effective consultations, particularly with those residents most impacted on 32nd Avenue, before project initiation. It is further expected that this will be a multi-year process as funds need to be raised for each stage of development. Critical to this process is that volunteers come forward and involve themselves with all stages of design, fundraising and implementation. It is hoped that this will be the start of our program to enhance all the parks in the community to make them more useful as green spaces for Cambrian Heights. If you wish to be part of this process, working with other volunteers in a partnered effort, please contact the Community at cambrianheights@gmail.com.

The next meeting of the Board is scheduled for January 4.  While these meetings normally take place at the Georgina Thomson City building on 14th Street and Northmount Drive, recent City guidelines have restricted that buildings use and for the near term all Board meetings will be held either at the Community Hall or via Zoom online. These meetings occur at 6:30 PM and residents are normally welcome to attend. At this point, we are not encouraging community residents to attend due to health safety concerns. If you do wish to bring some issue forward to the Board please contact cambrianheights@gmail.com in advance of any meeting. We can then make arrangements for you to attend in person, or through video conferencing, when required for health and safety reasons.

Stay Healthy, Safe and Best Wishes for You and Your Family This Holiday Season.

Daryl Connolly, President CHCA

The Community Hall opened up for rentals and the Edelweiss Preparatory School began classes on September 8. New COVID-19 protocols are in place as recommended by Alberta Health Services (“AHS”). The City of Calgary has also implemented the requirement for face masks in all public indoor spaces. The Community Hall has a license of occupation with the City and is thus considered a public indoor space. However, private rental functions are excluded from the mask requirements although social distancing and the voluntary use of masks is encouraged. The need for Hall rental income and community social events has now to be balanced by the risks associated with the spread of the COVID-19 virus. As such strict sanitization procedures have been put in place and only all day Saturday rentals will be initially allowed due to risks associated with the Edelweiss School children.

As a new initiative in these restrictive times, the Community Association sponsored a free pumpkin patch giveaway on Saturday, October 3. Over 160 pumpkins were distributed to families in Cam-brian Heights. Our Social Director Jodi Dixon organized the purchase of these pumpkins from a local farmer and enlisted volunteers such as Mary Hopkins and her twin boys Robert and Michael to distribute the pumpkins. At the end of the day, other volunteers agreed to distribute by individual delivery to seniors in the neighbourhood and those unable to pick up the pumpkins that day. I have included a few pictures from the event here. Other online contests helped replace our annual Halloween month end party.

Our usual Fall indoor events, such as the Halloween Party and our Fall Wine Event have been cancelled due to safety concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic. The annual children’s Lego Contest will not be held live this year for safety reasons. We are however sponsoring an online virtual contest in November. The event will be judged on November 21. Details are included in this Newsletter and on our website. Updates and reminders will be posted on our Facebook page and sent out to you via an email blast if you are registered with the Community. Registration details are provided on the website. We encourage all residents to register, especially in these unusual times, for updates on all Community activities and initiatives.

In the same vein, our weekly drop-in Yoga Program and our general Fitness Programs will continue to be offered online through the end of the year. Both Lorene Hughes – Fitness (scarybunnybefit@gmail.com) and Kyrsten Blair – Yoga (kyrstenblair@icloud.com) will operate these programs, gaining from their experience when COVID-19 forced this change in March. As we approach the end of 2020 we will be monitoring AHS guidelines as to planning any return to actual community hall sessions.

The introductory Spanish language classes are continuing at the Community Hall. This entry lev-el course runs for 12 weeks ending December 8. It is provided through Azren the Language Nerd staff. We hope this will be the first of many such language course curriculums. Watch for information on 2021 language courses in the December Community Newsletter and our Website.

The beginning of November also serves as the start of a Calgary winter. This is offset by the installation of our two ice rinks behind the community hall. These rinks provide an annual winter focus for the community due to the hard work of the rink rats. Once again volunteers make this possible. If you are available to help out please contact the team headed by Scott at scottcol-leenj@gmail.com to offer some hours of worthwhile effort for the kids.

The Community Association is also looking for a volunteer to undertake the job of Secretary for the 2021 year. There remains an opportunity to join the Board of Directors and learn the job from the current Secretary and contribute to the successful running of the Cambrian Heights Community while contributing new ideas and joining an active group of volunteers that are your neighbours. Please contact me at president@cambrianheightscommunity.com for more information.

The next meeting of the Board is scheduled for December 7. While these meetings normally take place at the Georgina Thomson City building on 14th Street and Northmount Drive, recent City guidelines have restricted that buildings use and for the near term all Board meetings will be held at the Community Hall. These meetings occur at 6:30 PM and residents are normally welcome to attend. At this point, we are not encouraging community residents to attend due to health safety concerns. If you do wish to bring some issues forward to the Board please contact cambri-anheights@gmail.com in advance of any meeting. Should you wish to attend the Board meeting please follow the COVID safety protocols posted on the Hall entrance and on the website.

Stay Safe.

Daryl Connolly, President CHCA