Our Annual General Meeting was held on June 18 and witnessed the addition of two new directors for the 2024-25 term. After a review of the financials and programs being undertaken by the community association, a reception took place for gathering ideas and feedback from residents who also had the opportunity to discuss broader issues with our MLA Lizette Tejada and our Ward 4 Councillor Sean Chu. 

The month of May witnessed a very successful May 19 Community Spring Cleanup Event in partnership with Rosemont and the City of Calgary at our Hall grounds. A total of 8,345 kg of waste was collected as well as significant electronics for recycle purposes. We also held a well attended Bicycle Tuneup and Event day on the Hall grounds with DJ Jordan Hoch providing music for the participants June 1. We thank all the volunteers who help organize events such as these and welcome suggestions for new programs. 

This summer the hall grounds will welcome for the third year the Die Volksmesse car show on July 13.  The Hall also welcomes back the Between Friends summer camp. We are also pleased to report a full compliment of 10 gardeners on our community plots this year. We do however continue to need a full time treasurer for the Community Association. If you have accounting experience or background please consider volunteering some of your time for this most important position.

Preparations for a community sign will continue over the summer as we analyze feedback from our survey and deal with City approvals. Similarly, we will progress at the 32nd Avenue Dog Park with tree planting and costing of a central park identification structure as posted in the park bulletin board. 

The Community has been confirmed with Casino dates of November 4 and 5 this year. The funds accruing from the volunteers provided, in our case to Pure Casino Calgary for those two days, provides the major funding supporting the Community Association Hall upkeep and social activities. Should you be able to help out this year at our Casino dates please contact us at president@cambrianheightscommunity.com. We provide a meal during your Casino daytime or evening shift and also reimburse for transportation to and from as well as babysitting if required.

We wish all residents an enjoyable summer as the Board takes a recess from activities in preparation for another active fall and winter. Read the newsletter or consult with our website (cambrianheightscommunity.com ) for activities in September and October at the Hall. 

Daryl Connolly, President CHCA

President’s Message – June 2024

The month of May witnessed a very successful Volunteer appreciation evening which was well attended
by our community residents and a visit by our MLA. On May 19 we held a Community Spring Cleanup
Event in partnership with Rosemont and the City of Calgary at our Hall grounds. We thank all the
volunteers who help organize events like these.

On June 1 we will have held our third annual Family Bike Day at the Community Hall. This year the event
is being held in association with similar bicycle maintenance clinics and bike skill courses with Rosemont,
Capital Hill and Banff Trail. We hope the weather cooperated with this all ages program. We also will be
holding our AGM on June 18 with invited guests Lizette Tejada our MLA and Sean Chu, Councillor for
Ward 4. So please attend to review community plans as well as talk with your City and Provincial
representatives on issues of concern. An informal reception will follow the election of directors and review
of 2023 audited financials.

While we have no community wide plans for Calgary Neighbour Day on June 15 this year, we do continue
to encourage block parties within the community by providing a $100 fund to defer the costs of organizing
and running a block party in your neighbourhood any time of year. Simply email
cambrianheights@gmail.com for details.

This summer the hall grounds will welcome for the third year the Die Volksmesse car show on July 13.
The Hall also welcomes back for its third year the Between Friends summer camp.

Unfortunately the Hall experienced an act of extreme vandalism in May when the locked roof ladder was
scaled and damage and graffiti willfully inflicted on the exposed HVAC systems. This activity probably
occurred May 4 over night. While reported to CPS little can be done without eye witnesses. Fortunately,
no internal damage was done to the Hall itself.

In past newsletter issues we have highlighted our intention to place a community identification sign in the
park that is bounded by Cambrian and Northmount Drives. While development in Cambrian Heights
started in 1956, there has never to our knowledge been a community identification sign. We are
continuing our process of designing alternatives and in fact have designed a survey program to allow
input on the sign design. You will find the survey connection in a poster within this newsletter issue. We
hope you will consider participating in the survey.

The Community has been confirmed with casino dates of November 4 and 5 this year. The funds accruing
from the volunteers provided, in our case to Pure Casino Calgary for those two days, provides the major
funding supporting the Community Association Hall upkeep and social activities. Should you be able to
help out this year at our Casino dates or any other of our activities, please contact us at
president@cambrianheightscommunity.com.

Daryl Connolly, President CHCA

President’s Message – April 2024

We held our second Celtic (Ceilidh) social and dance evening was held March 9 with over 65 participants enjoying the Mercat Cross band and Leslie Gotfrit as the dance caller. It was a lively affair enjoyed by all. In addition a Volunteer Appreciation night is planned for April 12 at Moose McGuires. As well as giving thanks to volunteers for their efforts over the last 12 months, we also encourage residents to attend who may wish to explore volunteering in the future in support of our community events. Details are available on our website and Facebook page. Beyond that we have plans to host our third annual Bicycle Day in May and have applied to the City with Rosemont for a Community Cleanup date in May or June. Our AGM is scheduled for June 18 so save the date. 

While we have no community wide plans for Calgary Neighbour Day on June 15 this year, we do encourage block parties within the community by providing a $100 fund to defer the costs of organizing and running such an event. Simply email cambrianheights@gmail.com for details.

This summer the hall grounds will welcome for the third year the Die Volksmesse car show on July 13.  The Hall also welcomes back for its third year the Between Friends summer camp. They plan to hold an open house for parents at the Hall June 27 for those who might be interested in enrolling their children this summer. See betweenfriends.ab.ca for details.

It is never too early to consider joining the garden group on the Hall grounds. We have plots available this summer for residents who are interested in growing their own vegetables. If you are interested please contact us for more information.

In our February issue we outlined a proposal to place a community identification sign in the park that is bounded by Cambrian and Northmount Drives. We are currently in the process of identifying a theme and ultimately some designs to consider. The Board feels that our community identifies  as a mid century modern inner City housing design with its park space and proximity to Confederation and Nose Hill Parks being our main attributes. If you have some theme related or design thoughts feel free to comment through email or phone call to any Board member.

With anticipated changes this year to zoning bylaws by City Council establishing a City wide RC-G designation, we will witness more multi family housing construction in the future with the corresponding issues of increased density and street parking. This densification will be impacted by the removal of all parking restrictions on new developments and the permitting of both secondary suites and back yard suites on a single parcel of land. This program promises an easing to the housing crisis over time supported by a promise of Federal funding. We encourage individuals to follow developments on the City website (calgary.ca) as these bylaw amendments are promoted. A recent development by 5 City Councillors is a motion calling for a plebiscite on this issue of blanket re-zoning. The last chance to file comments on this issue will be a public hearing with City Council April 22. Cambrian Heights has joined a number of Calgary communities in submitting a letter outlining our opposition to the blanket re-zoning.

The Community continues to need resident participation at the Board level. The Treasurer and Social Media director positions remain our most urgent need. Involvement as a Board member offers an opportunity to help develop the programs, events and residential planning for Cambrian Heights. Help us improve our community resources by volunteering. To discuss any opportunities to participate please contact us at president@cambrianheightscommunity.com .

Daryl Connolly, President CHCA