President’s Message – September 2023

With the advent of September we witness the colour change and cooler temperatures. Hopefully the summer weather we have enjoyed will continue and everyone will enjoy Confederation Park, Nose Hill Park and our own Off Lease Dog Park this fall.  By now the new trees in our Dog Park will have been planted and additional tree log landscaping and planting of wild flowers on the northern edge will have been completed. Unfortunately, some additional wild flower planting will be necessary resulting in the fencing staying in place until next year. Calgary Parks has also added three free compostable “poop” bag dispensers that I hope everyone is utilizing. These bags are compostable and are recommended by the City for use over the less expensive biodegradable types. 

I am sure everyone has noticed the construction activity within the community, particularly in the area around Confederation Park. Recently we have received our first land use application change, in this case from R-C2 to the new R-CG designation that if approved could allow up to 4 units being developed on a 50 foot frontage corner lot. This is the first of a trend that is well represented in the neighbouring Mount Pleasant community.  If you have comments on such developments please contact our Planning Committee at planning@cambrianheightscommunity.com .

In September CHCA will restart the Fitness (Monday) and Yoga (Wednesday) programs. Details are available in the Newsletter or our website (www.cambrianheightscommunity.com). The Community Hall will also see twice a week (Tuesday/Thursday) Scottish Country Dancing lessons and evening socials. Enjoy the music, camaraderie and exercise afforded by qualified instructors and Scottish music. Again details may be found on the website. We hope to have a family concert event outdoors in mid September but we have no firm plans at the writing of this report. Watch the website or Hall signage. 

The previously reported garden project at the park space bordering Cambrian and Northmount Drives has progressed thanks to a group of resident volunteers. This fall we will develop cost estimates to design and install signage to identify an entrance to our community at this location. If you wish to get involved with this project please let us know by emailing us at cambrianheights@gmail.com . 

The Community continues to need volunteers to replace our Treasurer and our Social Media Director. These are critical positions for the Community Association controlling our finance and communications activities. We currently have only 5 volunteer Directors which restricts our ability to plan events or programs. This is an opportunity to join an experienced team and help develop the programs, events and planning for Cambrian Heights. It is your community. Help make it better for your family by volunteering even on a limited basis. To discuss these two volunteer opportunities or others please contact us at president@cambrianheightscommunity.com .

Daryl Connolly, President CHCA

With the advent of summer the Board of Directors take a two month holiday from meetings. However work continues on planning social events, continuing progress on our Off Leash Dog Park development, the volunteer effort to enhance the park space bordering Cambrian and Northmount Drive and the attention to increasing development permits as our community grows and experiences changes in housing design. 

June was highlighted in Cambrian Heights by our Annual General Meeting on June 27 and some Neighbour Day block parties held on June 17.  Those that attended the AGM heard of the continuing strong financial position the community enjoys while our need for residents to join in planning and participating in social events remains a challenge. We are planning to host an outdoor event in mid September with entertainment and food to welcome the fall months and a new season of social activities.

Of major impact to the residents was the provincial general election. We congratulate our new MLA Lizette Tejada on her successful campaign and look forward to establishing the same level of communication and community support enjoyed with our previous representative Jeremy Nixon. 

The Community Hall will remain busy this summer season with the second year of the Between Friends summer camp occupying the facility and grounds throughout the July August months. We will be hosting on July 15 our second Die Volksmesse car show on the community hall grounds. In addition we have recently added a Church group and committed to a Fall Scottish Country Dancing group program. We are looking to add additional programs this fall as well as return with our Yoga and Fitness programs in September. 

As previously reported, there are two gardening projects in our Community. One is the planting of flowers at the park space bordering Cambrian and Northmount Drives, and the new demonstration garden sponsored by the Alberta Low Impact Development Partnership. (“ALIDP”) at the rear of the Community Hall. The first garden is a beautification project on this park spacing as a visible entry point into our community. With the City reducing services we have gathered a volunteer group to plant flowers and care for this park space. Should you wish to help out in this regard please contact us at cambrianheights@gmail.com. The ALIDP garden on the other hand is a provincial sponsored project that identifies low maintenance natural plants designed for Alberta weather conditions as an alternative to high water demand grass lawns.  Come visit the garden behind the hall that is also being monitored and studied by the University of Calgary for natural moisture levels. 

We continue to pursue future enhancements to the Off Leash Park on 32nd Avenue and 10th Street. Progress has been slowed by a current small volunteer base but with Calgary Parks help improvements have been made and will continue with the planting of new tress this summer. You may have noticed fencing around some areas of this park which are designed to allow the initiation of a taller growing but hardy grass to minimize maintenance of the area. This is part of a City wide parks program. The City will continue to cut grass in the main area for off leash activity and water new trees until they are stabilized. Please consider involving yourself in our Parks enhancement projects. 

The Community is in need of volunteers to replace our Treasurer and our Social Media Director, both of whom have retired this year. These are critical positions for the Community Association controlling our finance and communications activities. This is an opportunity to join an experienced team and help develop the programs, events and planning for Cambrian Heights. To discuss these volunteer opportunities and others please contact us at president@cambrianheightscommunity.com .

Have a Great Summer!

Daryl Connolly, President CHCA

With the arrival of May our thoughts turn to summer temperatures and outdoor activities including gardening. Cambrian Heights continues to operate a community garden at the Community Centre. The only prerequisite is a community membership and a small annual fee. Should you be interested in an opportunity to grow your own vegetables this summer please contact us at cambrianheights@gmail.com for more information. There are two other gardening projects in our Community. One is the planting of flowers at the park space bordering Cambrian and Northmount Drives, and the new demonstration garden at the rear of the Community Hall installed by the Alberta Low Impact Development Partnership. This project identifies low maintenance natural plants designed for Alberta weather conditions as an alternative to high water demand grass lawns.  Should you wish to volunteer a small amount of your time for either of these gardening projects please contact us. 

We held our major fundraiser Casino on April 17 and 18. Casino proceeds allow the Association to remain financially viable and provide services and facilities for the community. We thank Sonya Hnatiw for organizing the Casino and thank all the volunteers who stepped up to help the Community, many of whom worked double shifts. 

We are planning a return for the CHCA Bike Day Saturday May 27 that was so successful last year. We will be performing safety checks and basic tune-ups with priority given to kids bikes. There will be activities for the young bikers. To help out during the day please contact social@cambrianheightscommunity.com . 

We continue to pursue future enhancements to the Off Leash Park on 32nd Avenue and 10th Street. A small committee is dedicated to development of a central feature as well as obstacle courses for dogs in this park space. This development will require volunteers and ultimately, tax deductible donations to complete. The City Parks department has been supportive of this development and will be adding more trees to the area this year. We need community involvement to bring this project to active development. Please consult our website (cambrianheightscommunity.com) and attend our AGM for updates to this process.

We have scheduled our Annual General Meeting for Tuesday June 27 at 7:30PM at our Community Hall. This is a chance to discover how the community association may help you better appreciate the social opportunities in Cambrian Heights as well as better understand the development issues we are seeing within our neighbourhood. Currently the Community is in need of a community resident to replace our Treasurer who is retiring this year. We also need someone with social media skills to replace our current Newsletter Coordinator, Barb Milne, who is leaving us after 20 years of community service. These are critical positions for the Community Association controlling our finance and communications activities. This is an opportunity to join an experienced team and help develop the programs, events and development planning for Cambrian Heights. To discuss these volunteer opportunities please contact us at president@cambrianheightscommunity.com .

Daryl Connolly, President CHCA

The Ceilidh Dance held on Saturday March 18 at the Community Hall was a sold out event with upwards of 90 participants thanks to the organizational and marketing efforts of our Social Committee. An evening of Irish dance and music was enjoyed by everyone who attended. Other social events are planned as we enter the Spring months including an afternoon Tea Party and for a second year a Bicycle Repair clinic with games and refreshments. Should you wish to get involved with organizing new events please contact the Social Committee at social@cambrianheightscommunity.com. 

As reported last month Cambrian Heights partnered with Rosemont Community for an annual Spring Cleanup event application. Unfortunately we were denied by the City of Calgary who cited budget cuts and our communities lack of reported issues as mitigating factors in denying our application this year. By now the website (Calgary.ca) should have a listing of successful community cleanup operations.  Any neighbouring community holding such an event is obligated to provide this service to all Calgarians free of charge. 

Cambrian Heights continues to operate a community garden. Should you be interested in an opportunity to grow your own vegetables this summer please contact us at cambrianheights@gmail.com for more information.

We have been awarded Casino dates of April 17 and 18 this year. Casino proceeds allow the Association to remain financially viable and provide services and facilities for the community. We need volunteers for those two nights to work a shift at the Pure Casino Calgary. No experience is required. Come and enjoy a hot meal, meet fellow residents and support your community. Transportation and daycare expenses are available for reimbursement if required. Please contact us at  casino@cambrianheightscommunity.com for more information.

With the summer months approaching we again remind residents that with any issues involving planning and development within the community they should contact the City File Manager directly on applications where you feel such development will have a detrimental impact to their property or privacy. They may also file comments using the City website (calgary.ca) and Development Map Link. This is the most effective way of letting the City know your objections and hopefully help mitigate such issues. 

Also as the snow melts and spring temperatures arrive we hope to be providing more information with an Open House dealing with future enhancements to the Off Leash Park on 32nd Avenue and 10th Street. This development will require volunteers and tax deductible donations to complete. The City Parks department has been very supportive of such development and will be adding more trees to the area this year. We need community involvement to bring this project to active development. Please consult our website (cambrianheightscommunity.com) for updates to this process.

We currently are in need of a community resident to replace our Treasurer who is retiring this year. This is a critical position for the Community Association but an opportunity to join an experienced team and help develop the programs and events for Cambrian Heights over the year. To discuss this volunteer opportunity contact us at president@cambrianheightscommunity.com .

Daryl Connolly, President CHCA

The Ceilidh Dance held on Saturday March 18 at the Community Hall was a sold out event with upwards of 90 participants thanks to the organizational and marketing efforts of our Social Committee. An evening of Irish dance and music was enjoyed by everyone who attended. Other social events are planned as we enter the Spring months including an afternoon Tea Party and for a second year a Bicycle Repair clinic with games and refreshments. Should you wish to get involved with organizing new events please contact the Social Committee at social@cambrianheightscommunity.com.

As reported last month Cambrian Heights partnered with Rosemont Community for an annual Spring Cleanup event application. Unfortunately we were denied by the City of Calgary who cited budget cuts and our communities lack of reported issues as mitigating factors in denying our application this year. By now the website (Calgary.ca) should have a listing of successful community cleanup operations.  Any neighbouring community holding such an event is obligated to provide this service to all Calgarians free of charge.

Cambrian Heights continues to operate a community garden. Should you be interested in an opportunity to grow your own vegetables this summer please contact us at cambrianheights@gmail.com for more information.

We have been awarded Casino dates of April 17 and 18 this year. Casino proceeds allow the Association to remain financially viable and provide services and facilities for the community. We need volunteers for those two nights to work a shift at the Pure Casino Calgary. No experience is required. Come and enjoy a hot meal, meet fellow residents and support your community. Transportation and daycare expenses are available for reimbursement if required. Please contact us at  casino@cambrianheightscommunity.com for more information.

With the summer months approaching we again remind residents that with any issues involving planning and development within the community they should contact the City File Manager directly on applications where you feel such development will have a detrimental impact to their property or privacy. They may also file comments using the City website (calgary.ca) and Development Map Link. This is the most effective way of letting the City know your objections and hopefully help mitigate such issues.

Also as the snow melts and spring temperatures arrive we hope to be providing more information with an Open House dealing with future enhancements to the Off Leash Park on 32nd Avenue and 10th Street. This development will require volunteers and tax deductible donations to complete. The City Parks department has been very supportive of such development and will be adding more trees to the area this year. We need community involvement to bring this project to active development. Please consult our website (cambrianheightscommunity.com) for updates to this process.

We currently are in need of a community resident to replace our Treasurer who is retiring this year. This is a critical position for the Community Association but an opportunity to join an experienced team and help develop the programs and events for Cambrian Heights over the year. To discuss this volunteer opportunity contact us at president@cambrianheightscommunity.com .

Daryl Connolly, President CHCA