Due to the rise in COVID cases the province of Alberta changed course with the announcement reinstating mask requirements in all public indoor places effective September 4. Only time will tell for how long this measure will be in place or what new measures may be introduced. This of course impacts social and recreational gatherings in our community hall. Your community association will continue to sanitize and follow all Alberta health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and its variants.

We will be accepting rental inquiries and reservations at CHCA_Hall@telus.net,, or at 403-284-1175. Our in-house Fitness and Yoga programs have been allowed to return to the hall but will follow mask and social distancing rules and sanitize after each use. Future social events planned for this fall, such as our Halloween Dance and Wine Tasting Event have been put on hold.

We will however be sponsoring, as we did last year, a free pumpkin for residents of the Community. As indicated in the poster in this issue, Saturday, October 9 will be pickup day. This will take place behind the community hall and will run from 10 AM to 2 PM.

As a reminder, the Board of Directors has decided to award all those who paid for a membership in 2021 a free membership for 2022. This Is in recognition of the facility shut down and suspensions of most programs and activities at the Hall this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This summer we replaced the roof at the hall building due to a series of leaks that occurred in 2020 and early 2021. The City through its Capital Conservation Program provided 75% of the funding and we applied to the province for support on the remaining 25% of the costs through their Community Facility Enhancement Program ( “CFEP”). We have now received approval from the provincial government and wish to thank both the City of Calgary and the Alberta Government for this financial support.

The Alberta Low Impact Development Partnership is creating a “rain garden” beside the Community Hall, demonstrating plants that will flourish in southern Alberta under natural watering conditions. This program is designed to showcase plant species that will thrive under stormwater management. Work is almost complete at the writing of this report. A ground watering sophisticated monitoring system has been put in place for research purposes. We wish to thank the Alberta Low Impact Development Partnership for their sponsorship of this garden area. For more information on this program please access their website (www.alidp.org). I have attached a picture for reference and invite everyone to check it out when complete. We will be announcing public educational seminars detailing this planting design in the spring of 2022.

In terms of funding the activities of the Community Association, proceeds from our Casino event every two years is critical to the running of the community hall and its programs and events. We wish to thank Isabel Boisvert and her volunteers for the successful management of this Casino on September 8 and 9.

We continue to highlight the design and work being undertaken towards improving the Off Leash Park as described in the “digital brochure” accessible through the Cambrian Heights website. As previously reported we have established a partnership with the Parks Foundation Calgary (“PFC”) to allow tax receipts to be issued for any donations made directly to the PFC for the enhancement of this park. More information and how to donate funds for this development may be found on our website and digital brochure.

Daryl Connolly, President CHCA

As of August 16, the province of Alberta will be removing all masking, testing and quarantine requirements. Time will tell whether this return to voluntary health guidelines will, with vaccinations, provide a long term and safe return to normal activities. Your community association will continue with efforts to sanitize and follow general health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and its variants as we return to normal social activities in our hall. We are accepting all rental inquiries and reservations at CHCA_Hall@telus.net, or at 403-284-1175. Normal activities in the Community Hall have resumed starting with both our in house Fitness and Yoga programs. Please reference the informational posters in this issue for details towards attending these programs sponsored by the community association. Future social events will include a Halloween Party in October and a Wine Tasting Event in November with a southern France theme.

Also on Saturday afternoon September 18 we are holding a free outdoor concert featuring the Gunn Blues Band (www.gunnbluesband.com). This will be a bring your own chair or blanket concert with food truck service from 1:00PM to 3:00PM. The concert will take place rain or shine with the band playing play for approximately 1.25 hours. The outdoor venue will be located at the back of the community hall. This will also be a chance to meet the Board members and bring items of concern or activity suggestions to their attention.

The Board of Directors has decided to award all those who paid for a membership in 2021 a free membership for 2022. This is in recognition of the facility shutdown and suspensions of most programs and activities at the Hall this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With financial assistance provided by the city through its Capital Conservation Grant (“CCG”) program, the community association has replaced the roof at the hall building due to a series of leaks that occurred in 2020 and early 2021. This city program provides 75% of the funding and we have applied to the province for support on the remaining 25% of the costs through their Community Facility Enhancement Program ( “CFEP”). At the writing of this report, we have not heard if this application has been approved. While the UCP government has announced funding cuts to this program, we continue to actively lobby, along with the Federation of Calgary Communities, to retain funding for this valuable social program on behalf of all Calgary Community Associations.

In terms of funding the activities of the Community Association, proceeds from our Casino’s every two years are critical. This year we have been assigned September 8 and 9th at the Pure Casino Calgary. This effort is being organized by Isabel Boisvert and volunteers are required. Should you be able to help please contact Isabel at isabel.a.boisvert@gmail.com, for more information.

The Alberta Low Impact Development Partnership is creating a “rain garden” beside the Community Hall, demonstrating plants that will flourish in southern Alberta under natural watering conditions. This program is designed to showcase plant species that will thrive under storm water management. Work has begun at the writing of this report and hopefully by September it will be completed. For more information on this program please access their website (www.alidp.org). We are excited about this garden addition and will be providing updates and photos in our website and community social media platforms.

We continue to highlight the design and work being undertaken towards improving the Off Leash Park as described in this newsletter in the “digital brochure” accessible through the Cambrian Heights website. 49 new trees have been planted by Calgary Parks at locations selected by the volunteer committee. We have established a partnership with the Parks Foundation Calgary (“PFC”) to allow tax receipts to be issued for any donations made directly to the PFC for the enhancement of this park. More information may be found on our website and digital brochure.

We continue to remind residents of the new 40 kph speed limits on our residential streets. There continues to be some confusion where speed limits change from 50 kph to 40 kph without warning. Unless posted otherwise, the speed limits on our residential streets is 40 kph.

Welcome Back to the Community Hall & Events
Daryl Connolly, President CHCA

On July 1 the province moved to Stage 3 of their pandemic re-opening and effectively removed restrictions on community hall activities. Efforts will remain to sanitize and follow health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and its variants as we return to normal social activities.  Updates will continue to be provided on our website. We are accepting fall rental inquiries and reservations at http://www.CHCA_Hall@telus.net, or at 403-284-1175. We are planning to return to normal activities in the Community hall by September with both our in house Fitness and Yoga programs. Please reference the informational posters in this issue for details towards attending these programs sponsored by the community association.

The city has provided financial assistance through its Capital Conservation Grant (“CCG”) program. The community association is replacing the roofing material at the hall building due to a series of leaks that occurred in 2020 and early 2021. This City program provides 75% of the funding and we have applied to the province for support on the remaining 25% of the costs through their Community Facility Enhancement Program ( “CFEP”). While the UCP government has announced funding cuts to this program, we along with the Federation of Calgary Communities, have actively lobbied to retain funding for this valuable social program on behalf of Calgary community associations. This work is scheduled for completion in July.

The Alberta Low Impact Development Partnership is creating a “rain garden” beside the Community Hall, demonstrating plants that will flourish in southern Alberta under natural conditions. This program is designed to showcase plant species that will thrive under storm water management. Work has begun at the writing of this report and hopefully by mid-summer it will be completed. For more information on this program please access their website (www.alidp.org). We are excited about this garden addition and will be providing updates and photos in our website and community social media platforms.

We continue to highlight the design and work being undertaken towards improving the Off Leash Park as described in this newsletter in the “digital brochure” accessible through the Cambrian Heights website. Comments on the design may continue to be provided through that website. Work has commenced and some with 49 new trees planted by Calgary Parks at locations selected by the volunteer committee and illustrated in the design layout. We have established a partnership with the Parks Foundation Calgary to allow tax receipts to be issued for any donations to this program. We are establishing volunteer groups to address the priorities established through our recent public consultation. If you wish to get involved or perhaps consider a donation (bench, tables, etc.) please contact us through email.

We are celebrating return to normal community activities in September with an outdoor live music concert and food trucks. This will allow residents to once again gather and socialize with their neighbors in a safe environment. Like always, volunteers interested in community involvement are encouraged to come forward to assist in the planning and organization of this event and other programs for the remainder of 2021 and into 2022. If you are able to help out in any way please contact us through email or phone.

We continue to remind residents of the new 40 kph speed limits on our residential streets. There continues to be some confusion where speed limits change from 50 kph to 40 kph without warning. Two examples of this is where 10th Street turns north up the hill towards Queen’s park Cemetery and 40th Avenue as it crosses Northmount Drive. Unless posted otherwise, the speed limits on our residential streets is 40 kph.

Stay Safe and Active,

Daryl Connolly, President CHCA

At the writing of this report, the province is moving into Stage 2 of its reopening plan. While this allows some improvements to indoor activities it still restricts indoor social and group exercise programs. The province has set a target for moving to Stage-3, the removal of nearly all pandemic-related restrictions, to late June or early July. We will continue to monitor the health protocols and our ability to open the hall for our programs and rentals.  Updates will be provided on the website. We are accepting summer and fall rental inquiries and reservations, subject to COVID protocols, at CHCA_Hall@telus.net, or at 403-284-1175. We are anticipating a return to normal activities in the Community Hall by September. 

Another successful Cleanup was held on May 30 made possible by Bent Nielsen and his group of volunteers from both Cambrian Heights and Rosemont communities. This is the fifth year such a program has been undertaken except for the 2020 year where the City, due to the pandemic, cancelled all such programs.

The Alberta Low Impact Development Partnership is planning to create a “rain garden” beside the Community Hall, demonstrating plants that will flourish in southern Alberta under natural conditions. This program is designed to showcase plant species that will thrive under stormwater management. For more information, please access their website (www.alidp.org). We are excited about this garden addition and will be providing updates through our website and community social media platforms. 

We continue to highlight the design and work being undertaken towards improving the Off-Leash Park as described in this newsletter and on the “digital brochure” accessible through the Cambrian Heights website. Comments on the design may continue to be provided through that website. Work has commenced and some 49 new trees planted by Calgary Parks at locations selected by the volunteer committee and illustrated in the design layout. We hope to be able to start the fundraising for other additions as the province moves to remove all pandemic-related gathering restrictions.

To celebrate a return to normal community activities we are discussing a September afternoon gathering with live music, non-alcoholic drinks and food. This will allow all community residents to gather at the hall and grounds to provide their input into promoting social and educational activities for the remainder of 2021 and into 2022. Like always, volunteers interested in community involvement are encouraged to come forward to assist in the planning and organization of this event and new programs for the future. If you are able to help out in any way please contact us at cambrianheights@gmail.com . 

From your Community Association Board, we wish everyone a happy and safe summer as we gradually return to normal after the challenges of the last 18 months. 

Stay Safe and Active,
Daryl Connolly, President CHCA