City of Calgary Your Local Government
800 Macleod Trail S.E. T2G 2M3 Calgary, AB, Canada

Based on Provincial intent announced on December 8th, The City of Calgary will close all City-operated recreation facilities on Sunday, December 13th for at lea...st 4 weeks. This includes aquatic and fitness centres, arenas, the soccer centre and arts centres. Credits and extensions will be automatically provided to passholders for days that we are closed. Refunds for cancelled programs will also be automatically provided to registrants. We appreciate your patience as we work through a high volume of refunds and credits.

Have you ever wondered how a site gets added to the Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources? The central component of the evaluation system used by @HeritageCalgary is a Statement of Significance (SoS). This statement explains why a resource has heritage relevance according to a defined system of values. The SoS is divided into the following three sections: Description, Heritage Value, and Character-Defining Elements. Character-Defining Elements are a particularly important... part of a Statement of Significance. If a site on the Inventory is later protected as a Municipal Historic Resource (MHR) by the property owner and The City of Calgary, Character-Defining Elements are typically what will become Regulated Portions in the designation bylaw. Learn more about Statements of Significance on the @HeritageCalgary blog: https://www.heritagecalgary.ca/heritage-calgary-blog/sos

We’ve all been there you are almost ready to leave the grocery store, but can’t find that one last thing you need. A Calgary startup called Takemetuit is helping to solve this issue by developing a navigation system that works indoors, with help from our Living Labs program. It’s called an indoor positioning system (IPS), a system used to locate objects or people inside a building using lights, radio waves, magnetic fields, acoustic signals, or other sensory information. Ta...kemetuit is developing high accuracy IPS for retail, warehouses, unmanned systems and more. The company had developed a prototype system using lab space, but in order to mature the product, they needed to do testing in a realistic environment. We helped them find an ideal space located near their existing lab, and helped ensure that the installation of their equipment went smoothly, and that they were able to leave the setup in place over a longer duration. Read more: https://www.calgary.ca/general/living-labs/ips-testing.html

*LAST WEEK TO ORDER* We’re down to the final couple days to order from YYC Growers for the year! All orders for Christmas Meal Kits, Christmas Shop items, ...turkeys & produce are due Dec.11th by noon. These are for pickup and delivery next week. Don’t miss out on your chance to support so many local farms & businesses with a few easy clicks. https://yycgrowers.myshopify.com

As you may know by now, we are proposing an overall tax rate decrease of 1.66% for 2021 as part of our annual adjustments process. The adjustments are designed to support Calgary's economic recovery and COVID-19 response. But you may be wondering, what does this mean for me? The complex nature of property taxes means that the decrease will be felt differently by specific taxpayers, as impacts to individual properties will depend on property type and changes to assessment va...lue. The impacts are also affected by the 52/48 distribution of taxes between residential and non-residential taxpayers. In our recommendations: The typical single residential home will see their taxes stay the same in 2021. For all residential properties, including condos, the average decrease will be -0.67%. The average non-residential (business) property will see a decrease of -0.55%. These recommendations will be debated by Council next week. Sign up to speak to Council on Nov. 23: calgary.ca/adjustments

Your small purchases can make a big difference this holiday season. Local businesses make up the fabric of our communities; the heartbeat of our neighbourhoods and the spine of our local economy. These familiar places and the faces behind them make up the spirit of Calgary, helping us feel connected to our city. That's why we're kicking off a holiday campaign to encourage Calgarians to support local today. In the lead up to the holiday shopping season and all year round, Cal...garians can help local businesses thrive and grow by spending their money here in the city. We encourage Calgarians to shop locally online where possible, do curbside pickup, and if you’re going into the stores, make sure to wear your mask, keep your distance and maintain good hand hygiene. Businesses are working hard to protect their patrons, and Calgarians need to do the same in return. These are tough times for everyone this year, but there are also ways you can support local without spending any money. You can leave positive reviews of the places you love on social media and online or subscribe to your favourite small businesses' mailing list. Own a business yourself? Our business community has come together in so many ways this year, like mentoring new entrepreneurs, hosting webinars and virtual meetups, and procuring goods from other local businesses. As The City, we are focused on being business-friendly over the long term, ensuring we are identifying all opportunities for improvement to City services that will enable our business community to be successful. It truly takes a village - we're stronger when we come together. Learn more about how you can support local: https://www.calgary.ca//city-manag/about-us/buy-local.html

Did you know that clamshell containers CAN be recycled in your blue bin? You’ll find these plastic containers used for berries, salad kits, bakery goods and more. You might have heard news about clamshell containers last year. Sadly, 2,000 tonnes of stored clamshell containers did up landfilled due to a lack of markets. We were as disappointed as Calgarians were that this was necessary. But there is good news! Calgary’s recycling programs sort and recycle 55,000 tonnes of ...material each year. Clamshell containers have been successfully sorted and recycled since April 2019. Make sure they are empty, clean and place them in your blue bin for recycling. We know that Calgarians want to make sure that their recyclables actually get recycled! That’s why we work closely with our recycling partner Cascades Recovery to ensure that Blue Cart materials are responsibly managed by legitimate recycling processors and manufacturers. Find out more about how our Calgary recycling programs work at calgary.ca/recyclefacts. Thanks for recycling Calgary!

Leading up to Council's discussion on our service plan and budget adjustments next week, you might be interested to know how demand for City services has changed over the last few years. You might be surprised to know that it has remained consistent in some areas, and grown in others. This is a reflection of the growing size and complexity of our city. We've seen a 30% increase in home renovation project permit applications this year, and a dramatic increase in non-standard... proposals related to development applications. That means that developers are thinking outside the box when they're building new projects, doing things in new ways. In 2019, we filled 16,658 potholes. By the end of last month, we had filled 20,720. Our Fair Entry program makes applying for fee-subsidized City services easier, like the Calgary Transit low-income pass, recreation fee assistance, property tax assistance and more. In 2018, 67% of low-income Calgarians were served through our Fair Entry program. In 2019, that jumped to 72%. For our waste and recycling services, changes due to COVID-19, damaged carts from a June hailstorm, and implementation of Tag-a-Bag resulted in 11% more service requests from Calgarians this year. Next week, Council will be discussing a proposed overall tax rate decrease of 1.66% for 2021. This tax rate decrease builds on a series of adjustments to our operating budget. Learn more at calgary.ca/adjustments.

There are some myths out there about City spending that we want to clear up. Claim: There are hundreds of City employees with two or three pensions. Fact: City employees do not receive more than one pension. Supplementary pension plans, in which only 12 per cent of City employees participate, build upon each other to ensure these members achieve a consistent two per cent pension formula over their pensionable service period. This could not be achieved under LAPP alone be...cause of the formula rate limit and maximum salary caps under the Income Tax Act. Who pays for pensions? For every $1 paid out in pension in 2017, LAPP reports that about 90 cents came from investment earnings, and nearly half of the remainder came from employee contributions. Claim: Staffing at The City is out of control. Fact: We are below 2013 levels of staffing. Since then, Calgary has grown the size of Red Deer, Lethbridge and Cochrane combined. This leads to increased demand for City services in recent years as The City continues to grow in size and complexity despite the downturn. Learn more here: https://www.calgary.ca//financ/Managing-our-workforce.html Claim: The City's adjustments are leading to massive tax increases. Fact: We are proposing an overall tax rate decrease of 1.66% for 2021. Property taxes are complex, so we wanted to share a few illustrative examples to show a range of potential impacts for different property types. Next year, we are proposing that the majority of property owners have a slight tax decrease. The complex nature of property taxes means that the overall decrease will be felt differently by taxpayers, as impacts to individual properties will depend on property type and size, age, location and changes to assessment value. Learn more here: https://www.calgary.ca//ourfinance-understanding-property-

Tonight marks the start of Hanukkah - and while this year will be much different, there are still ways to stay connected while you celebrate. Light your candles with friends and family on a video call. Phone a different friend each night.... Gift the community by donating to a local charity each night. Make a video of your celebrations and share on your social media platforms. Please note that if you are having difficulty this holiday season, contact 211 as they can help put you in touch with community resources. Hanukkah Sameach!

We create four-year service plans and budgets, and Council reviews and adjusts them every year as needed. Next week, Council will be discussing our budget adjustments for 2021. Adjustments are considered for both operating and capital budgets. Here is some information on the differences between the two. The operating budget supports day-to-day operations, the capital budget funds longer-term investments.... Capital investments are determined by Council-approved policy and direction and are supported by Capital Infrastructure Investment Principles. Capital funding comes from different sources: federal and provincial government grants, corporate reserves, and other sources. Examples of recent capital investments include the Crowchild Trail upgrades, Glenmore Dam upgrade, Old City Hall refurbishments and projects done in partnership with the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation like the 4th Street SE Underpass and the New Central Library. Learn more: https://www.calgary.ca/cs/InfrastructureCalgary.html

We’ve been working with our downtown community partners to improve safety and vibrancy in the nine blocks surrounding City Hall and we want your input. How do you feel when you’re in this area? Fill out the survey here: https://www.calgary.ca///downtown-strategy/nine-block.aspx

Every dollar you spend at a local business makes an impact, especially this holiday season. Local businesses make up 52% of private-sector retail employment in Calgary. If every Calgarian spent $10 in December on holiday gifts from a local store, that would mean an additional 68 jobs generated in our city this month alone. Remember that you don't even have to go into stores to support local, even though retail remains open at limited capacity under health measures implemented... by the Government of Alberta. Many businesses offer online ordering, curbside pickup and delivery. If you are going into the community, please help keep everyone safe by wearing a mask, keeping your distance and practicing good hand hygiene. calgary.ca/supportlocal

Today we are hearing from Calgarians as part of the public submissions process for our plans and budgets - thank you to everyone who is taking the time to speak. As a reminder, we are proposing an overall tax decrease of 1.66% for 2021, which has been made possible by cost reductions and the modernization of our approach to service delivery, and are being achieved despite a backdrop of increased demand for City services. Economic volatility has been a constant in the lives an...d businesses of Calgarians. Forecasts have economies bouncing back in 2021, but a full recovery in Calgary is not expected until 2023. The downturn has had a significant impact on The City as well, and we have responded in critical ways. We have taken a series of prudent adjustments to our operating budget. It began when the downturn hit in 2015, but has been accelerated since 2019 and our adjustments build upon that work. In the last 18 months, there have been $177.5 million in permanent reductions. None of these reductions have been easy, but we continue to strike a careful balance between reducing costs and modernizing our approach to service delivery while still maintaining safety, protecting the environment, and providing the quality of services that Calgarians want and expect. When looking at the services we offer, it is also important to consider how funding is distributed. Four services account for over 55% of 2020 property tax revenue - police, public transit, fire and emergency response, and our streets. There is no question that these are important services that Calgarians value and expect. There is also no question that their large share has major implications for how budget changes must be viewed and managed. Finding an appropriate balance among these services one that serves the overall interests of Calgarians in the long-run is never easy, but is what the mid-cycle budget adjustments attempt to do. Learn more at calgary.ca/adjustments.

We know many of you are tired of thinking about COVID-19, but it would be a shame if we let one night of partying cause an increase in cases. Halloween is one of everyone’s favorite holidays, and by taking a few extra precautions, you can still enjoy a fun evening. If you are going out, here are some tips: http://newsroom.calgary.ca/partners-for-safety-will-help-k/

It’s Calgary’s third annual innovation week, led by our partners at Startup Calgary, and we’re proud of our innovation community. This year has been a challenging one, to say the least, but our city’s entrepreneurial spirit continues to shine. If you’re looking to start a business, we’re here to help. Visit calgary.ca/mybusiness for resources, licensing, permit information and more. If you have questions, you can use our online live chat or call us at 403-268-5311.

Today, we begin a two-week mandatory period where YourAlberta (Government of Alberta) has introduced certain restrictions to help drive down the COVID-19 numbers we are seeing. We are exhausted. We are frustrated. But we are not defeated. Here are a few of the things Calgarians can do. Take your social gatherings outdoors. Go for walks outdoors, cross country ski, a hot chocolate in a park. Go explore what living in Calgary which is a pretty amazing winter city is all abo...ut. Now is not the time to have people over. We have gotten comfortable and with the cooling temperatures, being at home indoors is not a safe place to hang out with a group right now. If you are sick, isolate yourself in a separate room. It is possible to slow cases in your own home. That goes for influenza and the common cold as well. We ask that if you are carpooling with people outside your household, wear a face covering and sit as far as you can from one another. Take separate vehicles if you can but if you can’t, take a few small precautions to keep yourself and others safer. If we don’t get this right, we will almost certainly see more restrictions. It will take all of us doing our absolute best to drive these numbers down. Thank you for your patience, compliance and desire to make sure we all get home to our loved ones, safe and healthy. calgary.ca/covid19

With recent COVID-19 case numbers increasing, participation in Council and Committee meetings will only be available remotely starting on November 23 for the Mid-Cycle budget meeting. This is to minimize risks to health and safety of the public, staff and Council. In order to participate please register at https://forms.calgary.ca//public-submission-to-city-clerks

Do you work in the trucking industry or do you have concerns about truck flow and safety at locations in our City? We’re doing a Truck Travel Improvement Study so we can learn about how we can improve the travel experience and find more efficient routes when driving a truck. We want to get your feedback on:... Locations where there are issues affecting truck flow and safety What those issues are Suggestions for potential solutions Provide your comments on the priority areas that our project team should look at further by November 6 at https://engage.calgary.ca/TTIFeedback

Shared e-Scooters will be removed from Calgary streets by Nov. 1, completing our two year pilot project, resulting in 1.87 million shared mobility trips! Since the launch of the pilot in 2018, there has been three permitted private sector operators (Lime, Bird, and Roll). What's next? We're bringing a report to the Standing Policy Committee (SPC) on Transportation & Transit on December 16 to help inform what the future will look like for e-Scooters in Calgary.... You can speak at the committee meeting to share your thoughts on the pilot project, either in person or remotely. Visit calgary.ca/scootershare.

The City’s Traffic Advisory Radio Station has moved! You can now tune your radio to 107.9 FM to get the latest traffic information across the City 24-7. We use our extensive traffic camera network to bring you up to the minute information on traffic incidents and road construction straight from the Traffic Management Centre to keep you on the move. ... We’re here to help you plan your route: Listen to our radio station at 107.9 FM Follow us on Twitter https://www.twitter.com/yyctransport See the latest information on road construction, road closures, detours, accidents and incidents at https://www.calgary.ca/trafficinfo #yyctraffic #yycroads

National Housing Day is on November 22 and we’d like to recognize the important work done by our non-profit partners to improve access to housing for Calgarians. Working together in building safe and stable housing creates inclusive communities and adds to the overall health, prosperity and safety of our city. Scroll through the photos below to see some of the projects our partners have completed or are working on currently! HomeSpace Society's newly developed site will pro...vide 74 units of affordable housing in the heart of downtown by late 2020. This project will provide vulnerable individuals in our community access to safe housing with social supports. Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta recently completed three bedroom homes in Radisson Heights. In these homes, families will be able to build strength, stability and independence through affordable home ownership. Horizon Housing Society broke ground on their latest housing development in Pineridge last month. When complete, these homes will feature thoughtful design, accessible units, and convenient amenities to help foster a connected and inclusive community. Silvera for Seniors’ Gilchrist Gardens Phase 2 is a supportive-living building with 114 units and will allow residents to easily transition from Silvera’s existing independent living communities into this new supportive living building. Set to open Spring 2022, this development will help meet Calgary’s growing need for additional housing and services for older adults. Learn more about our Community Affordable Housing Advocacy Plan at calgary.ca/communityplan

Sidewalks are no place for a skating rink and residents/homeowners are reminded that, under the bylaw, all snow & ice must be removed from sidewalks adjacent to your property 24 hours after the snow has stopped falling. Road crews are currently working on clearing Priority 1 routes as well as City-owned pedestrian sidewalks, LRT platforms and staircases. Let’s work together to keep our sidewalks and roads safe and mobile.... For more information on our seven day snow plan, snow clearing bylaw or reporting snow and ice concerns, visit calgary.ca/snow

Today’s ghost story is that of Lindsay’s Folly AKA Deadman’s Castle. Dr. Neville J. Lindsay purchased the land in Rideau Park in 1904. Dr. Lindsay applied for a building permit for a residence in October of 1913, and construction began. Sandstone blocks removed from the Knox Presbyterian Church on Seventh Avenue and Centre Street were used in the building. Construction stopped soon after, due to Lindsay's financial problems, and perhaps also due to unstable soil. The site... was abandoned and reverted to City ownership in 1936. By 1938 it became a park reserve. During World War II, the steel beams were removed so the metal could be re-used for the war effort. The distinctive sandstone portico crumbled in August 1955. Generations of children played in the ruins from the end of construction to the present. The game they played and the ghost stories they told contribute to the legend of "Deadman's Castle." Lindsay's Castle is representative of Calgary's "Age of Optimism" (1904-1914) and of the economic collapse that followed. It was built by a physician-turned-real estate speculator, during a time when many Calgarians made - and later lost - their fortunes in the real estate market. The house is one of many elegant sandstone structures built at the time. Its never-realized grandeur and location, in what was then an area of speculative subdivisions at the edge of town, represent the optimism of Calgary during the boom. That the house was never completed, and its owner ruined, is evidence of the burst of the real estate bubble. Learn more: https://www.calgary.ca//discover-historic-calgary-resource

Is there an individual, group or organization who is improving the quality of life for people with disabilities? Nominate them today for a 2020 Accessibility Award in one of the three categories. Advocacy Access Recognition/Universal Design Transportation Opportunities... Our Advisory Committee on Accessibility (ACA) sponsors these awards to raise awareness about the importance of accessibility and universal design. The deadline for submissions is Fri, Nov. 27. To learn more and to nominate someone, visit https://www.calgary.ca//advisory-committee-on-accessibilit *Photo taken before COVID-19

Historic City Hall has been witness to countless lives, careers, and events within its walls. If ghosts exist, Historic City Hall should be expected to have plenty of them. Over the years, past City employees and security officers have reported seeing the ghosts of a man and a woman haunting the building. A few past security officers and other employees have claimed to see them. They know something, that’s for sure, confided an anonymous contract employee who had witnessed a colleague flee the building one night, convinced of an unseen presence. Read more about Old City Hall’s haunting past below, and consider a socially-distanced outdoor visit to see the completed restoration of this amazing historic site. Who knows what else you might catch a glimpse of this time of year https://newsroom.calgary.ca/historic-city-hall-ghost-stori/

Do you know your collection schedule? Sign up to receive reminders when to put out your blue, green & black carts! You have multiple options for reminders, including: Email... Calgary Garbage Day App Phone Text message Visit calgary.ca/collection to get started.

Check out the next set of FREE lunch hour climate change webinars we're offering alongside partnered industry experts: : Date: Tuesday, November 3 Time: 12 noon to 1 p.m.... Date: Tuesday, November 17 Time: 12 noon to 1 p.m. Date: Tuesday, December 1 Time: 12 noon to 1 p.m. Date: Tuesday, December 15 Time: 12 noon to 1 p.m. Learn more & register: www.calgary.ca//energy-/climate-change-webinar-series.html

Calgary is full of history and a bit of mystery too. Since it’s Halloween week, we’re sharing some of our heritage properties that just might double as haunted houses. First up is Fire Hall No. 6, where there have been some spooky reports. Some residents have reported hearing a bell ringing in the distance. People have also reported hearing whinnying horses and the sound of hooves on a cement floor. These ghostly sounds of horses may be attributed to the horses that used to... live at Fire Hall No. 6 horses were an integral part of the firefighting teams in the early 20th century. In addition to its potentially-haunted status , Fire Hall No. 6 is significant as an example of Calgary's efforts to build a fire department to keep pace with the economic boom in the decade before World War I. The city's growth created a pressing need for civic infrastructure, particularly fire protection. The expansion of Calgary's boundaries in 1907 brought several areas north of the Bow River into the city, including the Hillhurst district where Fire Hall No. 6 is located. Across the river from existing fire halls, these areas clearly required satellite halls and Fire Hall No. 6 was one of three identical designs that were built in 1909. The new buildings were also an aspect of the ongoing modernization of Calgary’s fire department. That same year, the department transitioned from a volunteer to a paid, full-time professional force and also ordered its first motorized fire-fighting apparatus. Fire Hall No. 6 would serve the fire department until 1964, a period of 54 years. Learn more on our Inventory of Historic Resources: https://www.calgary.ca//discover-historic-calgary-resource

As daylight savings comes to an end, remember to be safe after these earlier sunsets. Don’t get left in the dark, report a streetlight outage accurately using The City’s Streetlight Outage reporting map. Visit calgary.ca/streetlights.

Thanks Calgary for sharing ideas earlier this year for the future of 16 Avenue N.W. between Crowchild Trail and Sarcee Trail. We have turned them into concept options for this important main street and transportation corridor and we’re looking for your input. Learn about the benefits and trade-offs of each concept option and provide your input at engage.calgary.ca/futureof16avenueNW