CentreCity

Why Not?

While it's an everyday activity for clowns and other circus professionals - chances are it's not how you spend a lazy weekend afternoon. But I'm here to say, "Reconsider!"

This Sunday, The City of Calgary is planning a gigantic, juggling extravaganza, right here in the Centre City's Olympic Plaza.

As part of the WorldSkills cultural celebration, jugglers are being invited to Olympic Plaza Sunday afternoon between 2 and 3 to show off their skills.

"This is a skills exhibition of a different sort and we thought it would be a fun way to celebrate WorldSkills and all the participants coming to Calgary, said Brian Dorscht of The City of Calgary Arts and Culture.”Our aim is to start a world record for the most number of jugglers in one place at one time."

Anyone who wants to participate or watch is welcome. Jugglers must bring their own items to juggle and they must be safe (no knives, swords, chainsaws or nuclear weapons).  Participants are welcome any time after 1 pm to begin warming up. The world record attempt will take place from 2 – 3 pm.

One Week Today!

We're pumped the Centre City is playing host to the 2009 WorldSkills competition. If you're not up on what it is all about, allow us to give you a brief overview...

WorldSkills is a premiere international event celebrating excellence in trades and technologies from around the world. Competition takes place at Stampede Park from September 1 - 7.

WorldSkills 2009 is the 40th WorldSkills competition and will feature:

• 45 skill competitions plus eight demonstration skills
• Over 1,000 competitors from 51 countries speaking 30 languages
• 150,000 student and public spectators
• 5,000 international experts, delegates and judges
• 3,000 volunteers
• 80,000 square meters of competition space at Stampede Park

It's an incredible event. And when you consider Canada will be facing a skilled labour shortage of nearly 1,000,000 by 2020, it's clear we need to celebrate and encourage young people to pursue skilled trades and technologies-based careers.

Check out World Skills 2009 for more details and this WorldSkills PSA.

A Bylaw Boost for Some Small Businesses

A bylaw change easing parking restrictions could make all the difference to some small Centre City businesses. Check out this article by reporter Kim Guttormson in Friday's Calgary Herald. Do you think this will help local merchants?

 

Hailing a Cab in the Centre City?

If your answer is yes, or even if you take take taxis in other parts of our lovely city, check out this survey. It's being released today by the Taxi Limousine Advisory Committee and it's seeking your input on the taxi industry, specifically public safety, service, quality and consumer protection. Fill it in and you may impact how taxis operate in Calgary!

 

San Francisco's Art On-The-Go

San Francisco is a great city. It boasts bustling bike paths, tranquil parks, museums, galleries, shops, restaurants and a variety of public transit options - it's a place we can all learn from. Take a look here at one of its latest  projects - functional and attractive street furniture for public transit. 

I first spotted these futuristic bus shelters on a recent trip to the Golden Gate city. From a distance, I was impressed by the overall artistic appeal of the shelters - with their multi-coloured signature wave-like canopies. Upon closer inspection, I realized that integrated within each canopy was a solar panel that provides power to the shelters arrival time information panel. Cool!

After returning home and researching these shelters, it turns out that these shelters offer more ammenities for the transit rider, with push-button loudspeakers for visually impaired riders - informing them on upcoming arrival times and integrated WiFi.

 

While the price tag for each shelter is higher than that of the "standard" shelter (total cost around $25,000 to $30,000 US) - I'm sure the impact these shelters have on the overall image and perception of the downtown is significant. They certainly caught my attention!

Perhaps one day we will see initiatives like this in our Centre City?

Graham

Related articles:

Popular Mechanics: Popular Mechanics

The Architect's Newspaper: The Architect's Newspaper

CNET News: CNET News

 

East Village Bridge Design Competition Announced

There is plenty going on in the Centre City's East Village. If you haven't seen the changes - take a trip down. The cobblestone roads and pathways are opening up and on Monday, a design competition was announced for a new St. Patrick's Island Bridge.  

The Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) is charged with rejuvenating the area and it's seeking  submissions for the creation of a bridge for pedestrians and cyclists from qualified candidates. According to the CMLC, the proposals must demonstrate:

•  cost effective, innovative design
• consideration for safety, connectivity, aesthetics and common design guidelines

The competition opened yesterday and the deadline for the conceptual submissions is Monday, September 14, 2009. For more information and all design guidelines and criteria, check out the CMLC website at www.calgarymlc.ca/

 

 

 

 

Centre City Boasts Another Best Block

Congratulations Bankers Hall! The Calgary Herald has deemed the glass-faced tower as our city's best block to do business. Deborah Yedlin explains why in her article, Urban players cash in at Bankers Hall.

The newspaper is doing a series on top-notch blocks and this piece marks the second time a Centre City block has been proclaimed the best. If you haven't seen it already, check out the first of the series here, Calgary Herald Video - Calgary's Best Block Cultural District

Now, can you name another Centre City block that you think deserves to be noted as the best? Let us know where it is and why you think it's worthy of praise.

Downtown Is for People

Over the decades, there have been many competing philosophies on how to build a city. It brings to mind a book that was recently published called Wrestling With Moses: How Jane Jacobs Took On New York's Master Builder and Transformed the American City by Anthony Flint (Random House Publishing Group| July 28, 2009).

Take a look at this link to Dwight Garner's review of Wrestling With Moses in The New York Times. Fascinating stuff when you think about what could have been in the Big Apple and other cities around the world, including Calgary.

http://http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/05/books/05garner.html

Back to the Wild, Wild, West...do we now need spittoons as well?

After the Clean to the Core Team placed small litter bins in the Centre City for cigarette butts, small litter, gum, etc., it has come to my attention that citizens are somewhat aware that littering is against the law (e.g., tossing away a cigarette butt will cost you $500) but not aware that The City has also adopted a Public Behaviour Bylaw that addresses the issue of spitting in public,....the fine for spitting is $100.