CentreCity

Clean to the Core 5th Anniversary - Video

The City of Calgary's Clean to the Core team  recently celebrated its 5th anniversary - it gave everyone involved the chance to celebrate and reflect on all the great work that's taken place in our Centre City.

Here's a snapshot taken at the event. Pictured here are Alderman Druh Farrel, Lorna Wallace, and Cathy Taylor. 

 

The focus of all the effort the team has put forth so far is aimed to help make our Centre City a more thriving, welcoming and safe environment for everyone to enjoy. 

We thought we'd share a few videos here on the blog that highlight some of the projects in our Centre City's past, present and future.... 

The video we're posting today takes a look at research and policy within the group. Some valuable ideas are presented here about late night economy, safety, and mobile information gathering - all with the plan to connect more with those who live, work and play in the Centre City: 

 

 

Centre City 5 Year Anniversary - Graffiti Video

The City of Calgary's Clean to the Core team just celebrated its five year anniversary and to help mark the occasion, we've been posting some videos here on our blog to help showcase some of the hard work that's been accomplished by the team.

The Centre City is there for all of us to enjoy and a major focus of the Clean to the Core program is to help ensure it's a clean, safe, inviting place in which to spend time. 

Here's our video about Clean to the Core's Graffiti abatement program: 

 

Updating You on Clean to the Core

Earlier this week we told you about an important celebration of our own - a fifth anniversary event for the Clean to the Core and the Centre City Safety Impact teams. The gathering on Thursday was a great way to celebrate and look ahead at the various initiatives put forth by everyone invested in the groups. 

Mayor Naheed Nenshi was there, and so were Aldermen Druh Farrell and John Mar. 

The Clean to the Core team is made up of City staff and community partners, all working together to enhance safety, add vitality and make our Centre City a more livable, thriving and caring place to live, work and play.

Watch the video below to see a Clean to the Core team member (The City of Calgary's Dan Jones from Roads) describe the successful work done over the last five years.

  

A Clean to the Core Anniversary Celebration!

Much has been done in the five years since the Clean to the Core and Centre City Safety Impact team began their work. Because of these teams (made up of both City and community partners) -  their collaboration and the inspiration they've initiated, our Centre City has become  a more livable, thriving and caring place in which to live, work and play.

Thanks to the teams' leadership efforts, in just five short years, we've seen a positive trend toward Calgarians putting in their own individual effort to help keep our Centre City clean (remember this initiative) and safe - a place that draws people in to visit.

The recently launched Best Bar None program which has individual business owners investing a little more time and effort to make going out at a night a safer and more rewarding experience is a perfect example of the great progress that is being made in our Centre City. And of course, there are so many other worthwhile initiatives and events that have strengthened us all at the very core (see a listing at calgary.ca/centrecity). 

So today it's time to celebrate a little. A fifth anniversary gathering is happening - a chance for everyone involved to look back over the past five years and spend a little time to acknowledge the projects and people who have worked to make our Centre City a move livable, thriving and caring place. It's also a chance to make some plans for the next five years.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi, Aldermen Druh Farrell and John Mar will be there to help recognize the efforts of those behind the projects. Check back tomorrow here for photos from the event. 

 

High-Fives for Being Fifth Most Livable City!

(photo by Stephenccwu)

We've always heard talk from folks all over who think Calgary is a pretty amazing city in which to live...and now it's being confirmed: turns out we're the fifth greatest city in the world to live and we're proud of it!

The Economist Intelligence Unit says we ranked fifth out of 140 cities in their livability survey this year. We're in good company with Toronto (4th) and Vancouver (3rd) just ahead of us; Vienna takes 2nd place and Melbourne takes first. 

Great news for us all. Let's pat each other on the back because after all, it takes great people to make a great city. What do you think is our secret to being such a livable city? We'd love to hear your thoughts so leave a comment when you have a moment. 

To read the full breakdown of the livability rankings, click here. For GlobalTV's news report, click here. 

Bus Wrap Launch at Lunch

Art on the move is a great way to catch admiring eyes and that's a big reason why the Calgary Chinese Community Service Association, along with Calgary Transit and the Pattison Group are working together to help promote Chinatown and all the wonderful murals that have been created for the area - through a bus wrap project.

The bus wrap is effectively a big sticker that covers the surface of the bus and this particular one is going to showcase some of the amazing murals that have graced the walls and rooftops in the Centre City's Chinatown.

(Chinatown mural photo by k-ideas)

The bus wrap launch is happening today between 12:15 - 1:00 p.m. at Sien Lok Park on Riverfront Avenue SW and you're invited. 

If you miss the event today you'll have plenty of chances to see the bus for yourself. It'll be running on route #301 which circulates through Chinatown and downtown. If you see it - send us a photo!

The Centre City loves its public art and this is just one more great way to create a vibrant and inviting Centre City. 

 

 If you're interested in reading more about the Chinatown murals project, click here. 

 

 

Centre City Floating

It's a brilliantly sunny weekend in Calgary and you and your pals are looking for some great outdoor Centre City activity to take part in. You've got your raft, your flip flops, some sunscreen and your sassiest swimsuit, and now it's time to get your float on right?

(photo by Sherlock77)

Hold on - not so fast, friends. First, let's do a quick and proper check list for river rafting safety and bylaws. So far this year, Bylaw officers have handed out some 60 tickets for rafting violations on the Elbow and Bow rivers - and that's not counting how many tickets Calgary Police officers have tallied.

Here are a few of the things you could get fines for at the discrection of officers:

• Failing to wear a PFD/life jacket, mandatory court appearance
• Consuming liquor in public, penalty $115
• Littering on/into/under water or ice, penalty $115
• Littering in a park, penalty $500
• Littering from a vehicle, penalty $750
• Littering burning waste, penalty $1000
• Urinating or defecating in Public, penalty $300

Susan Wall is a Peace Officer with The City's Animal and Bylaw Services. She was out this past weekend (the busiest so far this summer) and is gearing up for another busy one tomorrow. 

She says rafting down our beautiful rivers is a great summer pastime, provided you stay safe, you're paying attention to the rules and that you show a little courtesy to everyone else who is in close proximity to the water.

Here's our rafting Q&A with Wall - a great primer for all in the lead-up to this sunny weekend in Calgary: 

CentreCityTalk: What are some of the biggest challenges officers face when they're out patrolling the rivers?

Susan Wall: A lot of what we deal with is people not wearing life jackets...and then after that we're concerned with the use of liquor consumption on river - people being intoxicated while floating on the river and people not respecting property or parks. Bad behaviour is definitely most prevalent on hot sumer weekends.

CentreCityTalk: We see a lot of interesting variations on watercraft out there - what is considered an unsuitable raft?

Susan Wall: Anything like inner tubes, rings, floating mattresses, I've even seen inflatable palm trees - they're not suitable. It's best instead to use anything really that's built AS a proper raft. Better yet, just go rent one from a outdoor centre or shop. It's also very dangerous to tie rafts together and float down the river as a unit. 

CentreCityTalk: Any tips on how to make it the most enjoyable for people out there on the water? 

Susan Wall: Just make sure you stay within the rules - we work to give out good feedback and bad if you're misbehaving. We see lots of people out there doing the right thing. Lots of families are out there following the rules, being safe and respectful. It can be a really fun time. 

Remember: rafters practicing unsafe or disrespectful behaviours could be subject to fines for violating municipal bylaws or provincial statutes. And protect yourself. Make sure your raft is equipped with proper safety equipment including a bailing device to remove water from inside the watercraft, a paddle to help you control your craft, a sound-signalling device and a towing line to pull your craft to safety in case of an emergency.

City of Calgary Animal and Bylaw Services Peace Officer Wall notes that following the rules is purely for everyone's own safety. They have a lot of rafts turning over even in very shallow areas of water. Ride safely and be prepared, so your sunny weekend of rafting in Calgary will be a whole lot more enjoyable.

The City's Animal & Bylaw Services and Calgary Police Service will be conducting its rafting education and enforcement program along the Elbow River on weekends this summer right through until September. They even have lots of fun giveaways down at Sandy Beach for those who are doing the right thing out there. And for more reading, you can check out The City's rafting bylaw page here. Have a great and safe weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

Chinatown Mural Tours

We are fortunate to have so many wonderful excuses to get out and explore our Centre City (not that we need them!). Here's one more outing to put on your what-to-check-out-this-summer list: go on a mural tour in Chinatown. These tours are new this summer and they're being hosted by the Calgary Chinese Community Service Association (CCCSA) on weekends through July and August.  

(photo from Facebook Group, I Heart Chinatown)

The tours are actually a result of a successful anti-graffiti program which began in 2009. The idea of the program was to fill previously graffitied walls with meaningful artwork. The tours will be given by youth volunteers in the community and they will help tell some of the stories behind the murals. It's a great way to get to know your Chinatown and hear a little about the history of the area and also its buildings. 

For more information please call (403) 265-8446 or visit www.cccsa.ca to register. Email: cdoutreach@cccsa.ca

Click here to read and watch a little about one of those very murals you might get to see on your tour. 

Focus on Safety: Centre City Lunch and Learn June 23

(Calgary Miniaturized - by Debby A)

159,000 people work in our Centre City. More than 30, 000 people live in it. And then there are the renowned concerts, festivals, shops, businesses and organizations that draw the rest of the city in on an annual basis. So what's being done to maintain our Centre City's livability? How do we keep it thriving, clean and safe? What's on the horizon? Answers to those questions and much more will be offered up to every Calgarian this week at our Focus on Safety Centre City Lunch and Learn.

It's happening Thursday, June 23rd, 2011 between noon and 1:00 p.m. (with doors opening at 11:30 a.m.) at the ConocoPhilips Theatre, Glenbow Museum 130 - 9th Ave. S.E.

The heart of Calgary, our Centre City, is deeply cherished and so very well cared for by citizens and City of Calgary staff alike. With our Clean to the Core program and Centre City team, our Centre City is in good hands. Maintaining a livable, thriving and caring Centre City is important for all Calgarians. And that's why we're inviting all Calgarians to attend this meeting. The City of Calgary, along with its partners on the Clean to the Core and Centre City Safety Impact Teams will share their most recent work to keep the CC strong and flourishing, safe and clean.

This will also be a time to hear about the impact all of this concerted work is making in the core. (What's wonderful, in fact, is that Calgarians already have noticed an improvement in safety and cleanliness  in our Centre City and they told us so in the first Centre City Perception Survey.)

So please try to attend this important meeting. On the agenda is an update on the Late Night Ride Home Stands, launched in December as part of the team’s current late night focus, along with a discussion on the outcomes of a recent initiative, the 20 Minute Makeover.

This is an excellent opportunity for you to learn more about the work that is being done to ensure our Centre City is Where You Want to Be.

 

 

 

Centre City Annual Update 2010/2011

Many of you reading this blog probably already know there is a team at The City of Calgary that is dedicated to working on projects and programs in our Centre City. They are called... The Centre City team. Easy enough, right? :)

The team is made up of three groups:

• Centre City Planning & Design Policy
• Centre City Implementation
• Centre City Development Applications (this is the team in the photo below)

 

Today, the team released its Centre City Annual Update 2010/2011. The update highlights the achievements made by The City of Calgary in our centre city in 2010 and lists the projects we're working on this year. Take a look here.

Centre City Implementation project manager Ben Barrington says, "This update reflects the work of many people - both in The City and our external partners - coming together to work on fulfilling the vision of the Centre City Plan that sees our core as livable, thriving and caring."