CentreCity

Clean to the Core 5th Anniversary - Video on Safety

The City of Calgary's Clean to the Core team  recently celebrated its 5th anniversary - it was the perfect milestone to celebrate and reflect on all the great work that's taken place in our Centre City. The focus of all that effort is ultimately to help make the Centre City a more thriving, welcoming and safe environment for everyone to enjoy. 

We thought we'd share a few videos over the next couple of weeks that highlight some of the projects in our Centre City's past, present and future.... 

Here's the second Clean to the Core video - this one is on safety in our Centre City: 

 

Brightening up Our Centre City

The Centre Street Bridge is already an architectural point of pride in our city, with its majestic lions and the connectivity it provides us from the North end of the city to our downtown core.

Now, all that is glorious about the second oldest bridge in Calgary is about to get some added beautification.

Next week, crews will make some changes with the feature lighting on the bridge. New LED lights will make it a much more sustainable model of highlighting the bridge's features. It means lower maintenance costs and more efficient energy usage, not to mention a better overall showcasing of the structure's features. Here is a rendering of how it's going to appear once the changes are made:  

 

Enhanced lighting of existing structures is a Centre City focus. The goal is always to create a more vibrant, inviting environment for people to experience. This bridge lighting improvement project is no exception: the interiors of the pavillions will be illuminated creating bright and welcoming gateways at both ends of the bridge.

Improvements will begin on February 6 and will require southbound Centre Street between 2 Avenue and Samis Road to be reduced to one lane during off peak hours (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) Monday to Friday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. It's expected the project will by completed by Summer 2012. 

For more information about the Centre Street Bridge Lighting Project click here. And if you have a craving to do a little extra reading about the history of the Centre Street Bridge, check out this link. 

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. 

 

Best Bar None Launches in Calgary

Calgarians love a good night out, and we're fortunate to have so many fantastic bars and restaurants to choose from in our Centre City.

Now is a great time to take that experience to the next level by continuing to enhance the overall safety of going out at night. That's where a new voluntary program called Best Bar None (BBN) steps in.

Launched today, BBN, works to reduce alcohol-related violence in and around licensed venues. This safety initiative is firmly focussed on Calgary’s pubs, clubs, bars and lounges and everyone is invited to take part to help make the city’s nightlife safer and more enjoyable.

BBN is an accreditation and awards program that uses a system of assessment and awards to engage nightspots in responsible management and safe operations. To learn more about the program and also how your establisment can earn Best Bar None (BBN) status, check out this link: bestbarnone.ab.ca. 

Some Centre City team members were at the Bar None Launch event today (which by the way, was a packed room - lots of people inspired and invigorated by the BBN program). Here are a few photos we took (that's The City's Chief Compliance Officer Marc Halat at the podium): 

 

 

(Samples of BBN accreditation and awards)

This new program is a positive opportunity for all parties involved - a great way to build relationships amongst bar owners, licensees, law enforcement, industry partners and community groups; with the ultimate benefit of making a night out safe and fun for all Calgarians.

Safer nightlife means a more vibrant and inviting Centre City. That means everyone wins.

The Best Bar None program has already been launched in Edmonton. The Calgary Best Bar None program is led by Alberta Gaming Liquor Commission (AGLC) with the support of Calgary Police Services and also The City. 

 

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. 

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!

 

 

 

 

 

Taxi!

 

Good news for people heading out for a night of celebration and entertainment in the Centre City: starting this week, licensed cabs are allowed to park in some new designated fire hydrant zones in order to pick up and drop off passengers.

It's a pilot project that will mean less of a wait for people out and about in the downtown core. If you think about it, 135 taxi parking stalls added to the mix is going to have a great impact on the wait times for passengers. It's a win-win solution for everyone. 

The 43 designated hydrant zone parking areas will also help protect those areas by preventing illegal parking by other Calgarians - no more blocked fire hydrants when time is of the essence. Taxi drivers using the zones must remain with their vehicle at all times should an emergency arise. 

The pilot project will run through 2011 and a report will be presented to a committee of Council in April 2012.

 

So to find out more about these taxi hydrant zones and if you'd like to check out a map of the zone locations, you can visit www.calgary.ca/roads

 

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."

 

 

Dumpster-Free Laneways

Commercial dumpsters: they're a staple part of just about every alley shot in movies set in any big city. Some want to clear the path and see Calgary lanes and back alleys free of dumpsters, thereby making safer, more inviting areas to pass through.

The idea was first proposed to council in 2007 and you can read a bit of background about that pilot project here. That project was deemed a success, though the future is uncertain because of the costs. There's an article in this week's Calgary Herald about the matter which you can find here.

 
(A Centre City alley.)

Lorna Wallace is with the Clean to the Core program with the Centre City Implementation team. She says her team is continuing to explore options to keep alley ways safe and clean and walkable. Already, they have done much work with businesses in the Centre City to maintain their properties.

Wallace says, "That not only includes their dumpsters but also graffiti abatement, parking issues and related cleanliness (storage areas, small litter bins-ashtrays, etc) and safety - for example, creating safe egress, ensuring exits aren’t blocked."

She explains that in the Clean to the Core program the business revitalization zones, such as the Calgary Downtown Association, run a program called Wipe out Graffiti, which has been met with great success. 

 
(Looking through a parking lot into a Centre City laneway.)

Lorna Wallace says,  there are many projects we can look forward to seeing to help keep our alley ways clean and safe. She indicated that the Centre City Implementation team is looking at opportunities to incorporate some new lighting strategies and is also exploring the idea of having street hockey tournaments in an alley.

She notes, "Further, the opportunity for lighting, music or entertainment is always on the table." That means your ideas are always welcome - we'd love to hear if you have any thoughts on how to make those spaces more inviting. 

Sometimes business are taking matters into their own hands - either intentionally or not! Have you heard about Charcut (101, 899 Centre Street SW see Connie of Top Chef Canada fame - go Connie!) and their so-called "alley burgers"?

The only way to find out about which night they're selling these much-coveted tasty morsels of meaty goodness is by following them on Twitter or Facebook to watch for their day-of announcements. Then, may the burger force be with you - you have to get there, line up, and hope with all your might that you will be one of the lucky ones to buy one of their mouth-watering burgers. You can read a full report on the Charcut alley burger here.

 

(Charcut alley burger lineup photo by mastermaq)

What a great way to take back our alleys, right? This is brilliance, trapped in one tasty little burger bun. Try it out if you haven't already.