Once destined for freeway construction, historical community now a local jewel

* Old neighbourhoods, new Calgary: A look at some of Calgary’s earliest communities and how they’re evolving with the times 

Few neighbourhoods in Calgary can match Inglewood’s storied history. From its beginnings in 1875 as the city’s first main street to its more recent resurgence as a hot spot for boutique shopping, fine dining and live music, the inner-city community has reimagined itself to keep pace with an evolving landscape.… Read More

Inglewood is a post from: CREBNow

City Council started talking budget today, starting with a presentation on Calgary’s Action Plan for 2015-18 by Chief Financial Officer Eric Sawyer.

The Action Plan, released Nov. 4, shows the City has a budget of roughly $22 billion for the next four years.

“Over 50 per cent of the capital program you’re seeing here is going towards growth and new development,” said Sawyer.… Read More

Action Plan: City council budget talks begin is a post from: CREBNow

As debate starts at City Hall on a proposed four-year budget plan, some Calgarians worry the added costs will leave them behind.

Calgary leads the nation in economic growth, salaries and population increases, and now the city’s budget calls for big hikes in taxes and fees to pay for it all.

Troy Johnson spent his adult life providing for those in need, but the likely tax increases leave him wondering who will look out for him.

“Us folks in the front line working with disabled folks in Calgary, due to government cutbacks on funding and what not, (mean) every penny is super important for us,” said Johnson.

“We just have to really put a lot of work into our budgeting, and make sure we can make it through every week and every month.”

Budget plans include a 4.7 per cent tax increase for each of the next four years.

They also call for significant increases in utilities, including water and waste/recycling fees.

By the end of 2018, the average homeowner will have paid an additional $900 to the city.

However on Monday, councillors claimed it’s a tight, no-frills budget.

“It’s been a part of the conversation that we’ve had on council throughout this whole process, how do we keep the taxes as low as we possibly can while also maintaining some services for those same Calgarians who need them?” said Evan Woolley, councillor for Ward 8.

Calgarians could also pay more for annual transit passes. Tammy Poirier appeared before city council on Monday calling for a freeze on low-income passes.

“Right now with the rent and food increase, it’s going to be impossible for me to be able to afford my bus pass and to get around,” said Poirier.

Disability Action Hall said projected increases may be small, but to many struggling below the poverty line, it could mean staying home and doing without.

“We want to see those low-income transit passes frozen until September 2015 when the data is there to actually make an educated decision on financial impact,” said Colleen Huston with Disability Action Hall.

Huston said it does not make sense to add more buses to transit lines if they will just be passing by poor people, leaving them behind.

The city has set aside two weeks for the budget debate.

It is time to plug in the vehicle for many of us when it gets really cold at night.

A Calgary man warns to check electrical cords before plugging-in.

On Nov. 14 around 11 p.m., someone knocked on Andrew Newton’s door and said his garage was on fire.

Newton ran outside to find his 2003 Ford Winstar on fire inside.

“There was some flame and there was quite a bit of smoke coming out from the undercarriage on the driver’s side because the tires were already starting to burn,” said Newton.

He called 911, and the fire department put out the fire before the garage burned down.

They traced the fire to the block heater cord in the vehicle.

“We had some maintenance done about a month, or month-and-a-half, ago and we actually called the guy that did some work on it, and he said he hadn’t looked at the block heater at all,” said Newton.

“But he said he has heard of block heaters causing issues like that before.”

There are not any statistics on block heater fires in Calgary, but according to investigators, exposed or frayed electrical cords cause most fires.

Many auto shops include them on a winter inspection checklist, but mechanics say beyond that, they’re ignored.

Over time, salt, water and heat from the engine can damage the connections, and the older the vehicle, the greater the potential for damage.

“Just over time and continual use plugging in, the cord becomes frail and brittle over time and they can break,” said Dave Dansereau from Lad’s Auto.

“They get closed in hoods and the cord gets broken. We’ve seen them pulled out from somebody forgetting to unplug them, and they get yanked on and then they get pinched.”

Newton is still waiting for the insurance company to settle his claim.

He said when he gets a new vehicle, he will check the block heater connections regularly.

According to the fire department, drivers should only use extension cords designed for outdoor use when plugging-in their cars outside.

Here is your Morning News Rundown for Monday, Nov. 24:

Calgary budget: Don’t expect much change to 4.7 per cent tax hike, Nenshi says – Metro Calgary

Education, residential mix eyed for Calgary’s Booth Centre in East Village – Metro Calgary

Forget city living: Canadian seniors are moving to the suburbs, study finds – Financial Post

How to co-buy a home with your friend in Canada’s expensive market – Financial Post

Turning hotel into affordable housing no easy feat for Drop-in Centre – Calgary Herald

Morning News Rundown is a post from: CREBNow… Read More

Morning News Rundown is a post from: CREBNow

Here is your Morning News Rundown for Tuesday, Nov. 25:

Residents fear housing plans at site of Calgary’s storied Bridgeland School – Metro Calgary

City of Calgary has warned 63 residents about their ‘unidriveways’ to date – Metro Calgary

Public has its say as budget talks begin – Calgary Herald

Morning News Rundown is a post from: CREBNow… Read More

Morning News Rundown is a post from: CREBNow

CALGARY – A Calgary couple is looking for help after their honeymoon took a tragic turn.

Recently married Peter Ingram and Lihsuan Law were honeymooning in Colombia on November 16th, when Law suffered a massive brain hemorrhage.

The incident hospitalized Law, who has now undergone numerous surgeries and tests.

The young woman is in the ICU at E.S.E. Hospital in Medellin, Colombia, but her family hopes to move her back to Canada as soon as possible to ensure she receives the best medical care available.

An online fundraising campaign has been established to help pay for Law’s transportation back to Canada, as well as her medical costs. The cost of flying her back to Canada alone is expected to be more than $100,000 and won’t be covered by her insurance.

According to the online campaign, all donations made through the fund will go directly to Law’s care.

Their fundraising goal has been set at $164,000.

Travis Dickie worked with Law for several years at a café in downtown Calgary, and hopes people will step up to donate.

“[Peter is] doing the best a new husband can… a man who loves his wife. He’s staying strong, he’s by her side,” says Dickie. “He’s updating us regularly… but ultimately, what do you do? You know? You’re hit with massive bills from insurance companies that just won’t pay up or just don’t cover this part of something.”

CLICK HERE to donate to Peter Ingram and Lihsuan Law’s online fundraising campaign.

CALGARY – A portion of southbound Highway 2 was closed for several hours on Tuesday as police investigated a crash.

Two vehicles were involved in a collision near Veterans Boulevard just before 4 a.m.

The incident sent a teenage male to hospital with minor injuries, and forced the closure of Highway 2 between Veterans Boulevard and Yankee Valley Boulevard.

Police say it was indicated to them that a second male may have been involved, but didn’t stay at the scene of the crash.

Investigators believe the trucks weren’t actually driving on the QEII, but had traveled through a fence off of Edmonton Trail to enter the busy highway.

Police were involved in the pursuit of at least one vehicle on Tuesday morning in relation to a break and enter, but won’t confirm if that incident is in any way connected to the collision.

The QEII highway was reopened just before 7:30 a.m.

Calgary City Council continued it’s budget talks for Action Plan 2015-2018 today.

This morning council continued its discussion on the city’s utilities and environmental protection, including Calgary’s water services.

“The numbers are extraordinary and I start to worry that we are building a system in water and wastewater we will just not be able to afford in future generations,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi to city staff.… Read More

Budget #YYC: Water talks is a post from: CREBNow