Do you believe in ghosts? If you’re a non-believer, Calgary Ghost Tours just might change your mind.

Around for eight years, the company started organizing tours around the historic communities of Inglewood and Kensington – as well as downtown and even Banff – in the search for signs of the dearly departed.… Read More

Pop the Question: Johanna Lane is a post from: CREBNow

Echeverias proving popular for summer nuptials

Two out of two brides have asked me to help them find the same plants for their wedding this summer.

OK – it’s true – I only know two brides-to-be, but I was surprised they both inquired about the same plant. My niece Ayla and the daughter of my university roommate , Kendra, asked me about succulent plants for their big days.… Read More

Wedding bell bliss is a post from: CREBNow

New listings improve for all product types in the city

Following a slow start to the year, improved weather and price gains supported new listings growth.

New residential listings in April totaled 3,754 units, an eight per cent increase over the previous year. Meanwhile sales activity totaled 2,545 units for the month, a seven per cent increase over April 2013.… Read More

Price gains encouraging new listings is a post from: CREBNow

May sales activity highest ever recorded for Calgary

There were 2,948 sales in Calgary in May, a 16 per cent increase compared to the same time last year.

The numbers are the highest recorded in Calgary for that month, ever.

“Strong sales activity is a reflection of improving fundamental conditions such as a growing population, favourable lending rates and rising wages,” said Ann-Marie Lurie, CREB’s chief economist.… Read More

May day is a post from: CREBNow

West Village redevelopment taking back seat to twin to the east

With its eastern counterpart the darling of Calgary’s development scene, the West Village couldn’t be blamed for feeling a bit like a forgotten sibling.

Bounded to the north by the Bow River, to the east by 11th Street SW, to the south by the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks and to the west by Crowchild Trail, the area was once envisioned to be a “transit-oriented, sustainable urban community,” yet sits idle as “an auto-oriented brownfield site.”

While City officials maintain redeveloping West Village is still the plan, it remains a distant goal, at least for now.… Read More

Sibling rivalry is a post from: CREBNow

A quartet of spills in northern Alberta has been oozing bitumen emulsion for more than a year with no sign of stopping, and the provincial regulator’s latest report finds the oil company’s own extraction method could be partly to blame.

A massive tailings pond breach sends a wall of potentially toxic mine waste flooding through central British Columbia.

Which garners more outrage?

The second one – by a long shot.

Mount Polley mine‘s tailings pond breach in B.C. has sparked a state of emergency as residents’ tap water is deemed unusable and provincial authorities scramble to determine just how toxic the spilled wastewater is, where the sludge went and what’s in the suspended solids.

Mine owner Imperial Metals has seen its share prices tank about 40 per centin the days following the breach.

Canadian Natural Resources Limited, on the other hand, has been barely bruised by the months-long series of spills at its Cold Lake site, even after an Alberta Energy Regulator report concluded the company’s high-pressure steaming is just too much for the rock, causing it to fracture and leak bitumen.

That conclusion’s a big deal, said Dinara Millington, vice-president of research with the Canadian Energy Research Institute: It suggests the operation itself is unsound, and has implications beyond these four spills, or even CNRL’s operations in that area.

“The regulator has been called by the public and Pembina Institute and other environmental institutes to  undertake a study where they would be looking at [cyclical steam stimulation] in general, and whether it’s even appropriate in a place where CNRL is,” she said.

“It will set a huge precedent for anyone who wants to get into that area.”

But shareholders don’t seem concerned: CNRL’s share price sits at about $44 now, compared to $31 a year ago.

And the public outcry in the days following B.C.’s tailings spill so far exceeds any outrage connected to Alberta’s ongoing bitumen spills.

Calgary billionaire Murray Edwards is Imperial’s controlling shareholder, as well as CNRL’s chairman and founder.

Why the divergent responses?

From a shareholder perspective, it could be a simple evaluation of risk, Millington said.

“CNRL, as a company, has large reserves, large assets large capital invested into various projects …  they could, for example, if the regulator says to walk away from the [Cold Lake] project, they have options.”

The sharply different reaction for Imperial Metals, she said, “Is directly related back to the concept of social licence: whether the company has that social licence, whether they’ve been able to obtain it and retain it. … You need to continue with what you said you were going to do, which is being the environmental steward of the land that you’re occupying. “

And the intimation from both the B.C. government and former employees that there were problems with the tailings site that should have been addressed earlier likely doesn’t inspire confidence, she said.

The tailings breach also has a more immediate and more visible human impact than the months of bitumen seeping from what is, effectively, a weapons range that’s a fair distance from even more remote First Nations communities.

But that just makes its effects more insidious, she said.

“We don’t know what the long-lasting impact can be – the emulsion can be seeping into the underground water resources or reaching small lakes and rivers and streams.”

WATCH ABOVE: Global meteorologist Nicola Crosbie’s weather forecast from Friday’s edition of the News Hour. For more info, check out Global Edmonton’s weather page.

EDMONTON – High winds and heavy rain drenched areas across the Capital Region Friday, wreaking havoc on city roads, trees, power lines and resident’s basements.

The weather caused flight delays and cancellations at the Edmonton International Airport. As of 2:00 p.m. Friday, approximately 48 flights had been cancelled or diverted. EIA says passengers whose flights have been cancelled should contact their airlines for rebooking.

READ MORE: High winds cancel or divert dozens of flights at EIA 

Margie Balaneski, who lives in the area of 145 Avenue and 96 Street, spent most of the evening vacuuming water out of her basement after area sewer lines backed up into her home.

Balaneski says she has a back water shut off valve, but “it couldn’t hold the pressure that came through the lines.”

This isn’t the first time Balaneski has been forced to clean up following heavy rainfall; in August 2013, she was vacuuming water out of her basement after an intense overnight thunderstorm.

“We experienced the same problem. We have sewer water in the basement and we have been busy… vacuuming it up, taking it out in bucket loads,” she explained Friday night.

“History has repeated itself.”

READ MORE: Flooding in Edmonton following overnight storm

Due to the extreme weather, the Interstellar Rodeo was cancelled Friday night.  Artists that were set to play Friday - or whose flights had been cancelled or delayed – will be moved to Monday.

“Edmontonians are hearty, and not afraid of a little rain,” said producer Shauna de Cartier, “but the high winds and rain make for unsafe conditions and we decided to work on a Plan B.”

Organizers say Corb Lund and the Hurtin’ Albertans, scheduled to perform Friday, will be back Monday night. Saturday and Sunday performances will go ahead as scheduled. All Friday Interstellar Rodeo tickets will be honoured on Monday night.

The wet weather also rained on Taste of Edmonton’s parade Friday night.

More sad news. We’ll have to shut down at 7pm tonight due to flooding. Still have a couple wet hours left though! #yeg #yegwx

— Taste Of Edmonton (@TasteOfEdm) July 25, 2014

Okay update, we should be able to stay open as long as people keep coming. Restaurants will be open as long as it’s safe to cook!

— Taste Of Edmonton (@TasteOfEdm) July 25, 2014

But, earlier in the day, some brave souls battled the rain to check out the treats.

“There are no line-ups,” said Amber Durocher.  “You don’t have to push anyone out of your way and the food is just as good.”

Concerts at the K-Days midway went ahead as scheduled Friday night. Northlands staff offered free gate admission after 6 p.m.

Summerland Tour won’t be washed away! Free @KDaysyeg gate admission after 6 p.m. tonight. https://t.co/PbmMStePaQ #KDAYS

— K-Days (@KDaysyeg) July 25, 2014

The nightly fireworks show was cancelled, though, as the grounds closed following the concerts.

According to Global Meteorologist Nicola Crosbie, a cold low has moved in from Northern B.C., creating major instability across central Alberta.

Rain was falling at a rate of about five mm per hour, which Crosbie says is significant.

The unofficial rainfall amount in west Edmonton is 100 mm, which Crosbie says fell between 11 p.m. Thursday and 5 p.m. Friday. The average rainfall for July is 94 mm, according to Crosbie.

A wind warning was in place for much of the day, but it was dropped by Environment Canada by Friday evening.

Fortunately, this wet and rainy day is not expected to carry on throughout the weekend.

“The good news is the forecast really improves for Saturday,” Crosbie explains. “A strong ridge of high pressure builds in again and temperatures will head into the 30s by Tuesday.”

Discover hidden gems a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of Calgary

For those who call the area home, the MD of Foothills is a welcome reprieve from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Comprised of rolling hills, golden wheat fields, leafy woodlands and mountain vistas, the 3,600-square-kilometre area south of the Calgary city limits surrounds the towns of Okotoks, High River, Turner Valley and Black Diamond as well as the village of Longview and Eden Valley Indian Reserve.… Read More

Feature: MD of Foothills is a post from: CREBNow

Storied, flood-damaged park to re-open by end of year

A historical and natural jewel in the city of Calgary, Bowness Park is expected to be once again open to the public by the end of the year.

In the midst of a $12 million redevelopment project, the park was one of the areas hit hardest by June 2013 flooding.… Read More

Back to Bowness Park is a post from: CREBNow

Hardy flowers for the cool spring season

A giant cardboard box of flowers arrived last week. Every plant was primly upright and not a drop of soil had escaped a single pot.

What?

Who gets their annuals shipped in?

Well, I do, but quite accidentally. Ten years ago, I filmed a television series for Home and Garden television
called Bugs and Blooms.… Read More

Punchy pansies is a post from: CREBNow

CREB’s first female board director discusses her life and her craft

Grace Turley was never one for barriers.

As a small child she would escape her family yard in order to explore the surrounding town of Ochre River, Manitoba. That sense of curiosity would lead her to the world of real estate years later when she settled with a family of her own in Calgary.… Read More

Ninety-nine and counting is a post from: CREBNow

Recreation properties offer a scenic and serene home away from home

The dip of a paddle in the lake, the sizzle of a steak on the barbecue, the haunting hoot of a Great-Horned Owl: welcome to recreational living.

In a recreation survey conducted by the Alberta government, the top three favourite leisure activity of respondents was walking, golf and camping.… Read More

A little rest and relaxation is a post from: CREBNow

Government report could change rules forcing disclosure of grow-op properties in Alberta

Alberta homebuyers could soon have more protection in place to ensure they don’t buy former grow-ops without their knowledge.

Last week, the government released a report titled Grow-Op Free Alberta Recommendations concerning proposed legislation to combat the ill effects of marijuana grow operations on Albertans, their homes and
neighbourhoods.

Counted among the 37 suggestions contained in the report is a requirement that potential buyers be informed if a house was ever used as a grow-op.… Read More

Growing concerns is a post from: CREBNow

Town offers country-style living with room for plenty of recreation

Situated on the banks of the Sheep River, approximately 18 kilometres south of Calgary, Okotoks offers country-style living just a short drive from the big city.

Charlie-Mae Marlatt, an Okotoks resident of three years said, “I like living in Okotoks because it is family oriented, family focused, has a small town community feel and it is 10 to 15 minutes away from the city.”

Marlatt’s favourite pastimes include running on the pathway system, going to the coffee shops in Olde Towne Okotoks and shopping on Elizabeth Street.… Read More

So much in Okotoks is a post from: CREBNow

New rules will see spending capped, more people on art jury

The City of Calgary is making changes to its public art policy following a controversial $471,000-project Mayor Naheed Neshi has called “awful.”

Under the old policy, the city’s “per cent for public art” was calculated at one per cent of the total capital project costs for City capital budget projects over $1 million.… Read More

Changes coming to public art policy is a post from: CREBNow

Bill 13 to enhance protection for owners, improve condo communities

Alberta condo owners can expect easier access to information and quicker dispute resolutions thanks to new amendments to the province’s condo property act.

Improved disclosure and governance were among the amendments tabled after the Alberta Government introduced Bill 13: The Condominium Property Act.

“Buying a condo is an affordable option for Albertans entering the housing market and is often their first real estate experience,” said Doug Griffiths, minister of Service Alberta.… Read More

Province introduces new condo act is a post from: CREBNow

High River remains resilient as recovery ramps up

One year after floods ripped through High River, the town is ready to turn the page.

On June 20, High River Mayor Craig Snodgrass joined deputy Premier Dave Hancock, fellow
dignitaries and hundreds of residents to commemorate the resilience shown by those living in and
around the area during the June 2013 floods, as well as the recovery now well underway.… Read More

Blue skies ahead is a post from: CREBNow

Storied, flood-damaged park to re-open by end of year

A historical and natural jewel in the city of Calgary, Bowness Park is expected to be once again open to the public by the end of the year.

In the midst of a $12 million redevelopment project, the park was one of the areas hit hardest by June 2013 flooding.… Read More

Back to Bowness Park is a post from: CREBNow

Community gardens not a new trend in Calgary

* Part two of the three-part series YYC Grows

While community gardens may seem to be a new trend in Calgary, they’ve actually been around a century.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Calgary Vacant Lots Garden Club’s first meeting.

“It started because they were really interested in getting town planning information and the goal behind it was they realized they kind of had a produce crisis,” said Gael Blackhall, co-ordinator for the Community Garden Resource Network of the Calgary Horticultural Society.… Read More

Making a comeback is a post from: CREBNow