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

Part three of a three-part series looking at the sinister and spooky side of Calgary’s haunted housing history.

Serving as a place of work for more than 140,000 Calgarians, it may go unnoticed that the majority of this city’s historic buildings also reside downtown.

Lurking among the plethora of glass-and-steel towers representing the core’s newer additions are buildings that have managed to withstand the test of time.… Read More

Supernatural city is a post from: CREBNow

Watch above: A team from the University of Alberta has confirmed and named a previously unknown species of dinosaur. Tom Vernon has the story.

EDMONTON – An old dinosaur has been given a new name.

A new species of ankylosaur was discovered in the Gobi Desert in southern Mongolia in 2000 by a team led by University of Alberta researcher Philip Currie.

A zoological journal published a paper by Currie and others this week that names the creature Zaraapelta nomadis.

Zaraapelta is a combination of Mongolian and Greek works meaning “hedgehog” and “shield.” Nomadis was added to honour Nomadic Expeditions, the Mongolian company that has aided dinosaur digs in the region for almost two decades.

Like other ankylosaurs, Zaraapelta was an armoured plant-eater with a gigantic club for a tail. But it was more spectacular than most, with distinctive horns and an elaborate pattern of bumps and grooves behind its eyes.

Victoria Arbour, a University of Alberta expert in ankylosaurs who has been tracking their family tree, helped write the paper that announced Zaraapelta in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.

She said it’s believed other kinds of dinosaurs, such as crested hadrosaurs or ceratopsians with horns and frills, once used their ornaments during sexual displays.

And ankylosaurs may have too.

Arbour thinks Zaraapelta, along with a couple of other flashy ankylosaurs called Saichania and Tarchia, may have evolved with elaborate embellishments to attract their mates.

“Bone requires a lot of nutrients and metabolic energy to create, and so that investment needs to pay off in some way,” she said in a news release.

“Maybe ankylosaurs had this bumpy ornamentation for protection, but another good explanation is that the horns and bumps on their skulls showed that they were a good mate to choose, in the same way that male peacocks use their tail feathers.”

The discovered Zaraapelta skull is part of a collection at the Mongolian Paleontologist Center.

Watch above: A team from the University of Alberta has confirmed and named a previously unknown species of dinosaur. Tom Vernon has the story.

EDMONTON – An old dinosaur has been given a new name.

A new species of ankylosaur was discovered in the Gobi Desert in southern Mongolia in 2000 by a team led by University of Alberta researcher Philip Currie.

A zoological journal published a paper by Currie and others this week that names the creature Zaraapelta nomadis.

Zaraapelta is a combination of Mongolian and Greek works meaning “hedgehog” and “shield.” Nomadis was added to honour Nomadic Expeditions, the Mongolian company that has aided dinosaur digs in the region for almost two decades.

Like other ankylosaurs, Zaraapelta was an armoured plant-eater with a gigantic club for a tail. But it was more spectacular than most, with distinctive horns and an elaborate pattern of bumps and grooves behind its eyes.

Victoria Arbour, a University of Alberta expert in ankylosaurs who has been tracking their family tree, helped write the paper that announced Zaraapelta in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.

She said it’s believed other kinds of dinosaurs, such as crested hadrosaurs or ceratopsians with horns and frills, once used their ornaments during sexual displays.

And ankylosaurs may have too.

Arbour thinks Zaraapelta, along with a couple of other flashy ankylosaurs called Saichania and Tarchia, may have evolved with elaborate embellishments to attract their mates.

“Bone requires a lot of nutrients and metabolic energy to create, and so that investment needs to pay off in some way,” she said in a news release.

“Maybe ankylosaurs had this bumpy ornamentation for protection, but another good explanation is that the horns and bumps on their skulls showed that they were a good mate to choose, in the same way that male peacocks use their tail feathers.”

The discovered Zaraapelta skull is part of a collection at the Mongolian Paleontologist Center.

Unlike previous years, trick or treaters in Calgary will not have to contend with a snow storm or bitter cold this Halloween.

“We don’t see this very often at end of October, usually we do have snow on the ground,” said Global Calgary weatherman Jordan Witzel.

“By about nine o’clock we’ll sit at nine degrees. “

Not too scary at all.

“The kids can show off their costumes instead of bulking up under winter jackets.. it’ll be great., said Miriam Joly, who’s son Theo is dressing up as a cow.

But Joly remembers other Halloweens when she went out under-dressed.

“I was probably eleven, dressed as a punk rocker.. insisting on not wearing a jacket.. and I froze,” recalled Joly.

It’s not just good news for ghosts and goblins on the trick or treat trail.

With Halloween falling on a Friday, local restaurants and bars are expecting a busy and lucrative night.

“It’s going to be great for business,” said Jon Molyneux of the National.

“I think especially because of all the foot traffic down here on 17th Avenue –  a lot of our business is weather dependent – it’s going to be a great night on 17th.”

But is it perfect storm for trouble in Calgary?

“The disturbers like to get outside too,” said Cst. Jim Lebedeff of the Calgary Police Service.

With that in mind, CPS will have extra eyes and ears out on streets.  And police ask people to be extra cautious this “hallows eve”.

Partner agencies will also be in residential neighborhoods, ensuring everyone can safely enjoy mother nature’s halloween treat.

Alberta’s chief medical health officer doesn’t believe health workers returning from West African countries where Ebola is prevalent should face suspicion or isolation.

“To make it clear, these people are true heroes,” said Dr. James Talbot, Chief Medical Officer of Health.

“They’re putting their lives on the line for the rest of us, and they recognize that none of us are safe – and in any country in the world none of us are completely safe until the people in those three countries are safe,” he added.

But Alberta health officials do have the power to enforce a quarantine, and have in the past.

It’s legislated under the public health act, and was used earlier this year during measles outbreaks in several parts of the province.

“For measles we do have that ability to quarantine people and restrict their activities, and that has been done when there has been a case of measles in a school for non-immunized individiuals for instance,” said Dr. Judy MacDonald of Alberta Health Services.

Last month, Alberta Health sent a letter home to parents warning them any children without immunity to diseases like measles may be barred from school for up to 21 days if they are exposed.

Health officials have the power to lay charges for anyone defying such orders.

“There is that possibility because the public health act is law, and the regulations that accompany it, including the communicable diseases regulation, is law,” added Dr. Macdonald.

When it comes to Ebola, officials maintain the risk to Canadians is low, since he disease is not airborne and people are only infectious while they are experiencing symptoms.

Alberta’s chief medical health officer doesn’t believe health workers returning from West African countries where Ebola is prevalent should face suspicion or isolation.

“To make it clear, these people are true heroes,” said Dr. James Talbot, Chief Medical Officer of Health.

“They’re putting their lives on the line for the rest of us, and they recognize that none of us are safe – and in any country in the world none of us are completely safe until the people in those three countries are safe,” he added.

But Alberta health officials do have the power to enforce a quarantine, and have in the past.

It’s legislated under the public health act, and was used earlier this year during measles outbreaks in several parts of the province.

“For measles we do have that ability to quarantine people and restrict their activities, and that has been done when there has been a case of measles in a school for non-immunized individiuals for instance,” said Dr. Judy MacDonald of Alberta Health Services.

Last month, Alberta Health sent a letter home to parents warning them any children without immunity to diseases like measles may be barred from school for up to 21 days if they are exposed.

Health officials have the power to lay charges for anyone defying such orders.

“There is that possibility because the public health act is law, and the regulations that accompany it, including the communicable diseases regulation, is law,” added Dr. Macdonald.

When it comes to Ebola, officials maintain the risk to Canadians is low, since he disease is not airborne and people are only infectious while they are experiencing symptoms.

CALGARY- A woman is fighting for her life in hospital after a serious crash Friday night on Deerfoot Trail.

Officers were called just before 8 p.m. after a vehicle rolled near the exit ramp at Southland Drive.

Witnesses called 911 saying the vehicle had been driving erratically, before losing control and smashing through a chain link fence.

The 52-year-old driver was transported to the Foothills Hospital in critical condition. No other occupants were in the vehicle.

Police say alcohol appears to be a factor in the crash.

Motion to provide 18-month window under review

Calgary homeowners with existing illegal secondary suites could have an 18-month window to get city approval if a current motion by council is approved.

On Monday, Ward 10 Coun. Andre Chabot suggested establishing a year-and-a-half “relaxation” for homeowners with current suites to meet with city officials and determine if their suites are legal or apply to make them so.… Read More

Council undecided on relaxation of suites is a post from: CREBNow

Motion to provide 18-month window under review

Calgary homeowners with existing illegal secondary suites could have an 18-month window to get city approval if a current motion by council is approved.

On Monday, Ward 10 Coun. Andre Chabot suggested establishing a year-and-a-half “relaxation” for homeowners with current suites to meet with city officials and determine if their suites are legal or apply to make them so.… Read More

Council undecided on relaxation of suites is a post from: CREBNow

Dozens of people gathered Saturday at the first of many sunrise ceremonies set to take place along Memorial Drive. At 8:30 A.M. three flags were raised at the Field of Crosses Memorial Project while people sang the Canadian national anthem.

This year, there are more than 3000 crosses lined up. Each cross represents a fallen southern Alberta soldier and is inscribed with the age, name, rank and regiment of the person who died.

“Every cross tells a story, a humans story. A father lost, a son lost, families that would never be the same again because one man went to fight for what we have now,” Murray McCann said, the founder of ‘Field of Crosses’.

The Field of Crosses runs every year from November 1st to 12th and it coincides with the Calgary Poppy Campaign and the Annual Veterans and Seniors Food Drive. The food drive is in its 8th year and cash and food donations can be made at the Crown Surplus store in Inglewood.

The official kick off took place Saturday afternoon, when several dignitaries were present including representatives from the Armed Forces.

Field of Crosses goes up along Memorial Drive.

Motion to provide 18-month window under review

Calgary homeowners with existing illegal secondary suites could have an 18-month window to get city approval if a current motion by council is approved.

On Monday, Ward 10 Coun. Andre Chabot suggested establishing a year-and-a-half “relaxation” for homeowners with current suites to meet with city officials and determine if their suites are legal or apply to make them so.… Read More

Council undecided on relaxation of suites is a post from: CREBNow

Dozens of people gathered Saturday at the first of many sunrise ceremonies set to take place along Memorial Drive. At 8:30 A.M. three flags were raised at the Field of Crosses Memorial Project while people sang the Canadian national anthem.

This year, there are more than 3000 crosses lined up. Each cross represents a fallen southern Alberta soldier and is inscribed with the age, name, rank and regiment of the person who died.

“Every cross tells a story, a humans story. A father lost, a son lost, families that would never be the same again because one man went to fight for what we have now,” Murray McCann said, the founder of ‘Field of Crosses’.

The Field of Crosses runs every year from November 1st to 12th and it coincides with the Calgary Poppy Campaign and the Annual Veterans and Seniors Food Drive. The food drive is in its 8th year and cash and food donations can be made at the Crown Surplus store in Inglewood.

The official kick off took place Saturday afternoon, when several dignitaries were present including representatives from the Armed Forces.

Field of Crosses goes up along Memorial Drive.

Making holiday wreaths from nature’s bounty

* photo courtesy Rocky Mountain Wreaths

It’s that time of year, when the days grow short, your windows need scraping and your plastic sparkly wreath comes out from storage for its repeat seasonal appearance.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.You could start cutting greens in your own landscape and bring the rich evergreen smells of the season into your home.… Read More

‘Tis the season 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

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

Originally a “suburb perfect” vision of Englishman John Hextall, Bowness dates back to the early 1900s.

A popular destination for Calgarians looking for a weekend getaway was Bowness Park, constructed in 1911 and still one of the most sought after parks in the city today.

Bowness was annexed by the City of Calgary in 1964 and continues to be a destination for homebuyers, recreation enthusiasts, foodies and more.… Read More

In photos: Bonus Bowness is a post from: CREBNow