Cut Through Traffic Survey Results

By Tim Schaefer, Sunnyside Resident

Thank you everyone who took the time to complete the HSCA Mobility survey on ideas to mitigate cut-through traffic during the Sunnyside flood barrier construction. The City will have Memorial Drive reduced to 1 lane in either direction for up to 2 years. With traffic volume above pre-Covid levels, the lane reduction will inevitably result in cut-through traffic in Sunnyside.

In total there were 95 responses, which provides a 95% confidence level with a +/- 10% margin of error. In non-statistical terms, the results provide a good indication how the community feels about the temporary ideas discussed. The survey was NOT a vote on whether any of the ideas will proceed. It is up to the City of Calgary to decide what measures are taken, if any, and they will use their own process and engagement before any measures are taken.

Overall, there was majority-support for all the temporary measures covered. In summary, the positive support was as follows:

76% Yes - 30km/h Limit

67% Yes - Memorial Limit

75% Yes - Inbound Access

59% Yes - Outbound Access

64% Yes - Closing Lower Deck

74% Yes - Limit Lower Deck

Speed Limit

On the idea of temporarily lowering the speed limit to 30km/h for the entire neighbourhood, 76% of respondents supported the idea. This isn’t surprising because Sunnyside has, for the most part, narrow streets that are better suited for a 30km/h limit. It seems that residents see this as a great opportunity to try out a safer speed for people not in cars.

Temporarily lowering the speed limit on Memorial from 14 St to Centre Street was supported somewhat less, with 67% responding Yes. Today the Memorial limit is 50km/h within Sunnyside, but east of Centre St the limit is 70km/h. The idea of lowering the limit is to reduce the appeal of using Memorial by expanding a lower speed beyond just the construction zone.

Limiting Access

For the idea of limiting access inbound to Sunnyside on the streets connecting to Memorial, 41% liked the idea for most but not all streets, while 34% liked the idea only during rush hour. The last time the City closed access to a street was 7 St NW in the 1980’s and the additional comments provided in the survey suggested the greatest interest to try out the next closure would be on one or all of these streets: 4, 4A, 5 and 5A St NW.

For the idea of limiting access outbound from Sunnyside on 2 Av and 4 Av NW where they connect to 10 St NW, thereby limiting the feasibility of cut-through, the support was a bit nuanced.  30% liked the idea only during rush hour, while an additional 29% liked the idea all the time for 4 Ave. Since the survey was released, the 2024 Gladstone Connect project has become known which will involve major construction on 4 Av NW. This project will result in partial and full closure that will effectively deliver the same result.

Lower Deck Bridge

Limiting the amount of traffic on Memorial that comes from the Centre Street bridge was the last idea covered in the survey. The concept here is limiting or eliminating traffic from the Lower Deck would lower the source of traffic and lessen cut-through during the flood barrier construction.

For the idea of temporarily closing the Lower Deck to all vehicle traffic, 64% of respondents said Yes. There was greater support for limiting the traffic with 74% of respondents saying Yes to not having alternating lanes on the lower deck during rush hour.

Since the survey was released, the rehabilitation of the 4 Ave flyover into downtown has become known. That project is expected to last 18 months and will reduce that connector from Memorial from 2 lanes down to 1. Given this, it is unlikely the City will close the Lower Deck as access into downtown will already be impacted but limiting outbound access could still be an option for the City to consider.

Survey Comments

Lots of additional comments were provided by respondents, thank you! The most common “other ideas” shared were adding speed bumps, more 4-way stops and more police enforcement. About 9% of all survey respondents were opposed to any measure being taken whatsoever, with their comments focused on their ability to drive.

When asked what would upset people the most, the comments most frequent and equally shared were 1. If the City severely impacted resident’s vehicle access and 2. If the City were to do nothing to address cut-through.

Your Health is Your Wealth: Badminton at HSCA

By Grace Yuen

Come try Badminton and experience the wonderful benefits for you. It can build up strong muscle mass and strengthen your heart and bones. It boosts your metabolism and improves your mental agility. In a relaxing and fun atmosphere, it can ease your stress and help develop good social relationships. A sport that has a very long history and is well loved around the world in Asia and Europe. 

We meet every Monday and Thursday, year-round from 10:30 am-1:00 pm at the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Center (1320-5 Ave NW), a very centralized location. We are also the cheapest in town with only $4 (cash) per each visit and $1 drop-in shuttle fee but for a better deal you can purchase a punch card online of $70 for 20x or $10 annual shuttle fee. Most of the players are post beginners to advanced level. High school and up students are also welcome. There are four well maintained rubberized compound floors, showers and lockers, water fountain, vending machine and ATM machine. There is also free parking. We have been playing here for almost 20 years. We are using Yonex 300 plastic shuttles as a group and some of our players are gold medalists of the Alberta Provincial  55+ this year. So come and join us and have some fun playing this interesting sport which is both exciting to play and beautiful to watch! 

For more information, please contact Grace Yuen at gymyuen@gmail.com or visit www.hsca.ca/badminton. 

 

Rain Barrel Program: A Message from the City of Calgary (Ward 7)

The City has collaborated with Green Calgary to deliver the Rain Barrel Sales program since 2010. These sales act as a major fundraiser and community engagement tool for Green Calgary and are an important part of The City’s water conservation programming. Rain barrels collect rainwater and provide a free source of water for our yards. Plants appreciate the soft, warm water, and homeowners can help reduce the amount of rainwater runoff that enters our rivers and creeks untreated. Calgary's average rainfall of 5 cm per month will provide approximately 4,000 liters of water. This can fill a typical 45-gallon rain barrel 20 times.

Starting this April, the “Together we can make every drop count” campaign will provide Calgarians with simple ways they can do their part to conserve water and use it wisely at home, in their yards and at their businesses. As we look ahead to spring, we should think about preparing our yards for dry conditions and potential water restrictions. Using a rain barrel is a great way to capture and reuse rainwater in your yard during this drought.

Rain barrels are available for pre-order through Green Calgary and cost $78+GST. You can also buy them later this spring at the following dates/locations between 10am and 2pm:

  • April 27th – IKEA (8000 11 Street SE)

  • May 4th - Dalhousie Co-Op (5505 Shaganappi Trail NW)

  • May 11th – Calgary Horticultural Society (2725 33 Avenue SW)

  • May 25th - Deer Valley Co-Op (1221 Canyon Meadows Dr SE)

  • June 1st – The Genesis Centre (7555 Falconridge Boulevard NE)

  • June 8th - West Springs Co-Op (917 85 St SW)

  • June 15th - Inglewood Community Garden (2297 17 St SE)

  • June 22nd - Community Natural Foods Chinook (202 61 Ave SW)

Pre-orders for rain barrels start on April 1st and can be picked up at these locations or can be delivered to you by Green Calgary for a delivery fee. Please note, pre-order sale quantities are limited.

Various types of rain barrels are also available at local hardware stores and garden centres around Calgary.

Remember, every drop counts when it comes to water conservation. By incorporating a rain barrel into your outdoor routine, you're not only benefiting your yard but also contributing to a greener, more sustainable Calgary.

For more information about rain barrels, visit The City’s rain barrel program page.

HSCA Volunteers: THANK YOU!

HSCA has an incredible team of volunteers! National Volunteer Week takes place April 14-20. Volunteer Canada’s theme for 2024 is ‘Every Moment Matters’. This theme highlights the importance of every volunteer and contribution they make at HSCA. THANK YOU to our incredible volunteer community—we truly couldn’t do it without you! The sharing of time, skills, empathy, and creativity is vital to the inclusivity, strength, and well-being of our community. Now more than ever, Every Moment Matters.  

Are you an HSCA Volunteer? Consider being featured in HSCA’s Spotlight series so we can highlight the important impact you’re making in our community! What is the HSCA Spotlight series? HSCA ‘Spotlight’ series is a fun way to ‘spotlight’ the amazing people around our community and within HSCA. The spotlight form consists of a short series of questions, and you are welcome to skip any and you may also submit an optional photo/selfie (instructions included in the form). If you are interested in being featured in this series, please take a moment to fill out our HSCA Spotlight form or connect with an HSCA Team member to arrange an in-person Q & A. Your submission/interview may be included in HSCA Communication channels, including The Hillhurst Sunnyside Voice newsletter, e-newsletter, HSCA social media, and/or our Annual Report. We recognize volunteer efforts continue year-round so you may submit this form at any time! 

Here is the HSCA Spotlight Form

Samaritan Club of Calgary Sale

Samaritan Club of Calgary Sale
Saturday, April 27th, 9am-1pm

It’s that time of year again! The Samaritan Sale will be back at HSCA on Saturday, April 27 from 9am-1pm. This semi-annual sale is a great way to save on household goods, clothes, shoes, books, toys, collectibles, and more. Bring your own bag and stop by HSCA to check out this exciting and longstanding event sale.  

 

Did you know? The Samaritan Club of Calgary’s Super Thrift Sale is the oldest, largest, single day ‘thrift’ sale event in the city. 2024 marks the 39th year, All proceeds from the sale go to Calgarians in need.

 

Check www.samaritanclub.ca for more details.

Bowview Bluefins Swim Club is BACK!

Bowview Bluefins Swim Club- Reg NOW OPEN!

Bowview Outdoor Pool is bringing back a new and exciting approach to learning advanced swimming skills for swimmers 7 - 12 years old. The swim club will provide professional coaching, stroke correction/improvement, technical instruction, and a non-competitive swim meet at the end of the season! 

Swimmers must have completed Swimmer 4 or be able to comfortably swim a minimum of 25 meters. 

$220 for 11 weeks of swimming, PLUS all swimmers receive a Bowview Bluefins Swim Cap and T-Shirt!

Bowview Bluefins runs June 18th – August 27th; Tuesday evenings from 7:50pm-8:50pm at Bowview Outdoor Pool.

Registration can be found at: https://app.amilia.com/store/en/hsca/shop/programs.

Visit: https://www.hsca.ca/bowview-outdoor-pool for more information.

Upper Plateau Separation Project Update: Road Closures (March 2-April 8)

A Message from the City of Calgary

There will be some road closures related to the Upper Plateau Separation Project in Hillhurst Sunnyside. This project work is part of the ongoing stormwater upgrades happening in the northwest inner-city area and involves the installation of a larger, dedicated pipe that will collect and move stormwater from the communities on top of the hill directly to the Bow River, bypassing Sunnyside, to help prevent flooding in the community. 
 
For this final phase of work, The City needs to install two new storm pipes across 10 Street NW and make modifications to existing infrastructure on 10 St NW. 
This construction will require closing 10 Street traffic between Sait Way NW and just north of 5 Av NW, adjacent to Riley Park. 

10 St. NW will remain open between 16 Avenue NW and Sait Way NW, allowing for access in and out of SAIT.

To complete the work as quickly as possible, and minimize disruption to residents and commuters, crews will be working during the day and at night between March 2 and April 8, 2024. 
 
Construction Impacts 
March 2 – 8: Within the construction area, two northbound lanes on 10 St NW will be closed, with southbound lane and pedestrian sidewalk open for vehicles traveling southbound and pedestrians only.  Cyclist detour will be in place.
 
March 9 – April 8: Full road closure of 10 St NW within the work area, between Sait Way NW and adjacent to Riley Park, north of 5 Av NW. 

April 9: 10 Street re-opens. 
 
The City takes all efforts to limit work to daytime hours, but for this project it is necessary to work at night to complete the work safely, efficiently, and minimize the disruption to residents and commuters in the area. This approach will lead to construction noise at night.
 
Transit Impacts 
Bus Routes 4 and 5 will be detoured. Route 4 stops 8046, 7672, and 8968, as well as Route 5 stops 5244, 8962, and 5245 will be temporarily closed. Full transit detour information, and temporary stop locations will be posted to calgarytransit.com/serviceupdates and on the mobile Transit app.

Project Information or Questions If you have any questions about this work or the project please contact 311 or visit calgary.ca/sunnysidecdi for more information.

HSCA Celebrates Lunar New Year!


February 10th marked the beginning of Lunar New Year and HSCA kicked off the celebrations! Celebrations and learnings were incorporated into our childcare programming as well as our Sip ‘n’ Chat and Neighbour Night events. You may have noticed the beautiful paper decorations hanging in our Hearth room! Our Sip ‘n’ Chat & Neighbour Night blended Chinese and Japanese traditions to celebrate and decorate for the new year. Sip ‘n’ Chat participants made origami cranes to represent peace and Neighbour Night featured carefully selected Chinese dishes (representing luck and prosperity) and Japanese dishes.

March is Community Association Awareness Month

Did you know?  

Here’s 6 ways You can get involved at HSCA

  1. Attend HSCA programming, recreation, or one of our weekly markets (visit HSCA's programs and recreation calendar 

  2. Purchase or renew your HSCA Membership (check out the perks, discounts, and special offers from amazing local businesses) 

  3. Volunteer (visit www.hsca.ca/volunteer)  

  4. Sign up for the HSCA e-newsletter  

  5. Join a sub-committee (learn more about the Mobility, Heritage, and Sunnyside Brightening Committees here) 

  6. Share your VOICE! Submit content, photos, and/or event details to the HSCA blog or Voice newsletter (email stephanie.c@hsca.ca or check our Resident Submission page). 

Sunnyside’s Cut-Through Traffic Dilemma

By Tim Schaefer, Sunnyside Resident

Sunnyside is on the cusp of a major cut through traffic problem. This time it will be bigger than anything we’ve ever seen before.

In 2023, Memorial Drive in Sunnyside saw upwards of 35,000 vehicles each day, with 17,000 vehicles heading east, and 18,000 heading west. This data is according to the City of Calgary’s Traffic Counts System that is available on Calgary.ca. These are record high volumes, demonstrating that Memorial Drive has fully returned to pre-pandemic traffic levels and then some.

As any Sunnyside resident will know, everything is fine on Memorial Drive, until it’s not. As soon as there’s a backup, drivers who are stuck idling beside one of the six streets that intersect Memorial consider cutting through Sunnyside. When they do, Sunnyside’s residential streets, like 2 Ave NW which typically only sees 2,000 vehicles a day, fall into a combination of gridlock and dangerously fast-moving vehicles.

So, what’s about to change? The construction of the new Sunnyside Flood Barrier.

Sunnyside residents have been patiently waiting for 11 years to see a new and better flood barrier constructed and it is finally going to happen! But when construction starts, Memorial Drive will be reduced to 1 lane in either direction. This lane reduction is estimated to last between 18 and 24 months.

Without any measures taken to dissuade drivers from cutting through Sunnyside, residents can expect to see commuters congesting and speeding on our streets for up to 2 years.

What can be done?

Cut-through traffic is not a new concern for Sunnyside, so there are lots of ideas that have been implemented or considered in the past. There are also new ideas that we haven’t tried before, and this may be the opportunity to pilot them during the flood barrier construction. Here are some examples:

Closing off access. You can’t cut through what you can’t access. In 1980, access to Memorial on 7 St NW was closed. More of the remaining six streets that access Memorial could be closed as well.  But Sunnyside residents also like their access to Memorial Drive resulting in past considerations of this measure being dismissed. Maybe now is the time to pilot this idea with temporary barriers. For example, at the east end of Sunnyside, all but one of the streets connecting to Memorial could be blocked off with the remaining street having a temporary traffic light to ensure access is possible. 

Closing access could also happen at the other end. You can’t cut through Sunnyside if it’s a dead end. Closing the neighbourhood’s west-bound vehicle access to 10 St NW from 2 Ave NW and 4 Ave NW during the evening rush hour, would make Sunnyside only exit-able by vehicle from Memorial for a couple hours each afternoon. Having signs at the east end entry points explaining no through access would deter drivers from trying.

Lowering the Speed Limit. Drivers who choose to cut through are looking for a fast route to escape congestion.  Maybe Sunnyside should pilot a 30 km/h neighbourhood speed limit, that way the neighbourhood isn’t offering a “fast” alternative. The speed limit on Memorial Drive could also be lowered. It is a major east-west corridor for vehicle traffic and people view it as a quick way to get across this part of the city. Lowering the speed limit on Memorial keeps that corridor open, but makes it less attractive. For example the speed limit on Memorial between Edmonton Trail and 14 Street NW could be lowered down to 40 km/h or even 30 km/h during the construction phase.

Closing Centre Street Lower Deck. The City has in recent years closed the lower deck to vehicle traffic. First during the pandemic and then later to accommodate flood mitigation construction. Closing the lower deck during construction of the flood barrier would eliminate a source of the traffic created on Memorial Drive that ultimately will cut-through Sunnyside. If closing the lower deck is a “bridge too far” (pun intended), maybe eliminating alternating lanes during the evening rush hour to lessen the volume of vehicles on Memorial is worth considering.

What ideas do you like? Do you have other ideas you’d like the city to pilot during the flood barrier construction?

The HSCA Mobility Committee would like to know your thoughts and ideas. You can let us know using the survey accessed in the following QR Code. You can also share your thoughts or concerns directly with the City by making a 311 request online or by phone. You can also contact the Ward 7 office and let them know you’d like to see proactive measures taken.

 

Cut-Through Traffic Survey is available here

or

February is Black History Month

February is Black History Month. The theme for 2024 is Black Excellence: A Heritage to Celebrate; a Future to Build (Canada, 2024). For a list of Black History Events in Calgary, visit the Centre for Newcomers ‘Black History Events in Calgary 2024’ page! 

Is there a Black History community event HSCA can amplify? Please reach out to stephanie.c@hsca.ca
 
Check out:   

 

 

HSCA Spotlight Series: Meet Hannah!

Meet Hannah! Hannah is HSCA’s new Activities and Rental Coordinator and Bowview Outdoor Pool Manager during the pool season! You may have seen Hannah around HSCA already or at the pool last year. Hannah brings great energy and we’re so excited to have her join our team. Please say hello to Hannah if you see her around HSCA! Let’s get to know Hannah...in 5 questions or less!   

 

Q. Ask me more about:

A. Theatre, Movies, Airplanes, Cars, and Food 

Q. What is your favourite part about HSCA? 

A. Meeting new people everyday and learning about their experiences in life. 

Q. What does community mean to you? 

A. Having a group of people to share common experiences with. 

Q. What is your favourite part of the Hillhurst Sunnyside community? (examples: walks, people, places to grab coffee, etc.). 

A. Going for a walk up Grasshopper Hill and looking over the city skyline. Driving through Kensington on a warm summer's night and seeing everyone enjoying the ambience and nightlife. 

Q. Finish this sentence: 'On Saturday mornings, you can usually find me...' 

A. Listening to calming music and talking with my fiancé or dad. 

HSCA Spotlight Series: Meet Dorraine

We’re thrilled to introduce you to HSCA’s intern, Dorraine! Dorraine is a 1st year MSW student and is doing her practicum at HSCA from January- April 2024. Dorraine will be working closely with HSCA’s Community Connections Coordinator, Reiko, facilitating and supporting out Sip ‘n’ Chat and Neighbour Night, and leading our yearly Tax Clinic.  If you see Dorraine at HSCA, please say hello and welcome her! Let’s get to know Dorraine...in 5 questions or less!  

Q: What interested you in doing your practicum at HSCA? 

A: Seeing the connection HSCA has with its community 

Q: What keeps you busy outside of your role at HSCA? 

A: Grad school, work, making time for family/friends, going to the movies, and visiting different coffee shops 

Q: Ask me more about:  

A: Movies, hiking, food, and cats! 

Q: What inspires you? 

A: Connecting with others and hearing their stories. 

Q: Finish this sentence: 'On Saturday mornings, you can usually find me...' 

A: Relaxing with my cat Nova and watching movies from the 80's/90's. 

Building Social and Community Life: Violet King and Theodore King

This is an excerpt from the Hillhurst Sunnyside Historical Context paper, ‘Building Social and Community Life (pp. 80-81). For more on the history of our neighborhood, check out the full paper: https://www.hsca.ca/historical-context-paper.

 Two Sunnyside residents played an important role in the movement towards change, notable Canadian racial equality pioneers, Violet and Theodore (Ted) King. Violet (1929-1982) broke barriers for both gender and racial equality. In 1954 she became the first Black person to obtain a law degree in Alberta and the first to be admitted to the Alberta bar, the latter being a feat that would not be repeated for another decade. She was also Canada’s first Black female lawyer. Her brother Ted was an early human rights advocate who served as president of the Alberta Association for the Advancement of Coloured People. This was a time when hotels and motels could refuse accommodation to people of visible minorities, and Ted used the courts to fight this discrimination.

Violet and Ted’s parents Stella, a seamstress and cook, and her husband John moved to Sunnyside in 1929 to raise their family. John worked as a sleeping car porter, one of the few occupations available to Blacks prior to the First Work War. John’s parents, African Americans who emigrated in 1911 from Oklahoma to a small farming community in Alberta, had also faced discrimination when in the early 19th Century politicians were attempting to implement policy that would restrict the number of Black immigrants to the Canadian Prairies. Fortunately these policies were never adopted.

February is Black History Month

Did You Know…

·      On Feb. 1, 1996- The first Black History Month in Canada was declared.

·      On Jan. 31, 2017- The Government of Alberta officially proclaimed February as Black History Month in Alberta.

How do Kids Travel to Queen Elizabeth High School?

By Tim Schaefer

In the spring of 2023, Youth En Route (YER) a Calgary based advocacy group for active transportation (e.g., walking and biking), conducted a survey of Queen Elizabeth High School (Queen E) students to find out how they travelled to and from school. This was part of a set of engagements YER conducted with ten high schools in Calgary.

When asked the question: How do you usually travel to school? The Queen E students answered as follows:

43% Walk

36% Bus

18% Private Vehicle

3% Bike

These numbers are good when it comes to walking. Of all the 10 schools surveyed, Queen E student ranked highest in walking. The next closest High School only had 21% who walked and the average of the 10 schools was only 14%.

Before we celebrate too much, the good walking numbers are largely attributed to the catchment area for Queen E being relatively close by; it’s entirely within a 3 km radius of the school. Most other schools surveyed have much larger and fragmented catchment areas that are not great for walking numbers.

Circling back to the question, “How do kids travel to Queen E?”, the majority of students (54%) are taking motorized transport through either a yellow bus service, Calgary Transit or in a private vehicle. So there remains a significant opportunity for more students to walk and bike to school and realize the physical and mental health benefits it offers.

One question that bears asking is what are the reasons students choose the method they use to travel to school? The YER survey found the top two reasons for Queen E students were 1. Convenience and 2. Travel Time.

Making improvements to the routes kids take to walk and bike to school so they are convenient and fast can really help to encourage more kids to use active mobility. Safer streets with lower speeds, and better cross walks certainly make it more comfortable for kids to walk. Separated mobility lanes that allow kids to ride to school on bikes or scooters in a protected space from cars and trucks can also make a huge difference.

The Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association Mobility team has been working with the City to identify opportunities and has been advocating for safer streets to allow more kids to choose walking and biking to school.

If you’d like to get involved and support these opportunities, please email planning@hsca.ca.

To read the YER report on Queen E, go to youthenroute.ca.

Floodplain Policies and Regulations

Submitted by HSCA’s EPARC Committee

The City of Calgary is inviting feedback on future floodplain policies and regulations through the January 29 to March 3 Calgary River Valleys Project (CRVP) engagement opportunities.
 
“Generally, floodplain planning aims to reduce the number of people living in flood impacted areas, especially areas where a higher risk of flooding remains” (CRVP website).  This means restrictions to development in areas deemed to be at high risk of flooding.
 
The Government of Alberta recently released draft updated Flood Hazard Area maps reflecting the latest understanding of flood risk across Alberta, and a new approach to flood hazard area zones (found here). All flood hazard area zones are defined with respect to a 1:100 flood, which is the provincial design flood standard.
 
The Province has defined three degrees of Flood Fringe hazard area zones: High Hazard Flood Fringe, Flood Fringe and Protected Flood Fringe representing high, medium and low/no flood hazard respectively.  It’s now up to the City to decide how to develop and regulate in these areas, which they are doing through the Calgary River Valleys Project.  Another flood hazard area zone is the Floodway which is an area of extreme risk and development is for the most part prohibited in it.
 
For Hillhurst Sunnyside there is Good News and Bad News in the draft maps.
 
First the good news: When the Sunnyside Flood Barrier is complete all of Hillhurst and Sunnyside will be classified as either low risk Protected Flood Fringe or not at flood risk in a 1:100 flood.  No part of our communities will be in the high flood hazard classifications of Floodway nor High Hazard Flood Fringe.  No areas will be in the medium risk Flood Fringe either.  Therefore one would expect that no floodplain development restrictions would apply to Hillhurst Sunnyside.  This must be confirmed through the CRVP engagement process.  Here is a map showing the eventual flood hazard classifications:

Now for the bad news: Until the Sunnyside Flood Barrier is complete much of Sunnyside and even part of Hillhurst will be classified as high risk High Hazard Flood Fringe.  Still more of Sunnyside will be included in the medium risk Flood Fringe classification. These classifications could lead to development restrictions in the affected areas, depending on when the Sunnyside Flood Barrier is completed and whether the City is willing to look beyond the present and base their planning decisions on the Flood Hazard Map to be effective after the completion of the flood barrier.  Without these considerations the development restrictions applicable to High Hazard Flood Fringe could be as severe as “no new development”.  The “official” date for completion of the Sunnyside Flood Barrier is the end of 2025, although there have been recent signals from the City that this schedule might slip, perhaps significantly.  Here is a map showing the draft updated Flood Hazard Areas expected to be finalized later in 2024:
 


Unfortunately there is still more bad news regarding basement development restrictions.  From the CRVP website:

"(...) many riverside communities in Calgary may experience basement flooding when heavy rain or higher river levels cause changes in the groundwater table. As part of the Calgary River Valleys Project public engagement on floodplain policies and regulations, we’ll use our technical understanding of river conditions to explore the potential for property-level regulations to better manage this risk".

and

“Basements (including living areas or secondary suites) are vulnerable to flooding because underground spaces can quickly fill with water, risking life or personal safety and property damage. During river flood events, basements can be flooded by overland floodwater, or high groundwater that enters the basement through cracks and drains.”
 
Prohibition of new basement bedrooms and basement secondary suites would represent a significant restriction for many property owners.
 
It is believed that proposed basement development restrictions are not fully evolved so much is not yet known.  There is some doubt as to whether there would be any areas in Hillhurst Sunnyside that would be affected.  In 2013 most of the basement flooding here was because of river water backing through sanitary sewers, and overland flooding entering basement windows.  These problems have been or will be solved by the Sunnyside Sanitary Lift Station rebuild, the Upper Plateau Separation Project and the Sunnyside Flood Barrier.  The remaining basement flooding caused by groundwater seepage is more complicated, in fact it is so complicated and technically challenging that there is some doubt as to the City’s ability to define it adequately to support policies and regulations.  Furthermore, there is doubt that groundwater seepage could fill a basement quickly enough to be a risk to life or personal safety.
 
The Calgary River Valleys Project has a webpage with information (found here) To obtain more information and have your say please attend one of the five CRVP public engagement sessions, or participate in online engagement.
 
Two Virtual Sessions:
(1) January 31 (6 – 7 p.m.)
and
(2) February 13 (6 – 7 p.m.)
Visit the Calgary River Valleys Project page to register for a virtual session.
 
Three In-person "drop-in" Sessions:
(1) Bridgeland Community Association (917 Centre Ave NE)
Feb. 21  5 – 8 p.m.
and
(2) Parkhill/Stanley Park Community Association (4013 Stanley Rd SW)
Feb. 27  6 – 9 p.m.
and
(3) Montgomery Community Association (5003 16 Avenue NW)
March 1  5 - 8 p.m.
 
Access to the online survey will be through https://www.calgary.ca/water/flooding/calgary-river-valleys-project.html (not active at time of writing but should be open January 29 to March 3).
 
The Calgary River Valleys Project is about much more than flood hazards.  Read all about the Nature, Recreation & Access, Culture and Building & Development aspects of the CRVP on their website  [https://www.calgary.ca/water/flooding/calgary-river-valleys-project.html]. Hillhurst and Sunnyside are river valley communities so most aspects of the CRVP will be of interest to our community.

Connecting community through Sports, Clubs, Recreation and Leisure (Part 1)

This is an excerpt from the Hillhurst Sunnyside Historical Context paper, ‘Building Social and Community Life: Connecting community through Sports, Clubs, Recreation and Leisure  (pp. 85-92). For more on the history of our neighborhood, check out the full paper: https://www.hsca.ca/historical-context-paper.

In addition to the social role played by the early churches, recreation and leisure - both formal and informal - figured prominently in the social life of residents. In March of 1911 the lands immediately west of Riley Park were donated to the City by the Riley family for Hillhurst Athletic Park97. By 1912 a grandstand and bleachers were erected, and the existing Hillhurst Football club clubhouse/dressing cabins were moved to the playing field and enlarged. Ezra and Frank Riley organized the Hillhurst Football Club which won the Dominion Championship twice. Frank served as the club’s president Club from 1910-1922 and was an active promoter of rugby football in Calgary.

In 1912, Harriet Riley loaned her land nearby to the north and west (today’s St Andrews Heights) to be developed as Calgary’s second golf course, St Andrews Golf Club, named for the famous links course in Scotland and opened in May 1913. The club membership, which had free playing rights, grew rapidly 98. Probably the most popular area for the neighbourhood, Riley Park, was a place for informal leisure and recreation in all seasons. The park was donated by Ezra Riley in 1910. Within two years it was cultivated and sown with grass, landscaped with flower beds and thousands of trees and shrubs, and had a wading pool for children. An early toboggan run on the hillside immediately north of the park was dismantled after the First World War, possibly to accommodate the land sale to the province for the technical institute. Another very popular informal winter activity was skating on the frozen sloughs, an activity that lasted well into the post-war period when the last slough was reclaimed for development.

Local fraternal lodges were also established early on. The Riley Hall in the Great West Trading Co building housed the 7th Day Adventists, two orders of the Loyal Order of Lions and the King George Masonic Lodge No 59. As soon as the Ross Block was completed by William Ross in 1911, the Masons leased its new public hall next to the Hillhurst Pool Room. Members included pharmacist WC Black who was Chair in 1922 and Calgary’s mayor at the time, and Andrew Davidson (term 1929-1945) who lived north of the Bow.

97 The Calgary Daily Herald, March 24, 1911.

98 Per research by Marg McReady.



Reduce your waste during the gift-giving season

A Message from the City of Calgary

Repurpose, reuse and get creative to reduce your waste this holiday season. Here are some ideas for gift giving that are low on waste but highly meaningful:

·      Support local businesses by purchasing gift cards or giving the gift of an experience.

·      Give a gift in the form of a donation to a favourite charity.

·      Give the gift of time. Lend a hand to an older relative or friend by dropping off their shopping or meals or putting their carts out on collection day.

·      Make your own gifts – try knitting a hat, painting a canvas or baking.

·      Recyclables make great material for Christmas crafts and cards.

·      Consider alternative ways to wrap gifts. Reuse bags and boxes that you already have at home. Use cloth bags, tea towels, a t-shirt or simply avoid wrapping completely.

Find more tips at calgary.ca/recycleright.

 

Safely dispose of household batteries

Don’t put any kind of battery in your blue, green or black carts. Batteries contain metals like lead, lithium, cadmium and mercury that can be dangerous to human health and the environment. If they end up in any of your carts, batteries can get crushed and cause fires at the recycling, composting and landfill facilities. Household batteries include non-rechargeable alkaline batteries (AA and AAA) and rechargeable batteries found in cellphones, laptops and cordless power tools.

 

Safely dispose of batteries by taking to a participating retailer for free recycling, including London Drugs, Staples, Home Depot, Rona, IKEA and Best Buy. For more information visit calgary.ca/battery.

 

Building Social and Community Life: English Influence in Hillhurst Sunnyside

This is an excerpt from the Hillhurst Sunnyside Historical Context paper, ‘Building Social and Community Life: Social, Intellectual and Ethnic Cultural Life (pp. 76-92). For more on the history of our neighborhood, check out the full paper: https://www.hsca.ca/historical-context-paper.

The threads of ethnic English and Scottish traditions that ran through the early cultural life of Hillhurst-Sunnyside began with the area’s pioneers and developers whose families had roots in those two homelands and brought the customs of those countries to their new home.

The Englishness of Hillhurst was clearly shaped by the vision of its pioneer landowner and developer, Ezra Riley, whose father Thomas came from Derbyshire, England and whose mother Georgiana from the small town of Kirton in Lindsey, in North Lincolnshire, England. Both Ezra’s original 1904 subdivision and its 1906 addition employed street names that referenced English place names including Oxford, Gladstone, Buckingham, Norfolk and Essex. When his mother, Georgiana Riley, registered Upper Hillhurst in 1906 she also used street names with English references like Marlborough and Wellington streets and others named for the British Royal family.

English roots are also evident in Col Lawrence Herchmer’s 1907 Westmont subdivision which had original street names like Cambridge, Devenish and Beveridge. Herchmer descended from a prominent Kingston, Ontario family of United Empire Loyalists whose arrival in North America dates to the 18th century. As a result he was born and received most of his education in England.

The Church of England (Anglican Church) also featured conspicuously in Hillhurst, with Morleyville Road named for the Anglican Mission at Morley, and after 1906, with St Barnabas Church and churchyard. In 1912 Ezra gifted a new brick-clad St Barnabas Church to the parish. As well, an Anglican boy’s school, the Bishop Pinkham College (the site that would be used for health care), was built just north of Hillhurst School. The architect responsible for these ecclesiastical buildings was Leo Dowler (1876-1921), an Anglican himself as well as a Sunnyside resident.

One of Calgary’s most prolific early architects, Dowler was born in Kingston, Ontario where he trained in architecture, arriving in Calgary in 1899. He first worked in carpentry before establishing his architecture practice in 1905. He worked with a variety of partners before returning to independent practice, during which time he also served as the Dominion Government’s resident architect in Calgary. Leo married pioneer Samuel Livingston’s daughter Mary in 1904, and designed and built their 1911 home88 where they raised their large, growing family. His other works in and near the community include Hillhurst School, Ezra Riley’s Hillhurst estate home, Alfred’s Riley’s Lodge in Parkdale, landowner AJ McArthur’s Crescent Heights residence and - just across today’s Mewata Bridge - the Mewata Armory. Although he is responsible for numerous historic resources in the city, only Hillhurst School and St Barnabas Church tower remain of his Hillhurst-Sunnyside works.

Perhaps the most unusual English influence to find in a North American community is the cricket field, also a legacy of Ezra. He donated the land for a City park, Riley Park, in 1910 and in 1919 he asked parks superintendent William Reader to install cricket pitches in the park. He also requested that cricket be the only team sport to be played in Riley Park. Another English custom - ‘afternoon tea’ - played out every Sunday at Riley Park, when it was served at the cricket club house.

The game of cricket in Riley Park where the Calgary and District Cricket League are currently based, and worship in St Barnabas Church of England, are enduring examples of intangible cultural heritage that have been practiced for over a century.

88 428 Boulevard (now Memorial Drive, home non-extant or significantly altered).