Violet King (1st Black Female Lawyer in Canada) - plaque ceremony in Sunnyside

On February 25, historic Sunnyside Resident Violet King Henry was honoured with a commemorative plaque outside her former home. Here is the speech HSCA Heritage Committee Chair Lorna Cordeiro delivered at the event.

A few years ago, during Black History Month, I came across the story of Violet King. The article mentioned that her parents home was located in my community, just a few blocks from where I live. Suddenly a connection and sense of place began to form in my mind. 

 So, I visited the CPL and with the help of Librarians Carolyn Ryder & Christine Hayes & with additional assistance from historian Alan Zakrison we were able to piece together the story of Violet King’s life in Sunnyside.  

 As humans we all love stories. And this home tells the story of the King family (who lived here from 1929 to the early 70s); their struggles and their triumphs as no plaque alone could. And we are fortunate that it has survived and that it still stands along with some other historical buildings and streetscapes to allow us to see through the eyes of Violet King, and provide context on what her daily life in our city would have been like. 

 So if we look at a typical day, she and her family wouldn’t have had to go far to shop - next door was a grocery store. It may not look the part now but at one time, it was part of the Jenkins Groceteria chain. It was founded by a Calgarian and was the 1st self serve grocery store in Canada. And they would have also frequented the Vendome Block (which housed a grocery store) or walked to the East Sunnyside Grocery store (last known as Sammy’s and currently being repurposed into a cafe). And they would have had their meat delivered by bike from Holbrook’s Butchers which once stood across from the Sunnyside Bungalow school, and their milk delivered by horse & cart until the 1940s. 

 To get to work, Violet’s father John could have easily taken Streetcar number 8 - which stopped at the loop in front of their house. 

 Violet & her siblings would have likely attended elementary school at the Sunnyside Bungalow school, built in 1919 and still standing and she would have walked up the existing path on McHugh Bluff to get to Crescents Heights High School where she excelled as a student 

 The family may have taken in movies at the Plaza, gone tobogganing and skiing on Hillhurst Hill (directly north of Riley Park). and the family may have attended the Morleyville Baptist Church, later known as the Lifesport building – which, we hope, will be restored shortly and once again become a community hub. 

 There were a lot of amenities in our community but there were many challenges to deal with, some were felt by every Sunnysider - such as the frequent flooding and mudslides that occurred here. And some challenges were targeted and even more difficult to overcome, such as ongoing racism. The Kings would have definitely paid attention to the 1940s Anti-Black Race riot in Calgary – when more then 200 soldiers and civilians smashed the windows of a black musician’s home & threatened to do him harm simply because someone thought that a white woman paid too much attention to him. (1)  

If they had tried to go to the Crystal Pool and Rink which was a popular destination for Sunnysiders they might have been refused entry. In 1948, a complaint was filed by a black woman on behalf of her neice. The Manager’s response was: sometimes when there were a few (people) in the pool a Negro might be allowed in, but “generally they are barred. This applies to Chinese and Japanese too”.(2) 

 Having historical context such as these examples makes Violet King and her family’s accomplishments even more amazing. Similarly, having some remaining tangible built history gives us a better understanding of their story. Even in relatively new cities like ours, “we live our lives against a rich backdrop formed by historic buildings, landscapes and other physical survivals of our past” (3); the people who came before us, formed out community and give us our cultural identity. History gives us context, strengthens community ties, our feeling of responsibility & ownership and like this house, gives us a sense of place.  

 Sources: 

1. “The Story of Calgary’s 1940 Anti-Black Race Riot” - Bashir Mohamed 

1. The Calgary Herald, August 24,1948 

1. Heritage Perth website 

Additional References: 

• “Hillhurst-Sunnyside Historical Context Paper” (2022) – Heritage Calgary & Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association 

• “Hillhurst-Sunnyside Remembers”(1878) - Margaret Tanko 

News from the Friends of Nose Hill

by Anne Burke

Pat Ryan (1931-2022) served the City of Calgary as an Alderman from 1974-1980. He was elected in 1974 for Ward 1 and re-elected in 1977 for Ward 2. Members of Council and City Administration offered their condolences to the Ryan family. He was integral to securing land for Nose Hill Park because he ensured that the land was secure from developers for future generations of Calgarians to enjoy as a natural environment park within the city limits.

City of Calgary Parks Department Annual Reports list Alderman Ryan as the Chairman of the Parks/Recreation Board. The purpose of these reports was to record the status of achievements of the Department for ready reference in future years. Although needs and conditions might change, the basic concepts would not. One of the aims was to ensure that the environment will be protected, preserved, and enhanced for the enjoyment of all people. Another was to facilitate in any way possible the involvement of volunteers in parks and recreation services. A third was to conserve a system of natural areas throughout the City with special emphasis on those lands associated with rivers and water areas.

A much needed new Planning Section was added as part of the Development Division of the Parks/Recreation Department. Its role included coordinating both long and short range parks/recreation planning and associated policies, which affected planning for the entire City. Two full time staff were employed as Parks Systems Planner and the Planning and Research Assistant, as well as two limited term Planning Assistants. Some of the projects scheduled for 1978 included initiating Master Plans for Nose Hill and Glenmore Parks, as well as development of a policy for environmentally sensitive areas.

Mental Health Moment - March

Nancy Bergeron, RPsych | nancy@viewpointcalgary.ca 

  Why I Want To Know Your Whole Story 

  From our earliest relationships some of us may learn from our families of origin that putting others first is our prescribed role within the family system. For others, our role might have been highly restricted, leading to frustration, stress and difficulty stating our needs and standing up for ourselves. Maybe some of us may have experienced patterns of family dynamics where we were often placed in submissive roles stunting us from showing our capabilities. Some individuals may recognize the ways cultural or religious scripts influenced the people who came before them in past generations to take more of a backseat when sharing our feelings and input. Perhaps if our caregiver was the authority figure who made all the decisions with little or no say from us, we may be carrying subconscious belief patterns that we should not have a say or that others are better suited to have the last word. All of these different presentations play into the dynamics of how we relate to others as the individuals we are today.  

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in early development, including being around caregivers who did not provide us consistent emotional validation, can leave many of us feeling unseen. As we grow into adulthood we may still find ourselves doing everything we can to earn the validation and attention of the same people who disregarded our feelings. This can be so confusing. If we experienced inconsistent "hot and cold" parenting as a child, we may find ourselves making unstoppable efforts to secure emotional bonds in our relationships throughout our life, even with people who may not fit into it. It is common to experience a compelling need to provide satisfaction in a partnership, and avoid at all costs, vulnerable or awkward moments that may be viewed as less than favorable to others. This can also lead to a diminished interest in exploring who we are and more interest in learning about what others want us to be. We can refer to this as the chameleon effect– when we habituate to change our presentation to fit in or please those we come in contact with.  

Another way inconsistencies in early childhood manifest later in adulthood is if we endured a childhood where our caregiver was absent, neglectful, or unreliable and now we find ourselves fiercely independent. Do you know someone who is always pulling away from others and wanting to do it all on their own? That tendency can lead us to withdraw in the face of future trauma or in the possibility of being let down by others. Here, we are protecting ourselves which is a very normal response to have and although there's nothing wrong with autonomy and solitude, it leads to missing out on meaningful connection. On the flipside, fearing the displeasure of others can be a form of not acknowledging our own needs and it can also be a way to self-serve. We may feel we receive validation from others because of pleasing them which feels good because we can finally attain that validation we strived for so long as a child. While there is importance in holding space and showing up for others, it is important to have awareness and not neglect our own needs. Sometimes too much of an emphasis on another person's needs while ignoring our own can breed resentment and anger. How can we as individuals learn to show up for others without eliminating our own needs? What would it look like to give ourselves a permission slip to let our needs take up space? 

One of the most powerful components to the therapeutic relationship is being encouraged to look at the totality of our experiences and how they can be consciously or unconsciously present in us and our environment. Working with someone who can help us become more aware of how we think and feel about our needs is powerful. The messaging and sometimes even trauma we have received by our primary caregivers has influenced who we are. A significant goal in therapy is to help get us back to a place of who we really are, our authentic self. This is why I want to know your whole story. 

Hillhurst Park Naming Project

What’s in a name? 

 Naming has become a hot topic in the past couple of years with lots of scrutiny on names of public places such as schools and government buildings. Naming of public spaces, buildings and roadways has been a longstanding tradition to honour certain people who have made outstanding contributions to society. It also creates a sense of place and an identity for the space.   

 You may have noticed a group of residents have been working on some enhancements to one of the triangle parks along Gladstone Road. During this process we discovered that both triangle parks in Hillhurst, along Gladstone Rd, have no official name.  On Google they sometimes appear as Gladstone East and Gladstone West.  Of course, the road is also already named Gladstone! 

 It appears that the Gladstone name may have some indigenous connections and our committee is enjoying researching the history and learning more about the street names origins.  However, the committee is undertaking the process of official naming of the triangle parks. The City’s naming process is comprehensive and has some detailed criterion. Although a community can recommend a name to put forward, the City is the ultimate decision maker. 

 There have been a lot of humorous stories around park naming in the past.  A park in Vancouver had a statue of a man reclining on the grass installed.  This led to neighbours informally referring to the park as “Dude Chilling Park”.  People made-up fun signs to that effect and installed them in the park.  Eventually, the City officially adopted the name. 

Over this past winter Vancouver had a storm that washed up a barge on the shore in English Bay. The City embraced this situation and made a sign that read “Barge Chilling Beach” calling it a holiday gift to the City.

You may also recall the story of an online ship naming contest where “Boaty McBoatface” became the popular selection.  Although that name was the winner of the most votes in the online contest, the name was not allowed by the approving authority and so was instead assigned to a small submersible on the boat and the mothership named after an eminent zoologist instead.   

 Although we are not encouraging “joke” names to emerge from our little undertaking, we do want to engage the community more broadly and get their ideas for names and themes for these local pocket parks along Gladstone Rd. 

 With this we wade into all the naming fun. Stay tuned to HSCA social media, website and look for posters in the parks about this upcoming project.  If you would like to get more involved, please email ali.m@hsca.ca and we can connect you with the resident-led park naming group. 

HSCA Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Bekah!

Get to Know Your HSCA Board (In 5 Questions or Less…)_  

The HSCA Spotlight will introduce (or reintroduce) our community to HSCA staff, volunteers, and members of the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community. If you know of a resident interested in participating in the HSCA Spotlight Series, email  ian.l@hsca.ca with SUBJECT LINE: HSCA Spotlight. We know our community is full of awesome residents and captivating stories and we’re hoping to share that with everyone!   

Allow us to introduce you to Bekah! Bekah is Secretary of our HSCA Board for the last year and has loved being a resident of the Hillhurst Sunnyside community for the last 3 years. Let’s get to know Bekah…in 5 questions or less! 

 1. What goals do you have while on the Board? 

My goals are to ensure that our meetings minutes are recorded properly and that we're ensuring that the association is governed as best as it can be! 

2. What keeps you busy outside your Board duties?  

I work full-time with the SAIT Students' Association as their Engagement Coordinator and am currently pursuing my BBA full-time as well! Definitely keeps me busy. Other than that I like to get outside, try new ways to stay active, and do new things that bring me joy! 

3. What is your favourite thing about the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community? 

I love all the local restaurants and vendors in the area, and I love that I am able to walk (when the weather allows it) wherever I want to go! We're so close to downtown, the river, there's just always something to do. 

4. What does Community mean to you? 

Community means somewhere that you feel at home. You recognize it and you feel safe. It's a place where you can be completely yourself, and there's support available to you. 

5. Tell us the best binge-worthy series/show/podcast you enjoyed during quarantine. Or tell us about a cool hobby/activity you engaged in over the last year. 

When the pandemic began I thought it would be fun to start taking piano lessons for the first time ever, at Bowtown Music! It was a lot of fun, pushed me outside of my comfort zone and gave me something to practice. 

 Are you interested in learning more about becoming an HSCA Board member? Click here!

HSCA Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Jim

The HSCA Volunteer Spotlight will introduce (or reintroduce) our community to HSCA staff, volunteers, and members of the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community. If you know of a resident interested in participating in the HSCA Spotlight Series, email  ian.l@hsca.ca with  SUBJECT LINE: HSCA Spotlight. We know our community is full of awesome residents and captivating stories and we’re hoping to share that with everyone!  

Jim Besse has lived in Sunnyside for 34 years.  He presently builds and maintains the skating rink in New Edinborough Park and organizes the community garden – recently renovated as part of Bow to Bluff. Let’s get to know Jim… in 5 questions or less  

 
How long have you lived in Hillhurst-Sunnyside?  What do you like about living here? 

34 years   

1. the pedestrian utility of living here, ie.) walk to work downtown when I was a working man, walk for groceries, walk to restaurants and stores. 

2. convenient access to walking and biking trails, be they the River pathways, McHugh Bluff 

3. the diversity demographics and inclusivity of the Sunnyside social vibe 

4. positive proactive engagement with the social, environmental and economic challenges of our times, becoming part of the solution 

How did you get involved in volunteering in our community? 

Took over the ice rink from a buddy 

What kind of volunteer activities have you done? 

Coach of kids Soccer & Hockey, ice rink maker, community garden organizer 

What do you like most about volunteering in the community? 

It's a great idea! 

What is a hidden gem in the community you have discovered and would like to share? 

McHugh Bluff, so fortunate to have close access to nature 

Concerns We Raised in 2021

By Tim Schaefer (Sunnyside Resident)

The City of Calgary (CoC) provides summary level data on 311 requests from its website calgary.ca. Let’s take a look at what the data tells us about the requests made in Hillhurst Sunnyside (HS) last year. 

In 2021, there were a total of 7,019 requests made in the 311 system for the HS area.  That works out to an average of 20 requests submitted every day!  This quantity of requests puts HS in the top quartile of neighbourhoods for the number of 311 requests submitted per resident.  Great job everyone, let's keep it up because concerns that are not raised are less likely to be addressed. 

What sort of requests did residents submit in 2021 for HS? 

From a privacy perspective, specific details of 311 requests such as the name of the reporter and description of request are not provided by the CoC.  However, information that is shared includes the neighbourhood, assigned City Agency, and assigned category for the request.  This information provides good insight about the types of requests submitted and in turn what kinds of issues and opportunities are being reported in our neighbourhood relating to CoC services.

Agencies 

From the 44 different CoC Agencies listed in all 2021 requests citywide, there were 31 agencies assigned to the requests made for the HS area.  The top 10 Agencies by request in HS were: 

1. Community Standards - 1,621 

2. Roads - 1,316 

3. Building Services - 738 

4. Waste & Recycling - 649 

5. Parks - 627 

6. Water Services - 603 

7. Finance - 532 

8. Transit - 299 

9. Customer Service - 193 

10. Fire Dept - 163 

Categories 

From the 492 different categories used in requests logged citywide in 2021, there were 275 categories assigned to the requests made for HS. The top 10 Categories by request in HS were: 

1. Graffiti Concern - 585 

2. Waste Cart Management - 307 

3. Parks Tree Concern - 225 

4. Property Tax Inquiry - 220 

5. Snow & Ice on Sidewalk - 215 

6. TIPP Application - 196 

7. Request for contact - 157 

8. Road sign missing/damage - 132 

9. Building Inspection - 127 

10. Encampment Concern - 121 

Looking at these top 10 results, the main theme is our interest in the state of public space in our neighbourhood (graffiti, trees, snow on sidewalk, damaged signs & encampments).  This demonstrates how much we care about our public spaces and how we want to keep them safe for everyone.   

What is also interesting is how HS results compare with the top 10 in the Rest of Calgary (ROC).  The top 10 agencies for the ROC are identical to HS with the exception of Building Services being at the top for ROC (up from 3rd) and Finance being in 4th for ROC (up from 7th).  This makes sense as a more established neighbourhood like HS would typically have less development occurring and have residents that are more familiar with the property tax and available payment program options. 

Comparing HS categories with the ROC, there are fewer similarities.  While tax, trees and building inspections are also top items for ROC, Graffiti drops to 7th and topics like Snow on Sidewalk, damaged signs, requests for contact and encampments don’t even show up in the top 10 for ROC. 

How do HS residents prefer to submit their 311 requests? 

In 2021, requests made for HS continue to show a preference for being called-in with 47% being made by phone. The 311 Smartphone App was used 22% of the time for HS requests which is better than the City average of only 14%.   

Photo: Calgary 311 Smartphone App screen 

If you haven’t downloaded the 311 App to your phone, you really should consider it.  The 311 App provides a fast and easy way to report non-urgent concerns to the City. It is particularly useful if you come upon an important concern while out in the neighbourhood such as a downed stop sign.  

Other great features of the App include the ability to quickly look up the status of requests you’ve submitted as well as the ability to view new requests that anyone has submitted (note: requestor info remains private and you can submit request anonymously from the App).  It even has a map option to see the locations for the latest requests. 

The HSCA encourages all Calgary residents to submit 311 service requests by any method and thanks you for your support of the community! 

HSCA Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Kurt

Allow us to introduce you to Kurt! Kurt is HSCA’s intern practicum from January- April 2022. Kurt is a 4th year Social Work student in the BSW program and holds a degree in Sociology and Indigenous Studies. You can find Kurt supporting HSCA’s Sustainable Food Program (SFP) on Mondays and leading our yearly Tax Clinic in March and April. Let’s get to know Kurt… in 5 questions or less.

To learn more about our 2022 tax clinic and eligibility requirements, visit www.hsca.ca/community-connections and scroll down to the ‘Tax Clinic’ tab.  

1.     What drew you to do you internship at HSCA? 

I chose HSCA because I felt it would be a great way for me to learn how to implement community social work in a place that has a very strong and active community already. I'm really looking forward to meeting different community members, volunteers, and HSCA staff in the next few months.

2.     Tell us a fun fact about yourself

I played Super Smash Brothers (Video game) competitively and was provincially ranked from 2015-2018.

3.     What does Community mean to you?

Community means gaining strength and being able to lean on others when you may need help. Feeling so connected that it's largely like family.

4.     What topic could you give a 20-minute presentation on without any preparation?

The intricacies of LED/LCD Displays as opposed to CRT displays (Big tube TVs) and how it affects viewing and playing games. 

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

Riley Park! I loved the waterpark as a child.

Warm up to Winter Continues: Frost Fest & Winter Pop ups!

Thanks to volunteers Gerald, Sarah, Cheryl, Daniel, Mike, Jane, Kevin, Bill, Heather, Lorna, Tom, Ellen for igniting our neighbourhood spirit!

Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association was grateful to receive a Warm Up to Winter grant from Parks Foundation Calgary and the City of Calgary.  We have two groups of residents working to create winter events as part of this project. In Sunnyside, neighbours are co-designing some improvements to New Edinborough Park – adding some more seating, shareable firepits and lighting along with the ongoing skating amenities.  In Hillhurst, neighbours are working on a pop up pilot at Gladstone West Park – with a red theme, inspired by Le Grande Terrasse Rouge in Montreal! We hope these enhanced spaces encourage you to get outside this winter!  Additionally, we will continue to host a series of events as part of “Frost Fest” (so far, we’ve hosted Boxing Day light parade, a storytelling/ carolling pop up event, an ice art drop-off event). We look forward to our upcoming events this winter, including:

• The HSCA Campfire Gathering at the West Gladstone Pop up Park (Saturday, Feb 12th from 4-7pm)

• The Family Day Park Pop up

• HSCA’s Spring Fling: Warm up to Winter Pop up

Keep connected and follow along on our HSCA social media feeds (Instagram and Facebook) and keep a lookout for signage in the parks about upcoming events.

If you would like to join our co-design groups or help out with pop up events  – please email ali.m@hsca.ca!  Together we can continue to add vibrancy to our community!

Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Ben

The HSCA Volunteer Spotlight will introduce (or reintroduce) our community to HSCA staff, volunteers, and members of the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community. If you know of a resident interested in participating in the HSCA Spotlight Series, email Stephanie.c@hsca.ca with SUBJECT LINE: HSCA Spotlight. We know our community is full of awesome residents and captivating stories and we’re hoping to share that with everyone!  

Let’s get to know HSCA volunteer and longtime resident, Ben… in 5 questions or less  

1.     How long have you lived in Hillhurst-Sunnyside?  What do you like about living here?

My wife Christine and I have lived in the community for 17 years. I fell in love with the neighbourhood the first time I visited and said to myself "if I were to live in Calgary, this is exactly the neighbourhood I would want to live in".

2.     How did you get involved in volunteering in our community?

I started volunteering through the HSCA, and through Hillhurst School.

3.     What kind of volunteer activities have you done? 

Neighbourwoods, Sunnyside-Hillhurst Planning Committee, and spontaneous litter cleanup with my family

4.     What would you tell others in the community about volunteering?  What do you like most about volunteering in the community?

Volunteering improves the lives of everyone in the community, as well as for those who work and visit here. Even the smallest gesture (a smile, saying hello, picking up a piece of litter) makes a difference.

5.     What is a hidden gem in the community you have discovered and would like to share?

I love the mature trees, especially the elms, that line many of our streets. I love looking up at the canopy, or stopping to spend enough time to marvel at their size.

30 for Hillhurst Sunnyside

By Tim Schaefer, resident of Sunnyside

In May 2013, a campaign named “30 for Sunnyside” was launched with the mission to lower the speed limit in Sunnyside to 30 km/h. A blog and social media accounts were activated, poster boards went up on light-posts and there was even coverage by local media.  The goal was simple: Make the neighbourhood safer for people through a lower speed limit.  Then on June 21, the most significant event to hit the neighbourhood in a generation happened: The Flood of 2013.

 Photo of posters from the 2013 “30 for Sunnyside” campaign.

The water’s impact on the Bow river’s left bank neighbourhood was too much and in 2013 the speed limit campaign just couldn’t gain the mindshare of its residents. Everyone was focused on rebuilding and lobbying for more infrastructure to prevent future disasters.

Fast forward to 2021, a much larger 30 km/h speed limit initiative is now underway in another city, perhaps better known for its left bank (Rive Gauche).  On August 30, 2021, Paris, France with a metro-population of 12 million, lowered it’s speed limit to 30 km/h!  Backed by the positive firsthand experience that COVID measures provided to the streetscape, Paris is aiming to reduce injury and fatalities as well as lower noise and pollution that are all caused by people when they drive vehicles above 30 km/h.

Anyone following this topic will know other cities have also made this change and in Calgary we too have lowered the speed limit for vehicles in 2021.  The City’s so-called “unposted speed limit”, meaning any street that doesn’t otherwise have a speed limit sign posted, was lowered from 50 km/h down to 40 km/h.  FYI, the unposted speed limit primarily covers residential streets that don’t have a middle yellow line.

The City council debate that led to the 40 km/h decision included consideration of a 30 km/h speed limit just like Paris. In the end, it was decided based on City administration’s recommendation in a 32 page technical report, that because the majority of Calgary streets within scope were designed and built for higher speeds that people’s compliance to 30 km/h would be low.  The ensuing mixed speeds of complying drivers and those driving the higher design speed would be a dangerous mix.

While the outcome of the 2021 Council’s decision was 40, it wasn’t a ”No to 30” but rather a “Let’s prepare for 30”. The reason being it was also decided by Council that going forward all new and retrofitted residential streets will be designed and built for 30 km/h.  This will then set the stage for a future lowering of the unposted speed limit to 30 km/h. 

Looking at the City’s general argument that Calgary streets aren’t yet designed for 30, it doesn't really apply to our 100 year old neighbourhood.  Even the City’s technical report acknowledges some neighbourhoods will be ready earlier. Hillhurst Sunnyside streets are generally not built to the car-age standard, most are already narrow enough that their design speed is low.  Gladstone and 7 St NW are good examples that come to mind. Others like the streets like 11 St NW, 1 Ave NW and others are not far off and simple traffic calming measures could bring them in line. That said, we do have excessively wide streets like 2 Ave and 7 Ave NW that will require more significant work such as those proposed in the Kensington Improvement Area streetscape engagement.

So the question bears asking, if Calgary is eventually going to implement a 30 km/h limit and if the design speed of our neighbourhood’s streets are very close to being ready:

Are we ready to lead Calgary into the future with a 30 km/h limit in our community in 2022?

We could reap all the benefits this change has to offer years before Calgary applies it to the city as a whole.  Our kids (and adults) could realize the safety benefits 30 km/h brings not just infront of their schools but anywhere and anytime they walk in the neighbourhood.  Our streets would become less prone to cut through traffic and the delivery vans that now frequent our streets would be less dangerous operating at lower speeds.   

The only conceivable negative is the additional time it would take to drive in the neighbourhood, but would it really be so bad?  The longest distance between two points in Hillhurst Sunnyside is about 2 km.  Driving this distance at 30 instead of 40 km/h would only take an extra minute on top of the current three.  Hardly a sacrifice at all!    

If you’d like to see the 2013 idea of “30 for Sunnyside” finally implemented for all of Hillhurst Sunnyside, you can help by voicing your support in upcoming City of Calgary traffic calming engagement opportunities.  You can also let our City Councillor know that you are ready for safer 30 km/h streets today.  For more information about neighbourhood speed limits refer to the Neighbourhood Speed Limits page on the City of Calgary’s site.

HSCA’s 2021 Support a Family Campaign

“Last year, I would have been in a position to support, but this year I got sick and couldn’t work. Without this, I wouldn’t have had the money or energy to get gifts for my kids”

— Support a Family Participant

Our littlest volunteer helps prep the gifts and presents for delivery!

And that’s a wrap! This year, HSCA and community members participated in our 2021 Support a Family Campaign for the Holiday Season. We’re thrilled to share that the event was a success, and we matched 20 supporters with families seeking support! In total, we were able to personalize and curate gifts for a total of 65 people in our community.

Volunteers and staff delivered gifts and presents on December 22nd and December 24th around the Hillhurst and Sunnyside community.

Thank you to everyone that supported this important community initiative! See you next year!

Daycare Director, Shannon, prepares gifts for delivery at HSCA

“I never thought I would be in this position but after leaving a violent relationship I know this could be anyone””

— Support a Family Participant

Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Abir!

As part of the HSCA Spotlight Series, allow us to introduce you to HSCA volunteer, Abir. Abir has played an important role in our Neighbour Night events! Abir has been involved with HSCA for over 3 years and shares her creativity and resourcefulness by creating elaborate activity kits out of recycled and donated materials for our weekly Neighbour Nights. Some recent activities include holiday cards and making Zoom Movie Nights. Abir is also involved with Calgary Dollars, working to build local/barter economies. Our community is incredibly fortunate to have Abir share her talents and engagement with the Hillhurst Sunnyside community!

How long have you lived in Hillhurst-Sunnyside?  What do you like about living here?

I have lived in West Hillhurst for 3 Years. It is walkable, I am close to the river and the bow trail pathway, 4 bus stops and bus routes to work, loc"

How did you get involved in volunteering in our community?

My business partner Sima introduced me to HSCA - their monthly themed activities provide me with a chance to network within my neighboring communities

What kind of volunteer activities have you done?

Being resourceful by collecting excess crafting supplies from local people or organizations, then upcycling them into a variety of low-cost crafting activity kits.

What would you tell others in the community about volunteering?  What do you like most about volunteering in the community?

Make your own personal connections happen by volunteering and talking to people in your community, find people who offer or seek the same supplies, products, or services as you - there is the potential seed for collaboration, working together, finding and making personal opportunities happen.

What is a hidden gem in the community you have discovered and would like to share?

Fresh Routes Market happening at HSCA on Mondays gives me access to fresh produce that is close to my house, accepts Calgary Dollars, and provides an opportunity to meet and run into people in my community - Making friends takes time which is hard to do these days in our busy lives and suburban sprawled communities but by frequenting the same community center for my shopping, activities, and facilitating gives me the opportunity to meet people and grow those relationships within my community.

HSCA's Warm up to Winter Pop ups!

HSCA hosted our first ever Warm up to Winter Pop up on December 18th at the Gladstone West Park in Hillhurst! Community members, volunteers, and staff kicked off our new parklet with a winter neighbourhood mixer! We were able to bring warmth to our community with fire pits, lights, chairs, and caroling! 

 The next Warm Up to Winter event was the Sunnyside Boxing Day Parade. Despite the incredibly cold temperature (yes, it was hovering around -30 C!), neighbours bundled up and brought the lights and festive cheer and energy to our community! 

A HUGE shoutout all that participated in these events!

 Both outdoor, socially distant community building events were made possible by Parks Foundation Calgary and the City of Calgary.

 Stay tuned for details and dates on more of these outdoor events! 

Movie Nights with HSCA

Submitted by HSCA Volunteer and Make Mindfully’s Sima Chowdhury

 About Sima: When Sima’s not hanging out at HSCA, she is busy promoting her new book Mindful Meditation available on Amazon. 

Over the last year COVID-19 has changed the types of activities available at Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association. When activities went online, I stepped up to offer my expertise in documentary film to curate movie nights. Because I like variety, I tend to choose short films around a theme. In October, I had just come back from Churchill, Manitoba, so I screened Know I’m Here, which was about an artist who arranged to have murals painted in the town to lift spirits. Then we watched an episode of Arctic Vets as two of the researchers on the show gave talks at the research centre where I stayed. 

Other than my vacations, I share short documentaries with social messages. Most of the content comes from CBC Gem, though we have screened movies from the National Film Board and from YouTube. To change things up for mental health week in May, we watched Animal Behavior, Blind Vaysha and Uncle Thomas from the National Film Board. We also  went through the Emotional Literacy module from Alberta Health Services as a group doing the quizzes and navigating through the information. AHS has a Trauma Informed Care web application with six modules available to the public. 

Indigenous People’s Day was June 21, but tragically mass graves were discovered in parts of Canada. Before we started the AHS module on Grief and Loss, we watched the land acknowledgement from the Calgary Foundation YouTube channel. I enjoy this version as it shows the land and the Indigenous people representing the different tribes that call southern Alberta home. The other short film, The Headdress, talked about an urban Indigenous woman replicating a photo of her grandfather and her journey of self-discovery. We always have enough time to talk about the films or current events.  

 As the weather gets cooler, staying indoors becomes more and more appealing. I invite you to join us at HSCA for a screening and discussion. Shaye keeps an e-mail list for anyone who is interested in staying up to date. You can contact her at Shaye.r@hsca.ca.

Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Sima!

The HSCA Volunteer Spotlight will introduce (or reintroduce) our community to HSCA staff, volunteers, and members of the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community. If you know of a resident interested in participating in the HSCA Spotlight Series, email Stephanie.c@hsca.ca with SUBJECT LINE: HSCA Spotlight. We know our community is full of awesome residents and captivating stories and we’re hoping to share that with everyone!  

As part of the HSCA Spotlight Series, allow us to introduce you to HSCA volunteer, Sima! Sima has played an important role in our Neighbour Night evenings, by screening and leading discussions for our Movie Nights. Sima (along with Abir featured in our other Volunteer Spotlight), has made elaborate activity kits for program participants out of recycled and donated materials! Covid has not stopped Sima from sharing her talents with the community safely, and we are so grateful to have their support and ability to connect! Outside her volunteer work at HSCA, Sima is also promoting her new book ‘Mindful Meditation’ available on Amazon. 

How long have you lived in Hillhurst-Sunnyside?  What do you like about living here?

I actually live in Ranchlands, but have been embraced by Hillhurst-Sunnyside :) It's a great community with a lot of social justice initiatives.

How did you get involved in volunteering in our community?

I started volunteering through the HSCA, and through Hillhurst School.

What kind of volunteer activities have you done?

My friend Abir and I do crafty activities, though with COVID-19, I have done documentary film screenings over the past year, mostly short films from CBC GEM. Sometimes we do more interactive games.

What would you tell others in the community about volunteering?  What do you like most about volunteering in the community?

The people at HSCA are excellent, always friendly and open. The event participants always give great feedback, especially when they have learned something new.

What is a hidden gem in the community you have discovered and would like to share?

I have always loved Senator Burn's Park, just north of Riley Park will all the flowers during the summer. 

Continuous Sidewalks

By Tim Schaefer, Sunnyside Resident

Every so often, a great innovation in design emerges that is so simple and effective you wonder why it wasn't thought of before!  For those of us who have begun to travel again, the roller-bag is a great example that comes to mind.  For years we lugged heavy suitcases on our travels and then in the 1990’s luggage design changed to a more upright design with wheels underneath and a handle to pull on top; and we’ve never looked back!

The same could be said with the innovative urban design concept of “Continuous Sidewalks”.  This idea effectively takes the existing idea of a crosswalk and innovatively combines it with a speed bump.  The result is a table-top style traffic-calming obstacle that slows vehicles down where people who are walking are most vulnerable; where they cross the street!

Photo of Continuous Sidewalk with bump outs on 3 Ave SE in Chinatown, Calgary.

Some may call this type of infrastructure “Raised Crosswalks” but the use of the Continuous Sidewalk term is preferred because it sets a different tone; Continuous Sidewalk implies that it’s the sidewalk that continues (not the road) and instead it’s the vehicle traffic that is crossing over the pedestrian’s space.

The use of Continuous Sidewalks is widespread on residential streets in the Netherlands; they are found everywhere! Before you catch yourself saying “Yes, that’s nice but we don’t live in Europe…”, did you know Continuous Sidewalks have begun to appear in North America in the last decade?  Several can even be found in Calgary!  

 The Calgary Airport Authority was one of the first to employ this urban design feature.  Continuous Sidewalks can be found on numerous streets on the authority’s land and at the airport terminal.  Just like elsewhere in Calgary, these streets are maintained in the winter and even Calgary Transit operates busses on them. Snow and busses are often cited as excuses as to why Continuous Sidewalks or other speed bumps can’t be done; clearly it is possible! 

Closer to home, Hillhurst Sunnyside residents who walk up to the top of McHugh Bluff will have noticed Continuous Sidewalks along Crescent Road NW.  This road has had problems in recent years with people driving too fast and Continuous Sidewalks made of asphalt can be found at numerous points along this street.

Further into Rosedale, students attending Rosedale School will know there is a Continuous Sidewalk located at the intersection of 13 Ave and 8 St NW, directly in front of their school (see video link here). This particular example has some other great safety features including curb bump-outs with bollards.  These additional safety features protect people from curb defying impatient drivers of trucks and SUVs who may attempt to cut corners.

Sunnyside Brightening Committee

The Sunnyside Brightening Committee (SBC) is an active group of neighbours seeking to "brighten" Sunnyside via recreational, artistic and environmental improvements.

Originally established to focus on aesthetic aspects of flood mitigation projects, their scope has expanded to include essentially all recreational, artistic and environmental opportunities in Sunnyside.  However, the extensive berm project to prevent flooding in Sunnyside is still a main focus.  The Brightening Group is concerned about tree loss on the berm, estimated at hundreds of trees needing removal during the project.  The group’s main goal is to ensure that there is a plan for tree replacement, river access and placemaking projects so that not only is the berm built and does its job of protecting residents from floods, but also that it has good aesthetic appeal and urban design.

 Currently the SBC functions as a subcommittee of the HSCA Planning Committee. Residents meet monthly and are working on several current projects; Sunnyside Bike Track, a sculptural sign for Sunnyside, murals in the community, etc.  More fun winter projects to come so stay tuned!

Beautification and activation of community spaces makes a huge difference to a sense of community and identity.  Many residents have led projects to improve the community in the past such as community gardens and adopt-a-rink outdoor rinks. These projects contribute to the liveability of the neighbourhood and allow many neighbours to connect with each other.

We are always looking for new Sunnyside residents who have ideas and want to make something happen in the community.  If you live in Sunnyside and want to step up and lead a project, we are here to support.  If you want to help out on a project someone else has already started feel free to join us!  We do not solicit other’s ideas to implement, we are a working committee that makes hands on improvements.  We are looking for residents to lead their own projects and be willing to contribute the time and effort to bring them to life.  To connect with us email ali.m@hsca.ca.  

 If you live in Hillhurst – by all means get a group of neighbours together and start a beautification group!  Projects residents have led in the past are highlighted here along with more ideas and resources for people who want to start a project. Visit www.hsca.ca/resident-led

Volunteer Spotlight: Introducing Michaela!

HSCA Volunteer Spotlight: December

The HSCA Volunteer Spotlight will introduce (or reintroduce) our community to HSCA staff, volunteers, and members of the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community. If you know of a resident interested in participating in the HSCA Spotlight Series, email Stephanie.c@hsca.ca with SUBJECT LINE: HSCA Spotlight. We know our community is full of awesome residents and captivating stories and we’re hoping to share that with everyone!  

As part of the HSCA Spotlight Series, allow us to introduce you to Michaela!

1.     How long have you lived in Hillhurst-Sunnyside? What do you like about living here? 

“I’ve lived in Kensington for 11 years and I like that it has places close by and the people that I’ve meet so far are super nice." 

2.     How did you get involved in volunteering in our community? 

"My mother was the one to get me involved and from there are I’ve loved every moment about it. Its super fun to help out in the community and get to meet people" 

3.     What kind of volunteer activities have you done? 

"I’ve done activities like Potlucks before COVID started it was fun, at the potlucks I would look after the kids until we ate or even after it was fun," 

4.     What would you tell others in the community about volunteering? What do you like most about volunteering in the community? 

"I would tell others that volunteering is not a waste of your time - it helps you to understand others and you get to see things through other people’s eyes"  

5.     What is a hidden gem in the community you have discovered and would like to share? 

"My hidden gem in the community is the beautiful view of downtown Calgary when you go up any hill in the Kensington area." 

Volunteers are what make our community thrive!  We sincerely appreciate all the contributions of our local neighbours. Visit www.hsca.ca/volunteer or contact volunteer@hsca.ca to get involved! 

HSCA Staff Spotlight: Meet Bonnie

The HSCA Spotlight will introduce (or reintroduce) our community to HSCA staff, volunteers, and members of the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community. If you know of a resident interested in participating in the HSCA Spotlight Series, email Stephanie.c@hsca.ca with SUBJECT LINE: HSCA Spotlight. We know our community is full of awesome residents and captivating stories and we’re hoping to share that with everyone!  

Allow us to introduce you to Bonnie! Bonnie is HSCA’s Flea Market Manager and has been involved with HSCA for over 35 years. HSCA’s Sunday Flea Market is an important community building event and continues to be bring people together. Our Sunday Flea Market is a great way to support local and promote a more sustainable holiday season. Visit the HSCA Flea Market every Sunday, 7-3pm at HSCA. Let’s get to know Bonnie better… in 5 questions or less!

1.     What keeps you busy outside of your role at HSCA?

Family, renovating, jewelry making. 

2.     Best series/movie/or activity you enjoyed during quarantine

Queen of The South, Naked & Afraid. 

3.     What does Community mean to you?

A strong community is a multi sourced support system.

4.     What topic could you give a 20-minute presentation on without any preparation?

Flea Market & it's important role of Recycle, Reuse & Repurpose.

5.     What is your favourite part of the Hillhurst Sunnyside community?

Small town atmosphere in the middle of a big city.