President’s Message – May 2024

On April 12 we held our first Volunteer Appreciation Event since before Covid. It recognized those in the Community who had volunteered their time for social events, facility improvements and our Casino fund raisers. In addition those interested in future volunteer opportunities were invited to join the group for a social evening at a local pub Moose’s Beanery & Bar Room. During May we have joined with Rosemont Community to hold a Spring Cleanup Day on Sunday May 19 at the Cambrian Community Hall. All are invited to bring yard cleanup materials, discarded electronics and tools for disposal and recycling. Please check the website (www.old.cambrianheightscommunity.com) or the poster in this newsletter for more details. Beyond that event we have plans to host our third annual Bicycle Day Saturday June 1 which will involve other NW communities and our AGM is scheduled for June 18 with invited guests Lizette Tejada our MLA and Sean Chu Councillor for Ward 4. So save the dates. 

While we have no community wide plans for Calgary Neighbour Day on June 15 this year, we do encourage block parties within the community by providing a $100 fund to defer the costs of organizing and running a block party in your neighbourhood. Simply email cambrianheights@gmail.com for details.

This summer the hall grounds will welcome for the third year the Die Volksmesse car show on July 13.  The Hall also welcomes back for its third year the Between Friends summer camp. They plan to hold an open house for parents at the Hall June 27 for those who might be interested in enrolling their children this summer. See betweenfriends.ab.ca for details.

We still have garden plots available this summer for those interested in growing their own produce. If you are interested please contact us for more information.

There remains some confusion about the use of the park and playground space on 39th Avenue and 10th Street boarding QPC. Despite the unlawful removal of City signage by someone, it is not designated an off leash dog park and should not be so utilized. 

In past newsletter issues we have highlighted our intention to place a community identification sign in the park that is bounded by Cambrian and Northmount Drives. While development in Cambrian Heights started in 1956, there has never to our knowledge been a community identification sign. We are continuing our  process of designing alternatives for consideration. A development permit will ultimately be required. Our community certainly qualified in original construction design as “mid century modern” but like all inner City neighbourhoods is undergoing change with infill development. If you have any signage design thoughts feel free to comment through email to president@old.cambrianheightscommunity.com .

The Community continues to encourage resident participation at the Board or event volunteer level. The Treasurer position remains our most urgent need. Accounting or financial expertise will certainly be required. Involvement at a Board level offers an opportunity to help develop the programs, events and residential planning for Cambrian Heights. Help us improve our community resources by volunteering. To discuss any opportunities for participation please contact us at cambrianheights@gmail.com .

Daryl Connolly, President CHCA

We hope everyone has been enjoying the summer and the July celebration of the Calgary Stampede. Your Board continues to work on future social planning events as well as organizing fall programs and reacting to the increasing development activity within the community through the City Development Program approval process. New houses are being built with larger two story footprints and soon we will be seeing the multi family structures prevalent in our neighbouring communities being proposed around changing land use applications. If you have comments on new development please contact our Planning Committee as identified on our website.

We hosted on July 15 our second Die Volksmesse car show on the community hall grounds. In addition we have recently added a Church group and committed to 2 Fall Scottish Country Dancing group programs. One each on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Consider joining in for an evening of dancing lessons for only a $2 fee. Check our website (www.old.cambrianheightscommunity.com) for further details and any updates. Our Yoga and Fitness programs will be returning in September as detailed in the poster announcements found in this issue of the newsletter or our website. We also hope to have an outdoor event in September as a close to our summer.

As previously reported, there are two gardening projects in our Community. The most recent project focuses on the re-design and planting of flowers at the park space bordering Cambrian and Northmount Drives. This project is being undertaken by a group of volunteers from the Community in response to the City Parks cutting back on such activity. I have attached a picture reflecting the work done to date. We believe this park is a central gateway to the community and deserves further development in the future. At some point we may consider designing and installing signage to identify our community. If you wish to get involved with this project please let us know by emailing us. 

 Our second garden project is a demonstration garden sponsored by the Alberta Low Impact Development Partnership. (“ALIDP”) at the rear of the Community Hall. The ALIDP garden is a provincial sponsored project that identifies low maintenance natural plants designed for Alberta weather conditions as an alternative to high water demand grass lawns.  Come visit the garden behind the hall that is also being monitored and studied by the University of Calgary for natural moisture levels. 

The Community is in need of volunteers to replace our Treasurer and our Social Media Director, both of whom have retired this year. These are critical positions for the Community Association controlling our finance and communications activities. We are also down to only 5 Directors which restricts our ability to plan events or programs. This is an opportunity to join an experienced team and help develop the programs, events and planning for Cambrian Heights. To discuss these volunteer opportunities and others please contact us at president@old.cambrianheightscommunity.com .

Daryl Connolly, President CHCA