Dear Brentwoodians,
Thank You, Camp Counselors!
It’s early February, which for families with school-age kids means that we have to have our entire summer planned out already so we can book summer camps. When my wife went online at 8:00 am sharp this past Sunday for the opening of University of Calgary camp registration, she was put in a queue behind some 3,000 other parents anxious to keep their kids occupied and active over the summer.
These programs, whether at the University, through the city or community associations, or out in the wilds at various sleepover camps, could not exist without the hard work of thousands of teenagers and young adults who lead them. As a Cub Scout leader, I know that it can be a challenge to keep a group of 20 or 30 kids happy, safe, and engaged even for a couple of hours, so I commend the energy and enthusiasm of the youth from Brentwood and around Calgary who sign up to work at kids’ camps and allow parents to stay sane and/or employed over the summer!
Row Houses vs Monster Homes.
Given the occasional accusations of NIMBYism or classism that are part of the zoning debate, I think it is important to acknowledge that expensive single-family redevelopments or new builds can be just as jarring and out of context as some multi-unit rowhouses. They can be equally bad for destroying mature trees and replacing them with sad little shrubs and stick trees, for seemingly taking up the entire lot and overshadowing neighbours, and for not giving any consideration to the look of the street and neighbourhood in which the design is being placed.
It really isn’t about how many households are living on a property, or how much their mortgage or rent costs each month – it comes down to builders and architects showing an understanding of the communities in which they are working, and city planners following rules and guidelines that to a large extent are already on the books.
Photo Contest
The Bugle is looking for Brentwood’s best amateur photographers to provide cover images each month. If you have a great snap of our neighbourhood saved on your phone or posted on your social media feed, send it in for a chance to be featured on the cover of an upcoming issue! Photos must be 300 DPI or higher (i.e. from a newer model phone or good digital camera), 2400 x 1600 pixels minimum size, and portrait orientation. If submitting pictures of minors, please make sure that you have direct, express permission to submit the picture from a parent or guardian. Send your photos, or any questions, to [email protected].
Yours sincerely,
Jonathan Jucker
Editor, Brentwood Bugle
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