Happy New Year! We hope you and your family enjoyed a warm, wonderful holiday season and that you are off to a great start in 2022.
What to Do with Your Real Christmas Tree
The City of Calgary would like you to help keep Christmas trees out of the landfill this season. Your real tree can be composted – just remove the stand, all lights, decorations, and tinsel, and either:
- Put your tree in your green cart. Cut it into pieces that will fit in the cart, making sure the cart lid can close. Extra branches go into paper yard waste bags, rolled closed, and set at least 0.5 meters (2 feet) to the side of your green cart. Please Note: Trees not prepared this way will not be collected.
or
- Take your whole tree to a temporary drop-off location. Make sure it has no lights, decorations, or tinsel on it. Don’t wrap or bag it, even if the bag is compostable. If you wrap it to transport it, take the wrapping off before dropping the tree off. More information and a list of drop off locations is available at calgary.ca/christmastree.
Winter Sidewalk Clearing, Traction, and Ice Melt
City of Calgary bylaws require property owners to clear the sidewalks that border their property within 24 hours of snowfall ending, as well as to manage ice on sidewalks, and clear the windrows left by City snowplows.
The City offers a free, limited, supply of sand and salt mixture (or pickle) to individual property owners to help with traction and ice melting on sidewalks. Find out where you can go to fill up a bucket of pickle to use on your walks at https://www.calgary.ca/transportation/roads/road-maintenance/snow-and-ice-control/sanding-material-pick-up-locations.html.
The City does not provide snow shoveling services to individual residents, but you can be a Snow Angel and lend a hand with sidewalk clearing for an elderly or mobility challenged neighbour.
Is someone being a Snow Angel for you? Recognize them with a downloadable/printable Snow Angel certificate (https://www.calgary.ca/csps/cns/seniors/snow-angels/snow-angels.html), call 311 to request a certificate for your Snow Angel, or share your Snow Angel story on social media using #YYCSnowAngels.
Information, Resources, and Support for Families
Alberta Health Services Community Education Service (CES) offers over 100 free, online presentations each year. Expert speakers deliver timely, credible information and best-practice strategies to support the development and mental health of a child or youth in your life. Topi cs are varied and include communication and support for families, parents, and kids. Join a live session or view a recorded session at home or on a personal computer. This year’s webinars remain available on the site until March 31, 2022. http://community.hmhc.ca/sessions/?p=webex.
Temporary Community Fire Pit
The City of Calgary’s temporary community fire pit program, created last year to help us get outside, is continuing through this winter. Deer Ridge has a temporary fire pit at 60 Deerpath Road SE. There is no charge to use the fire pit. It’s available on a first come, first serve basis, between 10:00 am and 9:00 pm weekdays and weekends.
Want to be sure you can use the fire pit on a certain date and time? Check availability or make a reservation online at https://liveandplay.calgary.ca/HOME/public/page/fire-pits.
When you’re using the fire pit, please remember to:
- Bring your own firewood
- Don’t burn garbage, furniture, elm wood, or wet/green wood
- Observe all COVID guidelines
- Make sure you clean up after your group
- Put the fire out when you leave
Deer Ridge Family Winter Skate
The Annual Family Winter Skate will be held on Saturday, January 15, from noon to 4:00 pm.
There will be skating on both rinks, music, a fire pit for warming up, and free hotdogs and hot chocolate for all. This event will be held in compliance with all COVID-safe guidelines. Please join us and bring your friends, family, and neighbours to this always popular, free neighbourhood event.
Upcoming Board Meetings
Deer Ridge CA Board meetings are held at 7:00 pm on the third Tuesday of the month. Residents with a current Deer Ridge Community Association membership have voting privileges. Locations are announced on the website – the Board has been having virtual meetings, but we hope to return to in-person meetings very soon. If you wish to attend a meeting, please contact us in advance at [email protected] or call/text 404-606-7331.
Plan on attending an upcoming meeting, to learn more about what’s happening in your community.
Dates are as follows:
- January 18, 7:00 pm, location TBA
- February 15, 7:00 pm, location TBA
- March 15, 7:00 pm, location TBA
