Braeside Community Association Has Been Busy!
Hello everyone.
Changes were made to the community hall during the year. Using grants from City of Calgary and Alberta provincial government, the Upper Hall has been renovated with new flooring, new LED dimmable lights, and refreshed appearance to the walls. New furnaces have replaced the older models to reduce heating costs and provide better air circulation. The boards at the hockey rink have been upgraded to minimize damage.
For revenue purposes the rental rates of the community hall have been standardized for all renters. As well, repeat users are able to rent storage areas for their equipment.
The Before and After School Childcare program restarted in August after being closed in March by COVID-19 rules. This program is now providing service for 47 children in the various programs. This is a lower number than the normal 60 as required by staff to children ratios. Childcare is so important to allow parents to continue to work rather than remaining at home to care for their children.
The community garden was full of users this year and may be expanded with additional planters in 2021.
In August, BCA contacted Canada Post to move a community mailbox to a better location along Brookgreen Drive. Its present position is set back from the road by 12 metres along a pathway that is not cleared of snow and ice in the winter. We have been advised a study to do this move is underway and to expect to wait a year for any results.
BCA also received a request in August to find if speed reduction could be placed in the alley leading to the off-leash dog park. This alley is between 110 and 111 Avenue. An initial contact with the City was replied that 7 steps had to be completed before any changes would happen. The person who made the request is working on step 1 to find if there is support of 60 percent of the homes backing onto the alley would be in favour.
BCA has contacted urban forestry of City of Calgary to inspect several trees along Braeside Drive, and also Brookpark Blvd. If a tree is deemed dead, it now has a red sign attached for removal in the future. If you have a City tree close to your home that appears dead, call 311 or use 311 online to report and see if it will be removed.
About the petty and annoying crimes and thieves – continue to report everything to Calgary Police Service (CPS). This reporting is needed to build statistics which will result in more police presence driving through Braeside and perhaps some arrests. Unfortunately, after CPS has done their part, if an arrest is made, the individuals will be released. This is not a fault of CPS.
Finally, for bylaw education, BCA has published items from time to time written in the City of Calgary booklet ‘Guidebook to Great Communities.” Check it out online using the City of Calgary website. It is very useful to help in promoting Braeside as a great place to live. Now that we have access to the ring road, a Costco within 8 km, and the new BRT service, I expect that we will see more new residents.
Have a good holiday season and New Year’s.
Take care,
Robert Grigg
President, Braeside Community Association
