MISSION & VISION

MISSION
The mission of the Sunalta SASS is to connect neighbours, families and resources, to nurture community involvement for a healthy, safe environment, and to celebrate Sunalta’s vibrant diversity and historical significance.

VISION
The vision of the Sunalta SASS is to empower the Sunalta residents to build a safe, healthy and sustainable community while being protective of its historical legacy and respectful of future integrity.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Seasons greetings everyone. As another year comes to an end I start to reflect on the years I have spent in Sunalta. I feel our community has changed so much while I’ve lived here, yet there are some aspects that have not changed since Sunalta was formed. I walk through our community each day looking at the older buildings and beautiful large trees, I talk with the many people I have come to meet and I enjoy how it has all evolved into a vibrant community. Not an old community that has survived but a great community that has grown to offer everyone that lives in it something they can call home.

In 2009 Sunalta turns 100 years old, so we are starting to plan for Sunalta’s Centennial. We would like to make this occasion something to remember and give us cause to reflect on some of the great features that still remain from Sunalta’s beginning in 1909. If you have any ideas or wish to assist with this once in a life time event, please attend our next community meeting on January 12th, 2009.

Until next time,

Kevin Ritchot,
President Sunalta Community Association

UPCOMING SUNALTA COMMUNITY EVENTS and ACKNOWLEDGMENTS…

SUNALTA FAMILY CHRISTMAS POTLUCK: Come and share in the spirit of the season at the Sunalta Family Christmas Potluck! Catch up with your neighbours and connect with your community. All are welcome.
Sunday, December 7th
Sunalta Community Hall: 1627 – 10th Ave SW
Gathering at 4:30pm, eating at 5:00pm
Drinks will be provided. Please bring a dish to share (appetizer, salad, main course, or dessert) and plates, cutlery, napkins and cups for those in your party.
RSVP: Riki at 403-245-0246 or rikiwinkler@shaw.ca – please leave a message and indicate what type of dish you are bringing, number of people and ages of children attending.

SENIORS' TEA: Last year we moved the Seniors' Tea to the Community Centre at the request of the Seniors and it was a smashing success. Hosting it in our Community Centre brings with it so many memories, evoking discussions of dances, parties and the community members over the years. This year, the Seniors' Tea will be held on Sunday, December 14th at 3:30 pm. RSVP to Kelly at 403-256-3999.

SUNALTA SHELTER WELCOMES COMMUNITY DONATIONS: You may or may not be aware that Sunalta houses a men's night shelter, an extension of the downtown Drop-In center. The Sunalta shelter operates three hundred sixty-five days a year and offers a place to sleep and clean-up for 150 men. These individuals are bussed in and out, there are no walk-ins. All clients must be sober. Please consider this holiday donating to the Sunalta shelter. The following items are in demand and can be dropped off between the hours of 8:30 pm and 7:00 am at 2032 – 10th Ave SW, or anytime at the downtown location.

Needed items: laundry detergent, shampoo/soap, men's socks and underwear, cough drops, toiletries, gloves and toques, and alcohol-free mouthwash.

SUNALTA WILDFLOWER GARDEN UPDATE: Thank you to all who helped to make our fall clean-up a grand success! On the last Sunday in October, we were able to trim the dead bits off the big tree, turn and distribute compost and attack the weeds and errant grasses. It looks fabulous and will make the spring clean-up much easier and more fun! Thanks to Wayne, Tanya, Peter, Kevin, Riki, Fisher, Marin, Jason and Kylie.
Ann Marie Barnhill, Sunalta Wildflower Garden Coordinator

SCARBORO COMMUNITY PRESCHOOL 2009 REGISTRATION: A parent co-operative preschool operational for over twenty years is located in the basement of the Sunalta School. Programs for 3 and 4 year olds focus on socialization skills and offer a balance of child and teacher directed activities including: circle-time, crafts, physical activity, stories, special events, music and more! Registration for the 2009 school year runs January 15th - 30th. Please contact Karen Graham at 403-244-3395 or karen_g@telus.net for more information.

BABIES, TODDLERS, MOMS AND DADS: Entertain your kids and meet other parents in an environment you will adore! Offering playgroups, parented preschool, preschool, art, music, dance, yoga, massage, baby sign, language, literacy, parenting workshops, prenatal classes, First Aid/CPR, Mom's Nights Out, Daddy and Me classes, field trips and more!
No baby is too young to join! Visit our website at www.room-to-grow.ca for a full listing of all our events or call 403-463-9565.

HEART DISEASE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Every seven minutes, a Canadian dies from heart disease or stroke. Every seven minutes, another family is thrown into crisis. Be a part of the solution: volunteer for February Is Heart Month. Every year, volunteers across Canada donate a few hours of their time – from fundraising in their neighbourhoods to organizing a team of local volunteers – in support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Sign up today and become a real life-saver – go to heartandstroke.ca or phone 1.888.HSF.INFO.

SACRED HEART SCHOOL NEWS

“Personal, Positive, Prayerful”

 

Those first days of school are now well under our belts as students and teachers are into their programs of study with report cards and parent-teacher interviews in November. Besides a focus on academics at Sacred Heart School, we also believe that it is important for our students to develop skills and positive attitudes that encourage leadership, citizenship and life-long learning. Our students are involved in Intra-Murals, Activity Days, School Choir, Positive Playground Patrols, Student Leaders, the Recycling Club and/or the Origami Club. Our Catholic Community of Caring is alive and well with our annual participation in the Terry Fox Marathon Run for Cancer. It was a particularly big hit with everybody this year as the principal got “Stuck for a Buck”! For the donation of a loonie or toonie towards the cause, students, staff and teachers received a long piece of duct tape which was used to tape the principal to the wall! It was all in good fun and for a very worthy cause!

SUNALTA SCHOOL NEWS

After a successful garden party hosted by School Council, our parent meetings continue to be well attended. All Sunalta parents are invited to share their ideas, participate in a committee or just drop in to show support for the school.
Once again Sunalta School did exceedingly well on the Provincial Achievement Tests and surpassed the provincial average in all main categories in Grades 3 and 6. I am proud of our students, teachers and parents who all work together in the pursuit of academic excellence.

Hopefully, by the time you read this, the wall reconstruction will be just a distant memory. Due to unexpected surprises as the project moved forward, it took considerably longer than planned. Thanks to good weather, students participated in an outside fun and healthy phys.ed. experience. A community engagement meeting will be held with the CBE to discuss the mural. Stay tuned.

After 19 years at Sunalta, Mr. Pearson, our facility operator, decided to retire. He has big travel plans
and is excited about trying new things. We wish him all the best.

C. Aylesworth, Principal
caaylesworth@cbe.ab.ca

SUNALTA LANDUSE AND DEVELOPMENT

With the cooling of the weather and the economy we have seen a slowdown in the renovation and construction work in our neighbourhood and very few proposals for new development. The Sunalta Community Association Planning Committee has however remained busy in preparation for the next development push.

As some may know, Bing Thom Architects of Vancouver was hired by the City of Calgary to work on the rewrite of our Area Redevelopment Plan. As part of that work they are developing a vision of what 10th Ave could become once the West LRT line is up and running as well as considering the future of the lands to the north between the CPR and river. While nothing is currently finalized they have been consulting with representatives from the community association who have been pushing for better connections north and south across the tracks and to the river, a strategy for dealing with the West LRT line that will mitigate any issues with the elevated line and create a rich pedestrian environment along 10th Ave, policy that will encourage quality development along 11th and 12th Ave as well accessible and activated park space to the North.

Although some aspects of Bing Thom Architects’ current plan have been diluted from the original schemes that were developed in the spring they have listened to our concerns and comments and along with Thom Mahler, who is the city’s planner in charge of this project, have been good advocates for our community.

A number of the Sunalta Land Use and Planning Team have also been part of ongoing discussions and consultations with the City’s West LRT office and its consultants. Recently they have presented us with schematic designs for the LRT station head and the proposed plaza on 10th Ave at the end of 16th St, and requested our comments, concerns and advice on how to make it better fit within our community. These meetings are ongoing and the ARP work that is being done is informing our responses so that once completed the LRT and the station become an integral part of what Sunalta is and what it is to become. Again, while it is important that we stay diligent in pushing for the best possible community and infrastructure possible, the West LRT office does appear to be listening to many of our concerns.

If you have any questions or comments about the ARP, the LRT station design or any other Landuse and Development issues with Sunalta please feel free to email me at courtney@daedalusdesign.ca.

Courtney Clarke
Director of Planning and Development
Sunalta Community Association

SUNALTA AREA REDEVELOPMENT PLAN (ARP) UPDATE

Sunalta Community representatives are continuing to regularly meet with City of Calgary Land Use, Planning, and Policy (LUPP) staff to work on revisions of the Sunalta Area Redevelopment Plan. Earlier in 2008, the City of Calgary hired Bing Thom Architects from Vancouver as external consultants to work on many aspects of urban design for the Sunalta ARP project. The process overall has generated many creative and exciting ideas for the future of Sunalta as well as highlighted many pre-existing challenges for our community.

Some of the major considerations for the ARP include:

• Long-term commercial, residential, and retail development along the 10th Ave corridor
  
• The future of 10th Ave as a Kensington-like High Street concept with good mixing of retail, commercial, and residential uses in pedestrian and cycle-friendly forms
  
• Changes in density to allow for Transit Oriented Development around the new Sunalta Station (which will be located behind 10th Ave between 16th and 17th St)
  
• Integration of Station Development and pedestrian and cycle access into the existing and future fabric of the community
  
• Connections to the river and park areas to the north of the CPR tracks
  
• Future development of cultural amenity and park spaces on the north side near the Pumphouse Theatre
  
• Future development of mixed use commercial / residential buildings near the current Greyhound site and various car dealerships on the north side of the CPR
  
• Careful examination of traffic patterns and proposed changes on 10th, 11th, and 12th Avenues that will enhance community life and increase pedestrian and cyclist safety.

A draft of the revised ARP is expected to be completed by early in the New Year with the document to go in front of City Council in Spring 2009.

WEST LRT: SUNALTA STATION DESIGN COMMITTEE UPDATE

It is a very exciting time in the Community with the planning for the West LRT in full swing. After considerable feedback from affected communities early in 2008, the original West LRT alignment overtop of Crowchild Trail running nearby the Sunalta School grounds was modified. The final alignment now takes the line over Bow Trail from Millennium Park, remaining elevated in behind 10th Ave in Sunalta beside the CPR tracks, stopping at the elevated Sunalta Station between 16th and 17th St, then rising upward over Bow Trail (eastbound ramp) and dropping down to ground level (about the western edge of Crowchild Trail) and up the middle of Bow Trail to towards the next Station at 26th St near the Shaganappi Golf Course.

Earlier in 2008, the City of Calgary also agreed to undertake a more detailed community consultation process that would ensure all stakeholders in established communities near the West LRT line have given input into the planning process. Late this summer, the City accepted applications for the various individual Design Committees for the stations along the new West LRT line. These committees have now been meeting for the last few months. They include local residents, community association and board members, business owners, Staff from City of Calgary Land Use Planning & Policy, West LRT Office staff, Calgary Transit, and Architects that are working on station designs. Newly added is a Community Advocate position for this consultation process that is currently serving as liaison between the City and the involved communities on technical and planning related matters for the West LRT.

The Sunalta Station Design Committee has been working diligently over the last few months with the City regarding the basic structure and functional design of the elevated station – Sunalta will be a “signature station” of the new line as it will be the first truly elevated platform station to be built in the Calgary LRT network.

The chosen station functional design includes a mezzanine level below the main platform station level which permits a walk-through and cyclist access over the CPR tracks to the north side and connections to the river pathway system. This Mezzanine design also allows for elevated plaza options to be incorporated into future mixed use buildings and commercial developments adjoining the station immediately to the east and west of the station head. Shops and retail are planned to develop along with the adjacent buildings to provide convenient food, beverage, and other amenities for Transit passengers.

The proposed platform area will be mostly enclosed by a modern looking ellipse-shaped tube design that will be offset/slanted slightly for aesthetic appeal. The committee is working towards a unique and visually appealing design that may also integrate some art work and/or sculpture concepts within the public plaza area at ground level. Possible glass and transparent materials will be used to take advantage of our sunny climate, and natural light will illuminate the station to create an inviting and pleasant experience for transit passengers.

The Committee is reviewing many additional components such as: platform configuration, pedestrian/bike accessibility, passenger safety/crime prevention, sound attenuation, traffic management, construction staging, landscaping, aesthetic integration of the station into the community, artwork, and the layout for the public plaza, the base of the station and the end of 16th St at 10th Ave (kitty corner to the Community Association grounds).

Design work with communities is expected to run into the Spring of 2009. The construction contract bidding and tendering process will be organized by the City and awarded by Fall 2009. Construction is expected to begin shortly after with a projected grand opening for December 2012 for the entire West LRT line.

Peter Rishaug,
Vice-President, Sunalta Community Association

MUSIC FOR YOUNG CHILDREN WINTER REGISTRATION ON NOW!!!

A new Music Pups session is starting in January at Scarboro United Church for ages six months to four years. See: www.themusicclass.com or call Kelly to register at: 403-256-3999.

WARD 8 NEWS - A MESSAGE FROM ALDERMAN MAR

Crime & Safety Update: What are we doing to address your concerns.

As you may recall, during my election campaign, I recognized Safety as an emerging issue in Ward 8. In response, I called for 400 new Police Officers for Calgary and earlier this month Calgary City Council approved a re-allocation of $25,000,000 to recruit, train and equip an additional 201 new Police Officers over the next three years.

The Province thus far has committed to fund 100 new police officers (over three years), and is in the process of examining the need for additional funding through Crime Reduction and Safe Communities Task Force.

In addition, October 1st marked the first day of the Safe Communities and Neighbourhoods Act (SCAN). The Act was implemented by the Provincial Government to help curb targeted activities in neighbourhoods and communities. The Act allows the Provincial Government to give residents a way to register complaints and to put an end to illegal activities that adversely affect or harm a neighbourhood. As more and more communities in Calgary have witnessed, our law enforcement agencies are seeing an increase in drug and prostitution-related criminal activity. The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act promotes peaceful communities and neighbourhoods by increasing public safety.

The legislation is designed to improve community safety by targeting, and, if necessary, shutting down residential and commercial buildings and land which are habitually used for illegal activities such as producing, selling or using illegal drugs, as well as prostitution. This legislation is just one more step that will provide our police forces the support they need to begin the battle against these types of crimes, and as a government, we will work with them as they put residents first and continue to focus on public safety issues. If there’s a suspicious property in your neighbourhood, do not investigate it yourself or approach the occupants. Please call our Alberta Sheriffs’ SCAN teams immediately, toll free at 1-866-960-SCAN (7226).

In other related news, a Deployment Centre has just opened and will serve as a base for Calgary Transit’s Public Safety and Enforcement Officers. The office will be located in the TELUS Convention Centre space on the
C-Train platform and will enable police and transit peace officers to work together daily, while developing integrated policing solutions designed to enhance public safety. This will help combat crime and social disorder in the downtown core and help maintain public safety in the area. During the pilot project, the office will be open for general public inquiries from 8 am to 1 am on weekdays and from 4 pm to 1 am on weekends.

If I can be of assistance on any civic matter do not hesitate to contact my office by phone 403-268-2430, fax 403-269-3823 or at www.calgary.ca/alderman/ward8. I pledge to be an accessible, responsive, and strong advocate for the people of Ward 8.

John Mar, Alderman Ward 8

SUNALTA HISTORY

ALEXANDER CALHOUN

Alexander Calhoun 1879–1979 was born in Fenelon Falls, Ontario to Irish immigrants whom valued education. After graduating from Queen’s University in 1902 with a Master of Arts degree, he considered joining the Presbyterian ministry, though abandoned the idea in favour of teaching, eventually becoming interested in library studies. At this time the library profession was a pioneering field, and after apprenticing in Ontario, he applied for an opening at the newly created Carnegie Public Library in Calgary (what is now Memorial Park Library).

In 1911, Alexander was appointed chief librarian and moved with his wife, Vivian Mabel Moynes 1873–1958 (a pharmaceutical assistant he met in high school) to Calgary. With a salary of $1800, he saw Calgary as: “a young man’s dream of a good place to live and work in. It was full of ambitious people including many young executives sent from the east to open branch offices.” With a collection of 5000 books, the library opened in 1912, becoming Alberta’s first. That same year Alexander and Vivian welcomed their only child, John. In 1913 the Calhouns moved to Sunalta; they lived at 1522 - 16th Ave SW. They remained here until 1917 when Alexander had a brief career in the military. With Alexander gone, Vivian took their son to Ontario, until Alexander was discharged in 1919 for medical reasons, and the family returned to Calgary where they bought a lot on 15th St NW, and Alexander resumed his position with the library.

These years were difficult and Alexander is credited with seeing the library through the financially troubled times of the post WWI depression and the depression of the 1930’s. He retired in 1945, and had the Alexander Calhoun library dedicated to him in 1953. Over his life, he was in involved in many local organizations – the Alpine Club of Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society, the John Howard Society, the Vacant Lots Garden Club, and several others. He was awarded an honourary LLD degree from the University of Alberta and an honourary doctorate from the University of Calgary. Alexander died in 1979, months short of his hundredth birthday. He was remembered as a private man, scholarly, with a slight build, who was always well dressed. He was also known as someone who enjoyed discussion and debate, and had several close friends. He was active well into his eighties, and was known to walk and read daily, and you can be sure he strolled the streets of Sunalta.

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REPORTING CRIMINAL OR SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY

Our community remains strong as we take a stand as to what activities take place here. For any suspicious activities or persons make a call. It makes a difference!

911 Police emergency
266-1234 Police non-emergency, then dial "0" for more immediate response
311 City Bylaw enforcement
206-8100 Drug-related info (recorded message)
1-866-960-SCAN (7226) Suspected Drug Houses

When reporting please remember to include sufficient details so your information can be used.

General information: Record location, nature of the activity, time of day, duration, etc.
Identifying people: Names if known, description, height, weight, skin colour, clothing description.
Reporting vehicles: License plate number, colour, make, model, year.

Claim your community!

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SUNALTA RESOURCES AND AMENITIES

The Sunalta Sass would like to connect community members to local resources and promote our mission through including bus lines to reach these amenities. Using existing mass transportation is a responsible, economical and fun way to get from point A to point B. Please remember to add 403 when dialing in Calgary.

Calgary Rapid Transit Information – 262-1000

Community Health Centres
Shaganappi Health Centre
3415 - 8th Ave SW 944-7373 Bus 17 (west on 11th Ave SW)
Sheldon Chumir Health Centre
1213 - 4th St SW 955-6200 Bus 17 (east on 12th Ave SW)

Public Libraries 260-2600
Alexander Calhoun
3223 - 14th St, SW 221-2010 Bus 7 (south on 14 St SW), Bus 107 (south on 14 St SW)
Shaganappi
3415 - 8th Ave SW 221-2020 Bus 17 (west on 11th Ave)

Playgrounds
Royal Sunalta Park
17th St & 14th Ave SW
Sacred Heart School Park
15th St & 13th Ave SW
Sunalta Community Centre Park
16th St &11th Ave SW

Post Office
Rexall Drugs
1400 - 12th Ave SW 229-4163

Recycling
Calgary Tennis Club parking lot
15th Ave & 16th St SW

Registries Office
Downtown Registries
524 - 11th Ave SW 237-0220 Bus 7 (east on 12th Ave SW to 8th St SW) then Bus 31

Schools
Sunalta School
536 Sonora Ave SW 777-8590
Sacred Heart Elementary School
1312 - 15th St SW 244-5207
Mount Royal Junior High School
2234 - 14th St SW 777-7980
Western Canadian High School
641 - 17th Ave SW 228-5363

Swimming Pool
Killarney Aquatics & Recreation Centre
1919 - 29th St SW 246-1737 Bus 2 (west on 17th Ave)

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION BOARD

President:
Kevin Ritchot 245-0246
kevinrichot@shaw.ca

Vice President:
Peter Rishaug 650-5831
prishaug@shaw.ca

Secretary:
Lois Ferguson 802-4827
tlferg@telus.net

Treasurer:
Sharon Woodhouse 245-1302
sca1@telusplanet.net

Director:
Rick/Tanya McFerrin 698-9283
rick-and-tanya@twowheelview.org

Director:
Maureen Keough 452-1979
maureen.keough@encana.com

Director/Planning and Development Chair:
Courtney Clarke 629-3150
courtney@daedalusdesign.ca

Director/Sunalta Block Watch:
Teresa de Groot 802-6804
wester11@telusplanet.net

Director/Hall Maintenance and Rentals:
Aileen Palmer 244-3739

Director/Membership:
Shelley MacGregor 230-5551
smacgregor@shaw.ca

Director/Garden:
AnnMarie Barnhill 228-5710
ambarnhill@shaw.ca

Graffiti Removal:
Kate Page 228-9838
kate.page@gmail.com

Community History:
Riki Winkler 245-0246
rikiwinkler@shaw.ca

MEETING DATES

The Sunalta Community Association meets at the hall (10th Ave. and 16th St.) nine times a year on the second Monday of every month at 7:30pm. There are no meetings in July, August or December. Everyone is welcome. Make your voice heard. Turn ideas into action!

The Sunalta Sass is a collective effort of many residents and edited by Tanya McFerrin and Kelly Schuler. If you would like to make a submission to The Sunalta Newsletter, “The Sass,” please contact Tanya McFerrin at 403 698-9283 or via e-mail to rick-and-tanya@twowheelview.org.

The Sass welcomes community news and is published quarterly in March, June, September and December. The submission deadline for the March issue is Monday, January 26th, 2009. Community announcements are published free of charge and may be edited due to limitations in space.

Business Advertisments may be run in 1/8 page size, $50. The Sass is distributed to approx. 2600 Sunalta residents quarterly. Send submission files in .pdf format or high resolution (300dpi) .jpg, in black and white to rick-and-tanya@twowheelview.org. The Sass does not publish political advertising and due to limited ad space, advertising requests will be reviewed and selected at Editorial Board Meetings.

To subscribe to the Sunalta Sass online, contact Tanya McFerrin at: rick-and-tanya@twowheelview.org

SUNALTA COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP

Community membership is one way to stay informed and take a role in the shape of your community.
A strong, safe and alive community is the product of positive energy from a broad base of participants.
There is a role for every resident, from giving feedback to volunteering time. Please complete the form below and take ownership of Sunalta.

Return forms to the community association at an upcoming meeting date or to 1730 - 13th Ave. SW.
Cheques should be written to the Sunalta Community Association.

E-Newsletter designed by desnoyers-schuler inc. marketing and communications for
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