Live Up Spring/Summer 2017

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SPRING | SUMMER | 2017

BUILDING THE NEW NORTH IN LIVINGSTON BEYOND BOOKS Calgary’s libraries get innovative

ROLL OUT THE WELCOME MAT

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ways to make your front yard more inviting

SUMMER FUN Make the most of the sweetest season YOUR WHERE TO GO, WHAT TO DO, WHERE TO EAT, WHAT TO SEE GUIDE TO LIFE IN NORTH CALGARY

FIRST FAMILY Chrizzia Corpuz & Tony Gee — the first Livingston residents


You may want to sit down for this. We’ve got a lot to show you. New single family homes now available in Livingston.

✓ SIDE ENTRIES ✓ PANTRY OPTIONS

✓ WALK-THROUGH LAUNDRY

Showhomes Now Open

Starting from the $420’s Learn more at:

jayman.com/livingston 2

LIVE UP Spring | Summer | 2017


CONTENTS

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BUILDING BETTER COMMUNITIES When it comes to new neighbourhoods, Calgarians want much more than just a home. These developers, builders and city planners are up to the challenge.

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UNCOMMON SPACES Calgary’s library branches are evolving to better serve their communities. We talk to librarians in the north to find out how.

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FIRE SAFETY FIRST We check in with the Calgary Fire Department to learn how homeowners can keep their homes fire safe.

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NORTH CALGARY PATIO GUIDE A roundup of some of our favourite restaurant patios for alfresco dining, because eating outdoors is one of the highlights of Calgary’s warm summer season.

LIVE UP’S GUIDE TO SUMMER FUN Get outdoors with our guide to the best family-friendly hiking, biking, swimming and picnicking in the north.

7 PLAY UP

Dog parks your pooch will love.

Map of Livingston courtesy of Brookfield Residential

8 UP COMING

16 ON THE COVER

These Calgary events are on our radar.

MY NORTH IS...

Anne Burke, president of Friends of Nose Hill Society, tells us what she loves about north Calgary.

TONY GEE AND CHRIZZIA CORPUZ Photographed by Colin Way Bardot Dining Rug from EQ3

10 EAT UP

Dim sum and East Indian are on the menu at these Calgary restaurants.

11 WORK UP

Find out what makes the Calgary Airport Authority a great employer.

12 GET UP

Get ready for summer with these gear picks from Cabela’s.

13 DAY IN THE LIFE

Peek behind-thescenes at a typical day at Good Earth Coventry Hills.

14 PORTFOLIO

Ethiopian artist Sisay Shimeles shares what inspires him.

18 Q&A

The Calgary Foundation’s Eva Friesen on Vital Signs and complete communities.

22 FIRST FAMILY

44 BETTER TOGETHER

Vivo recreation centre is helping Calgarians live healthier lives.

46 4 WAYS

48 IN PROFILE

An interview with Shia Ismaili Community’s Stampede breakfast volunteer Tasneem Rahim.

50 SAM LIVINGSTON: INNOVATOR

Calgary pioneer Sam Livingston’s life offers inspiration for today.

From a luscious English garden to a low-maintenance, drought-resistant space, we explore four ways to landscape a yard.

Meet Tony Gee and Chrizzia Corpuz, Livingston’s first family.

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WelcomeLetter

At Brookfield, we pride ourselves on creating the best places to call home. We put the customer first and dedicate our business to providing an exceptional customer experience and developing communities and homes that provide the best quality of life.

Brookfield Editor Jessie Seymour Managing Editor Meredith Bailey Art Director David Willicome Proofreader Jay Winans Fact Checkers Fraser Tripp and Laverne Wilson Staff Photographer Jared Sych Production Coordinator Rebecca Middlebrook

Trent Edwards Chief Operating Officer, Brookfield Residential Alberta

THE NEW NORTH IS HERE! THANKS for picking up a copy of Live Up, a magazine that celebrates the lifestyle, residents, businesses and community of Calgary’s north. Livingston is a new community in north Calgary that celebrates togetherness, invites neighbourly connections, and redefines what new communities should look and feel like in the city. The master-planned community is Brookfield Residential’s 63rd in Calgary, and consists of more than 1,200 acres just north of Stoney Trail and bordering both sides of

Centre Street. When complete, it will be home to nearly 30,000 Calgarians living in 11,000 homes. Livingston is a community that brings people together. From the initial stages of planning, we’ve worked to create opportunities for connection. Livingston is designed so that residents can easily meet and have fun with their family, friends and neighbours. From cycling and walking within the neighbourhood to easy access to public transit and major roads, there are lots of

transportation options. Livingston’s central community hub provides a place for people to gather, have fun, recreate, learn, splash, get involved and enjoy life. Its thoughtful design and focus on community means Livingston is a safe place for families. Through the creation of this magazine, we have had the opportunity to talk to different north Calgary influencers including artists, passionate volunteers and business owners as well as leaders of the non-profit sector. Through these conversations, we’ve learned how unique this part of the city is and how it truly is the “New North”. Our hope is that this magazine will bring you information that you may not have known about Calgary’s north and the new community of Livingston. We hope it shows you the vibrancy and energy of the New North. We are sharing Live Up twice a year with over 30,000 north Calgary residents and we hope it starts to tell your story. I hope you enjoy reading Live Up and we will talk to you again soon. L

Contributors Tiffany Burns, Andrea Cox, Miles Durrie, Joanne Elves, Jennifer Friesen, Andrew Guilbert, Kaitlyn Hanson, Sam Hester, Dean Husarik, Joel Kimmel, Kevin McElheran, Karin Olafson, Gwendolyn Richards, Shannon Sutherland-Smith, Colin Way, Alana Willerton, Julia Williams, Artists Within, Sean P. Young Published For Brookfield Residential Head Office 4906 Richard Rd S.W. Calgary, Alberta T3E 6L1 Phone: 403-231-8900 Toll Free: 1-855-234-8362 info@brookfieldrp.com Published By Redpoint Media & Marketing Solutions 100, 1900 11 St. S.E. Calgary, Alberta T2G 3G2 Phone: 403-240-9055 Toll Free: 1-877-963-9333 Fax: 403-240-9059 info@redpointmedia.ca President & CEO Pete Graves Publisher Joyce Byrne Associate Publisher Pritha Kalar Client Relations Manager Sandra Jenks Production Manager Mike Matovich Audience Development Manager Rob Kelly

Media & Marketing Solutions

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LIVE UP Spring | Summer | 2017


by Meredith Bailey | photography by Kevin McElheran

PlayUp

UNLEASHED

In Calgary, dogs have it made. The city has 150 off-leash dog parks with dozens in north Calgary alone. From small neighbourhood green spaces to acres of natural grassland, there’s plenty of space for pups to roam free. Here are three of our favourite off-leash areas in the north.

1 FALCONRIDGE The Falconridge off-leash area is one of only a handful of Calgary dog parks that is fully fenced. This park is ideal for dogs unfamiliar with or nervous around traffic, as the fence keeps them safely away from nearby McKnight Boulevard. >> Multiple access points along Falwood Way N.E.

2 HUNTINGTON HILLS The Huntington Hills neighbourhood has five separate off-leash areas. Area 5 is a private, grassy stretch behind the houses along Huntwell Road N.E. The Nose Creek Pathway runs through it so, after an off-leash play, you and your pup can practice on-leash walking along the path. >> Multiple access points including from Huntwell Road N.E.

3 NOSE HILL PARK Nose Hill’s multi-use, off-leash area is roughly the size of 424 football fields and is one of the largest in the city. The off-leash section sits on the top of the park and offers beautiful views of downtown and the foothills. >> Multiple access points including from Shaganappi Trail N.W. L

The huge offleash area at Nose Hill Park gives lots of space to run.

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UpComing

by Tiffany Burns

SUMMER EVENTS From horse racing to Stampede breakfasts, these north Calgary events are on our radar.

Getting dressed up is a big part of the fun at Packwood Grand.

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STAMPEDE BREAKFASTS IN THE NORTH JULY 8

Packwood Grand photography by Kelly Hofer, Scandinavian Cultural Society photograph courtesy of Scandinavian Cultural Society, Ismaili Muslim Community’s Stampede Breakfast photograph by Karim Hudda, CrossIron Mills photograph courtesy of CrossIron Mills; Mountain View Arts Festival photography by Judith Newsome, Roadrunner Photography.

JULY 29 PACKWOOD GRAND If you dream of attending the Kentucky Derby, there’s no need to travel to the Bluegrass State for horse racing, mint juleps and the requisite fancy hats. Packwood Grand, Calgary’s equivalent, is held at the Century Downs Racetrack and Casino and is now in its fourth year. Every year, 2,000 fashion-forward guests are expected to attend the elegant, extravagant affair. Besides betting on the races, Packwood Grand is all about the fashion. One of the highlights of the day is the contest for best dressed, although officially, wagers are restricted to the ponies. For the ladies, topping a flowery frock with a wide-brimmed hat is a must, unless you’re making a big statement with a tiny fascinator. Men can’t go wrong with a seersucker suit, oxfords and a pocket square. Trackside festivities also include nibbles and designer drinks. Packwood Grand is by invitation only, but newcomers can request an invitation online at packwoodgrand.com. Century Downs Racetrack and Casino, 260 Century Downs Dr., Rocky View. packwoodgrand.com

SCANDINAVIAN CULTURAL SOCIETY Held at the Scandinavian Centre in northwest Calgary, the Scandinavian Cultural Society offers a fittingly Nordic twist to the good ol’ Stampede breakfast. However, there’s plenty of classic cowboy tradition to go around. Not only will they dish up the traditional pancakes, sausages, OJ and coffee for free, but the Hi-Land Square Dancers will also be on hand to do-si-do. 739 20 Ave N.W., scancentre.ca

pigeon peas in coconut milk — will take place in the morning from 8 a.m. Held at the Calgary Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre, the event includes music, line dancing and tours of the Jamatkhana. 1128 45 Ave N.E., theismaili.org Learn more about the event from breakfast volunteer Tasneem Rahim on page 48.

JULY 10 CROSSIRON MILLS With a bouncy castle, petting zoo and pony rides, CrossIron Mills’ annual Stampede breakfast is a family-friendly affair. Stampede Caravan Committee volunteers serve up pancakes, eggs and sausage starting at 9 a.m. Look for fun extras including a deluxe pancake-topping station and the chance to win gift certificates to shop at CrossIron. 261055 CrossIron Blvd., crossiromills.com

WORTH THE DRIVE SEPTEMBER 9 & 10 MOUNTAIN VIEW ARTS FESTIVAL For Calgarians seeking arts, culture and heritage, it’s worth the drive to Didsbury. The town’s annual arts weekend is Mountain View County’s largest outdoor festival of its kind. For two days, at multiple venues, Didsbury comes alive with dancers, storytellers, musicians, painters and potters. Head north for the showcase. Various venues, Didsbury, Alberta, mountainviewartsfestival.ca L

AUGUST 18 TO 20 ISMAILI MUSLIM COMMUNITY’S STAMPEDE BREAKFAST In recent years, the Ismaili Muslim community’s Stampede breakfast has been held at sunset to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan. This year, however, the annual breakfast, which features both traditional Stampede pancakes and dishes like crowd favourite bharazi —

COUNTRY THUNDER Held at Prairie Winds Park, the second annual country music festival features Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley and more. 223 Castleridge Blvd. N.E., countrythunder.com ABOVE, RIGHT: Art on display at Mountain View Arts Festival includes pottery, photography, visual art and carving. RIGHT: First Nations visual artist Delree Dumont dances on stage.

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EatUp

by Gwendolyn Richards

WORLD OF FLAVOUR

TAMARIND EAST INDIAN RESTAURANT Tamarind East Indian Restaurant infuses its dishes with the traditional flavours of India. The chefs take pride in their heritage and homeland by creating flavours evocative of Northern India and the street food found there. The menu is peppered with time-honoured recipes that satisfy all Indian cravings. Find authentic kormas and curries, spiced masalas and fiery vindaloos, dishes with paneer, samosas and sides of fluffy, soft naan or rice all offered in generous portions at this welcoming and contemporary restaurant in Panorama Hills. 610 1110 Panatella Blvd. N.W., 403-731-0001, tamarindcalgary.ca

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ABOVE: Tamarind East Indian Restaurant in Panorama Hills offers a menu of traditional Northern Indian dishes. RIGHT: T.Pot China Bistro’s elegant dining room serves dim sum all week

LIVE UP Spring | Summer | 2017

T.POT CHINA BISTRO T.Pot China Bistro in Harvest Hills dishes up Chinese entrees and dim sum, from standby favourites like ginger beef and Har Gow (steamed shrimp dumplings) to harder-to-find fare like abalone. This modern and spacious spot is incredibly popular and tends to fill up quickly with those seeking out dishes in both the formal restaurant side of the establishment and the cafĂŠ-style half, which have different menus. Dim sum is served all week but is especially popular on the weekend. Here, diners order by using bilingual checklist paper sheets instead of waiting for a desired dish to go by on a cart, which means food comes fresh and piping hot from the kitchen. 100 9640 Harvest Hills Blvd. N.E., 403-532-3982, tasteofasiagroup.ca L

Photography courtesy of Tamarind East Indian Restaurant and T.Pot China Bistro.

People who crave cuisines from around the world are fortunate to find a home in Calgary, where they can order international dishes in restaurants across the city. From Chinese restaurants offering noodles and dumplings, Japanese spots for sushi and ramen to Vietnamese establishments serving subs and soups, and spicy curries and soft naan from restaurants specializing in East Indian cooking, all hankerings can easily be filled. Among the top restaurants that satisfy a craving for something international to eat are these two spots in northern Calgary.


by Miles Durrie | photography by Jared Sych

WorkUp

AN AIR OF OPPORTUNITY THE DIVERSE RANGE OF CAREERS IN AND AROUND THE YYC AIRPORT IS HELPING CALGARY’S ECONOMY STAY AIRBORNE.

There’s an air of excitement, because people are travelling to go somewhere or to come home. And the new terminal is floorto-ceiling windows, so you can see the planes come in.” –Phoebe Fung, owner, Vin Room

YYC CALGARY International Airport is a place where people part and reunite, take off and touch down — and it’s also a place where people make a living. The airport is a key financial driver for the city; it supports more than 48,000 jobs in the region and contributes more than $8 billion to Calgary’s economy annually. And more than 24,000 people come to work every day on airport land, says Cynthia Tremblay, vice-president of human resources with the Calgary Airport Authority. The airport authority employs about 300 of those workers. The rest work for airlines and the hundreds of retail, food service, warehousing, logistics and transportation businesses operating within the airport’s more than 2,100 hectares in northeast Calgary. “We have a big range of jobs, from equipment operators plowing the snow off runways to project managers looking after the facilities here at YYC,” Tremblay says. “Information technology is really big for us; almost every part of the airport needs IT support.” The editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers named the airport authority among Alberta’s Top Employers seven times. The airport authority also holds a Certificate of Recognition as a safe workplace. “We’re really, really proud of that,” says Tremblay. Coming to work at YYC is a unique experience, says Phoebe Fung, owner of the Vin Room wine bar, which opened its airport location in the new international terminal last year. “It’s like its own mini-city here,” Fung says. “There’s an air of excitement, because people are travelling to go somewhere or to come home. And the new terminal is floor-to-ceiling windows, so you can see the planes come in.” Tremblay says being part of an organization that touches the entire world, along with the excitement of flight, makes YYC a special place for staff. “This is a cool place to work. Everybody here really has pride in this airport and the role it plays in contributing to our community and the economy — and once airplanes and aviation get into your blood, they are there to stay.” L

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GetUp

by Jennifer Friesen | photography by Jared Sych

GEARING UP FOR SUMMER WITH CABELA’S

With Parks Canada offering free entry to all national parks all year as a 150th birthday gift to the country, there’s more reason than ever to enjoy the great outdoors. Whether you’re on a deep-woods hike, hitting Country Thunder at Prairie Winds Park or hosting a barbecue, a little gear goes a long way. Here are five must-have items from Cabela’s. 851 64 Ave. N.E., 403-910-0200, cabelas.ca

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Alberta Adventure Girls This women-only Facebook adventure group meets regularly for hikes and more.

5 1 CABELA’S CANADA TODDLERS’ BEAVER HAT At Calgary’s non-stop lineup of outdoor summer festivals, sun protection is key. This cute cap will help keep your toddler covered. $14.99

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Take your gear on an adventure with an outdoor Calgary meet-up group

LIVE UP Spring | Summer | 2017

2 THERMACELL MOSQUITO REPELLENT APPLIANCE Keep your barbecue bite-free with this lightweight, portable appliance. A butane cartridge heats a chemically treated repellent mat to keep the mosquitoes away. $44.99

3 LIFESTRAW PERSONAL WATER FILTER This compact straw filters up to 1,000 litres of water directly from the source. Take a cool drink from a stream — sans bacteria and parasites — and stay hydrated in the backcountry. $26.99

4 CABELA’S XPG WINDSTOPPER JACKET When the June storms inevitably hit, it’s best to be ready for anything. Cabela’s Windstopper is wind and water resistant, so you can stay warm when it cools off. $149.99

5 ZEBCO NITROUS SPINCAST COMBO Whether walking to a lake or biking to the Bow, this compact, resilient fishing rod is easy to use and perfect for on-the-go kids or other beginners eager to make their first catch. $39.99

Calgary Outdoor Playgroup Community Join this family-focused Facebook group and take your kids outside. Calgary Nature Lovers The Calgary Nature Lovers meet-ups include city walks, mountain hikes and more. meetup.com/CalgaryNature-Lovers-HikingMeetup/


by Alana Willerton | illustration by Sam Hester

SATURDAY AT GOOD EARTH COFFEEHOUSE COVENTRY HILLS

Day in the Life

Neighbourhood coffee shops are vibrant community spaces and Good Earth Coffeehouse Coventry Hills is a testament to that. The sleekly designed room, with its white walls and black accents, serves as a peaceful backdrop for connection. Here, old friends catch up, families gather and new friendships begin. We spent a Saturday at the coffeehouse to get an insider’s look at Good Earth’s busiest day of the week.

Good Earth Coffeehouse Coventry Hills Fact Box Opened: February 17, 2016 Most popular drink: Americano Most popular baked good: White chocolate scones Average daily cups of drip coffee sold: 100 to 120 FIND IT AT: 104 Country Village Rd. N.E., 587-755-4248, goodearthcoffeehouse.com

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Visual artist Sisay Shimeles in his home studio.

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by Julia Williams | photography by Jared Sych

ArtistPortfolio

INSPIRED BY LOVE Ethiopian-born artist Sisay Shimeles makes Calgary a more welcoming place.

WHEN SISAY SHIMELES was growing up in Ethiopia, his older sister was the artist in the family. Later, she followed in their father’s footsteps and studied medicine — it was Sisay who continued to draw and paint. It wasn’t the only surprise life had in store. Shimeles was a 24-year-old art student at Addis Ababa University when he was selected to create art for the Ethiopia Pavilion at Expo 2000. When he arrived in Hanover, Germany, the event organizers had questions: They wanted to know how his artwork would address Ethiopia’s troubled history. Shimeles was stunned. All his life, his government had taught him that Ethiopia was rich, green and peaceful. That week he learned about the Eritrean-Ethiopian War from German television. “It was shocking,” Shimeles says. For months, he could barely eat or sleep. He changed his work to reflect Ethiopia’s complex reality. The Ethiopian government disapproved, and Shimeles applied for political asylum in Germany and began a new life in Nuremburg. A decade later he fell in love with a woman he’d grown up with. She had become a Calgarian, so he did too. Today, Shimeles is a graphic designer and visual

artist. He and his wife are raising their two children in northeast Calgary, but his work lives all over the city. In 2015, Shimeles created a mural celebrating the city’s east African community; the piece is on permanent display on International Avenue. For the City of Calgary’s Painted City initiative, Shimeles painted utility boxes in Forest Lawn and Dover and community disposal bins in Canyon Meadows. He’s currently working on lamppost banners for Beddington Heights. Shimeles, a finalist for the 2016 Immigrants of Distinction Awards, is the editor and designer of Abronet/Ubuntu magazine, a free bilingual publication (in English and Amharic) aimed at newcomers. The magazine is on hiatus while Shimeles sources funding to cover costs, but he is determined to publish again. Shimeles says his earliest memories are of drawing pictures to surprise his father. Now he has the joy of watching his five-year-old daughter absorbed in painting. He says he’s inspired by love. “When you respect people you get respect back. When you love people you get love back.” Learn more about Shimeles at afrocanart.com L

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MY NORTH IS ... PARKLAND

Photography by Dean Husarik/Calgary Nature Lovers Meetup.

by Meredith Bailey

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NOSE HILL PARK Established 1980 1,129 hectares 11 square kilometres 60 km of designated trails Surrounded by 12 residential communities

ANNE BURKE has served as president of the Friends of Nose Hill Society, a not-forprofit that advocates for the preservation of Nose Hill Park, for close to 15 years, so it’s safe to say she knows a lot about the natural area. “Nose Hill is one of the largest natural environment urban parks in North America,” Burke says. “There’s dog walking and hiking, but a lot of people go there to study the wildlife and vegetation. Having a natural space like this is even more important now that people are not only in single-family homes but also condos and may not have a lot of outdoor space.” Burke is a long-time north Calgary resident, she and her husband have called Nose Hill is one of the largest natural environment the community of Ranchlands home urban parks in North America.” –Anne Burke since 1974. “To me, my north is parkland,” Burke says. “That’s not only Nose Hill but all of the community parks in the north. People can easily have an active, outdoor lifestyle here.” L

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Eva Friesen, president and CEO, Calgary Foundation.

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by Kaitlyn Hanson | photography by Jared Sych

Q&A

CREATING COMMUNITIES Calgary Foundation President and CEO Eva Friesen says Calgary’s newest neighbourhoods need to foster a sense of belonging.

AS THE PRESIDENT and chief executive officer of the Calgary Foundation, Eva Friesen has a strong sense of what Calgarians want from their city. Every year for the past decade, the organization has published the Calgary’s Vital Signs report, which Friesen describes as a “community checkup.” More than 4,000 people were surveyed to create last year’s report, which indicated One of the that Calgarians things that are increasingly drawn to “complete newer commucommunities” — nities in Calgary in other words, are focusing on places where many generations can in terms of urban live, work and design is to create play together. “Calgarians say a streetscape in a that they want way that invites to interact with neighbourliness.” neighbours. They want to feel like they belong in their communities,” Friesen says. Live Up caught up with Friesen to find out more about the opportunities and challenges facing new developments in our city.

Q Why is the vitality of neighbourhoods important?

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This is our tenth anniversary year for Vital Signs, so we did a special Sense of Belonging survey. When people feel they belong, there are higher employment rates, communities are safer, youth stay in school and do better at school and people have a higher degree of good physical and mental health. And what makes people belong is knowing your neighbours, being active in your neighbourhood and participating in things in your neighbourhood. Q How did Calgary rate?

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On sense of belonging, Calgary is higher than the national average. [In fact,] 74 per cent is the national average of people who say they feel they belong. And 79 per cent of Calgarians say that they feel they belong. But only 16 per cent of Calgarians feel they could ask a neighbour for help. So one of the things that newer communities in Calgary are

focusing on in terms of urban design is to create a streetscape in a way that invites neighbourliness. Given that Calgarians say that they want to be neighbourly and be involved in their community, [developers] need to create spaces that allow for those sorts of gathering places and spaces, like a community association or a recreation centre. Q From a community perspective, what are some of the challenges for new developments?

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I think a challenge is to create something that the Calgarian of today, or two or three years from now, wants. The big population bulge, the millennials, they maybe care more about neighbourliness than any population group before them. I have two millennial daughters. They are very functional and friendly, and they really care deeply about the environment and community — way more than I did at their age. L

EVA FRIESEN President and CEO of The Calgary Foundation since 2005. 2011 recipient of the Haskayne School of Business MAX Award. President and CEO of Calgary Health Trust from 2001 to 2005. CEO of the YWCA of Calgary from 1989 to 2001. Holds an MBA from the University of Calgary and a Bachelor in physical education from the University of Manitoba.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

AWARD-WINNING BUILDER

Cedarglen Homes Opens in Livingston A

sk one of their current homeowners, and you will understand why Cedarglen Homes was named the 2016 New Homebuyers’ Choice AwardTM winner for Calgary and Alberta. For more than thirtyfive years, the Cedarglen name has defined the art and science of new home building for thousands of Calgarians. Their priority isn’t just to build beautiful homes, but to enrich the communities that they build in as well. With a building process which includes 11 documented inspections from excavation, framing, drywall, right up to possession, they believe in building it right the first time. The entire Cedarglen team contributes to your success story in creating the home of your dreams. Beginning with the Sales Team and

continuing on with their Customer Relations Representatives, onsite Production Team and Customer Response Team, Cedarglen Homes is there to help you start your journey to extraordinary home ownership. Cedarglen Homes will be offering their unique approach to home building in Calgary’s new north community of Livingston. “We appreciate Brookfield Residential’s unique vision for the community of Livingston. With a wide array of amenities, Livingston will offer its residents a great mix of working, living and connecting within the community. With Brookfield’s vison and our unique product offering at Cedarglen Homes, we will bring something new and exciting to North Central Calgary. We also look forward to exploring

WITH A WIDE ARRAY OF AMENITIES, LIVINGSTON WILL OFFER ITS RESIDENTS A GREAT MIX OF WORKING, LIVING AND CONNECTING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

CORONATION SHOWHOME 1416 Livingston Way Calgary NE Monday – Thursday: 2:00pm – 8:00pm Weekends & Holidays: 12:00pm – 5:00pm

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MACLEOD SHOWHOME 1420 Livingston Way Calgary NE Monday – Thursday: 2:00pm – 8:00pm Weekends & Holidays: 12:00pm – 5:00pm

innovative elevations and introducing new exterior products to the market that will complement this vibrant new community” says Cedarglen Homes President, Howard Tse. Product lines in Livingston will include zero lot line homes and move up homes. Homebuyers will have a wide selection of products to choose from with prices starting in the high $400,000’s. Some of Cedarglen’s most popular floor-plans come with pre-designed custom modules to fit your unique lifestyle. Select one module or a combination to design your perfect Cedarglen home. Still want more? Go ahead, get inspired, and bring them your vision. Their team of expert designers will work with you to create the home of your dreams. INDUSTRY STANDARDS ARE often basic

guidelines – at best – to what you deserve in a new home. Every Cedarglen Home is built beyond the industry basics, giving you superior specifications. It’s part of their commitment to provide you with a distinguished, comfortable and quality home. One of their latest initiatives was incorporating the government-backed

EnerGuideTM rating scale into each of their homes. With the help of an energy advisor, Cedarglen Homes works to improve the energy performance of your new home. Investments made in energy efficiency at the construction stage will pay off in lower energy bills once you move in. In addition, the EnerGuideTM evaluation report and official label can help increase your home’s resale value when you’re ready to purchase a new Cedarglen home. On top of their standard specification, Cedarglen Homes offers area specifications, which include additional items tailored specifically to the community. However, every home designed and built by Cedarglen Homes includes uncompromising workmanship, the use of innovative products and the latest building technologies to ensure that every Cedarglen Home is created equal. Some of the area specifications in Livingston include granite countertops, upgraded flooring, state of the art cabinetry and a front yard landscape package. SAFETY IS ALSO a big component in the Livingston community. Every home built

within the community will feature a residential sprinkler system. Building a safe and healthy home will provide you with peace of mind and Cedarglen’s warranty package will help reinforce that. Cedarglen Homes has partnered with The Alberta New Home Program for over 27 years to provide their homebuyers with confidence and security in your new home purchase. Every Cedarglen Home receives one year builder’s warranty on workmanship and materials, two year warranty on delivery and distribution systems, seven year building envelope coverage and ten year structural warranty (as defined by the New Home Buyers Protection Act). BUYING A HOME is one of the biggest

investments you will ever make. Cedarglen Homes supports your home buying experience with beginning-to-end support to ensure your planning, purchase, build and move-in are stress-free. With detailed operational onsite demonstrations and a fully documented maintenance plan as part of your new home package, you’ll have the confidence to move in and take ownership of your future.

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THE FIRST FAMILY OF LIVINGSTON by Meredith Bailey | photography by Colin Way

Tony Gee and Chrizzia Corpuz see the possibility of Calgary’s new north.

IN THE PAST YEAR, Tony Gee and Chrizzia Corpuz have celebrated a lot of firsts. The couple were engaged this past September and bought their first home together in Livingston. In fact, they’re the very first family to buy in the new community. It’s perhaps fitting that as Gee and Corpuz pass huge milestones, such as their upcoming wedding, their community will also be growing

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and developing around them. “We’re excited about what Livingston will become, the idea behind it and all of the amenities that are planned within the community. Also, the walkability and green spaces, being able to walk to each store instead of driving, was a big feature,” Gee says. When Gee and Corpuz take possession of their home this year they’ll throw a party.

“We’ll absolutely have a party or two. We have pretty big families,” Gee says. “We’ll be using the whole house to celebrate and the big living room will really help for our first family function.” Corpuz says. But first of all, the couple says, they want to move in and get settled. “We’re looking forward to buying some furniture,” Corpuz says. L


BUILDING THE COMMUNITIES OF THE FUTURE The creation of Calgary’s newest community is a collaborative process.

Map of Livingston courtesy of Brookfield Residential.

by Shannon Sutherland-Smith

A COMMUNITY STARTS AS A DREAM, a vision. Much like homebuyers may have a vision of what “home” is like before they even see the house they will buy, developers dream of what a community will be like long before any foundations are dug. Although the first homeowners in Living-

ston are just moving in, this new community is already a decade in the making. There are people who have invested years of work to make sure that the individuals and families who will call Livingston home in five, 10 or 25 years are happy and contented community members, both when they move in and ever after.

Brendan McCashin, senior development manager of Calgary Communities for Brookfield Residential, says that work starts by thinking about the future customers. “We started this journey 10 years ago,” says McCashin. “Both then and now, we’re always asking the same questions: Who is our customer? Who experiencelivingstone.ca

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Communities aren’t just a collection of houses and roads, but a feeling of fellowship with friends and family that helps you know you’re home.” –Jessie Seymour, senior manager of strategic marketing, Brookfield Residential

ABOVE and OPPOSITE: Livingston’s design philosophy highlights green spaces and streets that are pedestrian-friendly.

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is going to call this home? What do they want and what will they want? We constantly have to reassess that, adapt and keep coming back to that, because, as developers, it is our responsibility to bring the voice of our customers to the table at all time.” And developers bring those concerns to a lot of tables. From meetings with City of Calgary staff from many departments, to open houses with community organizations,

to discussions with special interest groups and anyone else impacted, invested in or affected by the development. The process to go from undeveloped raw land — or to use the industry lingo, green field — to a completed community takes years. The work generally follows a path that moves from looking at policy requirements and the potential of growth in the area to the finer points of land use and subdividing the land, and then gets into the ability to provide the necessary services (water, sewer and electrical) to the neighbourhood and actually doing the construction work. In the last phase, post-occupancy, the developer and the City ensure all the work has been completed and is functioning as expected. That, of course, is a very high-level view of what it takes to create a new community. If it sounds complicated, that’s because it is. And it should be, because creating a new community from the ground up has a long-lasting impact.


Livingston truly has the ingredients of a complete community, offering its residents the opportunity to live, work, learn and recreate.” –Bela Syal, principal, B&A Planning Group

Photography and illustrations courtesy of Brookfield Residential.

It has been commonplace to hear about disagreements between the City and developers. But new processes and development plans at City Hall aim to decrease friction and help in getting the types of developments that everyone wants — complete communities that are sustainable, beautiful and put people first with a minimum of headache for the developers that create them. The City has also worked to simplify and clarify the development approval process. And in 2010, the City of Calgary adopted a new Municipal Development Plan (MDP) and the Calgary Transportation Plan (CTP) to guide new development and redevelopment. “The MDP and CTP are built on the pillars of sustainability,” says Bela Syal, principal at B&A Planning Group in Calgary. “Livingston is actually the first community to be approved by Calgary City Council under the policies and guidance of the integrated MDP and CTP.” She says the planning for Livingston integrated fiscal, social and environmental sustainability principles that will contribute to the community’s long-term success. WHAT IS LIVINGSTON’S CONCEPT AND VISION? When complete, the 1,200-acre north Calgary development of Livingston will straddle Centre Street. It is designed to be a multi-generational, diverse and highly accessible neighbourhood with nearly all the amenities of living downtown or in the innovative sister development to the south — Seton. “It will be home to about 30,000 Calgarians where Centre Street will be a connector and not a divider,” says Jessie Seymour, senior manager of strategic marketing at Brookfield

Residential. “At the heart of the community will be a 30,000-square-foot homeowners’ association facility, which sits on six-acres of park space that will be the centrepiece for hosting multi-cultural events and festivals and programming that is relevant to everyone in the community including a large number of new Canadians, which we anticipate will comprise a lot of the population in this community.” The community will include approximately 6,500 single, detached homes and around 4,500 multi-family homes. Homes will begin selling in early 2017 and Brookfield’s goal is to keep about 70 per cent of the homes priced at less than $450,000. Livingston will also feature a main street and commercial hub that Brookfield anticipates will add more than 7,000 fulltime jobs to the area. “Livingston residential neighbourhoods are located within convenient walking distance of the core area and commercial amenities,” says Syal, who notes that the layout of the streets and open spaces are designed to promote cycling and walking. “The open space system weaves through the residential neighbourhoods and integrates wetlands, storm retention facilities as well as active recreation areas and playfields.” Parks, pathways, roads and schools are all

vital to the future of a community, and it’s this physical foundation that shapes the way residents meet and interact, notes Seymour. “Communities aren’t just a collection of houses and roads, but a feeling of fellowship with friends and family that helps you know you’re home,” says Seymour. “When you choose a home in a Brookfield community, you’re getting more than four walls and a roof. You become part of a neighbourhood.” DREAM BIG, DEVELOPERS Between being the dream in a developer’s mind and welcoming families into a neighbourhood, a development has to undergo rigorous scrutiny. The City is responsible for ensuring that new developments are aligned with the vision that Calgarians have mandated. At the same time, Calgary is growing and the City administration is working to ensure that necessary reviews don’t place an undue burden on developers. To this end, Darren Lockhart, manager of application services in Calgary Approvals Coordination with the City of Calgary says the City brought together a large group of development industry professionals with senior City staff to collaborate on improving the processes. “That group discussed nearly all aspects of experiencelivingstone.ca

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There is significantly more collaboration between the City and the development industry than there was 10 years ago. There’s lots of back-and-forth, but now it feels way less like negotiations and more like collaboration.” –Brendan McCashin, senior development manager of Calgary Communities, Brookfield Residential

ABOVE: Livingston will commit 20 per cent of its land to open space including parks. OPPOSITE: The community will feature diverse architectural styles.

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the approvals continuum and came up with numerous areas that could use improvement, modernization and simplification,” Lockhart says. The City and industry stakeholders agreed on three principles to prioritize the work. First, that Calgary is an attractive place for real estate investment. Second, that the approval process is simplified and efficient. And third, that partnerships can be built between the City, development industry and communities. He says the corporate approvals team and the development industry are working hard to improve relationships with developers and he believes progress has definitely been made. Lockhart says the development and redevelopment industry is critical to Calgary’s economy and the City wants to support and facilitate

the construction projects that make Calgary great. “We have a shared long-term outcome, which is realizing the council-approved MDP objectives,” he says. “There is recognition from both parties that we can’t do it all in the first 10 years of a 60-year plan, so we work together to build great buildings and places that Calgarians can enjoy today and into the future.” Having worked with approvals in Calgary on behalf of Brookfield for many years, McCashin agrees. “The City has very ambitious goals,” he says. “And while we might, at times, have differences in how we get there to achieve those goals, I do believe we share a vision. I can tell you there is significantly more collaboration between the City and the development industry than there was 10 years ago. There’s lots of back-and-forth, but now it feels way less like negotiations and more like collaboration.” Lockhart says that while there are going to be times when there are disagreements and diverging opinions, he believes mutually acceptable decisions can often be worked out if everyone generally shares the same end goals. “In terms of particular development applications, we are working with our customers to identify and solve the big issues with their development proposal as early as possible,” says Lockhart. “We are working with our customers to understand their vision, and add value to their proposal. Ultimately we are aiming to approve their development. That does not mean we are compromising the quality of development in the City. It means that we are working with developers in a collaborative way to find solutions to design challenges or policy misalignment.”


We work together to build great buildings and places that Calgarians can enjoy today and into the future.” –Darren Lockhart, manager of application services, City of Calgary

Photography and illustrations courtesy of Brookfield Residential.

an occupied building, so we are asking staff to keep the entire continuum in mind when making decisions on their particular part of the process.” And thirdly, he says a new team was established to coordinate this new approach — the Calgary Approvals Coordination Team. “Our role, and my team’s role very specifically, is to monitor and improve the performance of the planning system,” says Lockhart.

A NEW APPROACH: NO MORE TAG TEAMS Lockhart says the City has taken three new approaches to improve the development process. “Firstly, all City staff who work within the [development approval] continuum are being redefined as members of the corporate approvals team,” he says. “We are breaking down silos between various departments at the City and steps in the continuum.” The corporate approvals team is meant to include all

of City administration that works on development applications. This includes departments that oversee planning, engineering, transportation, parks, law, real estate and a number of other areas. “Secondly, the entire corporate approvals team is focused on getting high-quality development proposals to occupancy,” says Lockhart. “Every step along the continuum has to work together to get the end result of

LIVINGSTON BECOMES A PIONEER PROJECT The City’s planning department has also been realigned to focus on three key results — advancing the MDP and CTP visions, realizing development and ensuring safe building. Lockhart says everything that the City approves needs to support those goals. To meet all of those goals, a development needs to be a “complete community” instead of just a collection of houses, no matter how beautiful. The City’s research indicates Calgarians are looking for more socially integrated and accessible communities, and Livingston is a model in that regard. The fact that Livingston includes a variety of housing to meet the needs of a wide range of the socio-economic spectrum will ensure that the Livingston community is not only culturally diverse but contextually diverse as well. This is also in line with some key priorities identified by the City in the MDP. “Overall, Livingston truly has the ingredients of a complete community, offering its residents the opportunity to live, work, learn and recreate,” says Syal. “It is this enduring quality which will contribute to Livingston’s long-term success and viability. L experiencelivingstone.ca

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UNCOMMON

SPACES by Julia Williams

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OPPOSITE: Lisa Hardy, design facilities lead for the Calgary Public Library, at the newly designed Nose Hill branch.

Photography by Jared Sych.

From brighter, more user-friendly spaces to programming and services tailored to the whole family, the Calgary Public Library is evolving to better embrace the communities it serves. WALK INTO a Calgary Public Library in 2017 and you’ll find yourself in an open space flooded with natural light. You’ll see seating areas, furniture with power outlets, low bookshelves, a gleaming marble checkout desk. Toward the back of the library you’ll notice a colourful area with toys and games; if you have a kid with you, she’ll start tugging on your hand. Calgary’s community libraries didn’t always look this way — they used to be a little darker, a little more tightly packed. These brighter, more user-friendly versions of our community libraries reflect larger philosophical changes. Over the last few years, in addition to nixing its $12 membership fee and launching a new logo, the Calgary Public Library (CPL) has methodically transformed each of the city’s 18 library branches. They hope to create approachable spaces that are deeply connected to the communities they serve. Lisa Hardy, facilities design lead for the CPL, says the organization is thinking about libraries and the role they play in communities in a new way. “People are starting to use libraries

differently,” Hardy says. “We realized we can’t use the traditional library template, where 80 per cent of the floor space is for books.” The New Central Library, currently rising just east of City Hall, embodies these ideas. When that landmark $245 million facility opens to Calgarians in 2018 it will house a collection of 400,000 books, in addition to a growing digital collection; it will also be home to an array of programs and services, work and study spaces, areas for children and teens, technology hubs and a skill development centre. Hardy says the deep thinking and public engagement that shaped the New Central Library is having a ripple effect on the city’s 17 other libraries. “We want people to experience the same quality [at community libraries] they’ll see at the New Central Library,” she says. Libraries used to be designed as functional spaces for books and staff; Hardy says today’s approach is to treat each library as a “people” space. She and her team consider how members use libraries at different times of day, how people naturally navigate public spaces,

and how noise and activity (a byproduct of healthy childhood development) can coexist with study and reflection. Hardy wants to make each library welcoming, versatile and appealing to the most community members possible. “This is a public space owned by us all. We want people to respect it and feel good in it,” Hardy says. Calgarians have responded warmly to the changes. The library now has 570,000 members, a leap of 250,000 since removing the membership fee in 2014. Krista Marsden, a health-care worker and mother of a school-age son, frequents two of the city’s community libraries, and she’s been watching Libraries aren’t them transform. just changing Marsden says she’s always thought of the way their the library as more facilities look than somewhere and feel; they’re to find books; it’s a place where people also rethinking from all sorts of how they deliver backgrounds can be together in a programs. common space. “Families are welcome, play is welcome. I feel like it’s one of the strongest public spaces we have in the city.” Libraries aren’t just changing the way their facilities look and feel; they’re also rethinking how they deliver programs. From the entrance of Village Square Library, you can see a big, wooden origami-style elephant. The elephant is part of the library’s Early Learning Centre, where you’ll also find experiencelivingstone.ca

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“The Rainbow,” a colourful enclosed play space with toys for babies and toddlers, books and benches for caregivers, as well as activity tables, games, toys and tablets for older children and study space for teens. Sara House, service delivery manager for Forest Lawn Library, Saddletowne Library and Village Square Library, says the space encourages the community’s families — many of them new Canadians — to engage with the library. “I think children are loving it,” House says. “I think it’s providing a space for parents and children to bond, play together, learn together and explore.”

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We’re realizing the library needs to move beyond its walls as well.” –Jen Waugh, Calgary Public Library

Currently, the CPL has four Early Learning Centres, with two more scheduled to open this year, including the Forest Lawn Library Nature Playground. In 2016 the Central Library introduced The New Adventures of Engine 23, a once-active fire engine that has been transformed into an interactive learning centre for children. Fish

Creek Library and Quarry Park Library have large, vibrant, interactive play areas created to support early learning. Not only are these spaces appealing for kids and caregivers, they reflect an evolving understanding of early literacy, as well as physical literacy; even community libraries that don’t have Early Learning Centres have added games and toys to their


Photography courtesy of Calgary Public Library.

Waugh says. “Every community in Calgary is so different.” She says community outreach librarians are responsible for engaging with the members who use their branch and learning about their needs. Perhaps a library has a high school nearby or a neighbourhood of young families or both. Perhaps it’s in an area with a vibrant population of new Canadians. Such informaPlay is how tion is invaluable when the CPL plans programs children like Homework Help, learn about their Preschool Storytime and ESL Writing Club — to environment and name a few. language skills.” But not all library programs happen in the –Sara House, library any more. “We’re Calgary Public Library realizing the library needs to move beyond its walls as well,” Waugh says. A program called Library Month at Your Daycare, implemented in 2015, sends CPL staff to the city’s registered daycares each month to deliver early literacy programs. When the library goes into the community, it encourages the community to go into the library. In some cases, a library’s location can help it engage with its community. The Shawnessy Library has been part of the Cardel Rec South Complex since 2001, and the Country Hills Library has shared a building with Vivo for Healthier Generations (formerly Cardel Place) since 2004. Last year the Nicholls Family Library opened in the Westbrook CTrain Station. New libraries in Rocky Ridge and Seton will open in 2018 inside larger recreation and culture complexes. Waugh says having a presence in an existing community hub might encourage people to visit the library who may not have otherwise. She has watched children choose books at the Country Hills Library while still wearing water wings. “It definitely helps bring people into the library who might not make the trip to a stand-alone library,” Waugh says. “It’s a onestop shop.” children’s book sections. “Play is how children Waugh’s role will expand when she becomes learn about their environment and language service delivery manager for Sage Hill Library, skills,” House says. a new library that is working to secure a site Jen Waugh, service delivery manager for in the community of Sage Hill. Hardy says this the Country Hills Library and Judith Umbach new location, which CPL expects will open Library, says it’s important that all the city’s its doors within the next three years, will take libraries share a common look and feel. Howinspiration from its surroundings. “If we’re ever, it’s equally important that each branch building a new library, we look at what we can be distinct. “Part of our role is to key into the bring to the community,” she says. L unique needs of our specific community,”

DESIGN LITERACY Calgary’s community libraries have received some major updates in the last few years. Look for these changes in the new (and newly renovated) libraries.

A

is for Aisle. Open, inviting entrances and wide aisles as well as lower bookshelves with shelf lighting.

B OPPOSITE: Branches at the CPL are designed for all-ages with spaces for young children, including lower, easy-to-access bookshelves, and study areas for teens. ABOVE, LEFT: A wooden origami-style elephant greets children at the Early Learning Centre at Village Square Library. LEFT: The large windows at Nose Hill Library provide plenty of natural light.

is for Breakout spaces. More seating, tables and breakout spaces as well as furniture with more power outlets.

C

is for Colours. Bright colours and durable, high-quality finishes and plenty of natural light.

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FIRE SAFETY AT HOME

In the busy and exciting days before new owners take possession of their dream home, it is easy to forget the important safety features a property needs to keep everyone safe. A good place to start is fire safety. New technology means there is more to fire safety than smoke detectors. by Sean P. Young

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Spot the Sprinklers

Opposite page illustration courtesy of Brookfield Residential; home interior courtesy of Cedarglen Homes.

The latest in residential sprinklers are smooth plates, flush to the ceiling and only two-and-a-half inches in diameter.

LIVINGSTON IS THE FIRST community of its size in Canada to mandate residential sprinkler systems in all its single-family homes. The move is not required by any code and was a voluntary inclusion by Brookfield Residential during the subdivision planning stage to address fire protection.

Rick Gratton, senior development manager multi-family at Brookfield Residential, has been hoping for years to make residential sprinkler systems standard in the design of new communities, and is excited that Livingston will be the first pilot project community to do so.

“This is just an initiative that we feel is a good idea,” Gratton says. “It’s all about occupant safety. In the event of a fire this system will limit the spread of the fire and give the occupants more time to get out of the house.” Livingston’s builders are installing the NFTA 13-D stand-alone systems in all new experiencelivingstone.ca

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These sprinklers are heat activated, and each head needs to detect a dramatic rise in temperature before going off.” –Rick Gratton, senior development manager multi-family, Brookfield Residential

monsoon, is pure fiction. “These sprinklers are heat activated, and each head needs to detect a dramatic rise in temperature before going off,” Gratton says. This also means the system won’t be triggered by smoke from the toaster. As for insurance premiums, some companies actually offer a discount on premiums for homes with sprinkler systems. The water damage caused by a sprinkler going off is similar

to a water line temporarily bursting in a house Gratton says. But sprinklers are just one part of keeping your family safe in the event of a fire. The most important thing you can do is practice fire safety in order to prevent a fire from happening in the first place. L

THE THREE “P’S” OF FIRE SAFETY AT HOME The Calgary Fire Department’s Carol Henke shares her tips for how to keep your family fire-safe.

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PREVENTION Fire safety starts with prevention. At home, that often means staying alert while cooking. “The most common reason the Calgary Fire Department responds to a call, where we know what the causes of the fire are, is kitchen fires … so

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cooking left unattended, and the next is improper disposal of smoking materials,” says Carol Henke, public information officer with the Calgary Fire Department and veteran firefighter with more than 15 years’ experience fighting fires. Henke says homeowners need to stay in the kitchen when they are cooking, not leave candles or barbecues unattended, and provide a sturdy non-combustible ashtray for smokers outside the home “Typically, those fires that start on the outside are incredibly devastating, because by the time your smoke alarm has activated the fire has gone from outside the house to inside your house.” The ability for the blaze to grow undetected outside the home gives homeowners much less time to escape than if the fire had started inside the home, Henke says.

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PREPARATION After prevention, preparation is the next most important thing especially when it comes to escaping a fire in the home. Henke says families need to check their smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms monthly and be sure to test each unit separately if they are hardwired together. Batteries that back up the units’ power need to be changed yearly, and as the sensors degrade over time, all smoke alarms will need replacement after 10 years. The replacement of CO alarms vary dependent on manufacturer’s instructions.

For more information on fire safety and home escape planning, visit Calgary.ca/fire.

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PLAN The importance of a home escape plan is paramount to surviving a fire, Henke says. “Kids at schools are doing six fire drills a year, probably more,” she says. “But that’s unfortunately why we lose people at home, because they’re comfortable and always assume they’ll have no problem getting out in an emergency.” When designing a home escape plan, Henke says to make sure each sleeping area has two means of escape. For homes with bedrooms on a second or third floor, this means purchasing a home escape ladder — usually found for less than $100 at any big box home improvement store. Once the plan is designed, which includes one designated outdoor meeting spot, and all residents (including pets) are accounted for, it is important to review the plan with your family to make sure it will work in the event of a fire.

Prevention and preparation photos iStock; escape plan photo Alamy Stock Photo. Facing page photography by Ric Kokotovich, Travel Alberta.

single-family homes, but unless you are really looking for them, you’d likely never notice the sprinkler heads. “The heads are smooth plates that are flush to the ceiling and walls, about two-and-a-half inches around,” Gratton says. “Sprinkler heads have come a long way in terms of technology — there are a lot of myths we’re dispelling.” The two biggest myths surrounding residential sprinkler systems, according to Gratton: every sprinkler head goes off when the system is activated, and having a system installed in your house will raise your home insurance premiums. The first myth — seen so many times in Hollywood films, where holding a lighter over one sprinkler head triggers an indoor


Live Up’s

GUIDE TO SUMMER FUN IN NORTH CALGARY When it comes to summer in the city, there is a lot to do in north Calgary. You can hike to look for wildflowers, bike around neighbourhood lakes, picnic in the park or splash the afternoon away in an outdoor pool. Here are some ideas close to home to start your summer adventures off on the right foot. by Joanne Elves

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ROTARY/MATTAMY GREENWAY PROJECT

The Rotary/Mattamy Greenway Project is the envy of many a city. When complete, it will be a 138-kilometre network of parks, natural areas, wetland interpretive areas and pathways connecting 55 communities across Calgary. Much of it is already finished, and when it’s completely done, scheduled for this summer, it will be the longest urban pathway and park system in the world. Once on it, you can walk or cycle the loop that connects the entire city.

CYCLING In all, Calgary has more than 800 kilometres of designated pathways with some excellent choices in the north. Consider downloading free apps like MapMyRide, Strava or the Calgary Pathway app. They are excellent for tracking your route and for suggesting routes to try.

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PANORAMA HILLS LOOP Panorama Hills just south of Stoney Trail has excellent paths especially if you’re cycling with children. An easy two-kilometre loop around two lakes with a bonus play park is a perfect day out. Park by the play park where Panatella Hill and Panatella Road meet and follow the trail around the water features.

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TO THE BOW AND BACK Here’s an adventure for those who like an out-and-back route with a bit of an uphill return all on designated City paths. Follow West Nose Creek to meet Nose Creek Pathway and ride right down to the confluence with the Bow River at the Calgary Zoo. You’ll pass golf courses and parks and take a few hairpin

turns in and out of valleys before meeting the main trail that follows Deerfoot Trail to the river. The total distance of the entire trail (out and back) from the access along Hidden Creek Way and Hidden Creek Cr. N.W. is roughly 34 km.

Cyclists spot wildlife along the Rotary/ Mattamy Greenway loop.


PURCHASE YOUR PICNIC

LINA’S ITALIAN MARKET AND CAPPUCCINO BAR Pick up fresh Italian buns, an assortment of cold cuts, cheese, in-house made bruschetta and delicious desserts at this long-standing Italian market. 2202 Centre St. N.E.

Facing page photograph courtesy of Parks Foundation Calgary; Confederation Park photograph courtesy of the City of Calgary.

PARKS FOR PICNICS Calgary has no shortage of picnic tables — more than 3,200 in fact. Here are two of our favourite locations in the north that are perfect for a picnic. CONFEDERATION PARK Created in celebration of the confederation of Canada, Confederation Park, between 14th Street N.W. and 30th Avenue N.W., is a spectacular spot for an afternoon of gentle adventure and picnics. The kids will love the pathway that links playgrounds and picnic spots with wetlands and trees. They’ll also like using the

tunnel that safely takes you from one side of 10th Street to the other. The path constantly crosses the meandering creek where ducks and geese float. For those looking for a bit more activity, the endless manicured lawns are ideal for impromptu games of Frisbee or soccer. The parking lot off 30th Avenue N.W. is closest to the public washroom and a playground. EDWARD H. LABORDE VIEWING AREA There is something about watching planes take off and

land that’s always exciting. What used to be just a dirt pull-out along McKnight Boulevard N.E. at Aviation Road (15th Street) is now a full-on mini-park. Benches and a few picnic tables line the fence along the runway and are tucked into a cluster of trees with sandstone boulders to play on. There are lots of parking spots and the park attracts aviation buffs of all ages. Rain or shine the planes come and go frequently.

Confederation Park is lush and green in the summertime and perfect for picnicking.

PLANET ORGANIC IN ROYAL OAK There’s a healthy selection of food to nosh on at Planet Organic in Royal Oak. The deli can create nutritious sandwiches that will recharge your team quickly. 6112, 8650 112 Ave. N.W.

LOBLAW’S CITYMARKET With a huge selection of meals to go and a tempting bakery section, with cupcakes, cookies, donuts and more, Loblaw’s CityMarket makes picnic packing easy. 10 Sage Hill Plaza N.W. experiencelivingstone.ca

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HIKING Calgary sits at the confluence of two rivers, which means there are many valleys, coulees, ravines and natural areas for day hikes and adventure. All you need to bring is a water bottle, a snack and your curiosity on these adventures. 12 MILE COULEE IN TUSCANY Twelve Mile Coulee and the nearby road got their name because they were 12 miles from the post office in Fort Calgary where the stagecoach running to Cochrane would drop the mail. The 12 Mile Coulee trail is a wonderful chance to step back in time. Look for old wooden fence posts that have stood the test of time. On the eastern slopes watch for the sandstone outcrops that lie under the entire city. There is a paved path, but other trails meander through the vegetation taking you through natural grasses, shrubs and trembling aspen. Play a game of “Spot the Wildlife” and watch for deer, coyotes and gophers. Listen for chickadees and robins, and watch for circling hawks. Access the park from the gravel parking lot on Tuscany Boulevard or park along the rim of the coulee on Tuscany Meadows Heights. This trail does include an uphill walk back to the car. BOWMONT PARK Bowmont Park rolls with the topography on the northern banks of the Bow River. A wide paved path can take you comfortably through the park, but go ahead and step off and into a natural reserve. You’ll leave the city behind within three strides. Grass-

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lands, marshes, forests and brush are great for looking for deer, coyotes, birds and even beavers along the river. There are many places to access the 405-acre park with the two most popular at 85th Street N.W. before the Bow River and on Home Road and 52nd Street N.W. NOSE HILL PARK Covering more than 11 square kilometres of the nose of the hill, Nose Hill Natural Environmental Park is a gem

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for hiking, biking, running and enjoying fabulous views of the city. Designated a park in 1980, Nose Hill has historic features that go back to the last ice age. As you walk the trails look for signs of land use. There is an old gravel pit that nature is reclaiming and archaeological artifacts including First Nation tipi rings. From the top of the hill you can look at landscapes shaped by glaciers. Look for “glacial erratics” or big boulders on the east side

of Nose Hill. Those rocks fell off a mountain near Jasper, hitched a ride on a glacier and lay where the ice melted. Touched by 12 residential communities there are many access points, but the best is at the intersection of Shaganappi Trail and Edgemont Boulevard where public washrooms are located. Second best is the parking lot off 14th Street N.W., just north of the Calgary Winter Club.

One of several wooden stairways that lead hikers into Bowmont Park.


MORNING SWIM

Facing page photography by Barry Taylor/hikingwithbarry.com; this page photography by Nadia Russo.

GET WET Cool off at the splash parks, wading pools and outdoor pools offered throughout the north. CANMORE PARK The technology hiding behind the butterfly-themed spray park at Canmore Park in Capitol Hill is a clever way to save water, but many kids may be convinced it’s magic. Vibration and weight sensors activate the water features, which include pouring buckets and nozzles that spray in multiple directions. 2836 Canmore Rd. N.W.

PRAIRIE WINDS PARK Prairie Winds Park in the community of Castleridge is northeast Calgary’s biggest recreational area. The wading pool and spray park is a delightful place to spend a sunny afternoon. To a toddler, the over-sized wading pool must look like an ocean — especially with the lazy river feature. Parts of Prairie Winds Park are being redeveloped by the City and may be closed for construction in 2017. Check in at calgary.ca for the latest updates before you go. 223 Castleridge Blvd. N.E.

ROTARY PARK Just as fun as butterflies, the fish at the Rotary Park spray park will delight kids. The same magic works to activate the sprays and buckets at this park. Picnic tables and benches surround it, which makes it easy to take a break in the shade. 617 1 St. N.E. L

Children play in the fountains at Rotary Park.

Make a morning swim part of your summertime fitness regime. On most weekday mornings Calgary’s outdoor pools have reserved swim times, usually between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., specifically for lane swimming, so you can swim a few laps in the sunshine before heading into work. For specific pool schedules visit calgary.ca.

OUTDOOR POOLS IN NORTH CALGARY Bowview outdoor pool 1910 6 Ave. N.W. Highwood outdoor pool 25 Holmwood Ave. N.W. Mount Pleasant outdoor pool 2310 6 St. N.W. Silver Springs outdoor pool 5720 Silver Ridge Dr. N.W.

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Live Up’s WHERE TO PATIO GUIDE:

DINE ALFRESCO IN THE NORTH

by Gwendolyn Richards

SUMMER CAN BE FLEETING IN CALGARY, so it’s no surprise we flock to patios as soon as the weather warms. We bask either in full sun or a wash of shade from patio umbrellas, with pints of icy beer or crisp wine and platters of wings, juicy burgers or tasty pastas set out on the table. From pubs to pizzerias, numerous spots in north Calgary offer options for being outside. Whether your craving is for shade or something south-facing for a bright afternoon, these spots have you covered.

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Facing page photography courtesy of Chop Steakhouse and Bar; this page photography courtesy of Pour and Famoso Neopolitan Pizzeria.

THE CANADIAN BREWHOUSE Beer. Wings. A sunny patio. It’s a perfect trifecta for a summer day and The Canadian Brewhouse delivers on all three. The second-level patio offers an outdoor space to enjoy an extensive menu, which includes pizza, numerous burgers and more than two dozen flavours of wings and a view across the boulevard into the expansive green of the Country Hills Golf Course. Umbrellas offer shade, and heaters spot the patio for when the sun dips down below the horizon. 9650 Harvest Hills Blvd. N.E., 403452-5636, thecanadianbrewhouse. com CHOP STEAKHOUSE AND BAR, CALGARY NORTH Styled like an outdoor living space in someone’s upscale backyard, the spacious patio at Chop Steakhouse and Bar begs for one more round of drinks or another appetizer or two while staying nestled into the parade of pillows on the benches or settled into a chair. The Astroturf is a cheeky nod to real grass, while the large umbrellas offer respite from the sun. 33 Hopewell Way N.E., 403-736-3333, chop.ca

FAMOSO NEOPOLITAN PIZZERIA Neopolitan-style thin-crust pizzas, hand-stretched and then baked in a blazing hot oven, pair perfectly with being out in the open air. The patio feels like a deck and offers a chance to watch the goings-on in the area. The full shade keeps the strong sun at bay on this north- and west-facing patio, while heaters are at the ready when the evening chill settles in. 5149 Country Hills Blvd. N.W., 403452-5000, famoso.ca POUR BEER WINE FOOD This casual gastropub, which opened in Evanston last February, has a south-facing patio with plenty of comfortable seating and heat lamps for evening lounging. As the name suggests, Pour has it all — an extensive beer menu with lots of local brews, wines available by the glass or half litre and a tasty menu of pub favourites including pizza and Stromboli, which is very similar to a calzone. 3018 2060 Symons Valley Pkwy. N.W., 403-516-0117, pourbeer.ca

TUDOR ROSE This English-style pub features a sunny, south-facing patio ideal for lounging over pints of beer. Enjoy some fish and chips or other pub standards — and more traditional Canadian favourites like wings and beer — on this cobblestone space that also has a fireplace for when the evening cools. 800, 1110 Panatella Blvd. N.W., 403295-9344, tudrorosecalgary.com L

OPPOSITE: Chop’s patio is comfortable and stylish. ABOVE, LEFT: The sunny patio at Pour faces south. ABOVE: Patate pancetta pizza from Famoso is the perfect patio food.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Come Home

TO MORRISON IN LIVINGSTON Calgary’s only 12-time Builder of the Year

B

ack in 1961, Frank Morrison started building homes on a simple promise: treat every customer as you would a friend. Today, that promise remains the foundation of every new home they build, no matter what size. “Over 55 years of building new homes has

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taught us that customers are looking for more than just a quality home at a reasonable price”, says Sam Hudson, Director of Marketing at Morrison Homes. “Customers want a quality building experience – one that turns what could be an overwhelming process into a

rewarding experience”. To Morrison, providing this rewarding experience means delivering an experience based on “more”. You’ll find that “more” from Morrison is more choice. More value. More attention, and more support before, during and after construction of your new home.


Meet the Princes for example – one of the many friends the homebuilder has made over that last five decades. “We had such an amazing experience building with Morrison Homes. The sales associates were all so knowledgeable and informative about every aspect of the building process, so much so that we developed a great working relationship with them.” The Princes also loved that they could see their house whenever they wanted, and that any of their questions were answered honestly, and with their best interests in mind. And you can bet that many of Morrison’s customers feel the same, a fact that has led the builder to receive several customer satisfaction awards over the years such as J.D. Power and Associates Builder of Excellence and The Home Owner Mark of Excellence, among others. Morrison’s rewarding building experience stems from their commitment to excellence in everything they do. From the exceptional customer service experienced from any one of their team members, to their long-standing relationships with the industry’s top suppliers and tradespeople, to most importantly, the quality of the homes they build for families just like yours. Over the years, Morrison’s quality of design, craftsmanship and service has been recognized with many awards including CHBA-Calgary Region’s Builder of the Year twelve times since 2000. In Livingston, the award-winning builder has an amazing showhome lineup featuring laned and move up models. Morrison is one of five builders building in Calgary’s new 519-hectare master-planned community, one of the largest developments approved by the City of Calgary. “Livingston will join an elite group of master planned communities and we’re honoured to be working with Brookfield Residential and the builder group to help create a special place where Calgarians can live, work and play for years to come” says Dave Gladney, President and CEO of Morrison Homes. Morrison is bringing 12 laned (starting from $350,000) and 13 front garage models (starting from $480,000) to the new NW community. “You’ll find some of our best front garage homes in Livingston like the top-selling Everett and Arlington, as well some newer models like the Oakland” says Mike Wagner, Sales Manager at Morrison. “With our laned models you’ll find anything from 985 sq ft to over 1,600 sq ft, some which include features seen in our move up homes like upper floor laundry and 4th bedroom options”. All of their models are designed with function and convenience

LEFT The Princes BELOW Morrison’s one-stop shop Selection Studio

in mind, so you’ll see spacious mudrooms and open-concept main floors, as well as the opportunity to personalize the home through a variety of model options. One of the great things about buying with Morrison is their one-stop shop Selection Studio. “It’s like a playground for new homebuyers,” says Carole Saguez, Selection Studio Manager for Morrison. “We work with you to make all of the selections for your new home, answering your questions and collaborating to make your home’s interior the perfect expression of your personal taste and unique style.” You’ll find that Morrison’s standard specifications are quite inclusive of many of the things homebuyers typically upgrade such as hardwood floors or countertops. And if you want to add a little more pizzazz to make your home just right, their design consultants can help no matter your budget.

And once your new home is built, Morrison’s commitment to working with you doesn’t stop. They’ll schedule a thorough walkthrough with one of their knowledgeable Warranty Technicians as soon as you take possession. After that, you’ll have direct access to a dedicated member of their Warranty & Service team, whose primary goal is to ensure your new home meets all of your expectations. To sweeten the experience, homebuyers can take advantage of new home promotions and offers that allow buyers to get more value our of their home like upgrading to a chef ’s gourmet kitchen or creating a spa-inspired ensuite. “It’s never been a better time to buy,”says Wagner. “With prices these days, it’s incredible how much more value you can get within the home for the money you’re spending.” Your next step? Book a new home consultation with one of Morrison’s home experts and you’ll be well on your way to starting a beautiful friendship.

Explore galleries, floorplans and more at morrisonhomes.ca experiencelivingstone.ca

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BetterTogether

by Andrew Guilbert | photography by Jared Sych

RAMPING UP FITNESS THE RAMP that comes up from the front entrance inside the Vivo recreation facility in northeast Calgary doesn’t seem out of the ordinary, but what first-timers may not know is that it can serve as an informal fitness indicator. Or, at least, it does for Marcella Fortini-Cameron, a fitness trainer who helps run the three-month, diet-and-exercise-focused New You program. “A lot of [clients] couldn’t even jog up that ramp [when they started], they’d be out of breath just walking up,” says Fortini-Cameron. “By the end of the three months, everybody would be running up that ramp and be able to take part in the whole hour of physical activity.” One of the people Fortini-Cameron helped conquer the ramp is Susan Buchan, an elementary school teacher who first joined the program a year ago and says it changed her life. “I felt like I lost myself through raising kids and having a busy career, you lose touch of your sense of who you are as a person,” says Buchan. “I feel like I’ve rediscovered myself once again.” While Buchan undoubtedly deserves the

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OPPOSITE: Marcella Fortini-Cameron and Susan Buchan practice their push ups on the ramp at Vivo.

credit for her newfound figure, going from a size 12 to a six and losing 30 pounds since she began training, she says Fortini-Cameron’s personal touch helped inspire her to keep going. “She is one of the warmest and friendliest people I’ve ever met and she has a real knack of making you feel special. I’ve seen her in her bigger classes with 50 people and she knows everybody,” says Buchan. “She’s sort of like the campfire everyone wants to gravitate toward.” Likewise, Fortini-Cameron says Buchan’s story has helped others in her class along their path to fitness. “She became quite strong and she’s quite a leader in the class now in that she’s very encouraging to anyone who comes,” says Fortini-Cameron. “Susan’s been really great about coming in and speaking to the new groups, telling them her story about starting at the bottom and climbing her way up to a great fitness level and encouraging other people to stick with it and they will see results.” L Learn more about Vivo recreation facility at vivo.ca.


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by Andrea Cox | illustration by Joel Kimmel

4 WAYS TO ...

LANDSCAPE YOUR YARD

Sitting in the garden is a wonderful way to relax, root yourself in nature and connect with family and friends. But for the new homeowner, creating the perfect outdoor space and adding curb appeal can be overwhelming. Here are four ways to create a yard you’ll love. 1 A FAMILY AFFAIR Most importantly, keep the ground soft, a safe haven for playing children — lawn works well in both the front and backyard. Carve out a private seating area in the front, a place where mom and dad can watch the kids playing hopscotch on the sidewalk, while enjoying a cool glass of old-fashioned lemonade. Kids love to get their hands dirty, so create a space for them to play and plant, perhaps a small vegetable plot or hay bales filled with strawberries and then let their imaginations take hold. In the back, plant at least one deciduous tree. Over time it will grow strong and offer shade during the hot summer months and a place to hang a tire swing or build a treehouse.

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2 GREEN AND GORGEOUS To project visual interest, consider creating a front yard garden. Dig out some lawn and add colourful plantings — wildflowers, flowering shrubs, roses. Your neighbours will delight in the added beauty and so will you. It’s a win-win. Create an English country garden with groomed lawns and gardens. Combine formal and informal plantings by integrating schemes of perennial plants that bloom in succession. Orchestrate an impressionistic symphony by painting swaths of colour with spring bulbs — tulips, lilies and hyacinths. For added emphasis and visual interest, fill clay pots with colourful annuals such as geraniums, dahlias, begonias and pansies.

3 LOW MAINTENANCE Ditch the lawn mower and take a no-fuss, low-maintenance and drought-resistant approach to design. Keep the front yard minimalist and create an outdoor room with a stone terrace or wood decking and a pair of Adirondack chairs, adding curb appeal to any architectural style. Fold in a series of organic and linear sculpted beds filled with stones and mulch. Add a dash of colour with drought-resistant plantings. Lavender works well — it looks and smells fantastic, while deterring bugs.

4 MODERNIST ESTHETIC If you enjoy the clean look and open-sight lines of modernist architecture, then take that esthetic into the garden. In the front yard, opt for easycare shrubs juxtaposed with hardscaping. Think sculptural concrete benches and walls, wood screens and water features. Build layers of texture, movement and visual interest with the vertical lines of naturalized grasses arranged in graduated heights, juxtaposed with elegant, lacy plantings with white flowers. Sculpt geometric and linear garden beds brimming with organically shaped stones. Let the people add the colour. L


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It allows us to celebrate those common values of pluralism, diversity, but also compassion and caring. And I think that is something we do very well as Calgarians and we need to continue to do.� –Tasneem Rahim, volunteer

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by Alana Willerton

InProfile

PANCAKES FOR EVERYONE Facing page photography by Jared Sych; this page photography courtesy of Shia Ismaili Muslim Community; photograph of Mayor Nenshi by Rehana Bharwani.

Calgary’s Shia Ismaili Muslim community’s annual Stampede breakfast is a celebration of diversity and inclusivity.

WHEN CALGARY’S SHIA ISMAILI MUSLIM community began hosting a pancake breakfast during the Calgary Stampede in 1996, around 2,500 Calgarians showed up. This year, close to 5,000 people are expected to attend the annual event in northeast Calgary, making it the city’s secondlargest pancake breakfast held during Stampede. Tasneem Rahim, who began volunteering with the breakfast in 1997, has witnessed the event’s growth firsthand. She started off volunteering as a tour guide and serving breakfast at the event, and has since taken on a volunteer management role to help organize the breakfast’s theme and execution. This year, she’ll manage the team that oversees the 250 volunteers involved with the breakfast, as well as the 25 to 30 volunteers dedicated to the community’s Stampede Parade float. “I think it’s a moment of pride not just for our community, but for Calgary and Canada,” Rahim says of the breakfast’s growth. “It’s so much fun and it’s just so meaningful to see so many people come together at a space, enjoy breakfast [and] value differences in others.” Held at the Calgary Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre in northeast Calgary, the breakfast features a mixture of Western and Eastern dishes like pancakes, eggs and bahrazi (a

BELOW, LEFT: Canadian astronaut Colonel Chris Hadfield poses with breakfast goers. Hadfield was a special guest in 2013. BELOW, CENTRE: Line dancers from the Jamatkhana. lead attendees in a dance. BELOW, RIGHT: Mayor Naheed Nenshi welcomes guests.

crowd favourite made with pigeon peas and coconut sauce), as well as music, line dancing, activities for children and tours of the Jamatkhana. “I think it’s very important to do these types of events and for the Stampede to provide that opportunity because it allows us to learn about one another,” Rahim says. “It allows us to celebrate those common values of pluralism, diversity, but also compassion and caring. And I think that is something we do very well as Calgarians and we need to continue to do.” As for this year’s breakfast, set to take place on July 8, Rahim says it will be a particularly special one to commemorate Canada’s 150th birthday. “It’s going to be a celebration of [and] tribute to Canada. So I encourage everyone to come out in their red and white and show their true Canadian spirit and Calgary spirit,” Rahim says. “I think it’s really going be celebrating Canada as a wonderful country of opportunity for everyone.” L

The Ismaili Muslim Community Stampede Breakfast is on July 8 from 8 a.m. at the Calgary Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre, 1128 45 Ave N.E., theismaili.org

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SAM LIVINGSTON: INNOVATOR CALGARY PIONEER Sam Livingston didn’t shy away from risks or challenges. He embraced them. Livingston was one of Calgary’s earliest settlers. In 1876, Livingston and his family settled near the newly constructed Fort Calgary. There wasn’t an established community of settlers yet and construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway was still years away. It was wild and undeveloped and anything but easy, but Livingston saw the agricultural potential in the area and got to work. Livingston was a progressive and forward-thinking farmer. When southern Alberta’s land was thought to be good only for cattle ranching, Livingston tried something completely different. He cultivated several different

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grass varieties and imported 350 fruit trees. At a time when threshing was done manually, Livingston imported the district’s first mechanized threshing machine from Minnesota, making threshing less laborious and less time-consuming. He was a maverick and that meant he was also a huge success. Due to his innovations and risk-taking, his farm prospered. His success garnered the interest of others, including the Marquis of Lorne — the Governor General of Canada at the time — and politicians, who visited the Livingston farm.

Livingston was a pioneer in the 19th century, but his example is still relevant to Calgarians in 2017. He was a leader, committed to agriculture and to building a prosperous future. Livingston’s innovations are a reminder for today’s Calgarians that community and success aren’t always built by doing what is expected or easy. Rather, Livingston reminds us of the benefits of taking risks, being a leader and planning for the future. L

Glenbow Archives NA-19-2

by Karin Olafson


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LIVINGSTON HAS BIG PLANS FOR YOU. GET READY.

Your choice of 2 home styles: Duplex homes from the mid $300s.

Brookfield Residential is excited to bring some of its most popular and award-winning home models to Calgary’s New North. Discover homes with space for fun, family, and friends.

Now selling.

Single Family homes from the upper $300s. SALES INQUIRIES (403) 829-2139 | livingston@brookfieldrp.com

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TR AIL NW

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TR AIL NW


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