Condo Living April 2014 by Source Media Group

COntents April 2014 | VOLUME 10 ISSUE 172

12 Focus On 12 | Urn dynasty Vases add a unique piece of artistry to your home Condo Profiles 20 | Verve is the word Excitement builds as Verve sales zoom 26 | Sky-high lifestyle The guardian presentation centre makes it easy to envision the stylish living offered 33 | Uncommonly customized Personalize your townhome at Sabal’s Chalet No. 5 40 | Wonder villas Villas at Watermark set the benchmark for stylish downsizer lifestyle Community profile 46 | Hail Britannia Posh, polished enclave is among Calgary’s best multi-million dollar communities

Cover Feature 14 | Opening new worlds Hunter House brings spacious living to townhomes and stacked bungalows CO N D O L I V I N G a p r il 2 0 1 4

COntents Lifestyle 49 | The inside scoop PIXEL buyer has a unique perspective of this Battistella condo

ITEMS 10 | Editor’s Message 88 | Maps 92 | Ad Index

News 55 | 2013 SAM finalists Here are your finalists for this year’s developer and multi-family awards Style 60 | Green revolution Eco-friendly style becomes the new wave of design

Feature 67 | Party town Calgary’s free street festivals strengthen bonds of community shopping 73 | Illuminated lighting Green lighting illuminates path to future

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EDITOR’S MESSAGE |

Condo sales go supersonic The origin of that loud boom that was reported to have been heard through several northwest communities in March may still be a mystery, but I think it may have been the sound of condo sales in Calgary breaking the sound barrier. Spring is always a good indicator of how the real estate market is going to perform, and it looks like we’re in for a doozy. All our condo profiles this month report surging sales, even Streetside’s Hunter House — our cover feature for the month — has been enjoying a strong quarter, and this even before their ad campaign began. That’s going to surge even more soon, as they open their new show homes for their stacked bungalows on March 22. Verve by FRAM+Slokker is spearheading sales in East Village, and its enviable location in the middle of this rejuvenated community is only one of its considerable charms. The Guardian is also doing terrific business with its high-end finish attracting downtown professionals. Chalet No. 5 by Sabal Homes is continuing the series of successful, uncommonly stylish townhomes in Copperfield, while the Villas at Watermark are already sold out in their first phase. Even the developments we feature in Around Town are all reporting better than expected sales, so cover your ears, as another sales “boom” looks imminent. Next month:

Drum roll, please, as we announce the 2013 SAM winners.

We also announce the finalists in this year’s SAM Awards, which again features some of the best multifamily developments in town. Calgarians are all winners with the free street festivals we have in the inner-city, Elizabeth Booth tells us what we can look forward to in the coming season.

This issue also features a couple of green-themed stories. Kathy McCormick’s Shopping feature tells us about the more sustainable lighting products available out there in the light of the new law banning incandescent bulbs. While Style writer, David Crosson, enumerates the new wave of eco-friendly design trends. Condo starts are expected to hit a high in 2014, which bodes well for the buyers, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t challenges ahead. You can be sure that it’s something Condo Living will be keeping an eye on in the year ahead.

Source Media Group info@sourcemediagroup.ca

PUBLISHER |

Jim Zang jim.zang@sourcemediagroup.ca

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER |

Editor | Pepper Rodriguez pepper.rodriguez@sourcemediagroup.ca ART director | Jean Faye Rodriguez jean.rodriguez@sourcemediagroup.ca graphic designers

Lama Azhari lama.azhari@sourcemediagroup.ca Dave Macaulay dave.macaulay@sourcemediagroup.ca Megan Sereda megan.sereda@sourcemediagroup.ca Colleen Leier colleen.leier@sourcemediagroup.ca

PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR |

EDITORIAL

Elizabeth Chorney Booth, David Crosson, Karen Durrie, Aaliya Essa, Marty Hope, Kathy McCormick, Richard White, Jim Zang Photography

Don Molyneaux, Jean Faye Rodriguez ADVERTISING SALES | Heather Dougall heather.dougall@sourcemediagroup.ca accounting | Donna Roberts accounting@sourcemediagroup.ca DISTRIBUTED BY

Gallant Distribution Services, Media Classified, Source Media Group Issue 172 • ISSN 1918-4409 ©Source Media Group Corp. Material cannot be reprinted in whole or in part without the expressed written permission of the publishers. Source Media Group agrees to advertise on behalf of the advertiser without responsibility for claims or misinformation made by the advertiser and acts only as an advertising medium. Source Media Group reserves the right to refuse any advertising at its sole discretion. Condo Living® is published 12 times per annum with copies available for distribution at more than 1,500 locations every month. Condo Living® accepts editorial submissions by electronic mail only. Please forward any submissions including all personal information to: cleditor@sourcemediagroup.ca. Unsolicited submissions will not be returned. Advertising information available only by request. Condo Living® is a registered Trademark the property of Source Media Group Corp. Reg. USPTO 3,584,683 & 3,584,583. Contact: Source Media Group Corp., 207, 5809 Macleod Trail S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2H 0J9; Tel 403.532.3101 Toll free 1.888.932.3101; www.sourcemediagroup.ca

@CondoLivingYYC

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CondoLivingCalgary

FOCUS ON |

Urn Dynasty Vases add a unique piece of artistry to your home By Aaliya Essa

Molded into the pages of history, vases have had a special place in homes going back centuries. Even in this day and age, this simple creation still fills a need and purpose, whether it’s simply a decoration, or used to hold flowers, vases are part of the décor in many homes. Although now there are so many different styles, shapes, colours, and materials to choose from, vases are still an irreplaceable addition to any home. CL

Butterflies & Dots glass vase, $45.95 at Pier1 Imports.

2 Kaden Floor Vase, $139 at Crate and Barrel. 3 Annie Vase, $44.95 at Crate and Barrel. 4 Peacock blue recycled glass vase, $79.95 at Pier1 Imports. 5

Blossoms Aqua Vase, $49.95 at Pier1 Imports.

6 Perry round bud vase, $8.95 at Crate and Barrel. 7 Luna vase, $139 at Crate and Barrel. 8

Flowers Art Glass Vase, $119.95 at Pier1 Imports.

9 Glossy Red Bamboo Urns, $69.95 - $79.95 at Pier1 Imports. 10 Large cranberry vase, $109.27 at Pottery Barn.

11 Terracotta Multi-Colour Vase, $189.95 at Pier1 Imports. 12 Medium Ochre Vase, $109.27 at Pottery Barn. 13 Chickadee Short Vase, $16.95 at Crate and Barrel.

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Opening new worlds Hunter House brings spacious living to townhomes and stacked bungalows

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spacious lifestyle isn’t always what comes to mind when talking about living in a multifamily environment. But Hunter House, by Streetside Developments, will soon open minds to the luxurious freedom of living and lifestyle that their new townhomes and stacked bungalows in Silverado will bring. It took the 2012 SAM multi-family builder of the year two years of intense design development to come up with Hunter House’s stacked bungalow and row townhome floor plans. What they delivered not only ensures an enjoyable lock-and-leave lifestyle, but an invite-and-entertain one, too. “We poured over all aspects of its design to come up with something we knew would instantly appeal to the market. An open floor plan that not only maximizes all available space but is also loaded with all the luxurious finishing and features that aren’t necessarily always available in condos,” says Ashley Carcasole, Streetside sales and marketing manager. She says it’s the perfect solution to what the downsizer market has long wanted in a scaled down home — more space. “We listened to the buyers, and Hunter House gives you the benefits of living in a single-family home where you can entertain at leisure, without the hassle of lawn care or snow shoveling.”

Their stacked bungalows present singlelevel living at its very best and range in size from 1,400 to 1,670 square-feet. “They’re bigger than some two-storey homes, and the 10-foot ceilings and tall windows further accentuate the spaciousness of the home,” she says. “You also get both a front patio and a back deck to take full adavantage of Silverado’s natural charms.” These homes start from the $480,000s. Their three-level row townhomes are from 1,486 to over 1,500 square-feet, with an option to add a 100-squarefoot den in the main floor to make it an even more ideal living space. These homes start from the $300,000s. All homes come with attached double car garages, side-by-sides, too, not the tandems you see in many townhomes today. “We have a number of upgrades you can do to your garage, too, including epoxy flooring and storage systems to turn it into your ultimate home for your cars,” Carcasole says.

“...Hunter House gives you the benefits of living in a single-family home where you can entertain at leisure, without the hassle of lawn care or snow shoveling.”

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Hunter House will have 38 stacked bungalows and 54 row townhomes. “It’s a very low-density multi-family community, and we did this so we can fit right in with the single-family nature of Silverado. The bungalows present an image of a large mansion from the outside adding to the upscale feel of the community. It presents itself as a quiet cul-de-sac of high-end homes.” Their stacked bungalows are aimed at the downsizer, empty-nester, and baby boomer markets and provides a terrific alternative to villas. “There never seems to be enough villas in Calgary and whatever’s available are usually beyond their budget. Hunter House gives you all the top-end features like granite or quartz counters and engineered hardwood floors of villa living and more,” Carcasole says. The row townhomes are suited to these buyers, too, as well as firsttime homebuyers. “You still get all the benefits of a single-family home with the added affordability of multi-family living.” Hunter House is in the prestigious southwest community of Silverado, a quiet, secluded location that’s still very accessible. “We’re just off Sheriff King Street, Stoney Trail, Macleod Trail and Deerfoot Trail are all easily accessed from the neighbourhood so a quick trip to work or to the mountains is always easy,” she says. It’s just down the road from the new Silverado retail centre, and the Shawnessy commercial centre and the Somerset-Bridlewood C-Train Station are just minutes away. Hunter House itself is just off 194 Avenue S.W., so getting in and out of the community is never a problem. Carcasole is confident they have a hit on their hands with Hunter House. “We’ve sold six of the bungalows without the benefit of advertising much less a show suite,” she says. But this is all about to change on March 22 when Streetside opens two stacked bungalows show suites. Row townhome show suites will follow in the fall. n CO N D O L I V I N G A p r il 2 0 1 4

Hunter House gives you all the top-end features... Fa s t Fa c t s Community: Silverado Project:

Hunter House

Developer: Streetside Development Corporation Style:

Three-storey row townhomes and

single-level stacked bungalows

Size:

Row townhomes range from 1,486 to over 1,500 sq. ft., and stacked bungalows are from 1,400 to 1,670 sq. ft.

Price:

Row townhomes are from the $300,000s and stacked bungalows are from the $480,000s

Address:

1020 194 Avenue S.W.

Directions: West on Hwy 22X (Stoney Tr.) and exit on to Sheriff King St. and follow the signs Hours:

Monday to Thursday – 1 to 7 p.m.,

weekends and holidays noon to 5 p.m.

Website:

www.hunterhouseliving.com

CONDO PROFILE |

verve is

the word Excitement builds as Verve sales zoom By pepper rodriguez

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ot even six months since it started sales, Verve is nearly 50 per cent sold, which stands testament not only to FRAM+Slokker’s winning high-rise condo design, but also to the enticing vision of life in East Village. Verve not only offers a refined contemporary lifestyle with its stylish and functional floor plans, but it is the vast potential for a fulfilling life in East Village that everyone is excited for, says FRAM+Slokker director of sales, Deb Pedersen. “We are a beautiful riverfront community surrounded by three parks, including St. Patrick’s Island, and conveniently within blocks of the C-train station,” she tells Condo Living. The vision for East Village is quickly unfolding and becoming a reality with major infrastructure projects underway, including the National Music Centre, Calgary’s new Central Library, and the $75 million Hilton Hotel complex. “East Village is an exciting new emerging community where you will have restaurants, recreation, and entertainment all within walking distance. You can jog or bike to Inglewood or Eau Claire along the Riverwalk and just steps away from a world-class park. Concerts or a Flames game are a short walk away, which saves on parking.” Verve will sit in the midst of all this action and the 25-storey, 196unit mixed-use tower will have retail stores at the base that add to the lively ambience of the streetscape. The five-storey podium will also have offices, while residential units begin from the sixth floor up, including penthouses and sub-penthouses along the top floors. It is the newest condo development here by Ontario-based FRAM+Slokker. Their initial East Village condo, FIRST, is doing spectacularly well with 90 per cent sold already and construction in full swing.

“East Village is an exciting new emerging community where you will have restaurants, recreation, and entertainment all within walking distance.”

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FRAM+Slokker will have a total of seven developments in East Village, which signifies their faith in this ambitious 49-acre revitalization project being undertaken by Calgary Municipal Land Corp. (CMLC). Though Verve’s prime location is a big factor for its success, Pedersen also cites the wonderfully contemporary design of the units and their affordability that have appealed to a wide range of buyers. “We put a great deal of attention to design. Our suites come with custom designed fully integrated kitchen cabinets that you would find in luxury home. Attention is given to every detail right from the moment you walk into your suite, which were designed to take full advantage of the panoramic river views,” Pedersen says. Verve’s newly opened show suite in the East Village Experience Centre succeeds in delivering this message of high style and perfectly functional space. They have renovated their FIRST show suite at the Experience Centre to show a 670-squarefoot Verve one-bedroom-plus-den suite. Most of what you see in the show suite are standard features in Verve, including the sturdy and stylish Corian countertops, European-style, Cecconi Simone-designed custom cabinetry and island encompassing storage, display, preparation and dining areas. Pre-finished, European, engineered-laminate flooring blend well with the flatslab swing doors and sliding doors to bedrooms and closets, achieving a smooth, flawless look. “We have something for everybody; first time home buyers and those wanting to downsize. We have a wonderful cross section of entrepreneurs, retirees and some just launching their careers,” she says. “Our 720-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bath has been really popular, along with the 530-square-foot one-bedroom.” Verve starts from the mid $200,000s for their one-bedroom suites, and $400,000s for the two-bedroom units. First possessions are expected towards the end of 2016. CL

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FA S T FAC TS Community: East Village Project: Verve Developer: FRAM+Slokker Style: Apartment style condos, and live-work suites Size: From 500 sq. ft. Price: In the mid $200,000s Sales Centre: East Village Experience Centre, 553 Riverfront Ave. S.E. Hours: Monday to Thursday noon to 6 p.m., weekends noon to 5 p.m., closed Fridays Website: www.thenewcalgary.com

Symons Valley Rd

Shaganappi Trail

Kincora Glen Road NW Stoney Trail

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Sky-high lifestyle The Guardian’s presentation centre makes it easy to envision the stylish living offered By Elizabeth Chorney-Booth

ith so many new inner-city condo developments underway in Calgary it can be hard to choose which building — and even which neighbourhood — is right for you. Condo living isn’t just about choosing what kind of roof you want over your head, but also what kind of lifestyle you want to create for yourself. The two towers of The Guardian, currently under construction in the vibrant neighbourhood of Victoria Park, promises the very best in modern urban living with carefully designed floor plans, a bustling community, and — as the tallest residential towers in the city at 44 storeys each — spectacular views. To help prospective residents envision what life will be like in these state-of-the-art buildings, The Guardian team has re-designed their award-winning presentation centre. Located in the historic Victoria Park Bungalow Schoolhouse (giving an appropriate nod to the history of this once-again vibrant community), the presentation centre gives interested parties the next best thing to actually standing in a finished suite.

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Because of The Guardian’s remarkable height and each suites’ spectacular views through floorto-ceiling windows and from expansive balconies, most buyers are very interested in the specific view each unit will command. The presentation centre takes care of that feature with a series of interactive view studies on big screen HDTVs to show buyers exactly what breathtaking views they will wake up to when they move into their new homes. “Being the tallest residential towers in the city means that The Guardian is going to afford impressive views not only of downtown, but of the rivers and mountains as well,” says Ernest Hon, Director of Sales and Marketing for Hon Developments. “And the fact that The Guardian is located just on the edge of downtown but surrounded by low-rise heritage buildings also means that the views will be largely unobstructed.” The other key elements of the presentation centre are the fully appointed and furnished one- and two-bedroom show suites that give potential residents a chance to explore their future home. While the Guardian has received a fair bit of buzz over its height and location in the heart of one of downtown Calgary’s most central and

rapidly-changing neighbourhoods, the units’ interiors also provide a considerable wow factor. As much attention has been put into the interior design as the towers’ astounding exterior architecture, meaning that each unit is meticulously planned to maximize both the living space and the inclusion of natural light. The suites are designed as open concept, flexible spaces with minimal hallway space to allow for larger living spaces and more storage options than one would expect from an inner-city condo. With such well-designed floor plans, buyers are often surprised by how spacious the suites feel. Even though they will have their choice of a number of downtown restaurants within walking distance, residents may find themselves wanting to stay in and cook at home more often than not thanks to the gorgeous kitchens within each suite. Complete with Italian-imported Armony Cucine cabinetry, integrated fridges and high-quality appliances from Blomberg and Faber, as well as chef-worthy AEG induction cooktops, these kitchens are perfect for entertaining and functional enough for even the most serious of cooks. “Life within The Guardian is defined by good design,” Hon says. “From

“Being the tallest residential tower in the city means that The Guardian is going to afford impressive views not only of downtown, but of the rivers and mountains as well.”

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the optimized floor plans and modern interior design to the brown brick exterior of the podium that compliments the historic warehouse district, The Guardian was built to enrich the lives of its residents, paying attention to every detail in the process.” Because it has so effectively brought both the technical aspects and the spirit of the buildings to life, The Guardian presentation centre won a Sales and Marketing Award (SAM) for Best Sales Centre from the Calgary Region Canadian Home Builders’ Association in 2012, the same year The Guardian’s sales team won the Best Sales Team. With that kind of recognition and experience, the on-site team is able to answer any questions and offer superior service to those looking to learn more about this unique development. It should also be noted that the F as t F ac t s presentation centre is located right next to The Guardian construcCommmunity: Victoria Park tion site, which means owners Project: The Guardian can come by any time to see how DEVELOPER: Hon Developments construction is coming along. The STYLE: High-rise condominium podium and underground structure are already complete and SIZE: From 441 to 2,600 sq. ft. The Guardian North is going up PRICE: Starting at $219,000 quickly at a rate of about a floor Presentation centre: 456-12th a week. Seeing that firsthand will Ave. S.E. in the historic Victoria Park give eager residents peace of mind as the Fall 2016 completion date Bungalow Schoolhouse approaches and they begin to get Hours: Monday to Thursday noon to 6 ready to make the transition into p.m., weekends and holidays noon to 5 p.m. their new homes and exciting new Website: www.theguardiancalgary.com lifestyles. CL

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uNCOMMONLY CustOMIZED Personalize your townhome at sabal’s chalet no. 5 By AAliyA ESSA

ho says you can’t have it all? At Sabal Homes’ new Chalet No.5 in Copperfield, buyers are offered an abundance of layouts to choose from, and now they even have the ultimate option — to customize their own townhome. That’s right, mix and match, and add your own special touch to any space to make it more your own. “For the floor plans themselves,” says Sydney Forman, area manager for Sabal, “you can choose from a variety of kitchen styles. For upstairs, they can have two-bedrooms one bathroom, two-bedrooms two-bathrooms, two-bedrooms two-bathrooms and a study, three-bedrooms two bathrooms; some plans include a study on the main floor, some plans allow for a fully developed basement too.” Allowing buyers to play a major role in deciding how their home will look allows for a more personalized purchase, which leads to happier customers. “It really gives our buyers the wiggle room to decide how they want to structure themselves in their homes,” says Forman, “and it gives them the freedom to give their own space a little bit of their own identity as well.” Buyers are responding in droves. “They love it, they absolutely love it,” says Forman, who has heard many a buyer repeat this refrain. “And it’s because of the entire package: the layouts, the standard specs, the amount of choice, the price, and, of course, the location. Copperfield is growing in popularity for a lot of very good reasons. A big one, says Forman, is that it is one of the only communities that does not have a community fee. There’s also an existing Catholic school for students K – 9, and “they’ve just gotten the go ahead to do the public school,” she says.

allowing buyers to play a major role in deciding how their home will look allows for a more personalized purchase… CO N D O L I V I N G aprIL 2014

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Having one of the city’s best shopping destinations literally minutes away on 130th Avenue certainly adds to the community’s appeal, and it’s another huge bonus having the new South Campus Hospital, one of the largest, most modern hospitals in the country, just down the road, too. Chalet No.5 is attracting all sorts of buyers; from young single professionals, to young professional couples, empty nesters, and even a few investors. “From an investment standpoint,” says Forman, “this corner of the city is very popular. There are going to be more than 10,000 people working at the hospital, and we already have a high percentage of homeowners that are working at the hospital,” says Forman. “90 per cent of our buyers are young professionals and young professional couples. We do have some young families as well, but the main demographic is professionals. We also have buyers that are downsizing, that are retired and would like to be able to take off for a few months of the year,

and want a place that’s maintenance free,” says Forman. And buyers will be happy to hear that their pets are welcome here too. With an added bonus of no weight restrictions, your furry four-legged friends can call Chalet No.5 home as well. There are nine layouts to choose from, starting from around $270,000 in price, and ranging from 1,132 to 1,403 square-feet. Depending on the layout, there is a single or double car garage option, some in the front and some in the rear, as well as a new parking pad option. Homes that back onto the courtyard will have the option of a walkout basement that includes a patio, in addition to a deck off the main floor. Each suite comes with standard laminate hardwood floors, nine-foot knockdown sculptured ceilings on the main floor, stainless steel kitchen appliances, a roughed in vacu-flow, two-inch window blinds package, and even your legal fees are included. It’s a fantastic deal that just got even better. “It’s Sabal’s 20th anniversary,” says Forman, “so there are a few really cool things

Chalet No. 5 is an excellent example of how Sabal listens to their customers and is able to provide buyers with options unlike any other multi-family homebuilder.

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that are going to be happening. Beginning on March 1, buyers will have $2,020 towards any upgrade that they want and will be entered into a draw for a $20,000 cash prize that will be drawn on July 19th. They can have it off the price of their house or they can have it in cash, it’s completely up to them,” adds Forman. Sabal Homes is an award winning home builder; they have built their reputation on being a builder that strives to provide their buyers homes built above and beyond the criteria necessary, understanding that their products set the standard of quality and service which essentially leads to operational excellence and there by creating long term relationships with their buyers. Chalet No.5 is an excellent example of how Sabal listens to their customers and is able to provide buyers with options unlike any other multi-family homebuilder. Here each home is unique, customized to your specifications, and therefore a perfect fit for each buyer. CL

FA S T FAC TS Community: Copperfield Project: Chalet No. 5 Developer: Sabal Homes Style: Townhome condominiums Size: From 1,132 sq. ft Price: Starting in the $270,000s Address: 514 Copperpond Blvd. S.E. Directions: South on 52 St. S.E., left on 130th Ave and left on Copperpond Blvd. and follow the signs Hours: Monday to Thursday 2 to 8 p.m., weekends and holidays noon to 5 p.m. Website: www.sabalchalet.com

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“It’s the Prairies meet the Rockies with a touch of a resort lifestyle, that fits the needs of snowbirds and empy nesters…”

Villas at Watermark set the benchmark for stylish downsizer lifestyle By Pepper Rodriguez

illas have always been one of the hottest commodities in Calgary’s multi-family market, and there never seems to be enough around. The Villas of Watermark, however, is far from just an ordinary villa community; it’s a lifestyle. A fantastic location on Calgary’s western fringe, an upscale finish that defies all preconception of what multi-family living entails, and unmatched panoramic views of the Rockies. These factors combine to make the Villas at Watermark the top choice for downsizers looking to simplify life, but maintain the quality lifestyle they’re accustomed to. “We’ve been the fastest selling villa community in Calgary,” says Dana Volrich, vice-president for sales and marketing at Macdonald Development. “We’ve sold 90 per cent of the first phase of Villas at Watermark and we’re well into Phase Two.” She adds that strong

demand has prompted the early release of Phase Three this spring. The four villa models available have proven to be particularly attractive to Calgary’s empty nesters and snowbirds. “The lock-and-leave lifestyle is very attractive to them. We offer an extremely high-end standard finish as well as a wide assortment of optional upgrades and features, which makes these homes even more appealing,” Volrich says. “Our location on the edge of Calgary is also important to our buyers, because while we are in Rockyview County, we’re still only 20 minutes away to downtown Calgary. The Crowfoot LRT station is just down the road, and there are plenty of local amenities around that you’re able to enjoy a carefree lifestyle,” she adds. Add to that Watermark at Bearspaw’s distinction of having won both the 2012 national and local SAM Awards for best new community, and you have a place to live that inspires pride of ownership. “We’ve been nominated again for Community Development of the Year in both national and regional SAM Awards this year,” Volrich adds. The Villas at Watermark sit on a quiet hillside of 12 Mile Coulee Road, just past the northwest city limits. It is this uniquely graded site that has allowed Macdonald Development to offer all its villas to have panoramic views of the nearby mountains and the rolling prairie grasslands below. By building these duplex villas along tiers set in the hillside, each home looks over the top of the home below it and not into its backyard. “These are all southwest facing homes, so everyone gets to benefit from the majestic views, and sightlines are virtually uninterrupted from almost all of the main levels.” Designed by renowned Canadian architect Ray Letkeman, the villas feature a contemporary prairie-style architecture tweaked to reflect the influence of the Rockies. “It’s the Prairies meet the Rockies with a touch of a resort lifestyle, that fits the needs of snowbirds and empty nesters, who enjoy the feeling of coming home for a vacation from their vacation,” says Ian Macdonald, the Villas’ Sales Director

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Villas range from 1,900 to 2,600 square-feet of total living space. Each floor plan is designed to maximize the enjoyment of the surrounding natural beauty, with large picture windows, 10-foot ceilings in all main floors (some homes will have 10-foot high ceilings in the lower level as well). All of them will have a 14-foot-long deck with glass rails on the upper level. Everything is geared for the owner’s enjoyment of the views, the master bedrooms have these same big, picture windows, and the majestic peaks of the Rockies are something to behold when you wake up in the morning. The feeling of spaciousness is enhanced by the open concept floor plans. Canadian-made custom-coloured engineered hardwood floors grace a majority of the common areas, European porcelain tile in the bathrooms and foyer give the home an executive feel. Suffice to say, the standard specs offered are already on the upper-end of the scale and exemplify the finer things in life Villas at Watermark’s buyers are accustomed to. Prices start in the mid $700,000s, Macdonald says. “Each lower level has an alternate option as to how it can be developed — offering the opportunity for extra bedrooms for guests, children or grandkids, or a second master bedroom with ensuite, or maximizing storage space — it is entirely up to the buyer.” The 287-acre master planned estate community of Watermark at

The standard specs offered are already on the upper-end of the scale and exemplify the finer things in life…

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Bearspaw has five kilometres of walking paths, green space and an enviable central park. “We see it as the perfect community where parents who have earned their right to enjoy the finest life has to offer can have a home in the Villas, while their children and grandkids can live in the same community in our superb single-family homes,” Macdonald says. CL

FA S T FAC TS Community: Watermark at Bearspaw Project: Villas at Watermark Developer: Macdonald Development Corporation Style: Semi-detached two-level bungalows Size: 1,900 to 2,600 sq. ft. Price: Starts in the mid $700,000s Address: 1 Watermark Villas, Calgary Directions: North on Crowchild Trail and left on 12 Mile Coulee Rd. and follow the signs Hours: Monday to Thursday 2 to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Closed Friday Website: www.villasatwatermark.com

COMMUNITY PROFILE |

Hail Britannia Posh, polished enclave is among Calgary’s best multi-million dollar communities

Story by Richard White Photos by Jean Faye Rodriguez

orget the million dollar luxury homes, or the million dollar streets; Calgary now has million dollar communities. Yes there are 14 communities (based on the MLS sales July to September 2013) in the city where the average selling price is over one million dollars.) In fact, five communities have an average selling price of over two million dollars. Who are they? Belaire is #1 with an average selling price of $2.5 million, followed by Britannia at $2.2 million. Mount Royal, Elbow Park/Glencoe are tied for third and fourth spots at $2.1 million and Eagle Ridge is #5 at just over $2 million. Most of the million dollar communities are clustered in the area south of Glenmore Trail, north of 17th Avenue, west of Elbow Drive and east of Crowchild Trail, i.e. the “Oil Patch Executive District (OPED).” There are only three million dollar communities north of the Bow River — St. Andrew’s Heights, Varsity Estates and Rosedale and they are all just barely over the one million mark. One of my favourite million dollar communities in Calgary is Britannia. For 10 years when I lived in Kelvin Grove and worked at the Muttart Art Gallery in the historic Memorial Park Library building, I used to drive by this community everyday. I think what attracted me most was the quaint Britannia Plaza with its angled parking and local shops that looks like an early 20th century prairie Main Street.

Britannia was annexed into the city in 1910, but no significant development took place until the 1950s... 46 |

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What community wouldn’t lust to have its own Main Street with grocery store, bistro, café, bookstore, wine merchant and hardware store? Funny this is what we are struggling to create in our new communities and yet it was already created here over 50 years ago. It is even surrounded by small three-floor condos and apartments to add some density without creating monster high-rises. In an ironic twist, the lowest price condo sale in the city from July to September was in Britannia at $125,000. I am surprised that this model of community development with a single block of retail easily accessibility to Elbow Drive wasn’t duplicated as the city expanded southward. For that matter it could have also worked along 10th, 14th and 19th Streets N.W., as well as Centre and 4th Streets N.E. Mike Keho at Fairfield Commercial informed me that, in 1953, the Britannia Plaza was the first purpose-built shopping centre in Calgary and became a template for other small scale suburban retail strip malls at the entrance to other communities like Fairview, Cambrian and Mailand Heights and even the Stadium shopping centre. The creation of outdoor strip malls in the ‘50s and ‘60s was an experiment that worked for 25 or 30 years before falling to the indoor megamalls and today’s big box power centers with their huge grocery stores and hardware

What community wouldn’t lust to have its own Main Street with grocery store, bistro, café, bookstore, wine merchant and hardware store? stores with acres of parking. Britannia Plaza demonstrates that local small retailers can survive, with good vehicle, pedestrian and cycling access, some density nearby and without a sea of surface parking. I was surprised to find out how small Britannia is with only 746 people living in the community — it must be one of the city’s smallest communities population wise. It is also small geographically with its borders being Elbow Drive on the east and Elbow River on the west, 50th Avenue on the south and Britannia Drive on the north. It is also interesting that Britannia Plaza thrives without any high density housing in the area. A quick check of the City of Calgary’s community profile shows that Britannia is 71 per cent single-family housing and 29 per cent apartments, which is significantly higher than the city-wide figure of 58 per cent for single-family, but surprisingly also slightly above the city average for apartments which is 27 per cent. What is missing in the housing stock is town and row housing. When it comes to home ownership and rentals Britannia mirrors the city average of 73 per cent homeowners and 27 per cent renters. I expect what makes Britannia so attractive is the abundance of large singlemid-century homes and large lots with great accessibility to Calgary’s many urban playgrounds — Downtown, Mission, 17th Avenue and Chinook Mall. Easy access to Calgary Golf and Country Club, Riverdale Park and the Elbow River doesn’t hurt. Britannia is very attractive to Calgary’s young “executive class” and their families as evidenced by the fact 21.3 per cent of the population is between the ages of 5 and 19, significantly higher than the city-wide 17.7 per cent for the same bracket. It is not surprising that a whopping 49 per cent of adults living in Britannia have a BA or higher level of education, compared to a citywide figure of 25 per cent. Yes, it does pay to get a higher education! CL CO N D O L I V I N G a p r il 2 0 1 4

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The inside scoop

PIXEL buyer has a unique perspective of this Battistella condo Story by Karen Durrie Photos by Don Molyneaux

ohn and Mary Vlooswyk were so impressed with plans for Battistella Development’s Pixel condos in Kensington that they purchased a unit, believing that it would make for a smashing investment property. Then they began thinking. As the building took form and they mulled over the design and got to know the surrounding area better, they started entertaining the idea of living in it themselves. For one thing, they’d eliminate long commutes through traffic jams on Deerfoot Trail. They’d also have more free time not having to clean a large house and maintain a big yard that they really only enjoyed small portions of since their five boys had fled the nest. Better yet, John has the unique perspective of having helped build this 100-unit mid-rise condo, so he knows intimately the soundness of its construction.

John and Mary Vlooswyk

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The rustic look of the engineered wood plank flooring contrasts with the highly polished veneer of wood on the white, quartztopped kitchen island.

The Vlooswyks put their 2,400-square-foot McKenzie Lake home up for sale (it sold in 24 hours), spent a few months living with John’s parents, and moved into their “under-$600,000” condo in Pixel once it was completed in January. They haven’t regretted it for a moment. Pixel is a unique structure with dramatic yellow cubes scattered across its façade, facing 9A Street in the heart of Kensington. Vlooswyk, an engineer, has a unique relationship with PIXEL, as his company, Building Envelope Engineering Inc., was involved in its construction. This insider’s understanding of the structure gave him the knowledge and confidence they’d be getting a high-quality, durable product built by people who take a hands-on approach to their projects and clients. “Too many condos have very elaborate designs that are difficult to build, significantly increasing the risk of problems,” John says. “(Battistella has) relatively simple designs that look great and are very functional.” While the bones are great, it’s the aesthetic stuff that really shines. The couple’s airy corner unit’s glass walls offer a sweeping vista glimpsing the Canada Olympic Park, Riley Park and the SAIT campus, spans McHugh Bluff and turns toward Memorial Drive, taking in the river and the downtown skyline. The 1,150-square-foot two-bedroom space is a study in sleek contemporary design and

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John has enjoyed getting to know Kensington and the surrounding area with Mary, establishing favourite haunts such as Vendome Café. decorated with uber-modern furniture. The rustic look of the engineered wood plank flooring contrasts with the highly polished veneer of wood on the white, quartz-topped kitchen island. Flush-front European-style cabinetry features throughout the condo, and two concrete pillars in the main living space are unique in the building, with custom tiling jobs giving them an artistic flair. “Our tiler who was doing work in the bathroom asked if we’d consider putting tiles on them,” Mary says. “I was really nervous, and didn’t want it to look like a shopping centre. I found the thin tile and we trusted him. We’re really happy with how they turned out.” Touches of warmth and hominess come in through the couple’s objets d’art and mementos collected from trips to South America and Africa, as well as favourite photographs and paintings. The biggest challenge to downsizing from a home they’d lived in for 30 years was in purging their extras. “Living in a large home for a long period of time, you gather a lot of stuff,” Mary says. “We have had to purge several times. Most of it we would probably never use again anyway.” Once the extra was gone, though, it wasn’t missed. The pair has kept what they really wanted and losing the rest has added to the simplicity of the lifestyle that appealed to them in choosing to move. The Vlooswyks are effusive in their love of what they have gained by moving from the suburbs.

Mary, a dental hygienist and avid runner, has developed a keen appreciation for the downtown pathway system and discovering areas she hadn’t really explored before, such as Inglewood. John has also enjoyed getting to know Kensington and the surrounding area with Mary, establishing favourite haunts such as Vendome Café, and they’ve cut down on driving, having taken the handy C-train to events at the Jubilee and the Saddledome. And the pair is happy they will have more time to travel and golf without worrying about who will look after a house and yard in their absence. They can just lock up and go. “Some of our friends and family didn’t think we’d last in a condo, but others are seeing the change. The first four weeks were like we were living in a nice hotel. But now we’re putting our personal touch on it,” John says. There isn’t as much room to entertain as in their home in the ‘burbs, but the Vlooswyks plan to use the building’s rooftop garden to host gatherings in the summer. Their first night in the condo, John proposed a toast to new beginnings. The couple says they are more relaxed and have more time to enjoy the finer things in life since their Pixel-perfect move. CL CO N D O L I V I N G a p r il 2 0 1 4

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2013 SAM FINALISTS D

rum roll, please. We are proud to present this year’s crop of finalists for the 2013 SAM Awards for the developer and multi-family development categories. The SAM Awards, now in its 27th year, celebrate innovation and excellence in the Calgary and area’s residential construction industry. The winners will receive their awards at the SAM Awards Gala on March 29th, 2014 at the Telus Convention Centre. The top five entries in each category will be featured during the evening. “Once again, the new home industry in Calgary continues to amaze,” says Shane Wenzel, co-chair of the SAM committee for CHBA – Calgary Region. “No matter the economy, no matter whether builders are busy, the industry puts out their best year after year. It’s that winning combination of value and innovation, excitement and quality that makes the SAM Awards so coveted. When you have such a competitive industry like we have here in Calgary, everyone puts out their best — and the homebuyers are the winners.” A total of 776 entries were submitted by members competing for 57 awards in 10 different categories covering all aspects of the residential construction industry, from the sales professionals in the field, to renovations, new neighbourhoods, marketing and advertising, and the new homes and condos themselves. The finalists are chosen through a thorough, detailed process that involves industry judges awarding points, which are then authenticated by an accounting firm. The following are the finalists in Developer and Multi-Family categories.

Here are your finalists for this year’s developer and multi-family awards

DEVELOPER AWARDS

Show Home Parade of the Year Brookfield Residential, Riverstone – The Portage Series, Cranston Heritage Pointe Properties Inc., Artesia Show Home Parade, Artesia, (DeWinton) Hopewell Residential Management LP, LakeFront Show Home Parade, Mahogany Hopewell Residential Management LP, LakeSide Show Home Parade, Mahogany WestCreek Developments Ltd., Legacy Semi-Detached Show Home Parade, Legacy New Community of the Year Heritage Pointe Properties Inc., Artesia (DeWinton) WestCreek Developments Ltd., Legacy Community of the Year — City of Calgary Brookfield Residential, Auburn Bay Brookfield Residential, Riverstone Genstar Development Company, Walden Hopewell Residential Management LP, Mahogany WestCreek Developments Ltd., Legacy Community of the Year — Calgary Region Heritage Pointe Properties Inc., Artesia, DeWinton La Vita Land Inc., Fireside, Cochrane Tamani Communities, Riviera, Cochrane Watermark Development LP, Watermark at Bearspaw, Rocky View County

Heritage Pointe Properties Inc., Artesia

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Landmark Homes (Calgary) Inc., The Hudsen Best New Design — Apartment Style Condo 900 sq. ft. and over Jager Group of Companies, The Guardian Paramount, Suite 01 Jayman Modus, a division of Jayman Group of Companies, H Penthouse at Overture Jayman Modus, a division of Jayman Group of Companies, J Penthouse at Overture Qualex-Landmark Western Inc., Mark on Tenth – K Plan The Statesman Group of Companies Ltd., Champagne Chardonnay Best New Design — Villa/Duplex/Townhome up to 1,199 sq. ft. Genesis Builders Group Inc., The Roxbury Calbridge 2010 Ltd., The Willow

Homes by Avi Urban (2006) Inc., Edison – Scarlet Jayman Group of Companies – Jayman Modus, The Esprit II

MULTI-FAMILY COMMUNITY AWARDS

Best Multi-Family Community Homes by Avi Urban (2006) Inc., The Enclave at Castle Keep Homes by Avi Urban (2006) Inc., Victoria Cross Terrace Homes, Currie Barracks Qualex-Landmark Western Inc., Calla by Qualex-Landmark, Beltline/ Connaught Remington Development Corporation, Champagne Building #1, Quarry Park Trico Homes, Montreux Villas

MULTI-FAMILY DESIGN AWARDS

Sabal Homes Multi-Family, a division of Sabal Homes LP, Chalet No5 – A Plan Sabal Homes Multi-Family, a division of Sabal Homes LP, Chalet No5 – B Plan Best New Design — Villa/Duplex/Townhome 1,200 sq. ft. and over Calbridge 2010 Ltd., The Sapphire Calbridge 2010 Ltd., The Silverton Homes by Avi Urban (2006) Inc., Edison – Auburn Landmark Homes (Calgary) Inc., The Hudsen Landmark Homes (Calgary) Inc., The Kelby

MULTI-FAMILY HOME AWARDS

Best New Design — Apartment Style Condo up to 899 sq. ft. Cardel Lifestyles, The Panorama

Best Town Home — up to $294,999 Truman Homes, Evolve Townhomes

Homes by Avi Urban (2006) Inc., Sawyer – Two Bedroom B

Streetside Developments, Evanston Square

M2i Development Corporation, 1912Cross 1 Bed 1 Bath + Flex Qualex-Landmark Western Inc., Mark on Tenth – E Plan

Best Town Homes — $295,000-$349,999 Cardel Lifestyles, Highwood 3

Truman Homes, 51 Oak – Unit A

Homes by Avi Urban (2006) Inc., Yorkshire E – The Enclave at Castle Keep

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Cardel Lifestyles, Fish Creek Jayman Modus, a division of Jayman Group of Companies, Serendipity II in Mint Streetside Developments, Evanston Square

Brookfield Residential, Sequoia Jayman Group of Companies, The Westwynd

Best Town Homes — $350,000 and over Birchwood Properties Corp., The Bellevue Brookfield Residential, Harvest Mosaic: Crimson Brookfield Residential, Harvest Mosaic: Slate Genesis Builders Group, The Brownstones @ Sage Meadows Jayman Group of Companies, The Westwynd in RiverReach (Cochrane) Best Villa / Duplex — up to $349,999 Beyond Homes, Project b65 Calbridge 2010 Ltd., The Willow (Cochrane) Shane Homes Ltd., The Allee Shane Homes Ltd., The Arbor II Shane Homes Ltd., The Galea Best Villa / Duplex — $350,000 and over Albi Homes Ltd., Vistas of Tuscany Albi Homes Ltd., Vistas of Tuscany Brookfield Residential, Sequoia, Cranston Side-by-Side Landmark Homes (Calgary) Inc., The Dawson Landmark Homes (Calgary) Inc., The Hudsen Best Apartment-Style Condo Cardel Lifestyles, Fish Creek Remington Development Corporation, Champagne Suite #402 Remington Development Corporation, Champagne Suite #403 Remington Development Corporation, Champagne Suite #405 Truman Homes, Skywest Building 2 – The Lamont

For a complete list, visit www.samawards.com

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Green revol Eco-friendly style becomes the new wave of design By David Crosson

A Linoleum, like this Marmoleum from Forbo Flooring, offers many attractive options underfoot.

t risk of sounding mean, I’m going to call out one of the world’s most beloved Muppets for being a drama queen. Sorry, Kermit, but you are mistaken: it is easy being green. You just have to know where to look and be willing to exert some effort. I’m always amazed by how much time some people spend researching the latest TVs, while not giving a nanosecond’s thought to sustainability or their carbon footprint. In many cases, these are people with small kids — kids who will inherit the environment their parents leave behind. So, in the interest of a rosier future, I have gathered a selection of green design/building options that are both eco- and user-friendly, should you be so inclined in your next home project.

YOU’LL BE FLOORED

If you think the only way to be Earth-friendly underfoot is to have a pioneer-style dirt floor, think again. There are many great options out there (cork, wool carpet, bamboo, recycled tile) but one of the most misunderstood is linoleum. The real stuff. Not to be confused with vinyl sheet flooring, linoleum — such as Forbo’s Marmoleum — is made from a blend of natural materials such as linseed oil, pine rosin, wood flour and ground cork. It comes in a wide range of colours, visual textures and application methods (sheet, tile, floating plank) and, best of all, is hypoallergenic and recyclable. The next time you look down and wonder what to do, consider this charming alternative that won’t break the bank — or the back of poor Mother Nature.

Marmoleum is made from a blend of natural materials, such as linseed oil, pine rosin, wood flour and ground cork. 60 |

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ution Above: The Bendant Light is shipped flat and can be bent into whichever shape best suits your décor.

THE ONLY WAY IS UP

Upcycling is not a new concept but there seems to be renewed interest in making it more chic than shabby. Once upon a time, an abundance of upcycled items in a room could make it look like the stage set for Cats. Not so anymore. Take, for example, the Bendant light, available through Calgary’s own ReWorks Upcycle Shop in Inglewood. Slick, exuberant and full of mid-century flair, these fixtures are created from partially recycled steel, powder-coated with a low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) finish and flat-packed for more efficient shipping. Similarly chic is ReWorks’ selection of paintable wall tiles, made from recycled paper. Try the Ripple configuration to add a new dimension to a living room or consider the more whimsical Cube design to add some fun to a child’s play space.

Left: Paperforms 3D tiles are east to install, paintable and, best of all, made from recycled paper. Below: Paperstone brings a clean, fresh approach to countertops and work surfaces, all with a minimal environmental footprint.

COUNTER PROPOSAL

Although granite and quartz still tend to reign supreme in surfaces, a distant relative of laminate countertops is gaining ground. Sold under the trade name Paperstone, this relatively new contender for consumer dollars has more in common with solid surface products like Corian than it does with oft-maligned Formica and its ilk. Although similar in construction to laminates (paper fibre compressed with resin), Paperstone is made from recycled paper and eco-friendly resins, which makes it much greener than its other countertop cousins. Durable, sustainable and available in a range of attractive colours, Paperstone is proof that, when it comes to rock-paper-scissors, paper really can overpower rock.

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The easiest way to be a green consumer is to re-consume what’s already out there. dO thESE WAllS MAKE My BUtt lOOK FAt?

The choices in jeans these days are myriad — but did you know they are now also building materials? Ultratouch, available in Calgary through Riva’s Ecostore, is insulation created from recycled denim that helps keep old Calvins and Gloria Vanderbilts out of the landfill. Dust-free and easy to cut, this product also meets or exceeds the coveted “R-factor” sound and warmth qualities that Fiberglas has. While the latter may be pretty in pink, these baby blue batts will not only help keep the house warm, their ability to reduce waste will give you a warm feeling all over, whether in or out of the house.

rEdUCE, rEUSE, rE-ChiC-ClE

Perhaps the easiest way to be a green consumer is to re-consume what’s already out there. Calgary has a decent selection of places that sell previously loved furnishings that run the gamut from modern (Midcentury Dweller in Inglewood) and salvaged European antiques (Uniquities, also in Inglewood) to bountiful, mixed-vendor emporia such as Inside Avenue Antique Mall and Heirlooms Antiques. Auction houses such as Rick’s, Hall’s, Graham and Reid’s also offer great finds, with the added fun of being able to bid on your favourites. I’m a great fan of using resurrected pieces from yesteryear and find clients love the jolt of personality they add to a room. Consider the drama the black-lacquer-and-burlwood Chinoiserie sideboard adds to this hallway vignette above. or how charming an antique desk looks against a teal wall when stripped of ancient varnish. In both cases, these personality-packed pieces were had for a song and only required a small amount of elbow grease in order to make them “sing”. Perhaps it’s time for Kermit’s signature song to undergo a rewrite; after all, that is the essence of recycling, no? Cl

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: David Crosson is the owner of Barbarian Interior Decoration Ltd., which woks with both residential and commercial clients in Calgary and beyond. He is also the author of the blog Hausfrau: Better Living Through Better Living and is frequently called upon to provide commentary in matters of life and style in the local media. For more information visit www.barbariandesign.ca

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party town

Calgary’s free street festivals strengthen bonds of community By ElizABEth ChOrNEy-BOOth

ince most Calgarians tend to stay indoors over the winter months, only venturing outside to jump into our cars or beeline to the C-Train station, by the time spring comes along most of us are itching to get outside and experience everything the city has to offer. Spring and summer festivals are a big part of Calgary’s urban social scene, bringing together people from all over the city to eat, drink, and play together. From May right through until the end of August, there are a number of free street festivals sponsored by the city’s various Business Revitalization Zones (BRZs), designed to celebrate and provide an economic boost to some of the city’s most dynamic communities and draw in Calgarians from every quadrant of the city. Each

festival has a slightly different flavour and feel, but the gist is generally the same: vendors and entertainers convene in a neighbourhood’s commercial district to support local businesses and hightlight what makes each community special. “These neighbourhoods are a vital part of the city,” says Kaya Konopnicki, Event Planner for both the Kensington Sun and Salsa Festival and the Inglewood Sunfest. “They each have their own character and we try really hard to reflect some of that in the activities that we do. The festivals also create a sense of community pride. Although we can be disruptive to traffic, if you ask most residents in the community it’s a positive experience for them and they often invite their friends down for the day.”

Spring and summer festivals are a big part of Calgary’s urban social scene, bringing together people from all over the city to eat, drink, and play together.

lilac Festival 2013. Photo by lama azhari.

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“These neighbourhoods are a vital part of the city...They each have their own character and we try really hard to reﬂect some of that in the activities that we do.” The Calgary 2014 festival season officially kicks off this year on May 24 with the 4th Street BRZ’s 25th Annual lilac Festival, which stretches down 4th Street SW between 13th Avenue and Elbow Drive. In light of the hit that the neighbourhood took with the floods last year, this year’s festival gives Calgarians not only a chance to welcome warmer weather to the city, but also to support the businesses in the Mission area, many of which are still struggling after being closed for post-flood renovations over the summer, fall, and winter months. “The event is designed for all ages and interests,” says Jennifer Rempel, the lilac Festival’s Executive Director. “You might attend because you love live entertainment and homegrown talent, or maybe you are searching for a new hobby or fashion trend, or maybe it’s the excitement of your first summer patio beer while enjoying some quality people watching.” Following lilac Fest is the Kensington Village Sun and Salsa Festival, which takes place on July 20 along Kensington Road from 14th Street to 10th Street NW, then turning the corner and going up 10th Street all the way to 4th Avenue NW. This fun festival combines your typical BRZ-sponsored street festival, complete with lilac Festival local vendor booths and entertainment, with a salsa tasting, with local restaurants each providing a competition-worthy salsa. Visitors won’t just be able to sample salsa (vendors sell bags of tortilla chips so participants can scoop up the free salsa samples), but can watch performers like the IllFX Dance Crew and in-line skating demos from ShopTask. organizers are also planning to recognize the community’s recovery after the June 2013

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Sun and Salsa Festival

floods by creating a large-scale art mural representing the experiences of members of the community. The Inglewood Sunfest takes place on August 2 along 9th Avenue SE from 11th Street to 14th Street and ties in with the Calgary Fringe Festival. This means that there is a strong street performance element, with international artists performing throughout the festival site. This year’s festival features a new Stilt Walker Parade, as well as a pie-eating contest, roller derby demonstrations, a

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inglewood Sunfest

Show and Shine, and a special focus on community and sustainability awareness. The rapidly developing East Village has its fair share of street fairs and fun events that create an instant community, including outdoor yoga sessions, the Beakernight party and the EV Street Fair. of course, these aren’t the only street festivals in Calgary. The Marda loop BRZ puts on its annual New orleans-themed Marda Gras festival in August and features

free entertainment and plenty of activities for both kids and adults. Also in August is the Calgary Chinatown Street Festival, featuring Chinese cultural activities and performances, merchants, and, of course, plenty of food vendors. And these are just the big ones — contact your own local BRZ or community association to see what kind of community festivals are going on in your neighbourhood. Naturally, the free street festivals are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to outdoor summer fun. The Stampede is, of course, the king of the city’s summer fun, but Calgary is much more than that now. There is so much to do in the inner city once the warm weather hits, with festivals for just about every price point and area of interest. Be it the Calgary International Children’s Festival in May, the Sled Island Music Festival in June, the Calgary Folk Music Festival in July, or the GlobalFest fireworks festival in August, there’s something to see and do just about every weekend in Calgary and almost all of the action is right in the core neighbourhoods of our increasingly vibrant city. Cl Beakernight party

...there’s something to see and do just about every weekend in Calgary and almost all of the action is right in the core neighbourhoods of our increasingly vibrant city. CO N D O L I V I N G aprIL 2014

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Illuminated lighting Green lighting illuminates path to future By Kathy McCormick

he switch has been turned off on the traditional bulb that has illuminated homes for more than a century and a quarter. As of January 1, federal legislation, like many other nations around the world, is eliminating the manufacture of incandescent light bulbs. Invented by Thomas Edison in 1878 the light bulb has not changed much since its invention — but concerns about its energy inefficiency has mandated its demise. The light it emits only accounts for a fraction of the energy it uses — and many more energy efficient light sources have taken its place. But for today’s consumer, it’s no longer as simple as asking for a 60- or 100-watt bulb. Living in the midst of the huge technology revolution overtaking so many different products today, we have many choices and many reasons to choose one or the other. And the technology is continually evolving, say some of the industry experts. “We are still in a transition period,” says Byron Vanderkraats, operations manager for Cartwright Lighting. “There are so many options — and we recommend different light sources for different applications.” In addition, “there is no standardization — so everyone is making them. It’s like the Wild West.” The good news in all of this is the fact that as the technology adapts, the bulbs are becoming more sophisticated, easier on the environment, more adaptable for all occasions, and less costly. While the incandescent bulb was defined by the number of watts, the newer technology talks about lumens and Kelvins.

As the technology adapts, the bulbs are becoming more sophisticated, easier on the environment, more adaptable for all occasions, and less costly. Photo courtesy Cartwright Lighting.

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There is a light bulb for every price point, every colour, every temperature and every fixture.

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Watts simply refers to the amount of energy a bulb uses and, in the case of incandescents, it’s a lot. Lumens actually measure the amount of light a bulb puts out — a more accurate measure to determine what you need for your particular application. Kelvins are the colour temperature, important to pinpoint the right light for particular tasks, says Michael Bornyk, president of Signature Lighting. “We are used to a soft yellow in our 60- and 100-watt bulbs. Those are 2,700 K (Kelvins). But today, many bulbs are 3,000 K, which means they took the yellow out. The older generation doesn’t like that light because it’s too stark and bright — but the younger people do like the fresh, crisp colour that’s more vibrant.” In addition, as people age, they need whiter (cooler) light to see better. “If you are over 50 you may want Kelvins in the 3,500 to 4,000 range for reading,” Bornyk says.

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And the cooler colours are better for task lighting (desks or kitchens). On the other hand, they may be too harsh for bathrooms, where they add too much contrast in faces. “Skin colour changes — and that’s why when you buy something in a store and take it home, it seems to be a different colour,” says Vanderkraats. But ultimately, it’s all about personal preference, they say. “Chrome is now in for glass lighting,” says Bornyk. “So for that reason, you may want a cool light rather than the warm yellow.” Kelvins can go all the way up to 6,500 — a blue (cool) light that is often found in jewelry

| SHOPPING

“The technology just keeps getting better and the right light bulb can save you time, money and energy.” stores or highlighting the produce in a grocery store. Three main manufacturing options are available in the marketplace now and each has its own pros and cons — but LED lighting (Light Emitting Diode) is gaining momentum fast. Like the LED TVs that are the crème de la crème, the light “can outshine everything better than any other bulb,” says Bornyk. “It will dominate for the next decade — and the price is dropping.” Photo courtesy Here are the three choices, with pros Cartwright Lighting and cons for each: 1. LED Started originally as pot lights or under-cabinet lighting, the ever-expanding technology has moved into many other applications for the home. “Initially, it was easier to apply where people did NOT need ambient light because of its uni-direction,” says Vanderkraats. “Now it can throw light in all directions.” The new technology now allows the light to dim when needed — something that wasn’t available before. It is the best for energy efficiency, bar none, with energy savings as much as 75 per cent over others, according to Energy Star, an international standard for energy efficiency consumer products which is one of the manufacturers of LED bulbs. According to the manufacturer, you can save as much as $500 a year on lower utility bills. The light bulbs, as well, last much longer than any other so replacement is so rare that you save that way, too. The lifespan is approximately 50,000 hours (that compares to old incandescent lifespan of 1,200 hours). The disadvantage is definitely the price — “It’s about eight times the price of an

incandescent now — and more than the other options, but it will come down,” says Bornyk. A normal incandescent today goes for as little as $0.60. The LED can be anywhere from $20 to $40. “Once the LED has a better price and efficiency, it will be the choice,” says Bornyk. 2. Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) The curly-cue cones of light have been another popular choice for consumers. “In the right circumstances, compact fluorescents are great,” says Bornyk. “They last 10,000 to 15,000 hours.” The bulbs are more energy efficient than incandescent, but the big disadvantage is that they contain mercury. “There are currently no mandated recycling programs for mercury — and there is a concern if there is breakage because of the toxicity of mercury,” says Vanderkraats. As for price — between the incandescent and LEDs — anywhere Compact Fluorescent light, last from $2 to $4. from 10,000 to 15,000 hours. 3. Halogen bulbs The same shape as the old incandescent bulbs, halogens are more energy efficient and brighter, but not as efficient as the other two, nor do they last as long — approximately three times longer than the incandescent bulb. Cost, too, is between the incandescent and the other choices. In the end, it’s all about preference, say the experts. “It’s all about people understanding there are options,” says Vanderkraats. The Home Depot has been working on energy efficient options long before the government started mandating changes, says Ron Cleary, senior merchant for electrical for The Home Depot Canada. “We’ve been working with our manufacturers since 1997 promoting energy efficiency. “There is a light bulb for every price point, every colour, every temperature and every fixture.” “The technology just keeps getting better and the right light bulb can save you time, money and energy.” So while it’s more like comparing apples and oranges, the old-fashioned 60-watt incandescent bulb equivalent for a halogen bulb is approximately 43 watts; CFL equivalent is approximately 13 watts; and LED equivalent is about six to eight watts. For the traditional 100 watt incandescent, the halogen is around 72 watts; CFL is approximately 23 watts; and LED is anywhere from 16 to 20 watts. But there is much more to consider — and the best advice is to ask the experts. CL CO N D O L I V I N G a p r il 2 0 1 4

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ACOA OWNERS’ CORNER ALBERTA CONDOMINIUM OWNERS ASSOCIATION (ACOA)

Vacation Proof Your Condo A lock-and-leave lifestyle doesn’t mean being careless

hether you own or rent, when taking a vacation or leaving your unit for a period of time (even a long week-end), take steps to protect your home and investment. Don’t get caught up in the idea you can simply “lock it and leave it”! Here are a few things to do before you close that door. If you own, ensure you have comprehensive insurance on your unit and contents. If you rent, ensure you have a tenant’s insurance package to cover personal effects. Insurance companies have taken a beating with disasters of all types coming their way in southern Alberta last year. Insurance claims are now very carefully evaluated. Know owner insurance responsibilities as outlined in the condo bylaws. If you aren’t fully covered you run the risk of being held financially and legally responsible for damage to your unit and neighbouring units should a fire, flood or other nightmare take place while you are away. Do not skimp on insurance for your unit, contents and liability. The condominium policy will not cover your contents or damage caused to the contents of neighbouring units and you do not want to be in a position where you are held responsible for damage to yours and other units. Let the management company and condo board know your contact information, destination and return date. Provide them with contact information of a trusted individual who has a key to your unit and who can access your unit while you are away. Check with your insurance company and learn how often your home

is to be inspected during your absence. Often, the requirement is every 72 hours however requirements vary so make certain you know what is required in your policy. When leaving your unit, ensure your windows and doors are closed and locked. Set heat to an acceptable temperature should a storm hit. Turn off water taps inside your unit. Put the hot water tank on “vacation”. Discontinue your paper and have someone collect mail or flyers. If you are in a townhome condo, set up an automatic light system so it appears someone is home. Condo bylaws allow the board to access your home in the case of an emergency or after a 24-hour notice has been given. For example, if you are in Australia and something unfortunate happens, emergency people might have to enter your unit to address the situation. That is why leaving your contact information and a key with someone you trust is wise as it might be necessary for someone to enter your home before you arrive home. If a key is not available the board does have the right to access and charge the owner, or renter, for incurred costs. When arriving home, personally thank those who helped you while you were away. By taking responsibility for as much as you can prior to leaving means you should be able to lock it and leave it and enjoy your vacation with peace of mind. CL

This month’s article by Dr. June A. Donaldson, ACOA Vice President.

The Alberta Condominium Owners Association (ACOA) is a non-profit

association intended to represent ALL Alberta condominium owners and give them a concerted voice in issues that affect living in a multi-family environment. Co-Founders are Bernice M. Winter and Dr. June A. Donaldson, Calgary based business women who have diverse and extensive condo, business, entrepreneurial and academic experience to bring to this most necessary initiative. Visit www.Albertacoa.com for more information and how to become a member. CO N D O L I V I N G a p r il 2 0 1 4

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CONDOSCAPES By richard white

FIrst aND FOrEMOst

renaissance is part of calgary’s first transit-oriented development

algary’s North Hill Mall built in 1958 was not only Western Canada’s largest shopping mall at the time, but Calgary’s first mall and the first Calgary stores to offer late-night shopping. over the past 50+ years, the mall has been surpassed by Chinook, Market, Southside and Sundridge Malls. However, early in the 21st century the Mall was renovated to create big box spaces facing 16th Avenue (Trans Canada Highway) and twin condos on the southside at the lions Park lRT station. In so doing, the mall became Calgary’s first Transit oriented Development (ToD) that incorporated a retail mall, residences and a library into an established neighbourhood — Briar Hill. Calgary based BKDI architects were asked to design a building that would appeal to empty nesters and would be synergistic with the existing neighbourhood. To accomplish this, the designers determined that two mid-rise buildings with a tradition French Mansard roof (chateau) would harmonize better with the existing homes than a large modern tower — they were right. At street level, the designers created a porte-cochere (a larger gateway structure at a the entrance to a building where a horse or carriage can park to allow passengers to get out protected from the weather) that allow residents and visitor vehicle traffic to avoid the busy 14th Avenue, lions Park lRT Station congestion. It also serves to allow residents to walkout the second floor of the condo complex directly to the pedestrian bridge

leading to the lRT station. The porte-cochere also serves to disguise the parking at grade level and entrance to the condo parkade, creating a much more visually attractive and inviting entrance than if a more tradition driveway had been used. With the renovation to the North Hill Mall the designers were able to give it two front entrances one from 16th Avenue and one from 14th Avenue; this is very difficult to do. Renaissance at North Hill transformed a tired and dated mall into a chateau on the hill. Travelling south in Crowchild Trail or east or west on the TransCanada Highway the twin condos add charm, character and class to what is otherwise just a bunch of boxes. LAST WORD While some have questioned he name “Renaissance” as being a bit pretentious, it is very fitting as one of its meanings is “a period of new growth and activity” and another is, “a situation or period of time when there is a new interest in something that has not been popular in a long time.” Both of these definitions fit with the Renaissance at North Hill, as the early 21st century has been a period of new growth in our established communities. As well, the idea of condos above the shops in a mall is really just a reworking of the once common practice of shopkeepers and others living above the stores along the “High Streets” in cities around the world in the late 19th and early 20th century. Cl

name: renaissance at north hill architects: BKdi

richard White is the urban strategist at Ground3 Landscape architects. He has written about urban living, urban development and urban design for 25 years. He can be followed @ everydaytourist or you can view more of his blogs, rants and essays at www.everydaytourist.ca CO N D O L I V I N G aprIL 2014

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Editor’s note: Readers are encouraged to ask their most confounding condo questions to our resident condo specialist: Maria Bartolotti.

ASK MARIA By maria Bartolotti

MuLtI-FaMILY rECYCLING

what your condo board needs to know about the city’s recycling program for condos

What’s going on with the City’s recycling program for multi-residential developments?

City council approved a strategy in February that will require multi-family housing to have on-site recycling service by 2016. However, this strategy requires an amendment to the Waste and Recycling bylaw, which Council will consider in September this year. If approved, Condominium’s will have a 12-18 month period to transition and make the necessary requirements for their condos to allow for recycling services. Condominiums will be required to meet the following criteria by 2016: • All multi-residential will need to ensure they provide an adequate location that it is accessible and convenient. • Multi-residential will be required to follow the same mandate as single-family dwellings when discarding materials in the current blue cart program to bring equity to all citizens. • Multi-residential will need to provide an adequate storage facility with enough room for residents to use the program without being constrained by the size of containers or bins. Condominiums who do not comply with the bylaw in 2016 may be faced with sanctions enforceable by the City of Calgary to ensure the bylaw standards are met. Competition in the recycling sector will be fierce come 2016, and it will be crucial for Boards to ensure due diligence

when electing a private recycling company to look after their needs. Right now, 13 per cent of all city waste headed to City landfills comes from multi-family buildings, and 22 per cent of that material is recyclable. Additionally, research showed that 93 per cent of multi-family residences support a recycling program. Keeping this waste out of the landfill will help us reach our target of 80 per cent diversion from landfills by the year 2020 and will respond to clear citizen demand for more convenient on-site multi-family recycling options. For information on the multi-residential recycling program, please visit The City of Calgary website at www.calgary. ca and click on Multi-family recycling history page. one thing to note, it is not necessary to wait for the bylaw to pass in order to start the program. Already, about 35 per cent of condominiums in Calgary have a recycling program in place. Until next time … Cl

Maria Bartolotti

is the owner-manager of New Concept Management Inc. she has developed a strong reputation for rendering timely and eﬃcient services to the condominium industry. Maria believes that her company’s success hinges on her handson approach to condominium management as well as maintaining open lines of communications with her clientele. Maria is actively involved in her industry. For more information, visit www. newconceptmanagement.com CO N D O L I V I N G aprIL 2014

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HOPE AT LARGE By marty hope

rOMaNCE ON tHE rIVErBaNK riverreach brings stylish villa lifestyle to cochrane

ven back in the very early days of Riversong in Cochrane riverbank development was more than just a twinkle in the eye of Tamani Communities. The hilltop development was to be the first project for the Jayman Group’s development subsidiary, and it was going to be special. Fast forward more than five years and that original plan has become reality. Tamani’s highly successful Riversong has taken advantage of what nature has offered in building condominium homes along the Bow River’s bank, including the 41-unit RiverReach Villas and Manors by Jayman MasterBuilt. Now, about six months after opening the doors to the first show homes in this trendy, upscale product, work is well under way on the second of three phases, says Warren Saunders, sales manager for Jayman MasterBuilt. “We are more than pleased with the public’s response to RiverReach,” he says, adding that the first phase is approximately 75 per cent sold. When finished in another couple of years, RiverReach will be a enclave of 10 buildings made up of villa bungalows and two-storey townhouses that are being marketed as manors. Nine of the buildings will be have four units — villas flanking a pair of manors while the fifth building will have a trio of manors bookcased between a pair of villas. As well, seven of the buildings will back onto the river and the other three to the environmental reserve. Corilee Keryluk, area sales manager for RiverReach, says sales to date have been evenly split among the two different

housing styles being offered. The Edgewater, the villa show home, measures 1,502 square-feet on the main floor with another 1,090 on lower level. It has one bedroom up and two others on the lower. The Westwynd is a 2,020-square-foot two-storey with three bedrooms. The homes come with three different front elevations — Arts and Crafts, Shingle, or Rocky Mountain. “People like them both, but the decision on which one they buy depends on their lifestyle and how they want to use the home,” she says, adding that buyers and those interested in buying range in age from 40 years old up into their 70s. Pricing starts at $526,400 for the Westwynd and from $635,000 for the Edgewater and includes basement development and GST. Condo fees are set at $205 per month. Among the features of the homes are fireplaces, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, hardwood floors in the kitchen, dining room, greatroom, and hallways, and ceramic tile floors in the bathrooms, ensuite, laundry room and mud room. Cabinetry comes in either maple, alder, or oak. The exteriors are of durable Hardieboard siding. The homes are built to Built Green standards and come with low E windows, low flush toilets, and high-efficiency furnaces. And here’s cool idea about the siting of the homes. With the villas on each end of the cluster, Jayman has used side-slung two-car garages to present a front courtyard effect and provide added privacy for residents. “We’ve tried to think of everything with our designs,” says Keryluk. “We don’t look at the villas and manors as downsizing, but

rightsizing. People want to retain a certain style of living but adapt it to their changing lifestyles.” Saunders adds that the villas and manors are attracting people from acreages around Cochrane and as far away as Millarville, and people from Calgary itself who want to get away from the city.” “People are shopping the marketplace looking at similar styles of homes and are coming back to us to buy,” says Saunders. “They like what we have to offer.” Cl

Marty hope. For more than two decades Marty Hope has been reporting on the housing and development industry in Calgary, throughout alberta, and across Canada. In March, he was presented with the Maple Leaf award from the Canadian Home Builders’ association which is given annually to a non-builder member in Canada for contributions to the industry. CO N D O L I V I N G aprIL 2014

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AROUND TOWN By Pepper rodriguez

sales soar at marK on 10th

ust 13 months after its launch, MARK on 10th is already 90 per cent sold with only 28 units left of its total 274 suites. “Sales just totally exceeded our expectations,” says Parham Mahboubi, Vice President, Marketing & New Developments at Qualex-landmark, MARK on 10th’s developer. “It won’t be long before we’re sold out.” one- and two-bedroom suites are still available starting from the $320,000s, and a five per cent down payment can get you started on the road to homeownership. “We’ve proven to be particularly appealing to young professionals,” Mahboubi says. “our prime location on the Beltline, our top-end finishes, and the luxurious in-house amenities we offer have really resounded with buyers.” The 35-storey MARK is going up on the corner of 8th Street and 10th Avenue S.W., within walking distance to the downtown core, the surrounding entertainment districts, groceries and close to a few colleges and universities. MARK on 10th is Qualex-landmark’s fifth consecutive high-rise development in Calgary following the ultra-successful Calla, luna, Nova and Stella. First possessions for MARK are expected to begin by winter 2015. “We’ll be starting above-ground construction for MARK pretty soon, and that’s always an exciting time when you see the building actually going up,” Mahboubi says.

east village growth

pring has sprung and nowhere else in the city is the prospect of renewed growth more apparent than in East Village, which has seen a number of major developments come to fore in the past few months. A $70 million Hilton Hotel complex is underway, as are construction for Calgary’s new Central library, and the National Music Centre. The three multi-family developments from FRAM+Slokker (FIRST, and Verve) and Embassy Bossa (Evolution) are doing robust business. A fourth multi-family development will soon be joining them, says Susan Veres, vice-president of marketing and communications of the Calgary Municipal land Corporation (CMlC) that’s overseeing the massive East Village redevelopment effort. “It’s still in the design stage and we can’t announce yet who the developers are, but it’s expected to be a 12- or 14-storey building with 120 to 140 homes,” Veres tells Around Town. “We expect to launch this new project in September.” CMlC CEo Michael Brown says that 450 housing units have been sold in East Village over the past two years, and another 300 sales are expected in 2014. He adds that 70 per cent of the area’s development parcels have now been sold, while secured investment will pave the way for 1,300 more residential units to be marketed over the next two years. The CMlC says the around 12,000 people will call East Village home once the resurrection of this once-blighted area by the river is complete by 2023.

mission 34 BucKs cold with strong sales

bitterly cold winter and the stigma left behind by last year’s flooding should have worked against the recently launched development of Mission 34, but surging sales that surpassed expectations makes a

strong statement for its genius design and location. “The Mission 34 project launched sales in November and despite blizzard conditions, the Christmas season and more bitter cold weather since, it has been very well received,” says Jonathan Allen, president of Calgary Urban Equities, which teamed up with Assured Communities for this 47-unit project. “We are now approximately 50 per cent sold and may easily sell out during the spring.”

Mission 34 features numerous residential options including traditional apartments, street lofts (featuring commercial height interiors) and courtyard lofts, which Allen says are “unique in the marketplace today.” Helping matters is that Mission 34 is not on the flood plain, and last year’s floodwaters did not affect the development at all. “Besides that, I really believe our location is one of the hidden gems in Calgary, so near the C-Train station, the Talisman Centre is a short walk away, and you’re surrounded by amenities,” says Mission 34 sales manager, Anna Crossley. CO N D O L I V I N G aprIL 2014

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AROUND TOWN |

Redstone welcomes Habitat for Humanity

abitat for Humanity Southern Alberta breaks ground in the northeast Calgary community of Redstone. “We are excited to begin construction on our new development in Redstone”, says Leslie Tamagi, President & CEO, Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta, “With this build project, we are helping change the lives and futures of 14 partner families; It’s about building futures, not just building a house.” The development will comprise of seven duplexes in which fourteen local families will call home. Each home will be approximately 1,030 square-feet and will meet the building specifications and architectural design requirements of the community. This project will also be the site of Women

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Build Week (May 5 – 10, 2014), a six-day build that focuses on engaging women as volunteers in the construction process. Habitat for Humanity’s homeownership model empowers families to invest in homeownership. Through volunteer labour, and donations of materials and funds, Habitat Southern Alberta builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of homeowner (partner) families. Each family must contribute 500 hours of volunteer labour (“sweat equity”) toward the building of their home. The homes are then sold to partner families with no down payment required and are financed with affordable, no-interest mortgages. The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments go into a revolving fund, which is used to build more homes for more families in need of affordable housing.

Sabal Homes marks 20th anniversary

abal Homes, the the multi-awardwinning builders of Chalet No. 5, is celebrating 20 years of home building in Alberta, and they want their buyers to join the celebrations. For 20 years of designing and building uncommonly stylish homes, Sabal is holding a “style-bration” designed to thank its past, present and future homebuyers. "We are so excited to celebrate this anniversary with our homeowners, team members, partners and supporters, who are truly the ones who have brought us to where we are today," says Nicole McLaws, Marketing Manager. "We're celebrating this momentous occasion by automatically entering every single Sabal homebuyer between March 1, 2014 and July 19, 2014 into a grand prize draw for $20,000 — this 20-week contest is sure to draw some attention, and we can't wait to pick our lucky winner this summer!" CL

| Advertising Feature |

Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre Success is measured one graduate at a time

he Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre (AARC) has been helping adolescents from ages 12 to 21 fight and beat their addictions to drugs and alcohol for the past 22 years. The Calgary-based centre is dedicated to helping these youths cope with and conquer their addictions, by transforming their regular daily habits, giving them a different outlook and a different way to live their lives. “We have graduated 519 adolescents,” says Donna Edwards, Director of Development at AARC, proudly. “Including the graduates and their families, we’ve touched the lives of over 2,000 people,” she adds. AARC is a long-term care program, where the adolescents are generally in treatment an average of about eight months to a year. “We treat the kids that have tried every other alternative to get help, and have been unsuccessful. AARC is kind of like the last house on the block,” says Edwards. The program involves the entire family; not just parents, but siblings too. All are an important part of the process. Another rather unique feature to this program is that the at risk youth actually are hosted out to a home in the evenings with a family that is further along in the program. “Clients don’t sleep at the centre, so this is a huge commitment on the family because eventually you have to take kids in to your own home,” says Edwards. Here, kids can really get the attention they need to persevere, through peer counseling, from people who have been there. “Every one of our staff members on the clinical team have been through the program, so they have an insight as they have been in the same position that these young people have,” says Edwards. “And they’ve come through it, which is another reason why our program works,” she adds. The philosophy at AARC is that they don’t turn any client away due to their inability to pay for treatment, which is $150 per day. “Over 90 per cent of our families are subsidized, in order for us to be able to do that, we have a Gala and a golf tournament, the funds raised go towards off-setting those treatment fees, and accommodate the philosophy of ours,” says Edwards. The Gala event is going to be held at the Telus Con-

vention Centre, on May 22, 2014. “Our event is put on by an events team that we have internally, however our volunteers, parents who currently have family members in treatment, and our alumni are a huge part of pulling off the event. We couldn’t do it without them,” says Edwards. There are about 75 to 100 volunteers for this event alone. Tickets for the Gala are $250 each, with between 800 to 1,000 people expected, and anyone can attend. “We also have sponsorship opportunities available for the event,” says Edwards. There is a silent and live auction held at the Gala, a formal program that includes a variety of speakers, including past graduates and their parents, sharing their very personal stories of success. “The benefits of having our graduates participate in the event, not only as speakers but as volunteers, is that the community has the opportunity to meet our kids,” says Edwards. “And we’re sending the message that addiction is treatable, and that AARC is successful at treating addiction,” she adds. “That people have somewhere they can go for help.” n

AARC’s 500th graduate, Evin Akpinar speaks at last year’s Gala.

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calgary map | North West, North East and Inner City MAP LEGEND

High Volume Roads

Main Roads

Parks Bodies of Water

24 6

See Advertiser Index for Project Page Reference

23 8

4 9

26 11 25

14 31 32

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North West, North East and Inner Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x201A;|â&#x20AC;&#x201A;calgary 4

Inner City

map

19 9

17 3

11 7

1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Evanston Square Red Haus Galleries Renfrew Highland Park Panorama West Kincora Summit Viridian Prospect Rise 43 Park The Post Village at West Springs Sage.Stone Estates of Valley Ridge Brownstones SageHill Village Swan Landing

North West | North East Projects 2

Inner City Projects

17 University City 18 Wildstone

1 2

19 Bridgeland Crossings

20 Villas at Watermark

21 Groves of Varsity

22 Albert Park Station

23 Emerald Sky 24 Sonoma at Sage Hill 25 Eighty5Nine 26 Landings at Cougar Ridge 27 Arrive @ SkyView Ranch 28 Kintalla at Redstone

7 8 9 10 11 12

29 Viridian

30 IndigoSky 31 Mosaic Bridgeland

32 Aspen Highlands

15 17 18 19

Vogue MARK Avenue West End VEN Smith Drake The Park LIDO Riverfront Pointe Alura Keynote 3 Eau Claire The Guardian South Verve District PIXEL by Battistella Evolution 6th and Tenth Waterfront

3 19

increase your advertising visibility take advantage of premium positions contact:

Heather Dougall 403.532.3101 heather.dougall@sourcemediagroup.ca

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calgary map | South West, South East and Calgary Area 2

41 35

37 33

43 39 42

38 4

36 34

6 12

AIRDRIE 5 7 9

6 10

3 2

MAP LEGEND

High Volume Roads Main Roads

COCHRANE

Parks Bodies of Water

See Advertiser Index for Project Page Reference

15 1

CHESTERMERE

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South West, South East and Calgary Area | calgary 1 ZEN Auburn Bay 2 Ebony 3 The Gates

19 Cranston Place 20 Bristol Townhomes

6 The Gala 7 Stonecroft Auburn Bay

22 Boulevard Townes

Airdrie

Cochrane

14 Mint 15 Hunter House

1 The Edge

1 Riviera Riversong

2 The Trails at

2 Jumping Pound

3 4 5 6

of Quarry Park

23 Mosaic Lakeside

16 Highbury 2

12 Victoria Cross 13 Aura in Copperfield

21 Sawyer Silverado

Auburn Bay 24 Prestwick Place 25 Mosaic Mirage in McKenzie Towne 26 Origins at Cranston 27 Copperfield Park II 28 Side by Side Auburn Bay

10 Sonik 11 Champagne

Copperfield

4 Einstein 5 Harvest Mosaic

8 York29 9 ZEN McKenzie Towne

17 Chalet No 4 & No 5 18 Stonecroft at

Williamstown Creekside Village Waterscape at Cooper’s Crossing Stone Keep at King’s Heights Ravenswood Townhomes Windsong

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Townhomes Stonecreek Landing The Concept The Village Sunset Ridge Heartland RiverReach The Range Trading Post

map

29 Riverside Townhouse 30 Chaparral Valley 31 Edison at Walden 32 Cranston Ridge 33 The Alexander

34 Mission34 35 Valmont at Aspen Stone 36 THERIVER

37 The Block 38 UNO Mt. Royl

39 TEN Mt. Royal

40 Sobow 41 Ovation 42 tela

43 The District

CHESTERMERE 1 The Courtyards in

Chestermere

2 Townhomes of

Chestermere Station

8 14

18 27

9 2

5 29

1 7 10

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ADVERTISERS INDEX | 43 Park Vericon page 45

Copperfield Park II Brad Remington Homes page 91 & 96

Lido Battistella page 82

ARRIVE @ Redstone Partners Development page 37

Edison at Walden Avi Urban page 36

MARK on 10th Qualex-Landmark page 70

Aura Aldebaran Enterprises page 25

Evolution Embassy/Bosa page 5

Mission 34 Assured Communities page 6

Bridgeland Crossings Apex page 80

Einstein 2 The Providence Group page 63

Muskoka Auburn Bay Brookfield Residential page 65

Brownstones Genesis Developers page 11

Glas Avalon Master Builder page 72

Outlook at Waterfront Anthem Properties page 3

Cardel Lifestyles page 9

Homes by Avi page 4

Carlisle Group pages 52-53

Hunter House Streetside Developments FC, pages 14-17

RiverReach Jayman MasterBUILT page 30

Chalet No 5

Sabal page 32

Champagne Remington Development Corp. page 29 CHBA – Calgary Region page 92

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Sabal Smart page 59

Kincora Summit Cove Properties Page 24

Smith Grosvenor page 31

Kintalla Streetside Developments page 2

SoBow M2i page 48

Landmark Homes page 84

Stonecroft pages 18-19

Stonekeep at King’s Heights Merge Developments page 84 Sunset Ridge Innovations by Jayman page 78 The Alexander Assured Communities page 71 The Block Avi Urban page 76 The Edge Streetside Developments page 44 The Gates Remington Development Corp. page 54 The Landings at Cougar Ridge Statesman page 64 The Landing at Rocky Ridge Swan Group page 86 The River page 95

Valmont Riverbend Developments page 58 VEN Bucci page 43 Verve Fram/Slokker Developments page 23 Villas at Watermark MacDonald Development Corp. page 39 Vogue LaCaille Group page 66 Zen, Auburn Bay Avalon Master Builder page 38 Zen, Okotoks Avalon Master Builder page 93

DEE E RFOOT TR.

2A 22X

M AC LE

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OKOTO KS 7

STONEY Y TRAIL

FEATURE |

Tales from the condo zone A snowball’s chance Story by Jim Zang Illustration by Lama Azhari

ump! I’d recognize the sound anywhere. I did grow up in Canada,

after all. It’s the sound of a near miss. The sound a loosely packed snowball makes when it meets an immovable object, in this case the outside wall of my condominium. “Hmm,” I think to myself, and return my attention back to Hockey Night In Canada. The Flames and Canucks, on hi-def on a 50inch screen, no less. Wump! Wump! Wump! The impacts are louder even than Don Cherry, who’s ranting on about players who

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wear athletic cups being sissies, or something like that. “Back in my day,” he says in a surprisingly deep voice … As for the snowballs, Gordie Howe rules apply: once is an accident, more than that and someone needs straightening out. So I turn down the volume on Coach’s Corner — Ron MacLean is making a bad pun about bell ringing — and head for the patio doors to see just who is interrupting my Saturday evening ritual. I part the curtains and glance out. Nothing. Nobody in sight. Hmm. I pop the deadbolt, slide the door open, then the screen, just enough to squeeze out sideways and head out on to the deck, carefully closing the door behind me so as not to let the cold air in. Big mistake. Wump! Wump! Wump! Snowballs are exploding all around me now, showering me with their slushy shrapnel. I scramble to take cover behind the barbecue and try to peer through the base, out over the edge of the balcony to the ground below. Still nothing. Nobody. Wump! Wump! Wump! And the snowballs are still coming. And then I notice something from the safety of my barbecue bunker vantage point. The snowballs aren’t coming up from the ground at all, but rather are arriving on a downward trajectory. They’re coming from above. I scan the building opposite, part of a neighbouring condo development, and, sure enough, there he is on a deck, about 20 metres away

and three floors up, grinning like a Cheshire cat. And, to make it worse, he’s wearing a Vancouver Canucks jersey. That explains the poor snowball construction and marksmanship, but it doesn’t help my situation any. I’m still stranded on my deck, sans ammunition. Why, why did I sweep the snow off my deck last week?! To get to the barbecue, of course, but jeez what I wouldn’t have done for a little pile of snow. And maybe a coat. And some mitts. I hear the roar of the crowd on the TV through the window and I know someone’s scored. Henrik, as I’ve nicknamed my new adversary, must have heard it too, as he’s stuck his head back into his condo to see what’s happened, turning the back of his number 33 jersey towards me. I scramble out of hiding and into my man cave, safe. I look at the TV and see it’s actually the Flames who’ve scored. Again, to take a big lead into the second period. I straighten my trusty Flames jersey, an Iginla number 12, and throw back the curtains, ready to taunt my nemesis, but he’s not there. I’m disappointed. So disappointed that I make sure to haul up a green garbage bag of loose snow the next morning, just in case. After all, it is a home and home series and there’s another game tonight. I’ve got my jersey on overtop of my parka, and a plastic garbage can lid for a shield, as I venture out onto my deck at the start of the game. Ostensibly to light my barbecue. Baiting my trap. But my target never shows. Maybe he moved. Maybe someone reported him to his condo board. Maybe he’s like the Canucks and only attacks when he thinks you’re not looking. Or maybe, just maybe, he’s one of those guys Don Cherry was talking about. In which case he’s got about as much chance of winning as the Canucks, a snowball’s chance. CL