December 2010 - Ramsay Community Association

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Jonathan Denis, M.L.A. Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs Calgary Egmont Constituency Our Government is committed to supporting victims of crime, particularly the most vulnerable among us – our children. • The Child Advocacy Centres will make a significant contribution by helping young victims and witnesses of crimes while reducing trauma so that they are better able to provide strong evidence that can lead to more convictions and appropriate sentences. • This investment will assist in making it easier for children’s voices to be heard throughout the criminal justice system. • This initiative builds on 2007’s ‘Federal Victims Strategy’; our Government’s $52 million plan to respond to the needs of Canadians victimized by crime. • We have also just introduced legislation that will amend the Criminal Code to provide tougher mandatory prison sentences for those who commit sexual offences against children and youths. • Our Government is committed to protecting children against sexual exploitation by ensuring that the punishment imposed in child sexual abuse cases better reflects the extremely serious nature of these heinous crimes, giving victims – not criminals –a stronger voice in the criminal justice system. #10, 8318 Fairmount Dr. S.E., T2H 0Y8 640-1363, 640-2970 (f) Edmonton - toll free - 310-0000 and key in 780-644-8954 calgary.egmont @assembly.ab.ca Visit www.ramsaycommunity.ab.ca Ramsay News page 4
Girl Guides Kim Firmston The Girl Guides Make a VERY Big Leaf Pile The Girl Guides have been at it again, helping out and taking part. In October they tackled the leaves surrounding the Inglewood Community Centre, which provides the Sparks, Brownies and Pathfinders a place to meet free of charge. The girls set out to build the world’s biggest leaf pile. While it is unclear whether they achieved this goal, they did make one heck of a pile of leaves and filled around one hundred bags. And it wasn’t just the girls, some neighborhood kids dropped by to take part as well as a whole load of parents and leaders. After that the girls ended with a big party and a well deserved play at the park. Thanks to everyone that came out. In our units, we’ve also been busy. The Sparks just had their enrollment and are now ready to do some program work. The Brownies are working on learning about staying fit, eating healthy and keeping their bodies strong. They went to the Police Interpretive Centre to learn how to protect themselves. The Guides have already completed their Travelers and Outdoors in the City badges. The Pathfinders are working on preparations for the Christmas dinner and will be changing Christmas light bulbs for the Lions. And all the units went on a very scary Inglewood Ghost tour for some Halloween fun. Come January we will be going to camp and I’ve already heard rumors that some of our girls are looking forward to doing some winter tenting again. If you are interested in joining up, registration is on going and new leaders are always welcome. Just call Kim Firmston 403-237-6837. 403-262-4663 1139 9th Ave SE Cut Off From The Zoo Kim Firmston This winter, from October to March, the zoo has decided to close the West gate. By doing this they will save $30,000 they would have spent on snow removal and gate staffing and instead putting the money into other things such as infrastructure. They claim there was very little use of the West gate during the fall and winter season and only a half a percent of members live in the nearby communities. My family and I are greatly impacted by this move. As a family whose main mode of transportation is walking, this cuts us off from the zoo. And while, yes, we could take the bus downtown and then the train back up, it seems silly to spend a half hour on transit when the zoo is only a ten minute walk away. We’re not the only ones who are upset. Our neighbor, who owns a car, has said that she would never drive to the zoo and can no longer see the point of owning a zoo membership if she can’t get in by walking. I see the zoo’s point of saving money. If they really aren’t having many people coming in by the West entrance in the winter, then closing the gate makes sense. But is it just during the week that there is a major slow down? And if so, could the gate be opened for just the weekends? Only the gate, mind you, people with cars could still drive to the other side. Though this does cause the problem of getting back from the zoo which is no straightforward matter either. I suggested to the zoo that walkers with memberships be allowed to access the zoo via the security gate. Unfortunately, due to the driveway being designed for car traffic, as well as snow and ice removal for pedestrians and the possible problem of people trying to park in the already overfull administration parking lot, the idea was shot down. Access aside, I think the main issue I have with this closure is the lack of respect the zoo has shown Inglewood and Ramsay by not informing us of the gate closure. The zoo could have easily put an article in the newsletter explaining what was happening and why. Instead, my family and I found out by having our zoo visit end before it started at the locked West gate. So, what to do? The shoulder seasons and winter are our family’s favorite time to visit the zoo. Do we give in and take transit? Hike the over three kilometers to the main zoo entrance? Walk over to Bridgeland station and pay to go one stop? Or do we let our memberships expire and not renew them? I’ll miss the zoo if I stop going but is the added hassle worth my time? I’m still not sure what to do. In the meantime perhaps, if there is enough people in the communities of Inglewood and Ramsay who oppose the decision to close this gate, maybe some kind of compromise can be made. Purveyors of Fine Wine, Spirits, & Ale Ramsay News page 5
Page 1 and 2: www.ramsaycommunity.ab.ca www.ramsa
Page 3: Ramsay Community Association & Hall
Page 7 and 8: Civic Affairs Art Matsui, Chairman
Page 9 and 10: expert help, built riGht in Prices
Page 11 and 12: Message from Gian-Carlo Carra I wan
Page 13 and 14: Retreat from holiday busyness with
Page 15 and 16: Alexandra Centre Society CHR

December 2010 - Ramsay Community Association

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