PARKLAND

Help make our parks #1
by picking up
#2!
Let’s face it, poop happens!
Dog poop, that is. And with
over 120,000 dogs in the city,
the amount of pet waste in
our parks can quickly add up if
owners aren’t picking up after their pooches.
Picking up your dog’s waste is not just about responsible
pet ownership - it’s about keeping our parks and
off-leash areas safe. Did you know that dog waste often
contains parasites, E. Coli and other bacteria, all of which
can cause serious illness in humans? Unfortunately, dog
waste doesn’t wash away or disappear, so the risk of
spreading its harmful effects can linger for years!
Thankfully, there is a simple solution. Always carry pet
waste baggies with you when you walk your dog, and
pick up and dispose of your pet’s waste as soon as possible.
To learn more about the importance of picking up and
disposing of your pet’s waste, check out our Pick Up
Pooch’s Poo Yourself (P.U.P.P.Y.) program at calgary.ca/
parks.
Skip a secondary suite step:
Development Permit no longer
needed for many suites
If you’re interested in developing
a secondary suite
in your home, there is no
better time than now. The
City of Calgary is waiving
the Development Permit
application and fees for
homes that are zoned for
suites, and that meet all
the requirements of the
Land Use Bylaw – commonly referred to as a basement
suite. The Development Permit exemption runs until
March 3, 2017.
The exemption is part of The City’s efforts to make it less
expensive, faster and easier to obtain approval to develop
a secondary suite in your home. Suites that have
been inspected to meet Alberta’s Safety Codes help ensure
public protection, and provide people the ability to
escape in the event of an emergency, like a fire.
If you’re interested in learning more or if you want to
determine if your property is a candidate for the permit
exemption, enter your address on calgary.ca/secondarysuites,
or contact our Planning Services Call Centre
at 403-268-5311 for assistance.
Secondary suites in a home are commonly referred
to as a basement suite, however, can be located on
the main floor or an attached garage.
Leaf &
Pumpkin
composting
program is
underway!
Bring your leaves and pumpkins to a depot near
you until November 8.
Fall is in the air – and on the ground. We want Calgarians
to bring their bagged leaves and pumpkins to one of
our 36 drop-off locations around the city. By composting
this material it keeps it out of the landfill, reduces
harmful greenhouse gas emissions and helps turn the
leaves and pumpkins into useful compost. We recommend
using paper yard waste bags as they can be composted
with the rest of the material. No sod or rocks
please.
For a full list of Leaf & Pumpkin drop-off locations, please
visit calgary.ca/leaf.
Calgary
AfterSchool
Calgary AfterSchool offers, fun, safe, supervised, and
quality after school programs for Calgary kids aged 6 to
16. A collaborative effort between The City of Calgary
and community partners, Calgary AfterSchool programming
takes place during the critical hours of 3:00 p.m. –
6:00 p.m., when kids are out of school, but parents may
not yet be home. Calgary AfterSchool participants gain
physical, social, leadership and creative skills.
For more information, including a listing of all programs,
visit calgary.ca/afterschool.
The fun and friendship of Girl Guides is underway again
for the 2015- 2016 year. Haven’t registered your daughter
yet? Registration is open year round! So go to www.
girlguides.ca and locate the unit finder button to find
the unit best suited for you.
Girls joining Girl Guides at all ages (5 to 17) look forward
to a fun and active time. Camps are being planned, program
work is decided, outings are chosen and so much
more. Thanks to all those volunteer leaders and parent
helpers who make it happen. It doesn’t happen without
your time, talents and energies. Want to join us? Contact
Pat, isteads@telus.net for info.
Have you seen the girls out with the fall Chocolaty Mint
cookies yet? They are available now. If you were missed
in the sales campaign, contact isteads@telus.net and
we’ll see that you get them. Cookie sales are the main
fundraiser for Girl Guides and all proceeds stay in the
community to support the girls at camp and provide
program opportunities. Cookies are more than just
money, though. Cookies provide the girls with the opportunity
to practice their sales skills, learn money management
and get to know their community. Thank you
for your support.
Citizen’s View
It’s no secret that life is good in Calgary, but as Calgarians,
we can all play our part to make this city even better.
Citizens’ View is an online panel that encourages citizens
to participate in shaping City of Calgary programs
and services through surveys, discussions and engagement
activities. Citizens’ View is easy to navigate and
simple to use.
As a member of Citizens’ View, you can expect to:
• Participate in surveys, approximately once or twice per
month;
• Have access to online discussions;
• Provide your valuable input on a variety of topics;
• Receive information and updates on upcoming events
and service improvements.
Join the panel today at www.citizensview.ca.
16 OCTOBER 2015 I Great News Publishing I Call 403-263-3044 for advertising opportunities T h e O ff i c i a l PARKLAND C o m m u n i t y N e w s l e t t e r I OCTOBER 2015 1 7