imagineCALGARY Awards Nominations Now Being Accepted
It’s time to recognize Calgary’s leaders in sustainability. From now until September 24, imagineCALGARY Partners are invited to submit their nominations for the 2010 imagineCALGARY Awards. The Awards will be presented for Leadership in Sustainability and Partner in Action.
You can download the full nomination package in MS Word and PDF format, or learn more here.
2nd Annual Summer Music Showcase July 24 in Chestermere
On July 24, Chestermere celebrates the summer lake lifestyle with a wide variety of water sport and family activities as well as a free music festival.
The Summer Music Showcase runs from 1 to 11 p.m. at Chestermere’s John Peake. Entertainment will include a dozen different performers, plus fireworks during the last set.
For complete details, click here.
Sustainable Building Advisor Program October 2010 - June 2011
Calgarians who are interested in supporting and developing sustainable communities have a new option for training.
The Sustainable Building Advisor Program is a certificate program with a format and curriculum that’s designed to give students a variety of information from expert instructors in an efficient learning environment.
The course has been developed for architects and engineers, tenant and developer representatives, project managers, building owners/managers and building industry professionals, resource conservation specialists and anyone interested in sustainable building.
Students will:
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Identify and articulate the key practices of sustainable building |
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Establish competencies in applying LEED®, Built Green® and other relevant criteria or established guidelines |
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Respond to the new high-performance requirements for provincially funded buildings |
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Earn the Certified Sustainable Building Advisor designation |
Sponsored by Buffalo Jump Environmental, the Sustainable Building Advisor Program runs from October through June in Calgary, with two days of instruction per month.
To register, or for more information including schedules and locations, click here.
Family Fun Summer Events with The City of Calgary
The City of Calgary is planning a series of family-friendly events this summer. Among the highlights is their Lawn Chair Theatre series. Enjoy free performances right in your community.
Bring your lawn chair, and plan to enjoy great snacks and live entertainment for the entire family.
North Area - 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
July 22 - Citadel Citadel Way and Citadel Bluff Cl. N.W. (at the gazebo)
July 29 - Harvest Hills Harvest Lake Drive N.E. (by the lake)
August 5 - Hidden Valley 10504 Hidden Valley Dr. N.W. (by outdoor rink)
August 12 - Tuscany Tuscany Meadows Drive and Tuscany Meadows Close
August 17 - Ranchlands 7713 Ranchview Drive N.W. (behind the outdoor rink)
August 19 - Edgemont 33 Edgevalley Circle N.W.
August 26
- Bridgeland Centre Ave. E. and 7A St. N.E.
East Area - 6:30 - 8 p.m.
July 22 - Rundle 2409 50th St. N.E.
July 29 - Temple 167 Templegreen Rd. N.E.
August 5 - Prairie Winds Park 223 Castleridge Blvd. N.E. (west of the tennis courts)
August 12 - Prairie Winds Park 223 Castleridge Blvd. N.E. (west of the tennis courts)
August 22 - Prairie Winds Park 223 Castleridge Blvd. N.E. (west of the tennis courts)
August 26 - Prairie Winds Park 223 Castleridge Blvd. N.E. (west of the tennis courts)
For more information, visit The City of Calgary website.
Vital Signs 2010 Survey -- Last Chance To Have Your Say! Survey Closes July 23
The Calgary Foundation invites you to have your say in Calgary’s Vital Signs 2010 survey that measures our city’s quality of life in 12 key issue areas.
Calgary’s Vital Signs was launched by The Calgary Foundation in 2007 to spark discussion, encourage connections and inspire action.
By taking the pulse of our community, Calgary’s Vital Signs provides a snapshot of Calgary’s strengths and weaknesses today so that, collectively, we can create the city we want for ourselves and our children in the future.
The survey is quick and simple. Sign up now to be a grader at www.thecalgaryfoundation.org. The 2010 Vital Signs survey ends July 23, 2010, and the Vital Signs 2010 Report Card will be published in the Calgary Herald on October 5, 2010.
When you complete the survey you’ll also be eligible to win one of the many local festival passes up for grabs!
Marda Gras Street Festival August 8
This summer, some 35,000 people are expected to attend the New Orleans themed, family-friendly Marda Gras Street Festival. Participants will embrace the culture, cuisine and music of New Orleans for one full day along 33rd and 34th avenues SW (east of Crowchild Trail between 21st and 19th streets SW). Marda Gras Street Festival 2010 will feature the sights and sounds of New Orleans Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, street performances, Zydeco music and a variety of cultural performers.
The Festival will also play host to more than 150 street vendors, entertainment stages, and feature areas including the Kids’ Quarter, a new Fashion Fairway and Arts and Culture area, all from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on August 8.
Building on the successful launch of the 2009 ECO Centre, this year's ECO "Alley" will feature tips on how to live sustainably, along with an information booth on greening initiatives in Marda Loop. Tying into our city’s efforts to build a better future, representatives from various ‘green’ businesses will also be available to answer questions.
You can learn more here.
Celebration of The Bow River: River of Light August 14-21
The Celebration of the Bow River 2010 will feature public art events that draw people to the river, create remarkable experiences and present new perspectives on environmental issues. Each event will feature a different artist and provide an opportunity to experience and appreciate the Bow River.
The celebration will include Sources: River of Light from August 14 to 21. For seven nights, three-foot, illuminated floating spheres (by Artist Laurent Louyer and Creatmosphere Studio) will be showcased along the Bow River. These lit spheres will be colour programmed to highlight the glacier melt, streams and rainfall that sustain the Bow River. On the evening of August 21, a total of 500 inflated, illuminated spheres will be launched from various sites along the river. The Louise Riley Bridge and trees along the river will be lit during this week-long event, coinciding with the locations of spheres along the river.
Click here to learn more about this and other events that are part of the Celebration of the Bow River 2010.
Bow River Flow August 22
The Bow River Flow is a celebration of healthy active lifestyles -- a non-commercialized, non-motorized celebration where one day of the week we share the road and allow excess lanes to be enjoyed by people in a safe, car-free environment.
The 2010 Arusha-sponsored Bow River Flow will bring an expanded route, creating a complete loop. The two south lanes of Memorial Dr. will be opened to human-powered transportation from 3 Street to 9 Street NW. From the east end of the Memorial Drive closure, the event will cross the Bow River and Prince’s Island to the south side pathway along the path by the Prince’s Island lagoon to the C-Train pedestrian bridge and cross the river to the north side.
The event simply opens space for Calgarians to stroll the historic Memorial Drive promenade, relax, unwind, breathe in some fresh air, perhaps take in a yoga session, or just enjoy the cool breezes off the river.
The Bow River Flow is Calgary’s answer to similar events that have blossomed in cities all over the world – places like Portland, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Paris, New York, San Francisco and Bogota. It is part of a worldwide renaissance of cities built for people.
For more information, visit www.bowriverflow.ca or email bowriverflow@gmail.com.
Green Calgary Events
Green Calgary (formerly the Clean Calgary Association) offers a full range of environmentally themed events designed to help protect and preserve the planet. With topics including composting, green procurement, waste management, eco-logic and more, there are plenty of workshops and courses to choose from.
Click here to learn more.
Green Living Series with REAP and Conscious Home
imagineCALGARY Partner REAP (Respect for the Earth and All People) and Conscious Home have developed the Green Living Series to provide information and inspiration for Calgary households to make changes that reduce their environmental footprint. The series consists of four 2-hour workshops designed to introduce you to Calgary’s green scene and provide resources for you to make changes in your home right away. Toolkits of useful, local and sustainable products can be purchased at each workshop to make immediate action easy.
Workshop 1: Going Non-Toxic
On a typical cleaning day in the average Canadian home, chemical levels in the indoor air can be hundreds to thousand times higher than the outdoor air in the most polluted cities. Participants will learn about the major sources of poor indoor air quality and the causes of chemical sensitivities. Discover easy, cost effective, non-toxic alternatives and win a toolkit to get you started!
Toolkit includes Small Planet Germs-Be-Gone Concentrate, Claudia's Choices phosphate free washing powder, microfiber cleaning cloth, recipe book of do-it-yourself cleaners from Conscious Home, 10% discount from No Cleaner Maid Service. Retail value $30.
Workshop 2: Greening Your Garbage
The average Canadian generates about 30 green garbage bags of solid waste each year. (Imagine how many that adds up to for a household of four!) Participants will learn how to significantly reduce the amount of waste they send to the landfill by composting (backyard and indoor vermicomposting), reusing common household items, and reducing plastic. Discover why the 3Rs have become 6!
Toolkit includes reusable shopping bag, no junk mail sticker, stainless steel travel mug, and a gift certificate for green organizing. Retail value $30.
Workshop 3: Energy and Water Efficiency
Utility costs continue to rise, so we can all benefit from good conservation practices. Participants will learn how to make their homes more efficient by viewing it as a system that is part of a larger whole.
Toolkit includes compact fluorescent light bulb, shower timer, outdoor water saver kit, and bike path map. Retail value $30.
Workshop 4: Shopping Responsibly
Green is the new black! Participants will learn where and how to buy responsible fashion and personal care products. Know what to look for and how to assess the true cost of a product, including the social, environmental and economic consequences. We will focus on fashion and cosmetics (for men and women) with a fashion show* hosted by Riva's Eco Store and SwizzleSticks SalonSpa.
Toolkit includes discounts on green products and services, tour and tasting for two at Big Rock Brewery, and a tin of fair trade, organic tea from Verde Tea. Retail value $50.
*Due to the resources required to mount a fashion show, this is only available for groups of 30 or more. Where possible, communities or groups may combine this workshop with other communities or groups in order to include a fashion show.
Pricing
Organizations may host the Green Living Series for a flat fee of $2,000 plus toolkits at $30 each, which can be raffled off at the events. Additional toolkits may be purchased by participants at a cost of $30 each.
Workshops are interactive and have been designed to encourage discussion and build a sense of community; therefore, it is recommended that registration be capped at 30 participants per workshop. The host will handle all promotions and registration for the series and REAP and Conscious Home will deliver the content and provide the toolkits. To assist with recruitment and registration, REAP will provide a poster or ad for your organization's newsletter and a promotional video for your website or Intranet.
Learn more on the REAP website.
Sustainability for Leaders Level 1 Sept. 28, 29
Natural Step Canada is hosting their Sustainability for Leaders Course (Level 1): A Transformative Approach to Sustainability Thinking, Strategy, and Results in Calgary this fall. This two-day intensive and interactive course has been developed for current and emerging sustainability practitioners, and will offer them the knowledge, tools, and skills necessary to strategically communicate, plan, and implement sustainability initiatives in their organizations.
To learn more or to register, click here.
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