Ring Road/Weaselhead
Hello Discovery Ridge Neighbours,
As was shared in a previous communication this spring, one of the bridges being constructed through the Weaselhead Natural Environment Park area as part of the Southwest Calgary Ring Road project is currently planned as a “cut and fill” design. In addition to numerous environmental concerns, this raises serious concern with regard to restricting water flow and dramatically increasing the risk of flooding in Discovery Ridge. We do not oppose construction of the Ring Road or an overpass/bridge but for a prolonged period of time we have raised concerns, in partnership with the communities around us and with YYC Cares, that this design presents potentially dangerous and disastrous results for our community.
We (the DRCA) filed a formal “Statement of Concern” with the Province of Alberta Environment and Parks Regulatory Approvals Centre in April 2017. We asked for the design to be reconsidered and for assurances that our special community was not going to be made increasingly vulnerable to flooding due to the design. Recently, our Statement of Concern was rejected for reasons that we deem to be wholly dismissive and completely insufficient. We are aware that several residents raised concerns themselves and also filed Statements of Concerns personally, all of which were, to our knowledge, rejected. Those who filed Statements of Concern, and were subsequently rejected, must now appeal these decisions if you wish to continue to raise concerns and insist that Discovery Ridge should be included in the “area of environmental impact associated with this proposed project”. It is our view that Discovery Ridge is simply NOT “outside the area of environmental impact associated with this proposed project” as stated by the Province as one of the reasons our Statement of Concern was rejected. How a community that will be subjected to increased risk of flooding with the current bridge design is “outside” the impact zone is beyond the collective belief of your Board.
As you may have heard in the press, a “Stop Work Order” has been put into place temporarily until the end of the week. Our Appeal will be submitted tomorrow. Residents have until this Friday to submit similar Appeals to their rejections should they so choose. The Appeal form can be accessed here: HERE
We have now been advised that the server used to receive Appeals has rejected one or more of the submitted Appeals thus far. Since there is potential for this to happen again, we recommend that once submitted, you follow up with a quick call to advise them it was submitted. Phone: 1-780-427-6207. You may also choose to fax a PDF of the Appeal to: 1-780-427-4693 and/or email it to: gilbert.vannes@gov.ab.ca.
If you did not file a Statement of Concern but still wish to be heard, in the event this matter goes to a hearing, the entire community (not just people that filed Statements of Concern) can attend to speak to this appeal. This means that thousands of residents of Discovery Ridge will have an opportunity to make their voices heard. We should not be silent on this matter as it is of grave concern.
Discovery Ridge Community Association Board of Directors
Yee Haw!!! DR’s 1st Ever Stampede BBQ!
Pull on your Boots and Mosey on Down!!! Please join us for the first ever DRCA Stampede BBQ on Sunday, June 11th from 4 to 7 p.m. at the DR Recreation Facility and adjoining fields. We have changed our format this year from a Breakfast to a BBQ.
M&M’s from Westhills will be BBQing hamburgers and hot dogs for us – thank you to Mike and his team!
ENJOY!! Butterfield Acres Petting Zoo & Inflatable Obstacle Course
Trampolines & Line Dancers
Volleyball, Soccer, Tug of War, & Tennis
The BBQ is free for DRCA Members. If you do not have a membership, don’t worry! Memberships will be available for purchase – $25.00. Or, meals can be purchased for $5.
We hope to see you there!
Special thanks to the DRCA’s Special Events Committee for organizing and putting on this event.
Our Community Clean Up will be taking place on Sunday, May 28th.
It will be held at the end of Discovery Ridge Boulevard. The DRCA, on behalf of the community of Discovery Ridge, would like to sincerely thank the City of Calgary for providing this service and opportunity. It is very greatly appreciated.
Please see below for information regarding acceptable and unacceptable items. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday!
The Cerebral Palsy Association of Alberta will gladly accept the following items:
- Quality used clothing, accessories, shoes, costumes, coats etc
- Entertainment items such as books, magazines, DVD’s, small entertainment appliances in working order, sporting goods, toys, games, puzzles, stuffed animals etc
- Small general kitchen appliances in working order, vacuum cleaners, sewing machines, hair dryers, curling irons etc
- Kitchenware
- Linens
- Household items such as telephones, lamps, clocks, pictures, frames, mirrors, crafts, ornaments, dried/silk flowers, candles, hangers, coat racks, shoe racks, tools, small office supplies etc
- Bags and suitcases
Large furniture items and baby items such as car seats, strollers, gates and high chairs are unfortunately not accepted.
The Syrian Refugee Support Group of Calgary will gladly accept used bicycles and bicycle parts to be distributed to those in need in our city.
Darrin Bastien Metals Recycling will gladly accept the following items:
- All metals
- Automotive batteries
- Automotive metal parts
- Propane tanks if devalved
- Appliances, except for fridges
- Metal doors
- BBQ’s
- Lawnmowers
- Rototillers
- Bikes and bike parts that cannot be reused
No explosives or fuel tanks will be accepted.
Recycle Logic will gladly accept the following items:
- Televisions, Computer Monitors and All-in One Computers
- Desktop Computers and Servers
- Computer Accessories – Mouse, Keyboard, Cables, Desktop Computer Speakers
- Laptops, Notebooks and Tablets
- Desktop Printers and Printer combinations, Scanners, Fax Machines and Photocopiers
- Cable boxes
- Modems/Network Switches
- Stainless Steel Kitchen Appliances
- Cords, Extension cords
- Christmas Lights
- Stereo Equipment/Speakers
- CD /DVD/ DVR Players
- Microfiche Readers
- Microwaves
- Cell Phones
- Network Equipment
- Testing Equipment
- Circuit Boards
- Receivers (Satellite & Cable)
- Uninterruptible Power Supplies
- Gaming consoles/games
- Projectors
- VCRs
Recycle-Logic Inc. reserves the rights to refuse any item NOT on the ARMA Sponsored Material List or any ineligible item with too much plastic.
City of Calgary Waste and Recycling services will provide packer trucks for garbage, organics and recycling.
Yard waste including leaves, branches, plants, grass clippings will be accepted for composting. Please note that no sod will be accepted. Yard waste must be separate from other items. All organic materials collected at community cleanups will be taken to one of the City of Calgary’s composting facilities.
Mattresses will be accepted. Bags are provided on site if necessary.
The following items will NOT be accepted:
- Glass (e.g. window panes, glass table tops)
- Household appliances with Freon (e.g. refrigerators, freezers)
- Liquids (e.g. cooking oils)
- Railway ties
- Sod or dirt
- Household hazardous waste including:
- Propane tanks ( if devalved, can give to Darren Bastien Metals Recycling )
- Paint
- Automobile, cleaning, healthcare, and gardening chemicals
Household hazardous waste materials can be brought directly to a household hazardous waste drop-off location.
If you are unsure about an item, please visit calgary.ca/whatgoeswhere to find the right recycling and disposal options for your unwanted items.
This year we will also provide a Free Store opportunity where items can be dropped off for availability to others, and if not removed they will be donated directly or disposed of appropriately.
Donations to the Calgary Humane Society will be gratefully accepted. Please refer to this link to view their Wish List http://www.calgaryhumane.ca/donate/wishlist/.
This Weekend! Community Garage Sales/Block Parties and Community Clean-up
The 4th Annual Discovery Ridge Garage Sales, Block Parties & Community Clean-Up
On Saturday May 27th you could hold a garage sale and whatever items are not sold can then be donated at the Community Clean Up at the far west end of Discovery Ridge Boulevard on Sunday, May 28th between 9 – 2pm. In addition to donation of gently used household items, clothing, toys and bicycles, you can dispose of your metals, electronics, garbage, organics and recycling.
Top off the weekend by gathering your neighbours together or attending a block party on Saturday evening – these will be organized independently and we encourage you to consider facilitating a block party on your street. All that is required is a space where people can gather, sending out an invitation via e-mail and poster with information about what everyone needs to bring and enjoying an informal pot luck party! We have all the information and templates available for anyone who would be interested so please contact Alli Rose at allison.rose08@gmail.com if you would be willing to be involved and help to build our community spirit and camaraderie!
Happy Spring Cleaning!
Preparing for flood season.
Flooding can occur at any time in Calgary, although the period between May 15 and July 15 is when we are most likely to experience flooding. Historically, this is when we experience our largest rainfalls.
Flooding in Calgary can happen in several ways:
- Rivers and streams cannot contain excessive rainfall within their banks.
- Rain and snowmelt cannot be absorbed into the ground.
- Waterways or storm drains become blocked with debris or ice.
- Water containment systems, such as stormwater or sewage pipes, are overloaded or break, causing backup.
- Severe thunderstorms cause localized flooding of streets and property.
- Ice jams on rivers may cause elevated water levels and overland flooding.
The speed with which flooding is experienced varies. Calgary sits at the confluence of two large rivers, the Bow River and the Elbow River, and several small creeks. The Bow River has a large watershed drainage area and drops from the mountains to the city at a steep slope. The Elbow River also drops in elevation at a steep slope and has a relatively short trip from the mountains to where it meets with the Bow River in the heart of Calgary.
The consequence of having two short and steep river systems is that any impacts, such as fast and high flow rates, can reach Calgary at a rapid speed with little warning.
Weather conditions can also change rapidly. Calgary’s proximity to the Rocky Mountains makes accurate weather forecasting a challenge. Weather forecasters have a tough time predicting how weather systems will behave once they reach conditions surrounding the mountains.
Generally, winter storms follow a more predictable pattern, allowing more advance warning time so that you can take appropriate actions. Summer weather patterns can be much more volatile. When you are monitoring the weather, you may also hear alerts related to the river. If you live in the flood plain or in low-lying areas, it’s important to understand what the alerts mean so you can be prepared and take action.
The first step towards protecting yourself is knowing your flood risk and the sources of information available to you:
- Visit ca/floodinfo to determine your flood risk, and for detailed information on how you can be prepared for flood season. You can also download a copy of the Flood Readiness Guide.
- Prepare your 72-hour emergency kit. This kit holds supplies to support you and your family for three days in an emergency situation.
- Visit Alberta Environment’s river basin website and download the river monitoring app by searching for “Alberta Rivers” on your device.
- Listen for and sign up for Alberta Emergency Alerts (AEA). Alberta Emergency Alerts interrupt local broadcasting. As well, you can download the AEA app to a smart device to receive notifications.
The City of Calgary – Preparing for flood season
The City of Calgary’s priority when planning for and responding to flooding is to protect its citizens, critical infrastructure, civic property, the environment and the economy.
The City prepares annually for flooding by:
- Working with the Government of Alberta to monitor snow pack, rainfall and temperatures, as well as river flow levels in the mountains and foothills.
- Developing and maintaining emergency response plans.
- Conducting training sessions and exercises for City personnel.
- Identifying those areas of the city and critical infrastructure that are most vulnerable to flooding.
- Ensuring adequate emergency resources are in place.
- Sharing information with Calgarians, businesses, stakeholders and other municipalities.
- Operating existing infrastructure, such as dams, reservoirs and outfall gates, to reduce flow rates and mitigate flood damage.
The City strives to maintain all critical business functions and services to Calgarians during any emergency or disaster including flooding. The City does not typically protect individual private properties from flood risk. Property owners remain responsible for protecting their property. Please visitcalgary.ca/floodinfo for information on how you can be prepared for flood season.
Earth Day Litter Pick-up: Saturday, April 22nd
Meet at the Skate Shack between 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 22nd to help tidy up Discovery! We have a supply of gloves and bags but please feel free to bring your own. Everyone is invited and encouraged to come out and help clean-up our community!
Participants of all ages are welcome but children should be accompanied by an adult. All involved should aim to commit approximately two hours to walk sections of Discovery Ridge. Garbage bags, gloves and hand sanitizers will be provided and will be distributed the day of the event at the Skate Shack between 9:00-10:30am. Last year more than 60 neighbours attended the event! Green spaces throughout Discovery Ridge as well as sections of Griffith Woods will be allocated to participants. Maps will be available.
Please remember to dress appropriately for the weather….it’s Calgary after all!
Email: environment@discoveryridge.com for more information and to register your intent to participate.
