One of the best days of the year is just around the corner!  Neighbour Day is Calgary’s celebration of community connection. Held each year on the third Saturday in June, Neighbour Day is a step toward creating welcoming and inclusive communities where neighbours connect and belong every day of the year.

Neighbour Day 2024 will include two kick-off events on May 4 to help raise awareness of Neighbour Day and invite Calgarians to start planning their own Neighbour Day block party or community event for June 15.  

Jane’s Walk 2024 is back and taking place May 3rd through 5th. Calgarians of all ages are invited to participate in free walking tours throughout a variety of communities and areas of interest in the city!

A global event inspired by and in honour of Jane Jacobs, an urbanist and activist who championed a fresh, community-based approach to city building. Jane believed that in order to properly observe how people, through their actions and interactions, create communities with a strong sense of belonging, we need to get out and walk the city.

In order to facilitate urgent electrical repairs, Bob Bahan Aquatic & Fitness Centre will need to temporarily close.

Beginning April 14, 2024, service will be reduced to only swimming lessons and swim clubs in preparation for the repairs, followed by a full facility closure on May 6, 2024. We anticipate the facility will be closed for approximately three to four months.

Repairs at Bob Bahan Aquatic & Fitness Centre are extensive, and while we anticipate the reopening of the facility by the fall of 2024, timelines may shift as more information is gathered during the repairs.

Community Cleanup events save residents a trip to the landfill for items that do not fit in their black carts. The City of Calgary suppled packer trucks with crews, funds for advertising and promotion, face coverings, sanitizer, gloves, and garbage bags for community volunteers. This service is free of charge to all Calgarians.

All Community Cleanup events occur on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the spring and fall session.

Please note, the dates listed below are subject to change Please check with your local Community Association for more information regarding specific details and times of events, and opportunities to volunteer.

The following communities in Ward 9 have registered to host a Community Cleanup event this year.

The Greater Forest Lawn Local Area Plan project team will be hosting the next Community Conversation Series on Thursday, February 22 and Wednesday, March 13. This is an opportunity to meet with the project team to discuss plans, learn where we are in the planning process, and have your questions answered.

Location: Forest Lawn Library (4807 Eighth Ave SE) - Basement Community Room

Dates: February 22, 2024 and March 13, 2024

Calgary is in a housing crisis. We need more homes. The citywide rezoning proposed in Home is Here: The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy will help.

How will rezoning help?

This change will help increase the supply of housing to better meet demand by reducing the costs and timelines for permit approvals. This means more housing is able to be built faster. It also allows for greater housing variety, options, and price points to suit more Calgarians needs.

 If you’re renting or buying, rezoning increases the number and types of homes available in all communities, making homes more affordable. If you own property, you’ll have more options to meet your future needs.

Join The Alex for their Artisan Fair and Market on December 9th from 1pm - 4pm. Share good food and holiday crafts and be part of the festivities in Forest Lawn.

The Alex Community Food Centre - 4920 17 Ave SE

Interested in being a vendor? Contact Joanna at jtschudy@thealex.ca or (403) 863-3953.

Join the Erin Woods Community Association for their Annual Kids Christmas Party.

Saturday, December 2nd from 1pm - 3pm, stop by the hall for ice skating, sleigh rides, an outdoor fire pit, and a visit from Santa. All are welcome to join.

From November 30th - December 10th, we will be collecting donations for the Calgary Food Bank as part of the Mayor’s Annual Food Drive.

Like Food Banks across the country, the Calgary Food Bank has seen an unprecedented increase in demand this past year. In 2022, Council raised just over $80,000 in food and funds for Calgarians in need. We hope to surpass that number this year.

The Erin Woods Community Association is accepting nominations for Holiday Hampers this season. If you know a local family in need of a bit of help over the holidays, email your nomination to the Erin Woods CA at erinwood@telus.net or give them a call 403-273-7209.

The Deadline for all hamper nominations is Sunday, December 5th, 2023.

Alternatively, If you have food items or other donations to contribute to the community hampers, please contact the Erin Woods Hall to make arrangements for drop-off.

The City of Calgary is updating plans that will shape the Calgary of the future and make sure our city keeps on being a great place to live. We want to hear from you.

Calgary is a city of opportunity and choice. As our city’s population approaches two million, The City of Calgary must prepare to support this growth. The City Building program will align and strengthen The City’s plans and tools to create a place where everyone can thrive.

The City of Calgary is currently in the third phase of the Greater Forest Lawn Communities Local Area Planning Project and some great conversations and engagement have already taken place with our working group and local community associations in both online and in-person sessions.

Opportunities for the public to get involved in Phase 3 are open now until November 13, 2023.

Work during this phase of engagement will refine how redevelopment and revitalization could happen in the Greater Forest Lawn Communities of Albert Park/Radisson Heights, Applewood Park, Dover, Erin Woods, Forest Heights, Forest Lawn, Forest Lawn Industrial, Penbrooke Meadows, Red Carpet, Southview, 09Q, and a portion of Golden Triangle. We are also looking for input on local community improvement priorities.

After three hard and emotional days, City Council voted 12-3 to pass the Housing Strategy in its entirety. The actions outlined in this strategy make up a comprehensive and critically needed framework to address housing affordability, ensuring more Calgarians have a safe place to call home.

Over 1,322 pages of written submissions were sent in, 162 members of the public came out to speak, and our office received hundreds of emails. Overwhelmingly, the stories of those desperate to find or keep a roof over their head are the ones that dominated the conversation.

You can read the full Housing Strategy report and all 66 of the recommendations HERE.

The Greater Forest Lawn 55+ Society is hosting a community breakfast on Thursday, September 14th from 9am-11am. $10 starts your day off right with eggs, sausages, hashbrowns, pancakes, fruit salad and bottomless coffee or tea. Pop by and support seniors in the community.

Stop by the Erin Woods Community Association on September 23 from 9am-2pm for their annual community cleanup day. Save yourself a trip to the landfill and bring small household waste to the hall for collection.

The Community Association will also be collecting cans, bottles, and monetary donations with all proceeds going towards the community pantry and garden.

Calgary is experiencing a housing crisis.

Our city has grown significantly over the past several years and, at this moment, one in five Calgary households are unable to afford where they currently live. This equates to more than 80,000 households who are spending more than 30% of their income on housing. As we anticipate welcoming another 110,000 new residents over the next four years, the scale of the challenge we face is significant.

Saturday, August 26th marks the final night of the Dover Music and Art in the Garden Summer Series.

Join the fun, featuring Amy Nelson and Carter Felker performing, and take in the beautiful Twin Views Communal Garden and shop some amazing local vendors while you’re there.

Free for all to attend. Family-friendly.

Join Antyx Art every Sunday from July 9th until August 27th at the Southview Community Association.

Youth are invited to join this exciting art program. Email jeffrey@Antyx.org to register or for more information.

Youth Empowerment and Skills Centre (YES Centre) is hosting weekly family volleyball and splash pad events on Saurdays hroughout the summer.

As a way for youth and kids to safely enjoy learning about volleyball while making new friends, these evnets also give parents the opporutnity to connect and meet new neighbours. These events are free and all are welcome to join.

The Family Volleyball + Splash Water program runs every Saturday from 4pm - 7:30pm

Hosted at Valleyview Park (West Dover) - 3224 26 Ave SE

For more information, feel free to call/text 403-826-0731 or visit YES Youth Centre website at yescentres.com

With Stampede just around the corner, we’re sharing a roundup of pancake breakfasts happening throughout Ward 9.

If you have an event you’d like us to include, please email us at caward9@calgary.ca

Join the Erin Woods Community Association with your family for their free stampede breakfast and free entertainment

Saturday, July 8, 2023
9-11 AM
83 Erin Park Drive SE

You are invited to connect with the Greater Forest Lawn Communities Local Area Plan project team to discuss the plan and have your questions answered.

Please note - We kindly ask you to register for the one-hour time slot that works best for you. In order to ensure we are able to address the questions from all attendees, we have these one-hour time slots capped at 10 attendees per hour.

Location: Forest Lawn Library
4807 Eighth Ave. SE - Basement Community Room.

Dates: Thursday, May 18, 2023, and Thursday, May 25, 2023.

12CSI is hosting several election forum events in East Calgary to discuss the various candidates, platforms, and information ahead of the provincial election on May 28th.

All forums will be streamed on Facebook Live by LiveWire Calgary.

Monday, May 8th - Calgary Klein
(Includes the communities of: Albert Park Radisson Heights.

Monday, May 15th - Calgary East
Includes the communities of: Applewood Park, Dover (east of 36th St) Erin Woods, Forest Heights, Forest Lawn, Penbrooke Meadows, Red Carpet, and Southview.

Wednesday, May 17th - Calgary Cross
*No Ward 9 Communities in this riding

Tuesday, May 23 - Calgary Peigan
Includes the communities of: Dover (West of 36 St to Bow River) and Millican-Ogden.

Jane’s Walk 2023 is taking place May 5, 6 + 7. Calgarians of all ages are invited to participate in free walking tours throughout the city!

A global event inspired by and in honour of Jane Jacobs, an urbanist and activist who championed a fresh, community-based approach to city building. Jane believed that in order to properly observe how people, through their actions and interactions, create communities with a strong sense of belonging, we need to get out and walk the city.

Below is a roundup of the Jane’s Walks scheduled throughout Ward 9. Register today for walks in your neighbourhood.

Neighbour Day started in June 2014 to celebrate the incredible outpouring of support and generosity of neighbours following the 2013 floods. Each year on the third Saturday in June, we continue to celebrate one of the things that makes Calgary such a great city — our strong and caring communities.

Now is the time to start planning! The 10th annual Neighbour Day will be held on Saturday, June 17 and provides the opportunity for Calgarians to celebrate our community spirit and kindness by helping to facilitate enjoyable activities for everyone!

Community Cleanup events save residents a trip to the landfill for items that do not fit in their waste and recycling carts or for residents who do not have access to cart service. This service is free of charge to all Calgarians.

Please visit the City of Calgary Community Cleanup Website or reach out to your community association directly for the most up-to-date schedule of events.

If you are interested in volunteering to help out on the day of, please connect with your community association directly for details on how to get involved.

Ward 9 is working on a new map, sharing the story of the unique and diverse voices that make our great Ward 9 neighbourhoods thrive.

So - we want to know: who in your life embodies true community spirit? Who is working tirelessly to help their neighbours? Who shows up whenever they’re needed? Who is laying the groundwork to make life better for themselves and the people in their community? Maybe that person is YOU!

We are looking to showcase a diverse group of people that live, work, and volunteer in Ward 9, including people with different cultures, abilities, backgrounds, and life experiences.

If you or someone you know feels a passionate connection to your Ward 9 community and is willing to share a little bit about yourself for an opportunity to be highlighted through our various Ward 9 communication channels, we want to hear from you!

EWCA is currently looking into the possibility of putting in a community fridge at the Hall to complement their Little Free Pantry for nonperishable items. Community Fridges are spaces where anyone can access free, quality food that would otherwise go to waste, connect with others, learn about the environmental impact of food waste, and share knowledge and skills.

Want your kids to eat more healthy food? Then let them cook in the kitchen!

Studies show kids eat better when they are able to touch and cook their food. Learning cooking skills also helps boost their overall confidence.

Register kids aged 8-12 for this FREE 8-week cooking class starting Friday, February 10th 1.30-3.30 pm. Priority is given to families in Great Forest Lawn living on a low income.

We’re currently in the second phase of the Greater Forest Lawn Communities Local Area Planning project and some great conversations and engagement have already taken place with working groups and local community associations.

Opportunities for the public to get involved are open from January 17 to February 12, 2023.