July/Aug 2010 - Ramsay Community Association in Calgary

www.ramsaycommunity.ab.ca
www.ramsaycommunity.ab.ca
July-August 2010
Circulation 1250
Printed on recycled paper
“PAINT THE TOWN”
at Sunfest
PHOTO: Spot the Scouts in the Tree by Julie van Rosendaal
NEXT General Meeting
Tues. Sep. 7 • 7pm, Lower Hall
PRESIDENT’S
Message
Free Akido
at the Alex
Meet your
Neighbour
R a m s ay C o m m u n i t y A s s o c i at i o n • 11 3 6 – 8 t h S t r e e t S E , C a l g a r y, A B T 2 G 2 Z 7 • 4 0 3 - 2 6 5 - 4 8 9 8

Tisha McKenna
Ramsay Real Estate Update
www.findyourhomeincalgary.ca
www.findyourhomeincalgary.ca
Feel free to contact
me any time with
your real estate
questions.
Cell: (403) 869.9730
If your thinking of
selling your home;
call me for a
complimentary
evaluation.
RAMSAY STATS
5 out of 26
Ramsay Listings
sold in the last 30
days.
The average sale
price in this
period was
$374,750.00
The average days
on market in
Ramsay is 46 days
208 SIERRA MORENA GR SW $539,900.00
SOLD
Address: 208 Sierra Morena Grove SW
MLS # C3427190 3 3
Desirable large walk-out bungalow in
Villas West in Richmond Hill. Main flr
over 1500 sq ft., has vaulted ceilings, a
generous Master bedroom with bay
window, walk-in closet and 4 piece ensuite
with separate shower.
80 MACEWAN GLEN DR NW $475,900.00
4 2.5
Beautifully renovated 4 level split facing
nose hill park and backing onto treed
park and ravine. With over 2300 square
feet of living space and less than 20
minutes to downtown. Tiered decks and
sunk in hot tub makes this a great
home for entertaining.

Ramsay Community Association & Hall
Board of Directors & Community Chairs
1136 - 8th St SE T2G 2Z7• T: 403.265.4898 • F: 403.265.4858
Position Name Contact Info
President Brad Kuhne 403-542-3587 president@
ramsaycommunity.ab.ca
Past President Judy jhellevang@hotmail.com
Hellevang
Vice President –
External
Art Matsui vpexternal@
ramsaycommunity.ab.ca
Vice President –
Internal
Lexie
Shmyr
vpinternal@
ramsaycommunity.ab.ca
Treasurer Brenda
Zinn
treasurer@
ramsaycommunity.ab.ca
Secretary Adele
Sanoy
secretary@
ramsaycommunity.ab.ca
2 yr Member/
Communications
Karin
Poldaas
communications@
ramsaycommunity.ab.ca
2 yr Member/
Traffic
Taras
Semeniuk
traffic@ramsaycommunity.
ab.ca
2 yr Member At
Large
Jenny
Jensen
jenny@ramsaycommunity.
ab.ca
1 yr Member At
Large
Shelly Reid shelly@ramsaycommunity.
ab.ca
1 yr Member At
Large
Nicole
Schon
nicole@ramsaycommunity.
ab.ca
Hall Manager Gisele Ruel hallmanager@
ramsaycommunity.ab.ca
Winter Sports Vacant
Casino Pat Baker bakerpals@shaw.ca
Beautification Brenda brenda.japp@gov.ab.ca
Japp
Ramsay School
Liaison
Jenny
Jensen
403-248-9335
ramsayschool@hotmail.com
WebMaster Art Matsui webmaster@
ramsaycommunity.ab.ca
Website
www.ramsaycommunity.ab.ca
Newsletter
Editor
Pam Dalsin news@ramsaycommunity.
ab.ca
Newsletter
Advertising
Newsletter
Delivery
Newsletter
Layout
Josie Casale advertising@
ramsaycommunity.ab.ca
Cor Koster 403.612.4729
sharoncornelis@shaw.ca
Fred Holliss 403-815-3733
fred@holliss.ca
Anyone above can be contacted by leaving a message at the
Community Hall at 403-265-4898.
General Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month
at the Hall. Elections are held in October.
Complaints about Lilydale smells:
• City of Calgary 311
• Alberta Environment 1800-222-6514
• Calgary Health Region 403-943-8060
Police Contacts • Emergency: 911
If you see crimes in the area, please contact the police by
phone at 403-266-1234 or : pol3372@calgarypolice.ca
Community liaison officer: Const. Carlee Bojarski 403-567-6146
Drug Hotline 403-206-8100 leave msg.
Newsletter Contributions
Any community member is welcome to contribute to this
newsletter. The deadline for submissions for each upcoming
month’s issue is the 15 th of the preceding month. Please email
your contributions, comments, and articles to:
news@ramsaycommunity.ab.ca or drop it off the Hall.
DISCLAimer: Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily
those of the Ramsay Community Association.
Paint The Town kicks off Sunfest
Area painters will be descending
on the streets of Inglewood again on
Saturday, July 31 to participate in a fun
competition called ‘Paint the Town’ during
the annual SunFest festivities.
As they did last year, painters will
gather at the Lantern Community
Church to be assigned a historical location
in Inglewood at 9 am. Then the
stop watch begins!
Painters have to present their masterpieces
to the Paint-the-Town tent on 9th
Ave. by 2:30 for viewing and judging.
At 3:00, the paintings will go up for sale
with artists taking home the proceeds!
Last year a number of paintings sold for
over $500. As well, prizes range from
$100 for adults to $25 for children.
“All over Inglewood visitors to Sunfest
will be able to see artists painting the
sights and sounds,” said organizers Ed
and Michelle Top. “Each artist will have
a volunteer alongside them to explain to
on-lookers what’s going on and hand out
COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP
Contact Lexie Shmyr at 403-265-4898
You are the community – Your voice is important!
Annual Membership allows you to: Participate in Community Sports • Voice your concerns to the Civic
Government • Beautify our Community
$10 Family • $8 Single • $6 Senior, Disabled, Associate
Please cut out this form and mail with your cheque or money order to:
Ramsay Community Association, 1136 – 8th Street SE, Calgary, AB, T2G 2Z7
Ramsay Community Membership Form
Family Name(s): _________________________________________________________
Your Name: __________________________Spouse’s Name:____________________
Address: _______________________________________________________________
Postal Code: __________________________ Telephone: ________________________
Email: _________________________________________________________________
Children:
1. _______________________________________ Age: _________
2. _______________________________________ Age: _________
3. _______________________________________ Age: _________
I would like to become involved with:
___ Board of Directors ___ History ___ Beautification ___ Civic Affairs
___ Membership ___ Casino ___ Sports ___ Technology
___ Newsletter ___ Safety ___ Traffic ___ As required
Advertise With Us!
Ramsay News is the perfect way to communicate with your
neighbours! The Ramsay News is a non-profit newsletter offered
free of charge to the community each month. With a circulation of
1200, the Ramsay News is a fun and affordable way to advertise
your business.
Submission deadline is the 15 th of the month.
• Email us at advertising@ramsaycommunity.ab.ca
ballots for voting, for less distraction.”
The artists are asked to register at
the Lantern Community Church paying
a fee for $25, with children paying
$10. Participants must supply their own
materials or may purchase canvasses at
the church on the morning of.
“We saw something like this happen
on Vancouver Island last summer,” said
Michelle. “Some 60 folks were painting
along sidewalks . . . beside bridges,
by well-known structures. It was such
a blast! Our five-year-old daughter participated,
she got second prize and we
ended up selling her beauty for $32.18.”
The event jump-starts the annual
Fringe Festival held in Inglewood, so as
well as artists, the village will see a multitude
of actors roaming the streets. The
organizers are still looking for judges for
Paint-the-Town, as well as volunteers to
accompany painters and to assist with
registration.
For information call 403-261-4647.
Ad size 1 mo. 5 mo. 10 mo.
business card $45 $210 $400
¼ page $75 $350 $650
½ page $100 $475 $900
Full page $180 $875 $1600
Flyer inserts No longer available
* special rates may apply for designated pages
Ramsay News page 3

At 9 Street & 9 Avenue SE
FREE
GET FIT!
WORKSHOP & DEMO
September 14 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Beginners’ Class & Demo
WHATS NEW FOR FALL?
A sample of basic Aikido training
An opportunity to see if Aikido is for you.
Que Pasa?
SPANISH
BEGINNERS’ CLASS
8 weeks (Sept - Nov )
Teens 16+ accompanied by an adult
INTERMEDIATE
Tuesdays & Thursdays 7:15 – 8:45PM
YOGA FALL SESSIONS
Monday
Yoga for Backs 4:30 – 5:30pm
Level II 5:45 – 7:00
Level I 7:15 – 8:30
Wednesday
Level I / II 5:45 – 7:00
Level II 7:15 – 8:30
Saturday
Gentle Yoga 9:00 – 10:15am
Level 1
10:30 – 11:45am
ALEXANDRA PLAY SCHOOL
DAY CAMP – Hurry Don’t Miss It!
July 26- 30
2010 / 2011 Session Begins Sept 7
Children 3 – 5 yrs;
Mon./Wed./Fri. 9:30 – Noon
SUZUKI BABY & PARENT MUSIC
Class Fridays 9:00 & 10:45 AM
NEW! Thursday 9:00 AM
Newborn – 36 Months
For information on all programs
Call Colleen 269-5588 or email
info@alexandracentresociety.org

President’s Report
Brad Kuhne
Although the weather did not cooperate with
us this year’s Clean Up was still a successful day. We
had enough volunteers on foot to almost completely
cover all areas of the community. A special thanks to
Gian-Carlo Carra of Inglewood for donating not only a few volunteers
to our clean up but for the hot coffee that was certainly appreciated
on such a cold day. Thank you to Nicole and others with vehicles
for generously helping their neighbours by hauling off unwanted
items. We filled just under 3 garbage trucks this years putting us on
par with previous years. Way to go Ramsay!
The community garden was initiated with a dozen or so plots
being built and room for more. There is still some work needed to
fence in the garden and to fence out our long eared neighbours but
it is really pleasing to see something being built in Ramsay. It is also
pleasing to see residents coming together to enhance a corner of our
community. The responsibility for the garden site includes us taking
over the tree and shrub garden next to the tennis courts. This area has
not in the past received the attention it deserves. Work has already
started to prune back dead branches, weed out unwanted vegetation
and there is an opportunity for new plantings. Anyone wishing to
donate excess flowers or otherwise can contact the garden committee.
Thank you to everyone who helped with the build of the garden on
the June 5/6 weekend. Thanks again to Gian-Carlo Carra and Nicole.
On the same weekend there was an unfortunate incident involving
the discharge of a fire arm at our community hall. The group renting
the hall and some uninvited guests had some kind of altercation and
the police are investigating. Following concerns from residents around
the hall and with the cooperation of the Calgary Police service an
adhoc meeting was held to review the lead up to the incident, rental
policy and procedures, and some helpful advice to try and detect
problem renters. We will be working to revise and implement new
policies including but not limited to an increase in damage deposit
rates, expanded information collection from renters, and reporting
of rental activities to the Calgary Police Service who have offered to
include drop in inspections as part of their patrol. Several questionable
rentals have already been cancelled. We look forward to avoiding
any further incidents while also creating a safe and responsible reputation
as a quality rental facility servicing the needs of the community.
Several maintenance activities in and around the hall are taking place
including painting the exterior. Thank you for your efforts Shelly.
The beautification committee has been working long and hard on
the entrance way feature project. Due to the length of the planning
stage and the genesis of the entrance way feature itself we need to do
some fundraising to close the gap in the budget and execute the build
this summer. People may doubt the project will actually get built and
sadly without some additional funding this may become a reality.
Grant money that has been pledged to the project will be rescinded if
the signs are not installed this summer. The fate of this project is in
all of our hands. We have the ability to issue charitable receipts and
are calling on everyone in Ramsay to make a pledge to enhance and
update the image of the community and take pride in where you live
by making a donation to this project. Information will be available on
the website or you can contact me. Let’s let Calgary know where we
are Ramsay.
only four months of warm weather left
it’s the end of may and the furnace is on
and i’m wiring in an electic vest for my bike
wool socks are looking very attractive as well
despite the extra cold in glabal warming
firefighters report northern alberta is ablaze
and the farmers are facing worsening drought
it’s clear that changes are a-foot in our climate
i don’t know what you can do to help
but i’m putting the microwave on a switch
and anything else that blinks after power outs
i may not save the world but i can fight vampires
403-815-3733
fred@holliss.ca
web design print
time to sharpen the blades on the lawn mower
Ramsay News page 5

Civic Affairs
Art Matsui, Chairman
June planning activity:
LOC2010-0037 Stampede Expansion Zone 3. This new
land use bylaw is to allow the building of the stage for
Indian Village and temporary horse corrals in the floodway
of the Elbow adjacent to Ramsay residences. Despite the best efforts
of Ramsay residents, the land use bylaw was passed as 67D2010 at June 7
Council Public Hearing. We presented 727 signed petitions asking for the
bylaw to be tabled until all interested parties have been consulted and a
more environmentally friendly location for the corrals can be found away
from the banks of the Elbow River. We also argued against the placement
of the corrals adjacent to Ramsay residents and asked for an Environmental
Impact Assessment. It was also pointed out that the Mayor, and two alderman
were directors of the Stampede and should excuse themselves from the
vote. That did not happen and Alderman Fox-Mellway, a Stampede director,
led the way for the Stampede. Both she and the Mayor mentioned the
amount of money involved for the Stampede, a clear breech, as finances are
not to be a planning consideration. To top it all off, the City misrepresented
an Alberta Environment letter saying they approved of the structure being
proposed, to mean they approved of horses in the floodway.
This bylaw was passed solely for the purpose of clearing the remaining
hurdles for DP2008-3636, the development permit for the redevelopment
of the East bank of the Elbow, south of MacDonald Avenue. Our issues:
• Horse corrals in the floodway and adjacent to Ramsay residents
• Fencing off the riverbank (permanent 6 foot chain link fence), so the
residents of Calgary and wildlife will not have access to the Elbow River
for up to 180 events per year.
• Construction of a bypass pathway behind a fence creating unsafe situation
for all pathway users pinning them between the bushes of the
escarpment and the chain link fence and the current maintenance building
when the bypass gates are closed.
• Safety issue for cyclists, narrow sections of 2.5 metre wide pathway with
no shoulders and chain link fence directly adjacent to the pathway.
• 127 stall parking lot and long radius road on East bank would cause even
greater traffic issues through MacDonald Avenue gate and into Ramsay.
Parking should use existing West Bank parking and egress through new 4
Street underpass.
Civic Affairs will be appealing the approval of this development permit
to the Subdivision Appeals Board (SDAB) we were informed by the
City that it will be approved less than 2 weeks after the June 7th passing
of the land use bylaw. Persons affected by the appeal (neighbours,
community association, etc.) can attend and speak at the hearing, write
letters outlining their position, or compile a letter of objection signed
by affected parties. Please contact the chairman, so our efforts are coordinated.
DP2010-1741; 2110 6 Street S.E. An application for a New Side by
Side Duplex to replace an older home on 6th Street in Ramsay’s Sub-area 5.
The Civic Affairs Committee is generally in favour of the proposed development.
Bylaw checks by the City Planning Group reveal a few issues that the
applicant will have to resolve with the approving authorities, such as providing
privacy screening to prevent overlooking issues. The committee did
recommend the applicant replace a mature mountain ash that was recently
removed.
The Civic Affairs Committee welcomes new members. Contact the
Chairman at vpexternal@ramsaycommunity.ab.ca for details of the Civic
Affairs Terms of Reference, Volunteer Code of Conduct and reading list of
planning documents of record.
The community of Ramsay welcomes sustainable development that respects
the history and emerging character of the neighbourhood, complies with the Area
Redevelopment Plan and Bylaws, and will be a benefit to the people who live
here.
With our industry leading
flooring trends you can
re-new your home with the
newest products and patterns
at a price that fits today’s
tight budgets.
Our Accommodating Sales
Staff and Experienced
Service Department will
gladly help you get the flooring
you will love for years to
come, as you become our next
Happy Deerfoot Customer
Ramsay News page 6

Your Ramsay Neighbour
Margaret Toye
After interviewing Rhonda Thurn this month, I had to ask her,
“How do you fit it all into a day?” She is one busy, adventurous, positive
individual and I laughed lots when we talked.
Rhonda moved into The Beers House in Ramsay 12 years ago. Her
research on the house shows that it was built in 1908 by John Beers.
In the 1920s it was owned by two Morris brothers, one a constable
on the police force and the other a butcher. They replaced the house’s
porch with the store front we now see, and had a butcher shop inside
and a carriage house out back. It
was a grocery store in the 1950s,
much later on used by the Garry
Theatre, and was in an antique
dealer’s hands when Rhonda
bought it. Over the course of
her renovations she found food
stamps, a transit ticket (about
1” x 1/2” in size) from the time
that trolleys ran up and down
19th Avenue, and newspapers
reporting on Roosevelt denying
his third term as well a first
world war soldier getting court
marshaled for kissing a girl while
on duty.
The former butcher shop now
hosts an art gallery while the former carriage house, now a garage,
serves as her artist’s studio. A graduate of ACAD and a master’s student
at a university in California, Rhonda paints on steel with a blow
torch. Most of her work is figurative, and she describes her work as
“sensual vignettes.” At least once a year she hosts a show of her work
in her gallery, and she has shown in many cities across Canada as well
as Greece, with plans to exhibit in Montreal and San Francisco in
the works. She also teaches painting and drawing one-on-one at the
Bearspaw Studio of Music and Art.
The appreciation for the arts is something Rhonda loves about
Ramsay. She’s hosted parties in her yard where friends gathered to
drink homemade mead (by Rhonda) and eat meat off the bone
(cooked by Rhonda), all wearing chain mail. No one raised an eyebrow
over these mediaeval antics and neighbours even joined in.
Every year she holds a party for close friends, an event she calls Vixen
in the Kitchen, a 12-course meal prepared entirely by her. Each course
is accompanied by a variety of her many homemade wines. Cooking
is an art form and Rhonda is one hell of a cook—and a vixen to boot!
By day she works for the pipeline
company Rosen, wearing any
number of hats including human
resources and marketing. She
makes sure that her colleagues
have fun—getting them involved
in Calgary Corporate Challenge
events like tug ‘o’ war and human
curling. Last fall she ran in the
10K event and performed at the
Corporate Challenge Idol.
Born in Calgary, Rhonda lived
in Edmonton, “on foreign assignment”
she chuckles, from the age
of two until 13. Like many in our
city, she enjoys the proximity to
the mountains and hikes whenever
she gets a chance, and is learning to kayak too—with her 9-yearold
Rottweiler Tosca. Her summer plans include camping in Alberta,
a trip around Vancouver Island, and hiking and camping in Glacier
National Park, Montana. She’s looking forward to that trip because of
its dense grizzly population, and to complete a 12-hour hike she had
to abandon last year because of extremely cold temperatures.
Rhonda says Ramsay is like a small town in the middle of the big
city, and loves the friendly nature of our neighbours. We can get to
know her a little more—at least her art—by visiting her website www.
firehousestudios.ca.
School Stampede Parking Volunteers Needed - Everyone Welcome!
Brad Osberg
Every year for 10 days in July, our little community plays the
role of good neighbour to the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth
.” First rolled out in 1912, the Calgary Stampede is steeped in tradition.
Over the past 20 years or so, Ramsay has seen a tradition of its
own emerge. Stampede Parking at Ramsay Elementary. Since the
late 1980s, volunteers have been dusting off their cowboy hats to
greet and offer thousands of Stampede visitors convenient, reasonably
priced parking near the school. Whether they are headed to the
grounds or there to watch the fireworks, many Calgarians (and rodeo
cowboys) have come to rely on the service. When the dust settles,
100% of the proceeds go to support Ramsay Elementary.
Those monies are substantial and over the years have been used to
cover or offset the costs of everything from a new playground to computer
equipment, field trips and school supplies - much of this would
not be possible without the funds from Stampede parking.
And the needs are always evolving. Jenny Jensen, Ramsay Parent
Council treasurer, looks to the future. “One of the things we are
working towards is implementing an after-care program.” Initiatives
like this are a godsend to working parents, but also help to attract
students and bolster enrollment, a critical issue in many of Calgary’s
historic schools. (Coincidentally, Ramsay Elementary was built in
1912, the same year as the first Stampede.)
So what is it like to pull a shift or two as a volunteer?
“It’s just a whole lot of fun,” says Hilary Argento, a longtime organizer
and volunteer. “You meet your neighbours, have a few laughs…
and the kids LOVE it.” Hilary’s 16-year-old daughter still looks forward
to her shifts every year. Even the customers get into the spirit. In
fact, its common for parkers to refuse their change once they find out
where the money is going. Hilary recounts, “One year, a car pulled
up and the lady said, ‘Oh! That’s the new playground I helped pay
for!’ She was really happy.”
So now you’re hooked and want to be a part of it all. “But how?”
you ask “I don’t have a child attending the school.” No problem.
Ramsay School Parent Council welcomes all who are willing to
come out for the cause. All you need is a smile and a healthy sense
of “Yahoo!”. (Cowboy hat optional) To learn more, or to book your
shift, contact Jenny Jenson 403-617-0200 or ramsayschool@hotmail.
com. Giddyup!
Ramsay News page 7

Inglewood Heats Up This Summer With Sunfest, July 31st
On July 31st, Inglewood will be transformed into Calgary’s most
fun celebration of the summer: Sunfest. Ninth Avenue will be filled
with vendors, food stands, and artists of all stripes letting you know
what exciting things are coming your way. But in case great food and
a unique shopping environment aren’t enough, Sunfest has so much
more to offer.
There’s entertainment for the whole family, courtesy of the amazing
street performers. In addition to the host of buskers, Minnie Maniac
brings her zest for life and incredible hula hoops skills all the way
from New Zealand; James Jordan (Fuzzyhair) recreates the carnival
fairgrounds of old through his Carnival Magic show; FireNix helps
celebrate the long-awaited heat of summer with his amazing fire
juggling and fire eating show; festival favourite Nikolai presents his
hilarious, Vaudeville-style blend of the ridiculous and the impossible,
performed the world over; and TD Sparks thrills crowds with a combination
of comedy, magic and balloon sculpture.
Hungry? There’ll be a food booth for any appetite. Really hungry?
With a taste for both sweets and thrills? Sign up for the pie-eating
contest and see if you can be Calgary’s fastest eater.
Have a treasured heirloom or other antique? Sunfest has a rare
opportunity for you. Bring down your treasured antiques for a free
appraisal by Brian Lehman, certified Canadian Personal Property
Appraiser and contributor to CBC Radio and Breakfast Television.
Come early to see Calgary’s artists Paint the Town. Until 2:00, all
along the festival grounds artists will be creating new pieces. Check
out their work, then vote for your favourite and maybe even buy it to
take home.
And finally, this year Sunfest has a new way to give back to the
community. Some of Inglewood’s stores will be serving up special
drinks for charity. Buy a pass and a shot glass and try them all, with
all money going to a local charity.
Sunfest. It’s a full day of food, fun and excitement. Come check it
out and celebrate summer with us.
Kids Help Phone
One of the most important, and perhaps most difficult, decisions
in the lives of sexual minority youth involves “coming out”. For any
person, no matter how old they are, “coming out” is a big deal. But it
can be even harder for a young person wrestling with such questions
as “How will this change my life?” “Will my family accept me?” “Will
my friends still want to be my friends?” and “How do I know if this is
the right thing to do?”
This Site saved my life – literally!
This message was received by kidshelpphone.ca just a few days after
the new Kids Website went live in March. And other comments started
pouring in: from parents “I think this site is very important for
kids who need to talk to someone or get help. I will be showing my
son this site when he comes home from school…great work”; from
educators “I use kidshelpphone.ca at work and in my private practice!”;
and more from the young people, such as this pressing request
from the suicide topic page, for live chat, right here, right now.
Visit www.ramsaycommunity.ab.ca
kick of the calgary fringe festival at
july 31
st
11am 5pm
fashion show
pie eating contest
street performers
free antique appraisals
www.inglewoodsunfest.com
Ramsay News page 8

Permaculture Design
Adrian Buckley
On The Way To Meeting Your Family’s Needs Through Sensible Design
The growing season is upon us, and this year why not design your backyard
(and front) to harvest and store water to grow fruit and vegetables in a beautiful
edible landscape?
The Food Forest
Many homeowners in Calgary have converted their lawns into a food forest.
A food forest is a beautiful productive landscape that you can install in place of
your lawn. It is called a “food forest” not because of tall trees and the like, but
rather because all the plants (and animals) in the system are arranged in the
same kind of pattern that defines forests. Think about a forest for a minute
and ask yourself: “why don’t forests ever need to be watered?” “Why don’t
they need fertilizers or insecticides” “Why don’t they ever need to be weeded?”
The answer to these questions is really quite simple: all the plants and animals
in a forest system together provide for each others’ needs with their own products.
The numerous animals and falling leaves among others return nutrients
back to the soil on the forest floor, fulfilling plants’ fertilization needs. Weeds
are never an issue in forests because weeds only grow where soils are heavily
disturbed, and create the fertile growing conditions for woody plants that
eventually shade them out. And the forest provides all sorts of varied habitats
for pest-eaters, keeping pests at bay. In fact, a pest problem is nothing more
than an indication that your landscape is deficient in habitat for pest-eaters (like
chickens, native birds, predatory insects etc.). To sum this up, forest ecologies
are self-regulating systems, in that they require no extra energy or resources from
the outside (other than the Sun).
We can use the same patterns
that define forest ecologies
in the design of landscapes
that provide us with food,
energy and shelter. A design
practice called permaculture
evolved out of Australia in the
1970’s by Bill Mollison and
David Holmgren and has blossomed
worldwide as a positive
and solutions-based way of designing sustainable human communities using
nature’s patterns as a design guideline. Permaculture design can start right in
your own backyard!
The purpose of permaculture is really simple: to create landscapes (and
communities) that can feed, shelter, and provide us with our energy needs.
And it does this by creating situations where the most amount of output
comes from the least amount of input, whether that input is fossil energy,
human labour or some other resource from far away.
Let’s now getting into how this works and how we can start doing it.
Functional Design
At the core of permaculture is functional design. Systems in nature, like our
forest described above, are assembled in a particular pattern where the needs
of one component in the system are met by the yields (or products) of another
component. When a system is assembled in this fashion, it can make the best
use of available resources with the system, and commonly doesn’t need any
additional resources from outside the system. If you were to look closely at
each unit of resource in the system (such as nutrients, water, carbon etc.) you
would see that everything is used more than once. In sustainable systems, every
component serves more than one function, and every function is served by more
than one component. Unfortunately, modern society is dominated by a pattern
where we only use resources once, never to be used again (and then all of a
sudden we start noticing resources shortages). In industrialized societies, apparent
shortages of resources are not about ‘scarcity’, but instead a lack of sensible
and functional design. For example, think about your washroom. After you
flush the toilet (1 unit of water used) you then wash your hands (another
unit of water). So two units of water are used to fulfill these functions. But
if you were to direct your sink water into your toilet reservoir, then you’d be
only using one unit of water to fulfill these functions (so you can only flush
your toilet if you wash your hands!). In most households, water only provides
one function, instead of multiple functions. We don’t have a water scarcity in
Alberta; we have a design scarcity.
However, good design starts with you! It doesn’t take very much money
and time to start redesigning our households to make effective use of resources
and energy. All it takes is a simple pattern understanding of how to connect
various components together in functional relationships. If we can develop a
good understanding of what the needs of each of these components are (trees,
dogs, greenhouses etc.) and what their products (or yields) are, we can quickly
see how they can beneficially connected to each other. In permaculture, we
call these Needs and Yields. This benefits you because it saves lots of money
and work in the end.
Needs and Yields Approach to Solutions
So now that you have learned a little bit about how what functional design
is, you might be wondering how it works in practice. So let the following
serve as an example:
Lets say your property has terrible soil (like most properties in Calgary),
and you want to build it up right away to grow some healthy and nutritious
plants. One good place to start is by building healthy compost, and that
becomes your first design task.
You next step is to figure out how to build this healthy compost with as
little of your time and energy as possible, which means using as many local
materials and services as possible. At this point you need to understand what
makes good compost, and in a nutshell, you need a good mixture of carbon
materials (leaf litter, straw, cardboard etc) and nitrogenous materials (manure,
greens, coffee grounds etc). Well, carbon based materials are pretty easy to
get, just look around your yard and you’ll see tons of it. Just get a bale of
straw and put it next your compost pile, and add when needed. No problem.
However, nitrogenous materials take more work to get. You have your food
scraps, but that’s commonly not enough. So here’s where a good understanding
of Need and Yields can help you save time and energy in getting that
nitrogen into your pile.
So here’s a riddle: What small feathery creature deposits nitrogen on a regular
basis, makes a cooing sound, and likes to hang out high in sheltered open
places? Pigeons! Pigeons can potentially do a lot of hard work for you: they go
around eating up grains, seeds and the like in the city streets and deposit them
all in one place (like C Train platforms) as nitrogen and phosphorus-packed
droppings. You, as the designer, can put pigeons to productive use by understanding
what their needs and yields are.
Needs of Pigeon
Yields (products) of Pigeon
Shelter (preferably a loft)
Manure (high in nitrogen and
phosphorus)
Other pigeons
Street cleaning
Good access to city streets for food Etc.
Water
Etc.
So among other things, the pigeons need a loft to hang out in, but yield
nitrogen-rich manure. Your compost pile needs nitrogen. So what can you
do? What if you build a pigeon loft directly over your compost pile? The loft
provide a yield for the pigeons, and the pigeons then yield manure directly on
top of your compost, daily. All you have to do is sit back and have a tea while
the pigeons save you time and put nitrogen into your pile for you!
The take home message here is that everything in a system is connected to
everything else. Each component in a system has its needs, but also has its
yields. This kind of thinking can be applied well beyond your compost pile.
You can apply it to designing your landscape and garden so that you don’t ever
have to water it, fertilize it and provide insect control to it ever again (remember
the forest explained above).
We can start sensible design right in our yards, and a food forest is a good
example of this. A food forest will grow you fresh fruits and vegetables, build
healthy soil without fertilizers, and store water for weeks without rain events!
Join the growing community of people in Calgary who are changing their
lawns over to food forests and storing water and producing healthy and fresh
food right outside their kitchen doors!
About the Author
Adrian Buckley is an active permaculturalist and founder of Big Sky
Permaculture, a Calgary permaculture education and consulting organization.
Adrian teaches courses and workshops in permaculture design, and plans and
installs food forests and edible landscapes for homeowners and community organizations.
Visit Big Sky Permaculture’s website at www.bigskypermaculture.ca.
Adrian would be pleased to answer your questions and can be reached by email at
info@bigskypermaculture.ca
Ramsay News page 9

Yoki & Jeff’s Real Estate Report
Fabulous reno’d home in keeping with old world character. Spectacular gardens noted in Gardens West
Magazine & given Calgary Horticultural Awards! Pond, brick walks & patio & tons of perennials. Spacious
upgraded Kit, newer appl., pantry and eating area overlooking “English garden”. 2 pce powder rm, bright open
Living & Dining rms, Bay window, wood FP. Hrdw main flr, Unique hand carved custom stairwell to 2 large
upper bdrms. Master with Balcony, updated 4 pce. Dev Bsmt with Rec rm, 2 pce bath, Spa rm with hot tub.
$409,900
814-23 Ave SE - Ramsay
Yoki & Jeff Nichol
TOP 1% in Canada Since 1983
Bus: 271-5555
From one Generation to the Next…
Both working for you with
SINCERITY AND INTEGRITY
Relocation Specialist with over 300 Corporate Clients
We appreciate and we thank you for your loyalty.
www.yoki.ca
Licensed Agent Assoc. to
Licensed Agent
Yoki 6 years sa 1
13 years sales experience
7 years MLS Million Dollar Club
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yoki@yoki.ca
jeff@yoki.ca
RAM REALTY

For Kids: 2010 Summer Reading Adventure
Join us as we kick off Lost in Time, the 2010 Summer Reading
Adventure, presented by the Alberta Beverage Container Recycling
Corporation. Drop in for a scavenger hunt and other fun activities.
Collect all five game pages from your local Library branch until the end
of August and enter to win great prizes! Saturday June 19, 10:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m.
Booked All Summer
Why should kids have all the fun? Booked All Summer is a summer
reading program for adults, beginning Thursday June 17 th . Visit your
local branch to register and pick up your reading activity sheet. Then
complete one of three reading options every other week to enter draws
for weekly prizes. At the end of the summer there will be a grand prize
draw for a Sony E-reader! Watch the Reader’s Nook blog on our website
for details: http://blog.calgarypubliclibrary.com/blogs/readersnook/
History Calgary Week: Ancestors and their Attic
Learn about the Library’s specialized resources on the history of houses
and their owners. Wednesday July 28, 1:30 to 3:00 p.m., 4 th Floor
Meeting Room. No registration required.
ESL Conversation Club (Intermediate)
Practice your English listening and speaking skills, and learn about the
Library’s many resources. Tuesdays, July 6 to August 24, 2:00 to 4:00
p.m., 4 th Floor Meeting Room.
Citizenship Preparation Class
Learn about Canada with the purpose of preparing yourself for the
Citizenship Exam. Presented by Immigrant Services Calgary. Saturday
July 17, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. 4 th Floor Meeting Room.
Welcome to Canada: Newcomer’s Session
Find out about community supports, government services, school systems,
ESL, and other resources available in Calgary Bridge Foundation,
In-School Settlement program. Saturday July 24, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., 4 th
Floor Meeting Room.
The 2010 Calgary Stampede…
This year’s Stampede runs from July 9 th -18 th and marks the 98 th anniversary
of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Again this year hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world will
flock to our city to experience our world famous hospitality and festivities.
This year Stampede goers will get to enjoy the opening day Parade on
Friday July 9 th , featuring the Calgary Stampede Show band, floats and special
guests.
Each afternoon will kick off with the rodeo which includes six major events;
Bareback, Bull Riding, Barrel Racing, Saddle Bronc, Steer Wrestling and Tieddown
Roping.
Stampede first-timers and veterans alike will be thrilled by the nightly
Chuckwagon Races and the Grandstand Show, or relax while visiting the
animal and agriculture exhibits and explore downtown Calgary’s restaurants
and shops.
The 2010 Calgary Stampede is not to be missed, get your tickets early.
For more information on the Calgary Stampede and to get your tickets
please visit: www.cs.calgarystampede.com
Citizenship Guides…
Please contact my office if you would like a copy of the newest Canadian
Citizenship Guide, Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of
Citizenship which includes information on common values such as freedom,
democracy, human rights, the rule of law and the equality of men and women.
The guide is look at our country which emphasizes the great opportunities as
well as the responsibilities that come with being a Canadian citizen.
ArtPoint: WE MADE IT!
Congratulations to Artpoint members who succeeded in
convincing the City of Calgary to reverse its 100% rent hike,
meaning we will revert back to our January 2009 rate. This
landmark achievement will help to ensure our sustainability as
an artists’ Society in particular, but the impact could also reach
other arts communities or non-profit sectors who may be in
the same predicament.
Our success at city hall came about through the tireless
effort of our President, Jacqulynn Mulyk, with the in-house
support of many members including Margaret Steel (Heritage
Weavers’ president) who spoke at the committee meeting along
with Jacqulynn and Terry Rock (Calgary Arts Development
president & CEO).
Four members; Jacqulynn, Diana Zasadny, Christine
Wignall and Sue Heathcote held a vigil at the location of the
council meeting that resulted in in our victory on May 17,
2010.
Naturally, we held a Potluck party on June 4, that coincided
with a beautiful group exhibition organized by Pam Dalsin
(Upstairs Gallery) and a preview of William Downey’s art
whose reception is on June 18.
Notably Alderman Joe Ceci (Ward 9) and his wife,
Alderman Rick McIver (Ward 12) and wife, Gian-Carlo Carra,
who is running for Ward 9 were part of about 50 people who
attended. Ceci is the councillor who championed our cause
and moved a motion that resulted in our present financial
relief.
Several members donated their small works for the Art
Basket meant for Terry Rock who was very instrumental in
the our lobbying offensive. On the same occasion our curator,
Elizabeth Dunn, was honoured for her long service and dedication
to the Society and a volunteer award was named after her.
Plenty of eats were brought by our members. The Wignalls
brought moose meat! We had pleasant volunteers who smoothly
ran the show from start to finish. Undoubtedly, the event
was a huge success, thank you all!
Event Invitation
“Colour of whimsy”a group exhibition featuring Jessica
Campbell, Jessica Hauser, Debbie-Lee Miszaniec and Koren
Scott VENUE: Main Gallery AT: Artpoint Gallery & Studios,
1139 - 11th Street SE, Calgary, AB, T2G 3G1 PHONE: 403
265 6867 OPENING: July 2, 2010, TIME: 5pm - 9pm
Exhibition and sale runs until June 31, 2010
~~~!?(FLOP)!? ~~~
7th Annual Forest Lawn Outdoor Pool
1706 39 St SE
Thursday July 8, 2010
~~~~~ 3 – 5 pm ~~~~~
Free admission - Free hotdogs
Free swim with East Calgary politicians!
Ramsay News page 11

A Master Plan for St. Patrick’s
Island
Community Association Newsletter Article, June 2010
At the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers, St. Patrick’s Island is an integral part of Calgary’s colourful
history. From its earliest days as a campground to its current recreational use, the Island has seen many
transitions over the years. As progress in the East Village, the broader Rivers District, and the and the St.
Patrick’s Island bridge continue to take shape, the Island will surely become a popular amenity for all
Calgarians to enjoy for many years to come.
Over the past month, the public engagement for the Master Plan for St. Patrick’s Island has been gearing
up, moving towards a concentrated series of public and stakeholder events in late June and July. The first
online survey was completed by nearly 400 people from across Calgary and we have held initial focus
groups with a group of local stakeholders. On June 10, the Advisory committee members came together
for an afternoon of introductions to each other and the master plan and public engagement teams, as
well as to the St. Patrick’s Island Master Plan Project.
As we move into July, watch for the following
opportunities to share your thoughts and ideas for the
Island:
Public Ideas Studios: tentatively planned for the week of
July 5‐9. The ideas studios will share a range of
background information with the public and engage
participants in offering ideas, feedback, and even
contributing to a visual conceptualization exercise for the
Island. One studio each will be held on St. Patrick’s Island
and Princes Island. Dates and times will be posted to the
project website as they are finalized.
Information Booths: look for a St. Patrick’s Island
information booth at select local festivals and events
through the summer. Dates and times will be posted to
the project website as they are finalized.
Survey 2, Visual Preferences: the second of three online surveys will go live in mid‐late July. This survey
will be built on input from other events and activities and will ask participants to identify preferences
from a variety of photographs and images of facilities and design elements that may be suitable for St.
Patrick’s Island. The third survey will follow in late fall or winter of 2010.
Briefing Document: this one‐stop information document will bring together the Island‐related
information from consultants’ background reports, City of Calgary planning documents, Park’s Calgary
documents, and the public engagement process, among others. Stakeholders and the public will be able
to download the document to gain valuable insights into the Island, it’s local, natural and historical
context; and master planning considerations. The briefing document will be available online at
www.calgarymlc.ca/island
Ramsay News page 12

Stop the Plastic Pollution
Emily Firmston
I was walking down by the river and I found a whole
bunch of bottle caps. I know that bottle caps can float down
the river and go into the ocean. Once they are in the ocean
they’re hard to get rid of. When I took the bottle caps to the
garbage I found another bottle cap and a six pack ring on the
ground.
Bottle caps are not recyclable. Sea birds and sea life eat them
thinking they’re food. When they eat them they can easily die
because the toxins in the plastic can kill them. Also their bellies
get full of plastic and they can’t digest the bottle caps so they
starve.
The North Pacific Gyre is a big whirlpool of plastic and
other stuff caught in the currents between Hawaii, California
and Vancouver. It’s the biggest plastic whirl pool in the world.
Dolls to six pack rings to shopping carts are stuck in the gyre.
When the tide washes up, some beaches turn from real sand
to plastic sand. Plastic sand is little bits of plastic that are all
jumbled up together. You can’t build sand castles out of plastic
sand because it just won’t stick together.
There was a sea turtle caught in a six pack ring when she was
a baby. When she grew, her middle couldn’t grow because of
the plastic ring, which was holding back her shell. The turtle
survived but lots of other sea creatures aren’t as lucky as he was.
There is more plastic than food in the gyre. The whole ocean
is like a plastic garbage can and no one can figure out how to
clean it. Did you know that plastic recycling doesn’t reduce
our need for brand new plastic. Some things can only be made
with new plastic. Already recycled plastic, dyed plastic and biodegradable
plastic can’t recycled.
So, while I was picking up plastic by the river I thought
that we should really be making glass bottles with metal caps
instead of plastic bottles with plastic caps. I think we should
try our best to demand anything that is better for the environment
and start buying way less plastic. If we buy less, then the
companies will stop making it because they can’t sell any of it.
We can stop the pollution in the ocean if we all try.
Look up the North Pacific Gyre for more information.
Memories of Great Adventures
Emily Firmston
I’ve been going through my Girl Guide pictures and
remembering all the fun our girls and leaders have had this
year.
We’ve climbed the hoodoos at Writing on Stone provincial
park. Ridden horses in Kananaskis. Tented in the winter and
built an igloo. We ran around downtown snapping photos and
let kindergarteners shoot arrows. We’ve helped our community
and in turn our community has helped us. The girls have
become part of a bigger world and explored it too. Now I’m
getting ready to send our older girls on to greater adventures.
They’ve out grown their units and are prepared for more challenge.
This is good. Our program is ready for them. Sparks
will become Brownies, Brownies will go on to Guides and
Guides will create a new Pathfinder unit – our most adventurous
yet if I know these girls. It’s going to be so much fun come
September.
We would like to thank all the people in our community
who have helped us. Shell Lube and Grease plant whose
money so far has bought an eight man, four-season tent and
also repaired all our two-season existing tents whose zippers
were broken. The Blackfoot Truck Stop, the Harley Diner,
Crossroads market, and Brookfield Management who let us
sell cookies on their property. The Fort Calgary Lions whose
money helped us go horseback riding. Olivier’s candy shop for
always giving us discounts and for being interested in all we
do. The Tea Trader for donating wonderful tea for our camp.
Our new leaders for being brave and learning so much and our
returning leaders for showing them the way. But the people I
want to give the biggest thanks to is the parents. Without our
great parents, our program would not be possible. You guys are
the best.
We are now finished for the year. But don’t fret. We start up
again in September. So think about joining us. We always have
room for more leaders and girls.
Registration is:
September 13 at Cross Hall 1423 – 8th Ave SE. From 6:30
– 7:30pm.
I can’t wait to see you there! Have a great summer.
Ramsay News page 13

Calgary Interfaith Food Bank:
Want to engage your community with a great cause?
Last year 124,713 Calgarians came to the Calgary Food Bank – this represents a 40% increase on the year before and so
far this year, client demand has increased by 15%. The Calgary Food Bank is neither a government nor a United Way
agency and as such is solely supported through donations of food and funds.
There are a variety of ways that your community can get involved with the Food Bank to support those in need. An
excellent option for groups is to run a Community Food Drive. The Food Bank supplies groups with food drive bags and
a flyer template to put into the mailboxes of the houses in the neighbourhood of their choice. Further, maps of the
communities are provided and are broken into sections of approximately 150 houses so that they can be easily handled
by two volunteers in an hour. Finally, the Food Bank sends a volunteer driver with a truck to pick up the food donations
that are collected.
In an effort to increase the frequency of Community Food Drives, and to ensure that all Calgary communities are being
covered, a volunteer, Marilyn Jones, will begin calling Calgary Community Associations on May 18, 2010 in hopes of
getting in touch with community groups that may be interested in running a Food Drive.
For more information please contact Kelly Ferrier at (403) 319-0833 or by email at kferrier@calgaryfoodbank.com.
PARTY PLANNING, STAMPEDE STYLE:
Did you know you can host a Calgary Stampede-themed event in your community any time of year with the help of
over 500 Stampede volunteers? Well you can – simply by visiting the Calgary Stampede website and going to the
community events booking page. (www.calgarystampede.com – click on in the community, then click on community
event bookings)
Pancake breakfasts, Stampede Royalty, Harry the Horse, square dancers and many more iconic Stampede characters and
traditions are available to give public events an authentic western feel.
The Stampede Queen and Princesses alone attend over 350 events throughout the year of their reign, Harry the Horse
makes close to 500 appearances a year and the pancake breakfast crew feed around 130,000 people at 40 events
yearround.
“Our Royalty are terrific ambassadors for the western hospitality and spirit of the Stampede. They love getting out and
meeting people and people love meeting them,” says Jody Moore, Calgary Stampede Royalty committee chair.
The Calgary Stampede is a volunteer-supported, not-for-profit community organization that preserves and promotes
western heritage and values. The Stampede contributes to the quality of life in Calgary and southern Alberta through its
world-renowned 10-day Stampede, year-round facilities, western events and several youth and agriculture programs. All
revenue is reinvested into Calgary Stampede programs and facilities.
For upcoming summer events throughout Calgary, such as Golf to help kids with cancer and the
Latino festival in Princes' Island Park, go to:
Ramsay News page 14

Mighty 70th Scout News
Rick Ryan
Where does a year go? It seems like only yesterday
that the Beavers were learning to form
into river banks and go through their opening
exercises. The kids got it but I’m not so sure about the leaders.
We have pretty well wound up the year with our camps. The
beavers and cubs went out to Waiparus group camp and did all
kind of fun things like hiking up to Mockingbird look out and
swimming in the creek. I hear the kids slept all the way home.
The scouts were on a back packing trip to upper Kananaskis
lake to point camp site. It is a great site and a good starting
point for new kids. They had to make their own meals and set
up tents and pretty well look after themselves.
Now what kind of parents would send their kids out in the
wilds with Scouter Rick to play with sharp knives , matches
and gasoline???? They all made it home and no one lost an
eye!!!
“THANKS SCOUTER RICK FOR SLEEPING WITH
US!!!!!!! YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN”
You might say out of the mouths of babes.
It all started just as it got dark and I was nodding off to
sleep when.........
“SCOUTER RICK”.
It was a call from the girls tent about 50 meters away. I
awoke and fumbled for my boots and slowly made my way
up the trail only to meet Morgan coming to meet me. First
time out in the wilds and the kids are afraid of the bears.
Fortunately it was a clear night as I ended up sleeping beside
the girls tent. The stars were beautiful and the kids soon settled
in. It was probably the first time my snoring and other rude
noises of the night were a comfort to someone.
Hope you all have a great summer and believe it or not I
am already looking forward to seeing the kids in the fall.
Can’t forget the cool light dance we
did. Look at this art!
A little play down by the creek before
the sun went down!
A big thanks goes out to
Colin (Blue) for buying
all the food and
making us that great
dinner
Here we are again.
We all got to the top! Safe and
sound & what incredible views
Our last geo-cache of the weekend...
see the beer can, ‘Thats ¢10’ he said.
I don’t know about
yours... but this was
mine about 2 minutes
into the drive home
Our geo hunters! After the first kill
of the day. Good job kids!
Doing the hike, that sun was hot
Thank goodness for Iain and his
geo-cacheing machine!
Over all i think that the camp was
a huge success. i think the kids will
remember this one for many years to
come. big kudo’s to all the parents to
make this happen.
See you all next year.
Kevin (Ringtail)
Ramsay News page 15

Just So You Know…
1021 Maggie Street
21 Active Listings
$265,800 > $1,100,000
16 Sales for 2010
$290,000 > $605,000
Summer in Ramsay!
Interest rates are still around 4.25%
Making it still affordable for a first
time buyer in Ramsay!
www.patriciacranwell.com
Rumored to be Maggie’s House, whom the street is named
after, this hide-away property offers the most incredible down
town Views ~ 50’ lot perfect to build on in the future ~ and a
very affordable payment due to rental income as well as the
owners suite! It truly must be viewed to be appreciated.
CALL Patricia for details!
Your home is unique and has its very own “Top” market
value. Call me for a complimentary, confidential and up
to date evaluation! 253-5678
This communication is not intended to cause
or induce a breach of an existing agency
agreement.
I’m not #1 in my career – You are!