April - Ramsay Community Association in Calgary

A Word from Miss Speight, Principal of Ramsay SchoolMiss Speight, Principal • mmspeight@cbe.ab.ca • 403-777-6790I would like to take a moment to thank the parents and communitymembers who came out to join me for a coffee, teaand treats at our recent “Coffee With The Principal” on March20th! It was wonderful to share stories and to learn more aboutour community. If you were unable to join us, please bookThursday, May 24th from 2:00-3:00 pm into your calendars.I promise to bring some yummy treats and Nicole from Tnikwill bring the delicious tea! I also look forward to attendingmy very first Ramsay Community Association meeting onApril 3rd where we will hopefully have a chance to meet andlearn more about Ramsay School and its wonderful relationshipwith this caring and welcoming community.March has brought many wonderful learning opportunitiesto Ramsay School. Who better to celebrate than one of ourwonderful classroom teachers Ms. Hone?A Word From Ramsay School’s Classrooms…Ms.Hone, Grade 2/3Throughout the month of March, students worked on developingtheir descriptive writing using class discussions andstudy about healthy eating to guide them. They had a blastdoing “Got Milk?” advertisements, exploring the benefits ofmilk, and looking at milk alternatives. Their little milk mustachesare already up on the wall and the students are excitedto share them at conferences. They are also monitoring whatkinds of food are coming each day on the breakfast tray, andcomparing that to the kinds of foods that they are eating fromtheir lunches and snacks. Grade 2/3 loved gymnastics, andwere thrilled to develop routines with their new skills!The class recently celebrated numbers with the 100th Dayof school, which also fell on Valentine›s Day! The day wascommitted to numeracy and literacy activities to support thesefun celebrations. One of these activities was to build a mathgame around a 100s chart. This activity became a focus for theclass as we explored what makes a game fun and challenging.In social studies, the students began to explore the community,gathering information on the Internet and learning how to putinformation into their own words. Studying “our communityin the past” will continue to be a focus in the coming monthsas we celebrate Ramsay›s 100th year with further classroomresearch, and including field trips to places like the Stampedeand the Glenbow Museum.Our Upcoming 100th Year Celebration!As many of you are aware, this year marks Ramsay School’s100th year anniversary! Please mark Friday, June 22nd intoyour calendars. Our students will be preparing a wonderfulcelebration of learning focused on the Legacy of Ramsay School.Artist Tracy Franks and performance artists Trickster Theatrewill be supporting us in this journey! Don’t worry. Communitymembers, alumni, and parents will be invited to be a part ofthis special celebration. If you would like to be included in thefestivities, please provide your name, telephone number, andemail address to us using this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/39T2G8F (All contact information will be kept confidential).As our plans come together, we promise that you willbe on our invitation list! More to come, everyone!Happy April!Girl Guides a Busy Bunch!Barbara • Call 403-217-3568 for more infoThe Girl Guides of Inglewood and Ramsay are sure a busybunch. Over the teachers’ convention they went on a daytrip to Canmore where they cross-country skied, went swimming,and had pizza. Then, the next day, the Guides tookoff for the Science Centre. After that it was back to regularmeetings. The Sparks were busy with recycling crafts andplanting things. The Brownies have been to the Fire Hall.The Guides have been to the Observatory to learn aboutblack holes and the wonders of space. They also took selfdefenseclasses with Tulen Calgary. Tulen Calgary provideseffective self-defense techniques in a positive, upbeat environmentto everyone, ages 3 and up. They offer classes at theLantern Church on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-8:30and family classes at the Flip Factory on Saturday mornings.The cost is only $99 for three months if you mention GirlGuides. Contact Bonnie at 403-262-3264 or email tulencanada@yahoo.caif you are interested in becoming as adeptat self-defense as the Guides.The Pathfinders and Guides are planning a hosteling trip tothe mountains and after that everyone is going on a year-endcamp to the badlands to see the dinosaurs. And that’s not all;the Pathfinders are planning a back country horseback tripfor next year. But first they need to fundraise and gather alarge enough group to book the trip. Are you a girl in juniorhigh or high school? Is this a trip you might be interestedin? It’s never too late to join. One more thing – Cookies arehere! Keep your eye out for us. We’re out selling them tosupport our fabulous programs.And just for fun, if you›re a girl from the community inGrade 7 & up, come join the Pathfinders for an eveningin the Inglewood Skate Shack on Thursday April 5th 6:30-8:30pm to decorate Easter eggs - pysanky (Ukrainian) style.Ramsay News page 5

City Hall Report for Ward 9Alderman Gian-Carlo Carra, Historic City Hall • 403-268-2477Happy April Ramsay. Sitting down to write this, I’m struck As I’ve tried to express in these pages over theby how despite the diversity of Ward 9 (this past week alone I past months, significant structural change in thehave been to Section 32 in the industrial south east, to Dover Province’s relationship with our City has to be ain the east, to Rideau-Roxboro in our south west, to Tuxedo huge priority. While I hope you are expressingPark in our north west), the basic challenge confronting each this idea politically to your MLA Candidates, myneighbourhood is the same.belief is that transferring more of the locus of responsibilityfrom the Province to the City is only a step in the rightI believe the core challenge that confronts us is the increasinglypressing need to bridge the gap between the diminishing-returnsservice corporation that is our City Government influence over a region more than 5,000 square kilometres,direction. In a city of over a million people, exerting directtoday, and what it could and should be: a civic organization we have to establish an appropriately scaled module of governancefrom which we can meaningfully tackle the work ofthat empowers us, as citizens, to identify and pursue the bestpossible future for Calgary- what the Mayor has branded organizing ourselves, and from which we send our collective“Transforming Government.”political power upwards (to the extent necessary).Perhaps the most fundamental barrier to Transforming I believe that module of governance is the neighbourhood.Government is that while we live in a democracy and elect I believe that Ward 9 represents an historic assemblage ofour municipal representatives, the structure, intent, and powersof our City Government are not granted directly from ment. I believe that my job as your representative is to workneighbourhoods uniquely suited to advancing this argu-Calgarians to City Hall. They are instead granted downwards towards Transforming Government whereby we put ourto the City of Calgary from the Province of Alberta. This Neighbourhoods First in terms of how we politically andarrangement probably made a lot more sense when the populationof our Province was a fraction of what it is today, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with all of mystructurally organize our City. Over the next several monthsthe overwhelming percentage of that population lived in rural communities to ensure that these ideas evolve to representAlberta. Back then, Alberta’s small cities presented only site you in the most effective ways possible. Please never hesitatespecific challenges (sanitation and development, for example). to contact your Team Ward 9 (ward09@calgary.ca or 403-Today, the overwhelming majority of our Province’s populationlives, works, learns, and plays in our cities - with First, or, of course, to address the day to day issues that we268-5330) to share your ideas regarding NeighbourhoodsCalgary and Edmonton alone accounting for well over half. are here to help with.Saturday April 14th 201210:00 am - 4:00 pmThe Alexandra Centre922 9th Ave SEAdmission is free however donations to the Calgary Interfaith Foodbank are appreciated!www.hereandtheremarkets.comRamsay News page 6

Recreation NewsShannon Fox, Winter Sports • wslpaterson@shaw.ca • Schedules at ramsaycalgary.ca • For rental call 403-966-5130The Recreation Committee wants to send a big thank you to like to organize parties. If you’re interested, call Shannon atall of our Flooding Volunteers who worked so hard to make 403-966-5130.ice each time the temperature dipped this winter.Spring/Summer ProgramsDespite hours of work, we lost our battle against the We want to hear from people interested in leading recreationalprograms this spring or summer. There is interest inChinooks and our skating season on the main surface wasvery poor. Our small pleasure rink lasted very well and lots of both soccer and baseball… are you an enthusiast willing topeople enjoyed skating on that area.organize these activities for kids or adults? The RecreationThank you to volunteer Allan Scott for his work to upgrade Committee will assist leaders as required. Call Shannon atour message board, which had been damaged in one of the 403-966-5130 or email wslpaterson@shaw.ca.windstorms. It looks great! Allan also sharpened all of our Facility Repairsrental skates AND organized the donation of helmets for the Get out and play! Our volunteer committee members arekids too!motivated to offer our community access to a safe and reliableWinter Festivalfacility where neighbours can get active and socialize. We’reThe Ramsay Winter Festival was another success! About currently investigating ways to improve next year’s ice quality100 Ramsay residents and Inglewood neighbours came out by addressing the failing asphalt surface, an ice-making equipmentacquisition and by continuing our general repairs toto celebrate winter – check out the photos at ramsaycalgary.ca. We had ice sculpting contests, ball hockey games, rocket areas such as the chainlink.demonstrations, free food, and skating! Congratulations to Rent the Rink this SummerLiz Bugera who won the draw for a Cineplex gift card. The covered rink surface is a great area for summer sportA big thank you to Allen Baker who donated his time to activities. The fencing is excellent for ball hockey and lacrosseupdate our electrical to ensure we had power for the music and the bonus is that rain or shine the game goes on. Theand ice carving tools!public is welcome to use the surface anytime!Stampede Party is Next -- Mark the DateGet exclusive use of the surface for your sports activity.We’re planning our annual Ramsay Stampede Party again this Book a rental that includes access to the washrooms/changeyear. Mark your calendar now to attend the party on the first area for $40/hr. Call 403-966-5130 or email wslpaterson@Saturday of Stampede. We’re always looking for people who shaw.ca to book your time.Ramsay News page 7

Warrior Spiritsby Nancy JanovicekIt’s hard to miss Jesse Gouchey’s mural on the Brick BoxStudio. Heading into Ramsay from the north on 11th Street,the spray painted mural of a hooded young man catches theeye. On the east side of the building the eerie cityscape drawsthe viewer further into the story. And on the south side ofthe building, the crow’s profile makes you wonder what thistrickster is up to.The mural that Jesse “dedicated to the memory of GloriaKaily Black Plume, 1950-1999” is harder to find. It’s in thealley between 19th and 20th Avenues where this Aboriginalmother, grandmother, and social worker was brutally murdered.Both of these muralsare a collaborative artisticendeavor betweenCree aerosol artist JesseGouchey and XstineCook, curator and artisticdirector of the CalgaryAnimated Objects Society.The murals are the foundationfor two shortspray paint animations.These films compel us toconfront social injustice.Their art honours warriorspirits.Jesse painted his tributeto Gloria on Xstine’sgarage. The mural begins on the fence in the back yard andends in the place where she died. Xstine lived a few doorsdown the street when the police found Gloria’s body. Themen suspected of her murder walked free on legal technicalities.Her story is part of the epidemic of murdered andmissing Aboriginal women in Canada. Spirit of the Bluebirdhonours the memory of these women. It also acknowledgesthe struggles of their families who get trapped in a criminaljustice system that has historically ignored violence againstAboriginal women.Xstine wanted an Aboriginal artist to paint the mural andanimate the story. Jesse developed his skill at the Quick DrawAnimation Society’s Aboriginal Youth Animation Project. Hisidea was to represent Gloria as an animal that was feminineand indigenous to the territory and then to paint a landscapebased on local geography. He wanted to depict “Gloria in herhome environment but represented as a bluebird.”They worked closely with Gloria’s family, especially herdaughter Kaily and sister Diane. Xstine worked for a decadeto gain the family’s trust. She explained, “For them it was notten years ago. It was just yesterday. They were really wary ofhow we were going to interpret Gloria’s story and what wewere going to do with it.” Forty family members and friendsattended the mural unveiling. Seven of them agreed to talkabout Gloria and the trial for the film’s soundtrack. Kainaisinger Jonathan Tall Man, Gloria’s nephew, recorded a tributesong in Xstine’s garage. Spirit of the Bluebird premieredat Toronto International Film Festival, and Kaily and hercousin Jason attended the festival. The film won Best ShortDocumentary at imagineNATIVE Film and Media ArtsFestival.Gloria was working as a social worker at the SunriseResidences helping Aboriginal people transition from a streetinvolvedlife. She was part of the legion of indigenous womenwho offer refuge, support, and cultural education to helpAboriginal youth cope with racism and marginalization. Werarely hear about these warriors.These are the issuesthat Xstine and Jesse areexploring in their currentproject. The muralat the Coop Feedlot studiosis the beginning oftheir next animated shortJohnny Crow. It’s basedon a poem that Xstineperformed when she wasa member of the bandGreat Uncle Bull. Thepoem is a tribute to theSpirit of the Warrior. Herinspiration was “youngmen – and women –young people who havethose impulses to act as a warrior would fight – to do bravethings – and they don’t have a proper channel for it. Whathappens to them? They end up in jail. So the film exploresa guy who is on that trajectory. He does end up in jail.” Theshort animated film will be about how he deals with it.In this short film, Jesse and Xstine are combining othermethods with spray paint animation. Jesse is also rotoscopingnews footage, a technique that involves frame-by-frame tracingover live action footage to turn it into animation. He willalso rotoscope a montage of head shots of twenty warriors– young and old, male and female – in full regalia. Hiphopband Reddnation’s rendition of the poem and Daniel Geary’smusic will be the soundtrack.Production of Johnny Crow will resume when Jesse returnsfrom his internship in Montreal at the NFB’s Hot HouseProgram. This is a prestigious program that helps emergingartists refine their craft. He’s learning “digital graffiti”to produce a one-minute short. Instead of a spray can, he’susing sensor technology to paint onto mid-air. He sees whathe’s painting through special glasses that capture the digitalimages. We’ll be able to watch his film on the NFB websitewhen he’s finished the program.Jesse and Xstine have created art that does more than beautifyour community. They invite us to think about importantissues as we talk about our vision for Ramsay’s future.PHOTO: “Bluebird Mural” by Sean DennieRamsay News page 10

C ommunityT idbitsRamsay Visioning WorkshopThe next Ramsay Visioning Workshop is Saturday April 14thfrom 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at the Community Hall. This willbe a “gap analysis workshop.” We’ll talk about where we areand where we want to be.Community GardenWould you like a Community Garden plot in the Ramsay ParkGarden? We are building more! The workdays are: May 20thand 27th garden clean and June 2nd and 3rd building newplots. Contact garden@ramsaycalgary.ca if you want to join inrabbit-free beets this year.Employment OpportunityElections Alberta is recruiting employees for the nextProvincial Election. If you are a CanadianCitizen over 18 years old, please apply byemail to ro12@elections.ab.ca or call 403-509-2481.Calgary Comic andEntertainment ExpoRight next door at the BMO CentreApril 27th – 29th, featuring an incredibleguest list including Stan Lee and the castof Star Trek: Next Generation. (Ramsay’sSam Hester will be there too!)Ramsay Volunteer BankHave a few hours to help out? Join the Ramsay VolunteerBank. Contact Josie at vpinternal@ramsaycalgary.caInglewood PoolNo more skinny-dippin’ in the Elbow! The Inglewood poolreopens to the public on April 2nd.Ramsay WebsiteGet site updates via e-mail. Go to ramsaycalgary.ca to sign up.Casino VolunteersSupport Spirit of the Bluebird on the festival circuit. Volunteerfor the CAOS casino June 1st and 2nd at the Elbow RiverCasino. E-mail office@animatedobjects.ca or call 403-266-1502. Ramsay School’s casino is on the same days. Contact theschool: 403-777-6790.Community CalendarCheck out the Community Calendar at ramsaycalgary.ca.Got a tidbit? Send it to news@ramsaycalgary.caHeritage Reportby Angie MaeotsInterested in Learning Moreabout the History of yourHome?Come and join Ramsay Heritage,Sunday, April 15th in the Upper Hall.We’ll open and offer local residentsfree information, collected from theCity of Calgary, about their home/building.You may find information aboutthe year it was built, the architect,the chart of materials used, andthe previous owners. These may besourced from the Provincial HistoricalResources Inventory, Site Inspections,Calgary Assessment Cards, and theHenderson Directories.The files will be open to photocopyfrom 2:00-4:00 pm. This is in preparationfor (although not limited to)residents who may be interested inthe “Century Homes Calgary” 2012event. For more information go tohttp://www.centuryhomes.org/Ramsay News page 11

Strengthening Old Age Security, and HelpingCanada’s SeniorsThe Government of Canada is reviewing Old Age Security andthere have been a number of misconceptions on what will beaffected, to be clear there will be:• No changes to the Canada Pension Plan;• No reductions to Old Age Security benefits for currentrecipients; and• No changes to OAS for Canadians nearing retirement.Old Age Security, on its present course, is fiscally unsustainable.This Government will make the necessary changes toensure sustainability for the next generation while not affectingcurrent recipients or those who are close to retirement. Thesechanges will take place over a long period of time, and willallow Canadians to plan for their retirement. Your Governmentwill seek input from all parties on these changes.Seniors who have spent their lives building Canada throughtheir hard work, deserve a dignified retirement, and ourGovernment understands that. That is why, since 2006, theGovernment of Canada has taken action to ensure that retirementincome is sustainable and is there when Canadians needit, including:• Creating the Tax Free Saving Account that allows people toaccumulate tax-free earnings on saving for retirement;• introducing pension income splitting;• increasing the Age Credit;• eliminating federal income tax for 380,000 lower incomeseniors;• increasing the GIS earnings for exemption from $500 to$3500;• introducing the Polled Registration Pension Plan• enhancing the Canadian Pension Plan so that olderCanadians can continue working and contribute to theirCPP benefit;• targeting the largest Guaranteed Income Supplement top-upbenefit in 25 years to the most vulnerable seniors;• introducing automatic renewal of the Guaranteed IncomeSupplement; and• investing $50 million over two years to extend the TargetedInitiative for Older Workers.Civic Affairsby Jenny Jenson, VP ExternalDP2011-3819 has been appealed.I attended the appeal. It has been postponedto April 10 th , so it can be heard in one daywith no interruptions.Ramsay Garage Salesby Mike Loston2012 Annual Ramsay Parade of Garage SalesSpring is fast approaching and with that comes the AnnualRamsay Parade of Garage Sales. In celebration of EarthDay, the event will be held on Sunday, April 22nd thisyear. What better day to unload your unwanted garbage(oops ... treasure) than to pawn it off on someone else whocan’t wait to bring it home and add it to their pile. Andwhat better day is there to avoid sending more stuff to thelandfill than Earth Day. Makes you feel all warm and fuzzyinside and you might even get enough cash to buy somemore junk. So get out in your garage/basement/attic andgather up all your stuff. Don’t forget to check the trunkof that backyard Buick and under the deck too, you knowthere is more in there. The sale will run from 9-3 and if youwould like to take part and get your sale identified on themap, please send an email to Mike at mloston@shaw.ca byApril 14th. Also if you are able to help out with signs, wewould gladly accept some extra hands.IS YOUR SPACE TOOSMALL?Come and check out Ramsay’s newly renovatedcommunity hall.We have extremely reasonable prices, and it isa great place to hold birthday parties, weddings,anniversaries, or meetings.For information and prices, call 403-265-4898 oremail hallmanager@ramsaycalgary.caWhile we have taken these actions for seniors today we needto ensure future generations can count on retirement benefitswhen they need them. More information can be found atwww.servicecanada.ca.Sincerely,Lee Richardson, MP, Calgary CentreRamsay News page 12

Community Living…The spirit of optimism and excitement looms in theInglewood and Ramsay… again (or always?). ourcommunities have a wonderful history of advocacy,activism and just plain comminity spirit. In thatspirit, we offer a few excerpts from past newsletterreports. It’s all about community, then and now!1976: Alexandra CentreR.R.A.P.: …it is hoped that an evengreater number of residents willmake use of the program… call theInglewood Ramsay RedevelopmentCentre at 269-5588…The contractor has finished andeverything else that needs doingwill have to be done by Volunteersor users of the building…Summer Daze at Alexandra Children’sCentre (Original Daycare)Our summer has flown… Have you seenthe outside play area grow into thehappy child-oriented facility it is?We are so appreciative of thevolunteer effort that went intothis. A bouquet also to City Parks…Alexandra Centre Christmas Fair…The Day Care’s scrumptious bakedgoods and beautiful crafts soldquickly. The rummage sale managed bythe Citizen’s Advocacy Group and theBook Sale put on by the Library…TheTeen Centre cake walk was fun…Theboa constrictor from the Zoo,accompanied by Mr. David Banks,charmed some and horrified some butate nobody.1977 (Inglewood Ramsay Newsletter):NIP’s LAST LEAPAlexandra Centre- was completed inearly 1976 and functions as acommunity services building. Who canforget the dirt blowing in your facewhile putting up the fence posts ormoving in while contractors were inthe building… having to jump overthem to answer the phone…stainingfences…hammering…sawingcleaning…seeing lights shine fromthe windows!SUZUKI BABY & PARENTMUSICFridays 9:00 & 10:45 AMNewborn – 36 MonthsAlexandra Children’s Centre News… Wecelebrated our first birthday… Theoperative word is TEAMWORK. “We havegroped our way into the situationwhere we can firmly grasp the reinsand pursue a more confident course.”1978: M. E. Cropper – coordinatorInglewood Ramsay RedevelopmentCentre (at the Alexandra Centre)The communities of Inglewood andRamsay were designated asNeighbourhood Improvement Programand Residential RehabilitationAssistance Program areas on August23, 1973. Since that time manypeople have given a lot of theirtime and skills…1979: The Alexandra Centre willoffer a beginners creative writingcourse.INCOME TAX HELP- Tax Returns forqualified individuals. March 1 - May 31, 2012PLAYSCHOOLRegistration - April 2012 for Fall 2012.SPRING YOGA CLASSESMondays: April 16-June 25Yoga for Backs: 4.30-5.30pmLevel 2: 5.45-7.00pmLevel 1.5: 7.15-8.30pmWednesdays: April 11-June 27Level 1: 5.45-7.00pmLevel 2: 7.15-8.30pmSaturdays: April 14-June 23Yin Yoga: 9.00-10.15amLevel 1: 10.30-11.45amFor information on all programs call Sarah 269-5588 or email info@alexandracentresociety.orgA heritage of people meeting peopleRamsay News page 14