August 2023 Newsletter
Hey Ward 14!
August can be a little slow around City Hall. The usual committee meetings are on hiatus for the month. The weather will hopefully be warm, and you will hopefully be enjoying it.
Black Henbane
Black Henbane is an invasive, toxic plant species. It looks nice, and even smells appealing to animals, but it is quite dangerous. Contact with the plant can cause rashes. It can also cause harm to pets and humans if ingested. Henbane is a pale-yellow flower with fuzzy green leaves and purple veins.
Hot, dry weather has allowed Black Henbane to thrive in recent years. Because it is classified as a noxious weed under the Alberta Weed Control Act, the goal of the City of Calgary is to prevent it from spreading. If you see the plant on City property, please contact 311. We will remove it. Protect yourself with gloves and long sleeves when pulling it on your own property and make sure to discard it in the black bin, instead of the green one.
You can learn more about Black Henbane (and see what it looks like) at the Common Pests in Calgary webpage. As the name implies, you can also learn about other common pests in Calgary there. If you want to be involved in helping to protect Fish Creek from invasive species, you may also want to try your hand at volunteering with The Friends of Fish Creek.
The Parks Wayfinder Map
Busy or not, there is never a bad time to talk about maps (at least in my opinion). The Parks Wayfinder Map shows amenities owned by Calgary Parks. You can search for the nearest washroom, drinking fountain, waste/recycling disposal, firepit, picnic table, off leash area, sports field, park vendor and other amenities available in City parks. Visit the Parks Wayfinder Map at maps.calgary.ca/ParksWayfinder. To view more City of Calgary maps you can visit the Map Gallery at mapgallery.calgary.ca.
Reduced Rate for Animal Adoption
Shelters and rescue agencies in Calgary and the surrounding area are currently at capacity with an overpopulation of homeless animals. Due to the overwhelming number of animals, the City has reinstated its adoption program to help with this crisis.
Adopting from Animal Services not only provides a loving home for a deserving animal but also helps reduce the number of homeless pets in the community and supports the important work of the shelter. By adopting from a local shelter, individuals can make a direct impact on saving a life and contribute to the overall welfare of animals in their area.
For a limited time only, you can adopt at Animal Services at a reduced rate! Now only $100.00, the adoption fee covers:
- spay or neutering surgery
- microchip implant for identification
- a twelve-month City of Calgary licence
- first set of vaccinations (excluding rabies)
- de-worming
- a bag of pet food
Anyone interested in adopting a pet is encouraged to check out the adoptable animals on calgary.ca/pets.
A Helpful Home Guide
Although climate change is a complicated issue, the solutions don’t always have to be. There are simple steps you can take now to prepare and adapt to climate-related impacts. The Climate Ready Home Guide informs choices you can make during a renovation or construction project to prevent damage to your home and protect your health from extreme weather events. It also provides routine low or no-cost maintenance advice and simple safety tips to build resilience to climate change impacts at home.
Visit calgary.ca/ClimateReadyHome for more information.
Important Phone Numbers
The City, other levels of Government, and citizen-serving organizations often have easy-to-remember phone numbers so you can connect with them quickly. They are numbers that my staff know by heart for when you contact my office. My staff and I will always be there to help when you call, but to make things easier here is THE LIST, with numbers you might need in a bind.
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9-1-1 |
Emergency |
Call 9-1-1 in an emergency when there is an immediate threat to your health and/or safety. (e.g., fire, see or smell smoke, medical emergencies, crimes in progress, an accident that has caused injury, life threatening situation, etc.). |
211 or text INFO to 211 |
Distress Centre |
Call or text 211 for non-emergency situations that involve mental health and addiction, connection to food and basic needs, or community and social resources. |
311 |
Bylaw, city information |
Call, download our app, or visit Calgary.ca/311 for City information (e.g., bylaw, garbage collection, etc.) |
403.998.7388 |
HELP team (formerly DOAP) |
Unhoused individuals in a vulnerable state (having a poor mental health moment, intoxicated and/or using drugs in a public space, stumbling down the street, stepping into traffic), trespassing (sleeping in the doorway of a business), in need of transportation. |
403.262.1000 or text 74100 |
Transit Watch |
Text 74100 or use the help phone/button on C-Trains and platforms to report immediate safety and security issues. (e.g., such as disorder, areas needing attention or cleaning, infrastructure issues, broken glass, or harassment, etc.) |
403.266.1234 |
Police non-emergency |
Call for non-emergency situations that require a police response such as non-injury accidents, missing persons, stolen vehicles, or license plates, break and enters after they have happened. |
How to Navigate the City’s Website – Episode 1: 311
The City’s website can be a bit much to navigate at times. It is a refrain I have heard many times, and it is true. But as with a few of the topics I have already alluded to, it can be full of helpful information. So, I am starting a new monthly addition to my column where I will outline a specific part of the City of Calgary website that has information you can use.
In keeping with the theme of important phone numbers, the inaugural edition of How to Navigate the City’s Website will discuss 311. The City of Calgary’s 311 service started out as a simple call centre line. The purpose was to provide a single point of intake for service requests from the public. It made knowing who to call easier for constituents, tracking calls easier for the City, and provided a valuable source of data to help improve service. While 311 is not perfect (which I have been consistently working to address), it has proven itself an especially useful tool for all involved. The City now offers an online intake for 311 service requests, an app featuring photo and geolocation tools, and several online dashboards for sharing data with the public.
There are two main places to find 311 services when you visit the City of Calgary website at calgary.ca. You will find the first near the bottom of the page under the heading of Other City of Calgary websites. It will take you directly to the online intake form for 311. That is where you can submit a 311 request online. The second is in the top right corner (keep in mind these locations vary a bit based on what type of device you are using). By clicking 311 in the top right corner, you will find the online intake form, general information about 311, FAQs, 311’s various data dashboards, and more.
I hope you will have a look at the website. It isn’t perfect, but it is full of useful information. I am also interested in any suggestions you might have to make it better.
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Feel free to contact me any time. The best way to contact me is by visiting calgary.ca/contactward14 or calling (403) 268-1653.
Sincerely,
-Councillor Peter Demong
Categories: Newsletter