East Village Neighbourhood Association Articles

Join Us at the East Village Neighbourhood Association!

Vice President — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 19:17:48 GMT

Hi EV Neighbours! It’s that time of year again, spring is in the air, the geese are returning (watch your step!), and the EVNA AGM is just around the corner!

On Saturday, May 3rd, we will be hosting the AGM at carya Village Commons at 10:30 AM. A formal invitation will be sent out to the community shortly, but first, we want to share information about the neighbourhood association and the benefits of joining. There are many ways to become involved with EVNA: as a resident member, a pickleball member, and, of course, as a volunteer!

EVNA is volunteer-driven and we know that volunteers are the backbone of our community! The larger our member and volunteer base is, the stronger our voice will be in supporting and advocating for our vibrant community. As a person invested in the East Village, you can volunteer at events or join a subject-specific committee. If you are also a resident, you can even become part of the Board. Let’s break it down:

Event Volunteer – Currently, EVNA hosts five key events each year: Bike Day, Neighbour Day, Street Fair, Purge N’ Splurge, and Light Up the Village. Additionally, the Garden Committee organizes seasonal events, including the annual Garden Harvest Party. We are always looking for new events and programs that we can run, so more volunteers mean more potential events for our community!

Committee Volunteer – Do you have expertise or a passion you’d like to share? For those who enjoy analyzing numbers, we have our Finance Committee. If you’re social media-savvy, consider joining the Marketing Committee. Green thumbs are welcome in the Garden Committee, while urbanists can contribute to the Planning Committee. If you understand the importance of the kitchen, the Pickleball Committee is for you! Entrepreneurs and artists who want to see more activity in the East Village can join our Business & Arts Committee. Lastly, we have committees dedicated to general EVNA events and one specifically for our signature Canada Day Street Fair.

Board Member – EVNA’s bylaws allow for five to nine board members, including four executive positions: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Our mission is to encourage conversation and interaction to create a sense of belonging and ownership for all who live, work, and play in East Village. The board regularly engages with CMLC, the City, our Ward 7 representative, other community associations, and various organizations throughout the community. We believe that the board should always represent all our neighbours in the East Village. To ensure fresh perspectives, we limit executive positions to five consecutive years, allowing new representatives to engage and have their voices heard!

Throughout April, we will share details about the different board positions, committees, and events through our social media channels and in print where possible. We are also open to meeting with potential volunteers for any of the opportunities mentioned above and providing more information. Residents are welcome to join and observe a board meeting if they are interested in learning more about the topics at hand.

At EVNA, we firmly believe that the greatest reason to join is that it’s good for you! Studies have shown that volunteering in your community can strengthen your sense of belonging, broaden your support network, and inspire you. This leads to increased happiness and a greater sense of fun – what could be better than that?

Beltline Neighbour Association Request and Update on the Drop-In Centre's Proposed Recovery-Orientated Services

Vice President — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 01:24:12 GMT

As many of our residents know, the Alberta Government recently announced they are cancelling the plans for the proposed recovery-orientated services at the Calgary Drop-In Centre as further consultation and planning throughout the whole of Calgary is needed for these services to be provided effectively and appropriately.

While we believe that that more time was the right decision, we have not heard clear updates on the similar proposal for services being extended to Alpha House and what is happening with the service at the Sheldon Chumir Health Centre. As such, our neighbours in the Beltline are asking for clarity from the government and support from the surrounding communities.

They have a petition to ask that the Alberta Government pause any changes or closures to SCS in the Beltline. If that is something you personally wish to support, please follow the link below:

>>> https://www.beltlineyyc.ca/petition_for_a_plan_scs <<<<

As we noted before, we believe this issue requires a holistic view and explicitly asked our government representatives provide comprehensive, detailed plans that highlights long-term funding to ensure the safety and security of all. It is still our belief that this transparency is required from the UCP and AHS.

With Kindness,

Your EVNA Board

Statement on The Calgary Drop-In Centre's Proposed Recovery-Orientated Services

Vice President — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 19:18:16 GMT

The East Village Neighbourhood Association’s (EVNA) vision is to see an inclusive, thriving, and vibrant East Village where all are welcome.

We believe this means taking a holistic view on societal issues in a manner that encourages all members of society to participate in finding solutions. Our members have expressed their concerns about the recovery services the Drop-In Centre - at the request of the UCP government - is looking to implement. There is particular concern around the overdose prevention components of the plan. EVNA hears our neighbours and want to support them and ensure their voices are included, whether for or against such programs. The Community Information Sessions were a great start but all of us in the East Village need to hear directly from each level of our political leaders, the emergency response teams, and the other agencies part of and affected by this possible change.

The Drop-In Centre cannot be expected to carry the burden, or the solution themselves. There needs to be a broad, all-encompassing approach that includes everyone; from the government, the agencies, our Calgary communities, and individuals. Downtown Calgary, particularly the east end, hosts a disproportionate number of services and while we welcome all, we need to be realistic of one small community’s capacity and remember the need to provide local services to other communities. If such a program goes forward, the East Village residents require, and deserve no less than the full involvement and backing of all parties to ensure the continued, successful revitalization of this community while providing meaningful life-saving resources and housing security to our neighbours. This means, we explicitly ask that the City of Calgary, Alberta Health Services, Calgary Police Services and the Government of Alberta provide the residents and businesses of East Village a comprehensive, detailed plan that highlights long-term funding to ensure the safety and security of all.

East Village is a community of juxtaposition; one of the oldest and at the same time, one of the newest Calgary communities. Our demographics cover any and all ages, nationalities, orientations, and income levels. What makes the East Village so special is this vibrancy of colour created by our residents, and we have no desire to change that. We are proud to call everyone who resides here our neighbour and EVNA will continue to do our part in creating a sense of belonging and ownership for all who live, work, and play in East Village. We ask that the provincial and city governments do the same.  

With Kindness,

Your EVNA Board

Architecture Articles

Vice President — Fri, 21 May 2021 20:19:55 GMT

Do you consider yourself an architecture aficionado?

EVNA is looking for local writers to help us create a series of articles all about East Village’s history, architecture, and urban design. We're aiming to make our website a resource, not just for residents, but for Calgarians and travellers alike. Rather than a dull ‘stats sheet’ on each building noting the dry data, we're hoping for a well-researched and engaging story that will help residents have a greater appreciation for each building and entice travellers to visit them as well.

Each article will tell the story of a single building:

what it’s like to visit,
the interesting details it has that visitors should look for,
the circumstances that lead to its conception and design,
who designed it and when,
what occupants or uses it has had, etc.

The article will also feature as many photos as we can get, new and old. Bonus marks for diagrams or other illustrations!

EVNA is completely volunteer based. As such, we wouldn’t be able to offer monetary compensation but will be happy to give you full credit everywhere its posted (tagged with or without your photo, up to you) and, of course, you can use it for your own portfolio.

If you're interested, please email me at VP@yycEVNA.org!

Here is a list of buildings and bridges we're hoping to include:

5th & Third
Arris
ALT Hotel
"Booker's Building"
Calgary Drop-in & Rehab Centre
Calgary Public Library: Central Library
Cecil Hotel
Centre of Hope
East Village Community Church
East Village Place
ENMAX / District Energy
EV Experience / Harvest Building
Evolution
FIRST
First on Colour
George C King Tower
George C King | Skipping Stone Bridge
The Hat
Hillier Block
Hilton Garden Inn | Homewood Suites
Hostels International: Calgary City Centre
INK
King Eddy Hotel
M2
Murdock Mannor
N3
National Music Centre | Studio Bell
Orange Lofts
Platform Innovation Centre & Parkade
Reconciliation | Langevin Bridge
Riverfront
Riverfront Pointe
Rivertwin
Salvation Army
Simmons [article published 2021-07-16]
St. Louis Hotel
Verve

as well as any others lost to history!

Ward 7 News Nugget

Business & Arts — Wed, 24 Feb 2021 01:57:00 GMT

The following was originally Councillor Farrell's Ward 7 News Nugget from Feb 23, 2021:

Calgary's East Village provides lessons and hope for our struggling Downtown core

I remember stepping over puddles of blood as I walked through East Village to City Hall nearly two decades ago. Blood, needles, and vomit were a regular sight when I lived in East Village’s Orange Lofts in 2003. I developed a habit of holding my cellphone as I walked the five minutes to and from work, always scanning my surroundings and ready to dial 9-1-1 on a moment’s notice. After late meetings, City security would walk me home at night.

To say the 550-metre walk between Calgary’s City Hall and Orange Lofts on 5th Street and 8th Ave S.W. has changed remarkably since 2003 is an understatement. Back then, the route passed by empty lots, boarded up buildings, and those who prey on Calgary’s most vulnerable citizens. The seniors who lived in the few existing towers were afraid to leave the safety of their block. Today, this area is home to the stunning National Music Centre and the restored King Eddy, new residential towers, and the dazzling Central Library. The opening of Orange Lofts in 2002 kicked off a transformation that’s changed Calgary’s oldest neighbourhood from a derelict part of the city into a vibrant community where more than 3,500 residents (and counting) live.

I’ve been thinking about East Village a lot lately, as I speak to the public and City staff about the future of Calgary’s Downtown. Downtowns are essential for the health of a city. They’re the cultural heart of a place, and because so much of our tax base comes from the core, a struggling downtown impacts the financial health of the entire city. Amid a multi-year recession, our Downtown was already struggling. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Today, nearly one out of three office towers are empty and there’s a shadow vacancy rate (vacant space that is still paid for) of about another 10%. Calgary’s office core is undergoing the most profound vacancy crisis of any major city in Canada since the great depression.

And yet, instead of feeling despair, I feel hopeful about the future of Downtown. We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to build a downtown, and a Calgary, for the next generation. I know it won’t be easy but I know it’s possible. I know there isn’t one magic solution that will fix our core, but rather many changes that must occur. One only needs to look to nearby East Village for inspiration that a transformation is both possible and worth the hard work it will take.

If transforming our Downtown is a 10 on a scale of difficulty, East Village was a 100. Whether you’re tobogganing on St. Patrick’s Island, grabbing a coffee from the Simmons Building and strolling along River Walk, or hanging out at the Central Library, it’s easy to enjoy East Village while forgetting its checkered past.

East Village is located at the confluence of the Elbow and Bow rivers, and for thousands of years the area was an important gathering place for Indigenous peoples. By the 1940s, the district was known for its bootleggers and brothels and had been dubbed a “skid row” by Calgary’s Medical Officer of Health. Revitalization efforts were attempted, unsuccessfully, in both the 60s and 70s, and many gave up on the area. Social concerns long deterred private investment and the infrastructure crumbled. Built on an old landfill and tannery, the entire neighbourhood required environmental clean up. Utility replacement was desperately needed. A berm separated the river from the community, which also lacked connecting routes to the rest of the city. Much of the neighbourhood needed to be raised several meters out of the floodway.

It took more than a decade of hard work to build East Village into the funky neighbourhood Calgarians know today. A nearly $400-million public investment spurred nearly $3 billion of planned private investment. Transforming this neglected, forgotten area was a fight. I have the battle scars to show for it. But, gosh, was it worth it.

I believe we can, and we must, build a future city for the next generation, starting in the very heart of our city, our Downtown. And I believe the lessons learned while rejuvenating East Village must be applied as we build a downtown for people of all ages, abilities, and incomes to live, learn, work, and play.

Believe it can be done (think big!)

The first lesson? We must believe it can be done and push confidently past the naysayers. Throughout East Village’s transformation, I heard again and again, a sarcastic, good luck. I was told no one would visit St. Patrick’s Island because of the crime. Today, it’s one of the busiest parks in the city, where everyone feels welcome. When we chose the new site for the Central Library, many scoffed at the location – no one would visit 3 Street. S.E., they said. Some said it would be impossible to accommodate the C-Train in the building’s design. Not only does the Central Library have a train running through it, more than two million people visited the building in its first 14 months. There were a lot of doubters and only a handful of believers when we set to transform East Village. We listened to the believers.

Listen to Calgarians

We must also listen to the people who already live Downtown, many of whom are families new to Canada. We need to reach out to existing residents and ask them, what do you love about living here? What do you hate? What would keep you here? We need to ask Calgarians of all backgrounds and ages, from all areas of the city, what would entice you to live Downtown?

When the third and final attempt at revitalizing East Village began in the mid-2000s, an extensive market study took place. Calgarians were asked what it would take for them to live there. We heard they didn’t mind a little grit and they loved the tangible history. They told us they wanted to get around by bike, transit, and their own two feet – life without a car – a startling thing to hear at that time. They described desires for a vibrant public realm and said they cared about the river, parks, public art, live music, and neighbourhood eateries.

What did we do after hearing all that? We made it happen. After raising the land and replacing the infrastructure, the first big move was celebrating the river with RiverWalk. Sidewalks were widened, and new landscaping, streetlights, and benches were installed. We took an abandoned fish market and turned it into a temporary art centre. We staged yoga classes, street markets, and summertime opera to attract visitors. Council approved Calgary’s first parking-free condo building. We watched as condo sales increased every time a new piece of public art was unveiled. We saved historic buildings like the Simmons, St. Louis, and the King Eddy, which was dismantled brick by brick and then re-assembled.

Listen to youth

We absolutely must include youth in the conversation about our future Downtown. The 15-year-olds of today will be the 25-year-olds living in a revitalized Downtown a decade from now.

Listen to companies

We also need to consult future-oriented industries, especially tech. I keep hearing we can save downtown by just recruiting tech companies to move into cubicles, but the firms I talk to don’t want to work in a vertical office park. Many want to move to East Village because they love the neighbourhood feel. We need to ask them what would lure them Downtown.

Be creative about temporary space (think small!)

Adjacent to the King Eddy sits a colourful basketball court known as Bounce. This games park is temporary. It sits on a parking lot that two summers ago was home to a dozen neon painted shipping containers that housed retail pop-ups. Two summers before that, it was a gas station that sold tire gauges for makeshift crack pipes. From this gas station turned basketball court, to community gardens and dog parks, East Village has taken advantage of empty space and programmed it, creating attractions for visitors. Downtown should follow suit. Every vacant lot in our city’s core should have something cool on it to bring people Downtown, like temporary patios, skating rinks, and street markets. We need to give Calgarians a reason to visit.

And we need to give existing residents places to build community. When the East Village transformation started, many people who called the area home lived in deep poverty. We intentionally built amenities like playgrounds, dog parks, and community gardens where people from disparate demographics could come together. We were intentional about building a diverse neighbourhood and not displacing existing residents. The same must occur Downtown.

Invest in sidewalks and streets

If we want Calgarians to stay Downtown, we must invest in the public realm. That means parks, pathways, tree-lined sidewalks, and so on. Some parts of Downtown have the narrowest sidewalks in the country. Many are crumbling and in need of replacement. The lessons from East Village are clear. We must transform our core from a vertical office park into a place where people want to be. Think about the potential that exists in Downtown West, with the river just steps away.

We treat our core like a place to go through, rather than go to. For decades we’ve lamented that Downtown empties out after 5 p.m., yet its entire transportation system has been built for that quick exit. Cities around the world are humanizing their downtown streets to attract new residential, new talent, and new industries.

Let go of the past and offer incentives

Speaking of change, we must finally let go of the past. We’ve been lazy with our Downtown. We’ve waited for it to recover, because it always has. But times have changed. We know those office towers won’t fill back up with oil and gas companies. It’s also complicated and expensive to convert office towers to residential. They’ll sit empty if we don’t find a way to make conversions easier. We must look at financial incentives, tax holidays, and energy retrofits to spur development in our core. To attract private development in the East Village, we invested to show the area was worth exploring. Let this serve as inspiration.

What next?

We intentionally invested in that future for East Village nearly two decades ago. Transforming our core from a vertical office park to a vibrant neighbourhood will take the same intentional change. I recently stumbled upon old photos of East Village in the early 2000s. I gasped as I saw just how far this neighbourhood has come. When I walk through East Village today, it’s easy to forget the big fights, the sleepless nights and the sheer determination that it took to transform this place. Building a Downtown core that will welcome future generations won’t be easy. But East Village shows us it can be done and Calgary will be better for it.

I won’t be running for re-election this fall. It won’t be me championing our Downtown into the coming decades. We need bold leadership around the council table to ensure our Downtown is transformed into a true community where people will want to live, work, learn, and play for years to come. City-building is no easy task but, after 20 years around the council table, I can tell you it is worth it.

We need to build a downtown for all of Calgary. When the new Central Library opened its doors in 2018, I visited every day during its first week. I watched as Calgarians would enter the stunning atrium, pause, look around, and take it all in. I watched tears stream down faces. This space was theirs. It was built for them. East Village shows transformation is possible. It’s worth the hard work. We can, and we must, build a downtown that future generations will be proud of.

Cllr. Druh Farrell, Ward 7 City Councillor

Office of the Councillors
P.O. Box 2100, Stn. M
Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M5

www.druhfarrell.ca

p. 403.268.4428 │ f. 403.268.3823 │ e. ward07@calgary.ca

EVNA's got a new logo!

Business & Arts — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 15:00:00 GMT

The following article can be downloaded as a PDF here.

If you can believe it, East Village Neighbourhood Association (EVNA) is now 10 years old! We have seen a lot of changes to our neighbourhood in that time and added many new faces. To celebrate this milestone and to reflect the growth of our community, we are delighted to debut our brand-new logo with you, our family of #EVneighbours! We believe this new design reflects our community’s growth and embodies our core values perfectly!

The new logo features a colourful cityscape, with five buildings of various shapes and sizes, plus our iconic George C. King “Skipping Stone” Bridge in front. This imagery helps differentiate our neighbourhood from others in the city, as we are uniquely high-rise oriented. The six vibrant colours help convey our fun and lively nature, while also paying homage to the diversity of East Village’s residents and guests.

Below the cityscape lies our nameplate in a seventh colour, steel-blue. Two versions of the typographic elements are used: our full name is for regular use, while the shortened “YYCEVNA” name is reserved for social media platforms. Anchored beneath the nameplate is a graphical representation of the brick pavers that permeate our neighbourhood and make our streets so unique. By using this brick pattern, and incorporating orange within its new rainbow of colours, the new logo gives a loving nod toward its predecessor. Likewise, the words “East Village” continue to be the dominating text, as the neighbourhood remains the central focus of the association.

The new logo is finished by being wrapped in a double-lined circle of steel-blue to illustrate the unity and resiliency we’ve shown through the years. Whether it be the losses felt by decades of urban renewal schemes, the devastating floods of 2005 and 2013, or the socially-isolated pandemic of 2020, we think you’ll all agree that this neighbourhood has seen and been through a lot of hardships. But getting us through it all is a strong and compassionate group of diverse individuals who care and help their neighbours in times of need. This is the true heart of the community that we aimed to capture within our new logo.

Our Revitalization Committee was established last year in response to the opportunity afforded us by COVID-19’s pause on ‘normal’ life. The committee was given the time and resources needed to look inward and renew EVNA’s outlook for the coming years. This included overhauling our website and communication tools, as well as updating our vision and mission statements. Our vision at EVNA is to support an inclusive, thriving, and vibrant East Village where all are welcome to live, learn, work, and play. Our mission is to encourage conversation and interaction to create a sense of belonging and ownership for all who live work and play in East Village. We believe our new logo imbues these statements wonderfully with playful colours, familiar patterns, and a unified design. We are thrilled to show off this new logo with our #EVneighbours and hope you are excited about it too.

Visual Identity Guidelines

What better time to celebrate 10 years of EVNA than in the month that we also celebrate love and family? Help us fulfil our goals of community engagement and connection by joining our family of members and volunteers! You can register as a member, or learn more about volunteering by clicking these links! We hope to hear from you all soon!

Alpha House Contact Info

Business & Arts — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 03:27:23 GMT

The following has been provided to us from our community partner, Alpha House, which can also be downloaded here as a PDF:

Who to contact and when

WHO	WHEN
Alpha House Hostel 24/7 Building Line (587) 437-8798	If you have a concern directly related to the hostel, such as noise or a garbage concern or if you have good reason to believe an issue involves an individual utilizing the program at this building.
911 Emergency Services	If you believe that anyone’s safety is in jeopardy or you see a violent/criminal situation occurring.
Calgary Police Non-Emergency Services 403.266.1234	If for any reason you feel that the situation should be dealt with by or reported to the police, but there are no threats to anyone’s safety, such as witnessing what appears to be a drug deal. Police will attend on a lesser-priority response time.
Alpha House D.O.A.P. Team 403.998.7388	If you observe a vulnerable individual who appears to be intoxicated and requires support.
Alpha House Needle Response 403.796.5334	If you find a needle in the community and want assistance getting it picked up.
Alpha House Encampment Team 403.805.7388	If you see an individual "rough sleeping" who may be in need of support

Chateau Rooms (Originally, St. Louise Aparments, pre-1916)

Vice President — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 21:32:42 GMT

Tales of our Past — Historic East Village

Chateau Rooms

(Originally known as St. Louise Apartments until 1916)
Section 15, Plan A, Block 39, Lots 25-26
428-430 Seventh Avenue SE.

Community Heritage and Family History – Digital Library - Calgary Public Library – Alison Jackson Photograph Collection. Chateau Rooms, 430 7th Avenue S.E. c. 13-Aug-63

This three-and-a-half storey “Tenement House” intended as moderately-priced accommodation for newcomers emigrating to Calgary, was constructed in 1910, during the boomtown period, (Building Permit #306/1908), at an estimated cost of $4,000.00. Although the architect is unknown, the owner was P.A.G. Rodrigue, a contractor. He also built for $500.00 in 1908, the dwelling where he lived at 427 6 Avenue S.E. (Lots 14-15, Building Permit #41/1908).

The building was vernacular design and its most unusual distinct feature, rare in Alberta, boast a 2-storey veranda which ran across the front façade. This placed emphasis on the 2nd storey which was the main entranceway reached by a staircase with railings, from the sidewalk, reminiscent of a style common in urban Quebec. The veranda was embellished with wooden trellis work, which consisted mainly of angular pieces of wood. There was no attempt at any carving or scroll work.

The façade was broken up into three distinct units with the ground level and 2nd storey level each containing 3 entranceways. Also, there was a back porch.

ROOMS TO RENT
FURNISHED

CHATEAU ROOMS
420 Seventh Ave. East - 35¢ and 50¢ daily;
$2.00 and $2.50 weekly.

A CLASSIFIED AD found in the Western Farmer and Weekly Albertan, Calgary. Thursday, April 23, 1925. Page 9

The foundation was concrete, there was no basement. The exterior was wood, covered with a cream-coloured brick. The windows were double hung with 9 on 9 glazing and set within plain wooden frames. Above each was a segmented arch in the brickwork. Little attention was apparently paid to the windows and trim on the other sides of the building. The doors were also set within plain frames and each was surmounted with a small hinged transom window above the doorway providing lighting.

Projecting from the wood and shingled sloping mansard roof was vertical dormer windows on the lower slopes, and the flat area on top was surrounded by metal fleur-de-lis, (the emblem of the Province of Quebec).

Upon perusal of the original City of Calgary- Assessor’s Department History Card of Inspections, the building had 36 rooms, one Bath Room, 15 Plumbing fixtures in fair condition, stained fir floors/trim, stove heating and 2 chimneys.

In 1920 improvements were made to the lower level. At a later time the building was divided into 27 rooms, two of which belonged to the building manager. There was a central lounge space in the middle of the building with staircases rising up on either side of it and one staircase rising to the 3rd floor in the centre of the building. In 1948 Storage Sheds and a Garage were provided.

In 1949 the building was sold to a new owner, Jacob (Jack) Laven.

The final owner was business man, Mr. Harry Binsky who said he spent thousands of dollars on the building to improve fire standards, thus bringing it up to code.

Mr. Binsky, together with his wife, Mrs. Rosalie Binsky, owned five lots and believed that the value of their five lot package had been decreased considerably because the Chateau Rooms was located in the middle. Mr. Binsky offered the Chateau Rooms free to Heritage Park in the late 1970’s, but backed off when told he’d have to pay the moving costs.

Because Mr. Binsky wanted the building off his property, he next offered to participate with a developer, (and attractive concessions), in its removal to a small City park which was located on the corner of 4th Street and 7th Avenue S.E. The reluctance of the City of Calgary, Planning Department, to grant more concessions, or to sanction the move of the building to a new City owned site, created a stalemate.

The building was at one time placed on a list of about-to-be investigated sites by the Historic Sites Board of Alberta as a Provincial Historic Resource, at the insistence of the City Planning Department, Special Projects Division, as it was considered a fine example of Calgary’s architectural heritage, but negotiations came to a standstill.

Community Heritage and Family History – Digital Library - Calgary Public Library. Alison Jackson Photograph Collection. Chateau Rooms, 430 7th Avenue S.E. c. 13-Aug-63

On Friday, June 6, 1980, a city building inspector rushed to the building shortly after 1pm when city officials were tipped a bulldozer was on the site, and handed Binsky a stop-work order which was in effect until a demolition permit was issued. By then, the front and back verandahs were down, although the rest of the building was intact and the bulldozer had left.

Apparently no demolition permit had been issued, nor was there any record of an application for a permit. Mr. Binsky said, the Demolition Contractor he hired, Bill Wearmouth, was to have obtained the necessary permits. The rest of the building will not come down until a permit is issued, Wearmouth said. He also said, nothing was amiss because taking off the porches did not constitute demolition.

However, once a building is designated as a historic resource by the province, it cannot be demolished or altered without permission.

In an interview, Mr. Binsky said that he did not know the building was being considered for provincial designation as a historic resource. When faced with to meet requirements), he evicted the tenants and decided to turn the site into a parking lot for the meat equipment business he operated next door. (Butchers & Packers Supplies Limited).

A letter under date of November 14, 1980 to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Binsky, from the Minister Responsible for Alberta Culture, as guardian of historic resources at the time, Mary J. LeMessurier, informed them the Chateau Rooms was not worthy of designation. Architecturally, the building which was just one of a small handful of older buildings of any sort still standing in 1980 in Calgary’s East Village, was then demolished shortly thereafter.

Community Heritage and Family History – Digital Library - Calgary Public Library. Alison Jackson Photograph Collection. Chateau Rooms, 430 7th Avenue S.E. c. 14-Aug-63

Researched and compiled by: M.P. (Pat) Hooper
Word processing by: Susan Hooper
[With special thanks to Carol Stokes, Archivist, City Clerk’s Office]

'Twas the night before...

Marketing — Fri, 25 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the village

Not a creature was stirring, not even an elf;

The cookies were out with drinks of eggnog galore,

In knowledge that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The neighbours were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of Christmas lights danced in their heads;

My friend in her toque, and I in my hat (found it!),

Had just settled down for one last toast before bed.

When out in 5th Street Square there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the couch to see what was the matter.

Away to the patio I flew like a flash,

Tore open the doors and stepped out on the deck.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a bright red sleigh, and eight hungry reindeer,

With that old slave driver, my boss and my friend,

I knew in a moment my time here was up.

More rapid than 24 days. I swear that it was,

So I leaned over the rail, and whistled, and called “Hey Santa!”

"Hold, just a moment! Wait ‘til you hear! Now, now, listen in awe!

The Village! Oh my! Dog parks, and art walks, and friends that were made!

To the library, architecture divine! To crab shacks and Bounce, games for all!

Dash away! dash away! I’m not ready to go, not even at all!"

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

So we jumped in the elevator, no dallying around,

There on the rooftop St. Nicholas came with a bound.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

He laughed as he said, “oh Derek, it really is cherry!”

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke just a word; “STAY”, I knew then from home I could work,

Clasping my hand with a really big grin; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up towards the Tower lights he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EAST VILLAGE, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!

Light up the Village Pt 3

Marketing — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 04:00:00 GMT

Whoa! It looks like the north pole outside! I’m no longer dreaming of a white Christmas because we definitely got it!! Whoa! It looks like the north pole outside! I’m no longer dreaming of a white Christmas because we definitely got it!! I've been seeing so many newly lit balconies. Do you think we'll get to 300? Our neighbours over at the @verveyyc are making it interesting for their residents!

Visiting St. Patrick's Island

Marketing — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 01:00:00 GMT

A few days ago I went on a mini urban hiking experience at St. Patrick’s Island. It’s so cool to be able to be surrounded by nature just a few steps from my home away from home! It’s got some pretty cool spots to watch the river and the geese who are still here even in the winter?! And guess what? I even saw that there is a curling area too. I’m really embracing the Canadian winter experience! I hope that next year I’ll be able to try it out with some friends (COVID-19 permitting of course).

Something that I wish I brought with me to this trip was a sled, I didn’t know you had a giant hill that I can toboggan in! Even without a sled, I still enjoyed the views from the top. You can see the City from up there! Oh look that’s where I live!

Art Walk

Marketing — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 00:00:30 GMT

Good Day Neighbours! It’s been a few weeks now of getting to know each other and I think we are starting to have a pretty good friendship! The type of friendship where you tell each other anything! You might not know this about me yet...but I LOVE a photo opportunity! Maybe it’s because I’m from the North Pole, but there are only so many times you can take a picture with a snowman before it looks forced. I confess, I have been going on a regular Art Walk right here in the EV; it’s been magical, sometimes the light is perfect and the colours really pop and Voila! Another amazing Selfie! I call it the “Elfie”.

I like to start my walk with Julian Opie’s computerized LED-animated piece called Promenade, it really gets me moving! Along the Riverwalk you can see Ron Moppet’s Tile Murals, Katie Green’s photographic installation and look across the river and see Bloom a sculpture by Michel de Broin on St. Patrick’s Island.

Over at the Library, I like waving hello to Christian Moeller’s three-piece sculpture, TRIO (they are the kind of friends you can have without ever saying a word).

I like to end my walk at the Bounce Game Park, the murals named Found Home, by MAUD always make me smile, because I feel very at home here in the EV. I might even use a couple of these “Elfies” to send out for my Christmas card this year!

Nordic Loop

Marketing — Sun, 20 Dec 2020 23:30:00 GMT

I was out just going for my Sunday morning walk when I came across the sign for the Nordic Loop! How exciting! It’s a 1 km loop around Fort Calgary and you can use your cross-country skis and snowshoes – this makes me think of what we have back home. Although I’m not complaining that we’ve been having the warmest weather but we might need a little bit more snow to use the track. I checked the weather forecast and it’s looking like we might be able to try it out in the next few days. If you’re looking for me, I’ll be here doing my laps – woosh woosh!

Kale, Tomatoes, Carrots, Oh My!

Marketing — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 23:00:00 GMT

Have I mentioned how at home I feel here yet?(wink wink-chuckle chuckle) It’s exciting to countdown the days until Christmas, but I’m really going to miss you when it’s time to go back to the North Pole.! I’m thinking maybe there’s a way I can talk Santa into letting me stop by the East Village during the summer. Picture me in shorts and a tank top , sunglasses, and a lot of SPF 50!

Maybe it’s a ‘ north pole thing’, but it’s always been my dream to grow my own real vegetables, in a real garden. So naturally, I have become obsessed with the East Village Community Garden on my daily walks; sure, it’s all snowy now, but I can imagine tall sunflowers, towers of tomatoes, kale blowing wistfully in the wind. What would you grow?

I better make my case to Santa soon, because registration opens for the garden on March 1, 2021.

Confluence Cookie

Marketing — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 02:00:00 GMT

It wouldn’t be Christmas without stack of classic cookies that taste like home! Passed down through generations of ‘Star Elf Bakers’, I always make my great grandmother Elf’s Christmas classics: Shortbread and Ginger Cookies!

This year on my visit to the East Village, I’m going to try new cookie twist for Christmas 2020! Inspired by my visit to the confluence of the Bow River and the Elbow river in the East Village, I am creating a new holiday treat the Confluence Cookie: half shortbread and half ginger cookie! How will you make your confluence cookie? Swirled? Stacked? Half and half?

Bow Shortbread:

        •       1 lb butter (or 2 cups, or 1 brick)
         •       1 c icing sugar
         •       1 c cornstarch
         •       3 c flour
         •       1 tsp almond flavouring

        1.      Cream butter until fluffy, add icing sugar and cornstarch
         2.      Add flour and knead until dough cracks
         3.      Roll into small ½ tsp balls, lightly flatten
         4.      Bake at 350 degrees until delicate brown (approx. 10 min)

Elbow Gingersnaps:

        •       1 c brown sugar
         •       ¾ c butter
         •       2 tbsp molasses
         •       3 tbsp maple syrup
         •       1 egg
        •       1 tsp vanilla
         •       1 tsp fresh grated ginger
         •       1 tsp cinnamon
         •       1 tbsp powdered ginger
         •       ¼ tsp cloves
         •       2 cups flour
         •       2 tsp baking soda
         •       Pinch of salt

        1.       Cream butter and sugar.
         2.      Add molasses, syrup, egg, vanilla & ginger
         3.      Beat until blended.
         4.      Add spices and mix in.
         5.      Add flour, soda and salt, mix.
         6.      Roll into little finger size lengths or small balls.
         7.      Place onto parchment or greased cookie sheet
         8.      Bake at 350 degrees for 12 - 14 minutes

Combine them for the Confluence Cookie!

Do you like my new hat?!

Marketing — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 01:00:00 GMT

You might have noticed that I am no longer wearing my classic holiday elf hat. All these selfies look glamorous, but it ain’t easy! I must have taken off my hat to get just the right angle on my slim elf features and left it somewhere. Every day is so exiting and new, so it was bound to happen. Let me know if you spot around will you?

I mean, I really think I am starting fit in here, and ready for a “EV” look. My new hat could be something colourful and big?

Or something shiny?

On my daily walk about the EV, I was so happy to find many new hat options right here. AND I definitely look like a local. What do you think?

Light up the Village Pt 2

Marketing — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 02:00:00 GMT

Have you seen the poster for light up the village? I feel like you did— since my walk last week it looks like there are at least 220 lights! We’re so close to our goal of 300. I bet if we do, Santa can see it as he flies by when delivering presents on Christmas Eve. Yipeee!

Here are some pictures I took of the neighbourhood!

Contactless book pickup!

Marketing — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 20:00:00 GMT

Well, it’s wintery and cozy in my EV home away from home. A visit to the Calgary Public Library today will mean I have new books to snuggle up with tonight! The library is offering curbside pickup these days to keep things safe and convenient! How awesome is that! I just show up and they hand me my books!

One of the perks to being an elf is that you can make any place you visit feel like a fun playground. The library building is really an extraordinary architectural landmark (an elf on the shelf’s dream come true), but have you seen the stair handrails! Perfect for sliding down!

When I said I feel at home here, I meant it. The people and landscape are really making this elf feel less like he is 100 million miles from home. I mean, it’s pretty easy for me to make my own fun being the 11” tall party animal that I am, but there are also times where an elf likes to put on his glasses, find a nice comfy spot on a shelf and catchup on some reading. How will you make your own fun this holiday season?

Topsy turvy!

Marketing — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 20:00:00 GMT

Happy Monday East Village! I don’t know about you, but this chilly Monday has me feeling very flipsy tipsy....and topsy turvy. When you are an elf like me just visiting from the North Pole, sometimes things seem a bit...upside down.

To cure a case of the Mondays, I stopped to ponder the unique public art piece “Device to Root out Evil”, by world famous artist Dennis Oppenheim, here in the EV square. Glass, aluminum, steel! Oh My! Just like me, this public art piece has travelled the globe and making stops and “crashing” in few cities along the way. I better let Santa know about this sculpture, so that he doesn’t get mixed up on which way is “up”, when he lands his sleigh in Calgary’s East Village!

Well, even for a little elf like me, this upside-down church has me feeling right side up again and ready to continue the holiday count down in the East Village!

Cozy Sunday in

Marketing — Sun, 13 Dec 2020 21:00:00 GMT

Adventuring is my game, Derek is my name! Gotta tell ya though, some days just call for cozying up and taking in other people's adventures! So, Christmas movie marathon it is!

I'm sure you can guess such movie I started with today. The quintessential Christmas movie of course!

What really makes a movie Christmas though is the spirit and memories behind it. I remember being just a wee elf watching this movie with friends and then getting our mouths washed out with soap from the older elves as we spent weeks quoting it! Now it's an annual tradition and I even like the taste of soap now!

What's your Christmas tradition? Do you have a favourite movie? What's your favourite line? On this chilly day fill my heart with Christmas stories, East Village!

Bounce around

Marketing — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 20:00:00 GMT

Thought I'd take this great day to check Bounce! Man, are you guys lucky to have all these places to play here in the East Village! I'm going to be demanding some renovations and development in the elf village when I get home, let me tell you!

Unfortunately, it was maybe a little too chilly today? Being from North Pole this weather is practically balmy! It's ok if I didn't find any friends today, I also found an Instagram worthy photo spot right outside Brewer's Apprentice and uh.... maybe a growler full of Christmas cheer as well!

Holiday Granola Recipe

Marketing — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Another Friday and another daytime fun time! These little legs are finding with all this walking around the East Village I’m getting human-size hungry! We whipped up a batch of holiday granola to make sure I fuel up before a day of exploring. This recipe makes a lot of granola! Perfect for sharing! I have made so many friends here in the EV, thought I’d drop off a few bags at my neighbours' doors as a yummy surprise!

Recipe:

Ingredients:

6 cups oats

1/2 cup nonfat dried milk

1/2 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup wheat germ

1/2 cup coconut

1/4 cup sesame seeds

2/3 cup honey

2/3 cup vegetable oil

2 tablespoons water

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

In a large bowl combine dry ingredients. Stir together honey, oil, water, and vanilla and add to dry mixture. Stir to coat well. Turn into 2 large shallow pans or cookie sheets. Heat 300 degree oven for 25-25 minutes or until cereal is lightly toasted. Stir twice during heating, every 12 minutes. Let cool, stir occasionally during cooking.

Optional additions after it has cooled: Add 1 cup chopped nuts, 1 cup raisins, or some chocolate chips

Elephant in the Room

Marketing — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 18:00:00 GMT

Alright folks, I need to address the elephant in the room, no, no, not the one in the picture, he’s a chill dude. I know you guys are under heavy restrictions now and this won’t be the normal Christmas season. And like you, I had some plans that just aren’t going to work out. It’s tough, there is no way around it.

But just ten days here in the East Village and one of the first things I discovered is what an incredible group of amazing, kind-hearted, and resilient people make up the neighbourhood I have gotten to know firsthand. I may have the magic of the North Pole but that is nothing compared to the hearts and energy East Village has!

We all need a little joy now, and I want to spread some joy, so tell me what brings you joy! I’m Derek. I’m the joyful, joybringing, enjoying joy elf! It’s on my business cards even. Also I just really like how the word joy sounds!

Light up the Village

Marketing — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 18:30:00 GMT

Derek's Adventures: Decorating is hard work! But I gotta keep up! You guys went all out! I asked for a hundred, I got 175. Well then, the game is afoot!

EVNA reminded me that East Village neighbours do NOT mess around. A real challenge then eh?

Let’s Light up The Village and get 300 light displays! Light up your window, your balcony, your car, your bike? Whatever you want, let’s get lit!

Speaking of challenges, apparently there are some rules about unidentified flying objects zooming between buildings, no matter how magical! Since I can’t put my magical elf skillz to use, want to help me out #evneighbours with better photos?! DM your favourite light displays around the neighbourhood. Some of you are up pretty high, just chilling on your balconies is like flying anyways!

One for the "nice" list

Marketing — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 21:00:00 GMT

I got thinking about the "list" side of my mission from Santa, so I figured I would present some nice things you #evneighbours have been up to!

Gotta keep the red man satisfied if I want to stay on vacation. Er…I mean, on assignment. Thank you, East Village for making it the easiest thing in the world, and now I can go back to sipping some Christmas libations! I popped into the INK building and discovered what those INK’sters are up to! They're collecting non-perishable goods for the @calgarydropin. They only started a few weeks ago and they're already on their 3rd box!

Let me know the acts of kindness that your building, friends, & family are up to! I wanna hear all about it. No really I do, not just trying to get you to do my work for me...

Meeting Mochi!

Marketing — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 23:30:00 GMT

Hey #evneighbours, are you sure it's December here!?! Like it's not some Calgary time warp back to fall? Another day, another new friend.... This one was a little furrier mind you. Mochi and I met at that amazing dog park your East Village has, might have to see about getting one for the reindeer outside of Santa's shop.

Speaking of reindeer, went for a little ride around the park...uh...it did not go smoothly.... Good thing I'm an adventure loving elf!

Visiting St. Patrick's Island & Meeting More Neighbours

Marketing — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 19:00:00 GMT

I’ll let you in on a little secret. I didn’t want to tell you where I am staying in the East Village. Not because I don’t want you to know, but hey, let’s face it, if word gets out, then I’m in the media, paparazzi is all over me, and to tell you the truth; I’m staying with friends. They just wouldn’t be able to handle the attention.

Anywhoo, I have another secret. Christmas magic isn’t about gifts and shopping or baking. That’s all nice but the real magic is the Christmas in people Today, East Village... you really showed me a good time. Wow! Nice points galore! You get nice points! You get nice points!

EVERYBODY GETS NICE POINTS!

Checked out St. Patrick’s Island. Went for a bike ride with this guy (he’s totally on Santa’s A list). Met the gals for a picnic (they know how to roll). I met Mike He took me for a ride on a seriously tricked out red scooter (Santa digs red). Speaking of scooters, saw a duo of lovely ladies struggling with a scooter mishap. Let’s just say that the two men who stopped to help are definitely on Santa’s “nice” list. Remember; Derek is watching.

East Village needs a Hygge

Marketing — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 22:00:00 GMT

How you doin’? I’m Derek. International Elf of intrigue…yeah, that line gets me pretty much no where. Yet, I am an International Elf of… oh, okay right.

This is really my first trip anywhere, but I’ve learned a lot about the world from reading Santa’s letters and eavesdropping on morning cocoa conversations between Mr. and Mrs. Claus. What? I’m an Elf on a shelf. Don’t judge me. I eavesdrop. It’s my thing. I thought that I came to Calgary prepared. It’s cold, there’s snow. No one told me about the Geese and no one told me to expect a Hygge Hut. Right here in East Village! Not kidding! Right on the Riverwalk. It’s very Hygge. Covid covered. A chance warm yourself and talk to your neighbours by the warmth of a fire. I personally find the weather really hot! Not what they described at all, but everyone keeps telling me that it gets cold! Okay. We’ll see.

I’ll leave you today with a little advice from an International Elf of Intrigue (stop laughing). Beware of your plastic bits in a Hygge Hut. Jus’ sayin. No reason. I’m fine.

Orange you glad to see me?!

Marketing — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 19:30:00 GMT

Afternoon #EVneighbours! Wow! Can’t get over how friendly and welcoming the people here in East Village are! Found myself a cohort over in the Orange Lofts and after some wine and talking and punning....yes that’s a word, got down to some Christmas baking of sorts. Since I know we all need a little cheer thought I’d share this awesome activity we came up with: Dried Orange Slices! Not only do they make your place smell great, they have so many uses! Garland, ornament, part of a wreath, perhaps a drink garnish? Mulled wine anyone?

This was such a blast my cohort and I are already planning for more Friday afternoon creative sessions. Send me your ideas, the punnier the better! Oh, and tasty too!

Craft: Orange Slices Ornaments or Garland

Since many of us are staying home holiday season (with the recent Covid-19 restrictions), decorating indoors can help make it feel festive and fun.

The ingredients for this craft are simple, and you may even have everything you need already in your kitchen! The best part is that this craft makes your home smell so good, it is affordable, and easy on the environment!

Materials list:

· Oranges

· Sharp knife and cutting board

· Cookie sheet

· A wire baking rack if you have one OR parchment paper

· Bakers twine, yarn, thread (for hanging/stringing finished slices)

· a yarn needle if you have one

· Scissors

· *patience

How to Make Dried Orange Slices

1. Slice orange into 1/4” or 1/8” slices; go slowly and carefully when cutting with a sharp knife in a gentle back and forth sawing method to keep the slices crisp and avoid any squeezing or pressing. Evenly cut slices are ideal and if you see any seeds just pull them out as you proceed.

2. Use paper towel or a kitchen towel to gently blot dry the slices from dripping juice

3. If you have a wire baking rack place it on top of the cookie sheet or place a sheet of parchment paper on the pan instead.

4. Lay your slices on the rack or on top of the parchment paper, as close together as possible without overlapping and keeping the slices round

5. Set your oven at its lowest baking temperature (typically 170 or 200 degrees).

6. Dehydrate your orange slices slowly for several hours at this low bake temperature, turning the slices each hour. The slices will get thinner and translucent, so check often to avoid oranges curling and get brown. Remove when almost dry and allow slices to cool and finish drying on a cutting board or rack. The oranges should feel light and look like stained glass!

How to make a simple ornament:

If you have a needle you can thread it with some twine or thread and simply poke the needle inside the orange close to the rind, pull through a couple of inches before cutting, make a loop and tie a knot. Voila!

Alternatively, you can poke a hole with a skewer, nail, or scissors (anything small and pointed) and then gently pull your twine through, cut, and tie the hanging loop.

If you have some metal ornament hangers, you can also use them; just poke it in and hang it!

To make an orange slices garland:

Consider the appropriate length of twine, thread, or yarn and the length of the finished garland.

If you have a needle you can thread it with some twine and simply poke the needle inside the orange close to the rind and pull the twine through leaving about a 12” (at the end of the first orange). Poke through about 1” apart to string your slice.

It is also easy to poke holes at 11 and 1 o’clock on each orange slice and pass the twine through. If you wrap the end of the twine with some tape it makes it easier to poke through. Space the oranges so they don’t overlap.

It’s fun to play with different types of twine, add cinnamon sticks, beads, etc. for some extra festive charm.

Any extra dried rind or slices can be displayed in a nice dish, or garnish a cheese plate, or attached to a present for decoration.

Experiment and try drying lemon and lime slices too!

Visiting the Riverwalk

Marketing — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 17:00:00 GMT

Woah, definitely not at the North Pole anymore, Dorothy! The Riverwalk to the East Village is busy and exciting. Very few sleighs and I didn't see any reindeer, but lots of dogs who want a bite of my yummy breakfast sandwich and by the way, the Canada Geese are on the naughty list. Rather hissy and surprisingly fast on their feet.

It was good to have a run though, but thankful for the many places to sit, rest, chat, and admire.

Biking, running, walking, so many of you out and enjoying your gorgeous Bow River. I'm not used to seeing water that isn't frozen, although I understand that it does freeze and probably will and that's when the Canada Geese are a little more "chill". – see what I did there?

Beautiful Balcony Lights

Marketing — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 01:30:00 GMT

East Village! I’m loving your amazing night lights!

Sure, I am used to the Aurora Borealis aka Northern lights, and yeah… I think East Village, let’s light it up! Show me your balconies! I’m a balcony Elf… what can I say?

Let’s light up the night, decorate the dark and show Calgary that the East Village is brilliant, bright, and lit! I bet we can get to a 100 or more light displays. I’ll be counting and reporting back to Santa!

I hear that the East Village Neighbourhood Association may have access to extra lights, so if you want to play along and need some help from these little elf hands, I brought a little magic along with me. I’m a Christmas Elf. I’m Derek. Let’s get the magic started.

Derek has arrived!

Marketing — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 17:00:00 GMT

Day 1

Good morning #evneighbours! Comet flew all night and look, arriving in time for this beautiful sunrise! A relaxing morning, drinking some coffee, walking towards the Riverwalk path just outside Bookers BBQ Grill & Crab Shack and the Riverfront Pointe condos! Just beginning my East Village journey and it's looking like a point to the nice side already!

Derek is coming to town...

Marketing — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 15:30:00 GMT

Hey #evneighbours! It’s me; Derek! Thank you for swiping right on me! I was really looking forward to a break from all the busy activity here in the North Pole. This time of year is exhausting and yet, exciting!

Santa is finally giving me an outside assignment! Comet (with permission from the Flying Reindeer Union 12/25 chapter) has agreed to fly me to Calgary, and I will be in the East Village on December 1!

We don’t really know each other yet, so I won’t tell you where I am staying, but, as a tourist, I will be checking out all the many East Village attractions and reporting back to Santa. Santa wants to know the usual… naughty, nice… blah, blah, blah. I have personal ambitions. Hey, I’d like a movie deal too! So, I have some ideas about how to make the next 24 days, well, magical. Stay tuned East Village… Derek is coming to town.

Update for our EV Neighbours | 2020 AGM

Business & Arts — Sat, 31 Oct 2020 14:00:00 GMT

As you may already know, your East Village Neighbourhood Association held its 2020 Annual General Meeting last week at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel on October 24th. This AGM was to have been held in March of 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID 10 pandemic.

During the meeting, financial and community reports were presented; proposed amendments to EVNA’s bylaws were presented, voted on, and passed; recognition of community members made; and a new board of directors elected.

If you were unable to attend, you may now watch the AGM presentation on our website. You may also view EVNA's 2020 Report to the Community online, or download the PDF here.

At a subsequent board meeting, officers of the board were elected, and director and coordinator roles established as follows:

President - Ken Peach
President@yycEVNA.org
Vice President – Tom Jenson
VP@yycEVNA.org
Secretary – Jenn Machin
Secretary@yycEVNA.org
Treasurer – Allison Hay
Treasurer@yyycEVNA.org
Events Director – Althea Panaguiton
Events@yyycEVNA.org
Marketing Director – Ashley Rode
Marketing@yycEVNA.org
Planning Director – Addie Suchorab
Planning@yycEVNA.org

Garden Coordinator – Susan Hooper
Garden@yycEVNA.org
EV Street Fair Coordinator – Jennifer Hadley
StreetFair@yycEVNA.org

Please ensure your contact records are updated accordingly. You may view our personal bios online here.

For more East Village news and EVNA events,
please visit our new website at
www.yycEVNA.org
and follow us on social media @yycEVNA

Thank you for your continued interest in the affairs of our neighbourhood.

Sincerely,

The Board of Directors,
East Village Neighbourhood Assocation

Info@yycevna.org
www.yycEVNA.org

Central Library opens wellness desk offering free mental health support

Vice President — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 20:20:00 GMT

Central Library opens wellness desk offering free mental health support

Written by Chandler Walter for DHNews Calgary

The Calgary Central Library just got a brand new addition.

A release from Calgary Public Library states that their newest and busiest building is now home to a wellness desk that offers free mental health support to library visitors.

“The Library is evolving to meet the needs of our city during an unprecedented mental health crisis, one which has worsened due to a pandemic,” said Mark Asberg, CEO for Calgary Central Public Library, in the release.

“The Wellness Desk will offer a welcoming, safe, and discreet opportunity for all members of the community to seek help with mental health concerns or issues.”

The desk is available to visitors on a drop-in basis on afternoons and early evenings. The desk features mental health professionals from Wood’s Homes, a children’s mental health centre that has been operating in Calgary for over a century.

“Wood’s Homes is proud to be providing mental health services at the Central Library’s new Wellness Desk,” said Bjorn Johansson, CEO for Wood’s Homes, in the release.

“Service accessibility and immediacy are contributors to improved mental health, especially in these times when many of us need help and support. We have a longstanding reputation with the community and see this opportunity as another step in ensuring that Calgarians know we are here to help.”

The support services will be free for all visitors of the library, thanks to the financial support from the City of Calgary, RBC Foundation, and donors of the Calgary Public Library Foundation.

The Wellness Desk is located on level 3 in room 3-19A and will operate until December 31.

Read original article on DHNews Visit The Calgary Public Library's Wellness Desk

EVNA's Annual General Meeting 2020

Vice President — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 18:00:00 GMT

The East Village Neighbourhood Association (EVNA) invites you to our

Annual General Meeting 2020
on Saturday, October 24 at 10:30am
at Hilton Garden Inn (711 4 St SE).

While event registration is not required, it is appreciated.
Register Here

The AGM was postponed from our usual spring schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently we were given the OK to resume in-person meetings as long as we maintain physical distancing requirements and wear masks while moving around the space.

Agenda:

Introductions & Welcome
Call to Order
Reports to Community
Voting of Proposed Bylaw Amendments
Community Members Recognition
Present Board Nominees
Voting on Board
Adjournment

For more information, please check out our new website:

Click here to learn more about becoming a member

Click here to learn more about EVNA's current Board of Directors

Click Here to review EVNA's existing and proposed bylaws

All residents are encouraged to join us, though only members prior to September 24, 2020 are entitled to vote on the incoming Board of Directors and the proposed updated Bylaws being presented.

If you have any questions in advance, or if you would like to put your name forward as a nominee for the Board of Directors, please email secretary@yycevna.org.

We look forward to seeing you there!

7 ST SE Road Closure - Permanent

Vice President — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 18:57:15 GMT

7 St. S.E. Closure

The following Information Notice is from Calgary.ca; hard copies were delivered to East Village residents' mailboxes this week.

7 St. S.E. and the west Elbow River pathway, from 9 Ave. to MacDonald Ave. S.E, was closed on April 8, 2019, to accommodate construction as part of the 9 Ave. S.E. Bridge replacement project.

Following completion of this project, 7 St. S.E. will remain permanently closed. The West Elbow River pathway along 7 St. S.E. will be re-opened for pedestrians and cyclists once construction is complete.

This decision has been made based on a thorough review of the area by The City, including consideration of the Beltline Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) and CMLC’s Rivers District Master Plan, which support closing 7 St. S.E. to vehicle traffic to enhance the safety and experience of those who walk and wheel along this route.

Community and business access for all modes of travel will continue to be available as outlined in this map:

For more information, please visit: Calgary.ca

Construction begins on Village Commons

Vice President — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 01:13:40 GMT

Construction begins on Village Commons in Calgary’s East Village

Original article from Calgary Newsroom

This community space is a partnership between Calgary Housing Company, carya, and Calgary Municipal Land Corporation

Calgary Housing Company (CHC), in partnership with carya and the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC), is excited to announce the start of construction of Village Commons – a brand new community hub that will be located on the second floor of CHC’s East Village Place (610 8^th Ave SE).

On September 24^th from 11AM – 1PM we will be hosting an event in East Village’s 5^th Street Square (712 5^th St SE) to provide a taste of what is to come at Village Commons.

After an extensive process to determine the programs and services desired by residents and the community, CHC found the perfect partner in carya – an organization with more than 110 years of creating healthier, more connected communities in Calgary. It was critical to find a strong partner that could operate a sustainable program without subsidies from CHC’s residential operations.

“We are pleased to have found such great partners, and that we are able to be part of developing an important resource for the community,” says Sarah Woodgate, President of Calgary Housing Company.

Village Commons will feature a community kitchen designed by Group2 Architecture Interior Design Ltd, in partnership with their kitchen consultant, Burnstad Consulting, an art studio for classes and self-directed creativity, recreation spaces, a family counselling centre, and common areas for neighbours to get to know each other. All Calgarians will be welcome to learn, cook, create, and access the mental health supports they need to thrive.

“carya got its start in East Village in 1910, so we’re thrilled to be coming full circle with Village Commons,” says carya CEO Monique Auffrey. “After months of isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this community gathering space will be more important than ever.”

65% of East Village residents live alone, which means that social isolation is an ongoing concern. Village Commons will join existing landmarks such as the Calgary Public Library, Salvation Army, and Studio Bell as an important place in the neighbourhood to gather, access resources, and build community.

“I am really quite excited about this project,” says area Councilor Druh Farrell. “It’s another piece in the puzzle of a diverse new community coming together. carya does such great work – I know the programs they offer will be a great value to seniors, families and other residents of East Village.”

Through partnerships with the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation and the Calgary Flames Foundation, Farm Credit Canada, and others, carya has already begun to imagine what programming in Village Commons will look like. Alongside new food and nutrition opportunities, many of carya’s existing programs will be offered in the space, all at either no or low cost. Funding and donations, including a grant from the Government of Alberta’s Community Facility Enhancement Program, are helping to make this possible.

carya will connect with an estimated 24,000 people from all ages and stages of life in the first five years of opening the new space. Village Commons will open its doors in early 2021.

CHC is also pleased to be partnering with CMLC who will project manage the construction project. CMLC brings significant project management expertise as well as important perspective as the agency responsible for the implementation of the East Village Master Plan.

“East Village has evolved into a vibrant mixed-use community with a diverse mix of residents. carya’s Village Commons enriches the community and brings an important community space where residents of all ages are welcome,” says Kate Thompson, President and CEO, CMLC.

Additional commercial space on the ground floor of the building is being offered for lease with the goal of locating tenants who will further contribute to the rapidly evolving neighbourhood.

CHC purchased East Village Place in 2016 and currently provides 163 affordable homes in the building.

East Village Courtyard Development

Vice President — Tue, 05 May 2020 18:00:00 GMT

Four-phased East Village development returns to Calgary Planning Commission

Written 2020-05-05 by Anosha Khan at LiveWire.com

More neighbours, more vitality, more customers for local businesses.

That’s what the East Village Courtyard development could mean for the southeast Calgary neighbourhood.

The development permit application is being heard at the Calgary Planning Commission meeting on May 7. It’s a mixed use development site with residential suites, office and retail space.

“It’s an exciting development. It’s the next step in East Village,” said Ward 7 councillor Druh Farrell.

The development application was first submitted by Gibbs Gage Architects on Dec. 1, 2015, but multiple concerns about the application had to be addressed and several revisions have been made since then.

“It’s come a long way from its original design and I’m pleased to support it,” Farrell said.

East Village project specs

There will be four phases to the development. One will include one 15-storey residential tower. A second will have a 24-storey residential tower. The third will be an 11-storey mid-rise office tower. The final phase will have a 33-storey residential tower. The area will include retail and consumer services and public art and open space within the central courtyard.

“Every new resident that’s welcomed into East Village helps us get toward the critical mass that we need for a thriving community, it helps with the local businesses,” said Farrell.

It brings in a lot of new residents and office space, which is something the area is lacking, said Tom Jenson, the planning committee director at the East Village Neighbourhood Association.

“We have a lot of surface parking in the center area right now which doesn’t add to the vitality of our community, to have these empty spaces,” he said.

“So filling that in is probably the biggest benefit.”

Area hostel lost with redevelopment

The site sits on an entire block that includes the area of 6 Avenue SE and 7 Avenue SE and between Riverfront Lane SE and 5 Street SE. The area is currently home to a parking lot and the HI Calgary City Center Hostel, which will be demolished.

“I think the loss of the hostel that’s currently on the site is a loss not just for our neighbourhood but also for the city,” said Jenson

“We won’t have a downtown hostel like that anymore once this has started.”

According to Farrell and Jenson, there are no major concerns with the site.

“With any major development there’s always mixed reactions,” said Jenson

“There’s always going to be some pushback but I think overall it looks like it’s going to be a really nice development and really add a lot to our community.”

He says in general, the community of East Village has accepted that it’s expanding and that new developments are coming in.

Timeline for the East Village development

In terms of the pandemic and the overall economic situation, Farrell said the city’s is looking at developments that have full intent to build.

“I think we will see a slowing of the economy,” she says.

“But I’m always pleased when we see developments moving forward and the economical activity and the jobs associated with it.”

Jenson describes the issues as a “blip in the overall scheme” and that it won’t have a huge impact aside from perhaps a few timeline changes.

The development will predominantly bring positive changes to the community.

“It just helps complete the vision that we started a decade ago,” says Farrell.

Jenson mentions that the association is always looking to participate in all of the development permit applications.

“We’re excited to see where these kinds of developments will take us in the future.”

Read original article at LiveWire.com

Update:

File Number: DP2015-4974
Applicant: GIBBS GAGE ARCHITECTS
Status: Approved (July 07, 2020); pending release

East Village Street Fair 2020 - Cancelled

President — Mon, 04 May 2020 18:00:00 GMT

Dear EV Neighbours,

After lengthy discussion and consideration of public safety due to the global COVID-19 outbreak, the East Village Neighbourhood Association (EVNA) has decided to cancel our annual East Village Street Fair that was to take place on Canada Day. With the current physical distancing and large gathering restrictions put in place by the Alberta Government and The City of Calgary we are not able to continue on July 1, 2020 as we had hoped.

We are already busy planning the 2021 East Village Street Fair for July 1 of next year and are excited to bring a bigger, better Street Fair to our community to celebrate our beautiful country, the resilience of our community, and the vibrant and diverse neighbours living in and around the East Village.

To our loyal vendors, we appreciate your continued support, patience, and understanding during this difficult time. Furthermore, for those vendors who have already purchased a spot for this year’s event, we have decided to reserve/hold your spot at next year’s Street Fair event 2021, at no additional cost, and irrespective of any potential price increases or fees.

We anticipate and hope that Street Fair 2021 will be a more successful year with much greater traffic as a result of the inevitable relaxation of COVID-19 pandemic measure that are currently in place.

To this end, we hope and wish that our friends, neighbours, and entire community are staying safe and we look forward to seeing you all at next summer’s East Village Street Fair event.

Follow our social media channels @yycEVNA to stay up to date on this and other East Village events!

Warmly,

EVNA Board of directors

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Chateau Rooms (Originally, St. Louise Aparments, pre-1916)

Tales of our Past — Historic East Village

Chateau Rooms

(Originally known as St. Louise Apartments until 1916) Section 15, Plan A, Block 39, Lots 25-26 428-430 Seventh Avenue SE.

'Twas the night before...

Light up the Village Pt 3

Visiting St. Patrick's Island

Art Walk

Nordic Loop

Kale, Tomatoes, Carrots, Oh My!

Confluence Cookie

Do you like my new hat?!

Light up the Village Pt 2

Contactless book pickup!

Topsy turvy!

Cozy Sunday in

Bounce around

Holiday Granola Recipe

Elephant in the Room

Light up the Village

One for the "nice" list

Meeting Mochi!

Visiting St. Patrick's Island & Meeting More Neighbours

East Village needs a Hygge

Orange you glad to see me?!

Visiting the Riverwalk

Beautiful Balcony Lights

Derek has arrived!

Derek is coming to town...

Update for our EV Neighbours | 2020 AGM

Central Library opens wellness desk offering free mental health support

Central Library opens wellness desk offering free mental health support

EVNA's Annual General Meeting 2020

Agenda:

7 ST SE Road Closure - Permanent

7 St. S.E. Closure

Construction begins on Village Commons

Construction begins on Village Commons in Calgary’s East Village

This community space is a partnership between Calgary Housing Company, carya, and Calgary Municipal Land Corporation

East Village Courtyard Development

Four-phased East Village development returns to Calgary Planning Commission

East Village project specs

Area hostel lost with redevelopment

Timeline for the East Village development

Update:

East Village Street Fair 2020 - Cancelled

(Originally known as St. Louise Apartments until 1916)
Section 15, Plan A, Block 39, Lots 25-26
428-430 Seventh Avenue SE.