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The future for those diagnosed with *** cancer, as well as the home building industry, is about to get a whole lot brighter. Pinkwood has officially launched the first installation of its fire, mold and moisture resistant flooring products in Calgary. Homes built with this innovative product are easy to spot, as the home frame stands out in bright Pepto pink. While the colour of the homes proves the protection added to these homes, the colour pink means a lot more to Pinkwood president James Lind. “The home building industry in Calgary and Alberta has always been a very strong supporter of various charitable activities. We have been fortunate enough to partner with the Canadian *** Cancer Foundation, which is our inspiration for the bright pink colour.” One cent of each linear foot of Pinkwood product produced will be donated directly to the foundation, which averages about $25 for every home built with the product. “When this future home owner take possession of this house, he’s not only going to have the piece of mind of knowing that his home is protected from fire, from mold, from fungus, from rot, he’s also going to have the satisfaction of knowing that he contributed towards a worthy cause,” Lind says. The first Pinkwood home is being built in the community of Chestermere, east of Calgary, by Greenboro Homes. Ryan Armstrong, director of operations with Greenboro, explains that not only are they supporting additional safety, health and security to home owners, but providing lasting support to a worthy cause. “The difference between Pinkwood and a lot of our charitable donations is this is going to be ingrained in our DNA,” he says. “We’re constructing homes in this product. You can see this product on our houses forever.” Tamara Smith was at the official launch on behalf of the Canadian *** Cancer Foundation and received on their behalf a cheque from Pinkwood. “This is just by far the most innovative and creative partnership that we’ve ever been involved in,” Smith says. “We’re just so honoured that Pinkwood has chosen to partner with us. Clearly it’s a good fit, and it’s such a great opportunity. This partnership definitely brings us a step closer to our goal of a future without *** cancer.” There’s still more brightness coming up this week. The community of Cranston and Carma Developers will be holding a Summer Hawaiian Luau at Century Hall, the first public summer event since it opened in March 2010. The event runs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on August 29. Learn to hula, enjoy some Polynesian nosh and have fun in the water park. Admission is free and open to the public. Click to read full article
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Kevin Carmichael Washington — From Wednesday's Globe and Mail Published on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2010 7:23PM EDT Last updated on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2010 12:47PM EDT The longer term benefits of tougher financial regulation significantly outweigh the short-term cost of forcing lenders to hold bigger reserves, the world’s leading financial authorities conclude in two reports meant to counter the darker forecasts of the international banks that are resisting change. Central banks and regulators accept that financial institutions will pass any increased costs from higher capital standards onto their customers, which would hamper investment for several years. But the tradeoff is the prospect of a future with fewer and less severe banking crises, an intangible that nonetheless more than offsets what likely would be a minor decline in investment. The research was done by the Basel Committee of central banks and bank supervisors and the Financial Stability Board (FSB), which seeks to co-ordinate the work of international banking authorities. The two reports, which are scheduled for release Wednesday, were obtained by The Globe and Mail. “The analysis shows that the macroeconomic costs of implementing stronger standards are manageable, especially with appropriate phase-in arrangements, while the longer term benefits t financial stability and more stable economic growth are substantial,” Mario Draghi, chairman of the FSB and governor of the Bank of Italy, said in a statement. Mr. Draghi’s assessment of the impact of the stricter requirements being pushed by the Group of 20 nations clashes with the international banking industry’s own conclusions. In June, the Institute of International Finance (IIF) released a report that found the G20’s proposals would reduce gross domestic product in the United States, the euro zone and Japan by three percentage points by 2015, a loss of output that would otherwise create 9.7 million jobs. The bankers and the regulators use different methodologies, so it is difficult to compare the conflicting research. Around the time of the release of the IIF’s research, finance ministers and central bankers from the G20 said they would give banks more time to adjust to the regulatory changes, a shift that acknowledged the risk that weaker investment posed to the global economic recovery. For Full Article click here
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The industrial real estate market is showing signs of recovery as the vacancy rate continues to drop and developers are expected to start on new projects as early as the end of this year. Vacancies decreased for a second consecutive quarter in Calgary’s industrial market as more properties were occupied and the slow pace of new construction continued. A report by Colliers International in Calgary said the vacancy rate dropped to 5.36 per cent from 5.89 per cent in the second quarter of this year. “This was driven by three large transactions of 50,000 square feet or more,” said Joe Binfet, managing director of Colliers International. “While rental rates are holding firm in the tighter large-bay market, rates are softer in the small- and mid-bay market as there are more options available to tenants.” There has been nearly 1.5 million square feet of positive absorption year-to-date, which has already surpassed the total absorption level from 2009. Absorption is the change in occupied space from one period to the next. Binfet said developers are still hesitant to start construction on new developments, but he believes this will be short-lived. “As positive absorption continues to increase and with no new supply coming to the market, rental rates will rise and interest in spec development will return,” said Binfet. The Colliers report said if a developer commenced construction on a new building today, the earliest it would be available for occupancy is the first quarter of 2011. “There is only 18,720 square feet of construction underway that is available for occupancy. Look for at least one more quarter of decreasing vacancy, positive absorption and a moderate increase in net rental rates before speculative development commences again,” the report says. A report by Inducor Real Estate Solutions said the industrial real estate market has significantly fewer properties available for sale or lease now compared with June 2009. “Leasing demand in the past year has been less than purchase demand, resulting in lower rental years than previous years,” said the report. “From June 2009 to June 2010, net rental rates declined by seven per cent for properties over 50,000 square feet, by 10.3 per cent for those 20,000 to 50,000 square feet and by 9.3 per cent for spaces 5,000 to 20,000 square feet. “After several years of significant increases, net rental rates have been declining steadily since June 2008. Since then, net rental rates are down by 23 per cent, 20 per cent and 20 per cent in these segments respectively.” Chris Saunders, managing partner of Inducor, said the consecutive quarters of a declining vacancy rate, a slower pace of decreasing rental rates and sale values, and developers preparing for the next cycle are all indicators of a recovering industrial market. “The declining vacancy rate is the result of very disciplined developers combined with steady-eddy demand that has been the trademark of our industrial market for the last 15 years or so, even through the recession,” said Saunders. “It was slower demand, but at least there was always a certain level of activity occurring. This steady demand has been chipping away at a consistent supply level so now vacancy is declining. Click here for more
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Iain Marlow Globe and Mail Update Published on Thursday, Jul. 29, 2010 2:22PM EDT Last updated on Thursday, Jul. 29, 2010 5:54PM EDT In an effort to win the lion's share of Canadians waiting anxiously for the new iPhone 4, which comes out on Friday, Rogers Communications Inc. (35.930.481.35%)is offering big discounts to its existing iPhone customers. Unlike when the first iPhone came to Canada, Rogers does not have an exclusivity agreement for the newest version of the wildly popular smart phone: Both BCE Inc. (31.50-0.07-0.22%)'s Bell Mobility and Telus Corp. (40.86-0.11-0.27%)will offer service for the iPhone 4, and currently offer the existing iPhone. In the United States, AT&T Inc. (25.98-0.04-0.15%)is the only provider that Apple currently allows to offer service for the device. If a Rogers customer bought an iPhone on contract before June 7, 2010, when Apple Inc. announced the iPhone at a developers conference, they can receive up to $480 off the device's full price -- meaning, the cost of the device without a handset subsidy and contract from the wireless company. If a Rogers customer bought their iPhone on a contract between January 1, 2009, and June 7, 2010, they get $250 off the non-subsidized device; if they bought the device on or before December 31st, they get $480 off. The iPhone 4 is also available on a subsidized three-year contract at Rogers for $159, for the model with 16 gigabytes of memory, and $269 for the 32 GB model. Bell and Telus have not yet released pricing for the iPhone 4, but pricing between Canada's largest three providers, for both devices and data plans, tend to be relatively similar. As the price of voice calls drops drastically, carriers are looking towards wireless data revenues -- from customers surfing the Web, emailing, and streaming video -- to compensate. Much of Rogers' recent revenue growth has been because of wireless data, a lot of which comes from iPhone users. Late on Thursday, Bell announced that anyone who buys the iPhone 4 with them on a contract will get data plan offering 6 GB per month for the duration of the contract – which can be shared with a iPad for an additional $10 per month. Currently, users are not allowed to split existing data plans between the two devices. Bell offers iPad data plans starting at $15 for 250 megabytes and $35 for 5GB. When the iPhone first came to Canada, Rogers was the only carrier with a network capable of handling the device and providing a rich user experience. However, in November 2009, Bell and Telus launched an advanced network together that was fully capable of supporting advanced smart phones. Both wireless carriers soon started offering service for the iPhone and have gradually eroded Rogers’ lead in picking up new subscribers, though Rogers still has roughly as many smart phone users as Bell and Telus combined. For full article click here
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Kelowna, BC (July 15, 2010) – RE/MAX sales associates and support staff across Canada raised over $100,000 for the Canadian *** Cancer Foundation on May 29th through Yard Sale for the Cure. The funds support *** cancer research, health promotions and training fellowships that are leading to real progress in the fight against *** cancer. “RE/MAX is wholly committed to the Canadian *** Cancer Foundation’s ultimate goal of creating a future without *** cancer,” says Marie Sheppy, Senior Coordinator, Corporate Affairs, RE/MAX of Western Canada. “It’s a goal we’ve taken to heart and one that inspires. That’s why, each year, Yard Sale for the Cure prompts greater participation and creativity, as each RE/MAX office strives to surpass the previous year’s goal. The level of enthusiasm is simply remarkable.” Over 50 RE/MAX offices from coast to coast participated in the annual fundraiser this year. RE/MAX has raised close to $500,000 through Yard Sale for the Cure nationwide since 2006. “At RE/MAX, we have a history of getting behind vital causes that make a real difference in the lives of Canadian families,” says Christine Martysiewicz, Director of Internal and Public Relations, RE/MAX Ontario‐Atlantic Canada. “We’re proud to take a proactive role in leveraging the resources of our Canadian network and our position within local communities to save lives. We feel Yard Sale is more than a fundraiser; it’s a lifeline, and its impact is multi‐faceted. Every time we hold a Yard Sale event, we’re helping to raise awareness as well as much‐needed funds, and it really brings our people together in a meaning ful way.” Yard Sale for the Cure funds the most promising *** cancer research in communities across the country and raises awareness about *** cancer. RE/MAX has been involved with the Canadian *** Cancer Foundation since 2004. The company also introduced its exclusive “Sold on a Cure” program to help raise additional funds for the charity. The program allows participating agents to make a donation to the Canadian *** Cancer Foundation whenever they help a client buy or sell a home. “RE/MAX is leading the way to a future without *** cancer,” says Sandra Palmaro, CEO of the Canadian *** Cancer Foundation. “The Foundation is so proud to have such a committed partner. Since 2004, RE/MAX has contributed over $1.2 million to *** cancer research that is making real change happen.” Click here for more information
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Roger Martin and Alexander Wood From Friday's Globe and Mail Published on Friday, Jul. 09, 2010 3:00PM EDT Last updated on Friday, Jul. 09, 2010 6:36PM EDT With Canada having hosted the G8/G20, much needed attention should now be given to a number of challenges facing the Canadian economy in the coming years. The first is our woeful productivity performance, and the second is climate change. The two will have an impact on our future prosperity, and both are – in ways that are not always well understood – linked. Although Canada is a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and successive federal governments have announced policy packages designed to address our international commitments on carbon pollution, we have – at least at the national level – never put in place a carbon-pricing policy. This despite the fact that many economists believe that such a policy is the one necessary element of any effort to reduce the carbon emissions that are at the root of climate change. The explanation for that is quite simple: Pricing carbon translates into higher energy prices, at least from energy sources that are carbon-intensive. And politicians have yet to find the will or the way to call for higher energy prices. But for those willing to look beyond the painful outcomes that higher energy prices are assumed to bring, what is becoming clearer is that the relationship between carbon pricing, energy prices and the economy is not necessarily a negative or even neutral one. A growing body of evidence is showing that pricing carbon can be good for the economy. The logic underlying such an argument is fairly straightforward. Carbon pricing can help drive innovation in technologies and business models that promote resource efficiency, particularly in relation to energy. For a country such as Canada, which annually ranks among the most energy-inefficient economies in the world, this presents a huge opportunity. That is because there is an increasingly strong case for how improving resource efficiency translates into improvements in productivity, which is the Holy Grail of competitiveness for economies such as Canada’s. As Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney and others have pointed out, the private sector in this country does not typically invest enough in new capital. This means its processes and practices are not always at the leading edge of efficiency and productivity, especially when compared with some of our trade competitors where such investment is the norm (the United States being the prime example). The result has been, in the words of economists at Toronto-Dominion Bank, a record on historical productivity growth that is “appalling.” With this in mind, we have recently sought to answer three key questions. First, can a carbon-pricing policy support the development of a vital and innovative green technology sector in Canada? Second, can it increase both the employment of Canadians and their productive output? Third, under what conditions is such a scenario likely? Original Article
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As12,000 young hockey players hit the ice this weekend for the 31st annual Esso Minor Hockey Week, many will be lucky enough to play in the handful of sparkling new arenas recently built around the city. But many aging inner-city rinks are in need of urgent repairs, including costly new ice plants that are difficult to fund during a recession. City officials say it may be time to look at bulldozing and rebuilding some of them, as their maintenance costs begin to exceed the amount it would take to build a new one. Jim Murphy, general manager of the 40-year-old Huntington Hills community rink, admits that funding annual maintenance is a struggle. Several projects in Huntington Hills are always being left on the back burner, said Murphy. And while municipal and provincial grants are available, the amounts have to be matched by the community, leaving overall funding always less than what's needed. "There seems to be more of a trend towards capital establishment of suburban rinks," said Murphy. "And for us, coming up with the funds we need can really be a challenge." Some maintenance has been done on the Huntington Hills arena's ice plant in recent years, but the rink needs upgraded electrical components, renovated washrooms, change rooms, flooring and new glass around the boards. Ed Wahl, manager at the Triwood rink in Charleswood, built in 1972, said it, too, is struggling to come up with money for matching grants. "There may be as much as $275,000 available a year through matching grants, but we usually get less than $50,000." Wahl said his wish list is long, including upgrades to the ice plant, a new control panel and oil coolers, an upgraded roof and a new ice resurfacing machine. West Hillhurst, one of the city's older communities, where teams played on outdoor ice in the 1950s until the indoor arena was built in the 1970s, is also looking at a long list of facility maintenance, including roof replacement to improve temperature control. "It's a struggle for everybody," said Darren Oxbury, executive director with the West Hillhurst Community Association. "There just isn't enough grant money available to get these places in the condition that we'd all like to get them in." But as they age, demand for innercity rinks grows as children's and adult groups seek ice for hockey, figure skating or ringette. Murphy stressed that even though they're struggling with upkeep, innercity community rinks provide important services for everyone from seniors to preschool groups. City officials admit that deciding between funding the construction of a new facility or providing grant money for the maintenance of an aging one can be difficult. Since a 2006 feasibility study said Calgary needs 10 to 12 new rinks for its growing population, six new arenas have popped up around the city and its surrounding area. They include two sheets at the Edge School in Springbank, two in Cochrane, one at Max Bell and one opening this month at the old Family Leisure Centre, now called the Trico Centre. With Edge School being built with private funds and the Cochrane rinks paid for by another municipality, the city has only had to invest in two of those six rinks. Max Bell received $11 million in funding while the Trico Centre got $9.5 million. Still, several more rinks are under construction, thanks to financial help from the city and province. A new sheet at Centennial Arenas is expected to be complete by 2011 while three new rinks are slated for Canada Olympic Park by the end of 2010, and a fourth will be complete by 2011. As well, the South Fish Creek Recreation Association is rapidly fundraising for two more arenas to be built within the next three to five years. The city has committed $39 million to help build all of those projects. "We actually should have enough rinks to meet population projections by 2012," said Shelley Shea, manager of arenas, athletic parks and sports development. "There is a lot coming on stream." But Shea admitted that not much money has been available for aging inner-city rinks. A feasibility study to come in front of council by 2011 is expected to outline if the city's recreational needs are being met, and what the future holds for aging rinks. Since it's getting harder to cover the older rinks' growing maintenance costs, Shea said the city may have to look at knocking down some single rinks and building twin arenas at the same sites. "I don't know of any new money coming their way. There's always a shortage of money for older rinks just because they cost so much more to operate," she said. Ald. Ric McIver, whose ward includes the new Trico Centre, admitted it can be difficult to prioritize between old and new rinks. eferguson@theherald.canwest.com © Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald |
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 Calgary’s Downtown safety initiative, Clean to the Core, is paying huge dividends according a recent Calgary Police Service report.
At the annual review of the Clean to the Core and Centre City Safety Impact Team (CCSIT) on Nov. 5, it was announced that downtown crime has reduced significantly.
The report shows that from January to August, crime against people in downtown dropped from 655 during the same months in 2008 to 543 in 2009.
"When Clean to the Core was created three years ago, we were experiencing issues around safety and cleanliness in Calgary's Centre City," said Lorna Wallace, Centre City Implementation Project Manager. "Now, thanks to collaboration and the hard work of over 30 dedicated partners, including The City and many businesses, workers and citizens, we're seeing the positive results that only come about when we work together.”
It’s this holistic approach that has lead to a drop in crime in 2009 compared with the previous three years.
“We’ve tried to break down silos and work constantly together with our partners to work toward a greater Centre City, “said Wallace.
Since its inception in 2006, the Clean to the Core program has added 68 downtown beat officers, 29 bylaw officers, 10 Calgary Transit peace officers and 20 EMS personnel at a cost of a bout $4 million annually. These resources coupled with 16 surveillance cameras installed in three downtown locations and improved C-train lighting equates to a price tag of just over $16 million to date.
At the annual review, Mayor Dave Bronconnier told the crowd that the budget will include another million dollars in funding next year.
The Clean to the Core initiative also includes keeping Centre City’s streets clean. In 2009, Tomkins Park Automated Public Toilet has received about 40,000 uses, 727 kilometres of sidewalks have been swept of almost 11,000 kilograms of debris and 50,000 kilograms of newspapers are estimated to be recycled in the core with new paper recycle bins.
Over 10,000 graffiti tags have also been removed (Here is a link to the pilot project).
“The Centre City is a great incubator for new ideas,” said Wallace, using the successful litter and cigarette-butt bins being used in the core as an example.
***Graph shows property crime's drop from Sept. 2008 to Aug. 2009 compared to the previous three-year average. Social Disorder and Person crime also trend downward.
Original Article
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Calgary’s inner city community got a healthy shot in the arm last week with the opening of the new Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre in the Beltline. Located between 12th Ave. and Fourth St. S.W., the centre will provide a variety of community-based programs and clinics that will serve those who work, visit and live downtown. The Calgary Health Region’s brand new 300,000 sq. ft., eight-storey facility will take over where the previous downtown health centre on Eighth and Eighth left off when it closed its doors at the end of March. “We’re very excited about the opportunities this new health centre will provide to the downtown and inner city population,” said Thelma Inkson, vice president of the Calgary Health Region (CHR). “By consolidating a number of services into this location, health care providers are better able to work together to diagnose and treat patients and better serve the needs of the community.” Urgent care is one of the first services to open at the centre, which will be available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Urgent care is for adults and children experiencing unexpected health concerns that are non-life threatening but require same day treatment, including fractures and sprains, lacerations, asthma, mental health crisis, dehydration, pain and infection. “Urgent care at the Eighth and Eighth Health Centre was the first of its kind in all of Canada,” said Rob Abernethy, vice president and associate chief medical officer for the CHR. “We are building on its success with the opening of the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre and we’re very excited because this is in direct response to the health care needs of a growing, vibrant downtown.” Other services offered at the centre include diagnostic imaging services like x-ray, CT scans and MRI scans, Calgary Laboratory Services, the Southern Alberta HIV Clinic and Safeworks, the City of Calgary’s program to fight sexually transmitted disease. Additional services will continue to open throughout the year. Construction will be split up into four phases and will include the opening of several services such as a mental health mobile response team, a sexual assault response team, a dental clinic and an adult aboriginal mental health program. The Alberta government provided $82 million in 2005 to fund the construction of the centre and is built on the site of the Colonel Belcher Hospital which opened on June 7, 1919 to care for veterans of World War I. The historical significance of the centre, which has provided health care services to Calgarians for almost a century, has not been lost in the new project. Sixty pallets of the red brick from the old Colonel Belcher facility were salvaged for use in the Sheldon M. Chumir Centre. The brick will be embedded into the on-site walkways to serve as a reminder for the former centre. The centre is named after Sheldon Chumir, a former member of the board of directors for the CHR. Chumir served the community in many ways and was also a Liberal MLA for Calgary-Buffalo, a noted philanthropist, a tax lawyer, a university lecturer and a businessman. He was also a Rhodes Scholar and strong supporter of the Calgary Beltline area. In fact, he grew up only eight blocks away from the building that bears his name. Chumir died in 1992. “Sheldon was a genuine, caring person who worked very hard to help those who were unable able to help themselves,” said N.D. “Skip” MacDonald, a CHR board member. “He was a strong advocate for the less fortunate in life. A lot of the health services that will be offered at the health centre are for these people so this is a fitting tribute to Sheldon’s memory.” —Dan Leahul is the Resident Reporter for the Calgary Real Estate News Read Original Article
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Affordable 2 storey 3 bedroom home
• 1,076 sq. ft., 1 bath, 3 bdrm townhouse -  MLS® $195,000 Forest Heights, Calgary - ** WOW ** AFFORDABLE**, 2 Story 3 Bedroom, Family home, townhouse style with NO CONDO FEES. This home has being loving maintained and upgraded over the years. This home is ideal for the FIRST TIME HOME BUYER This large CORNER lot is FULLY FENCED, with off street parking for 2 cars. Close to Transportation, Schools, and Shopping on a quiet CULL-DE-SAC Developed Basement, NEW DECK, 2 STORAGE SHEDS, & Portable Garage, are all included. Move in and enjoy IDEAL FOR YOUR FAMILY. ** INVESTORS ** This will easily cash flow, should rent for at least $1300 min. AND NO CONDO FEES,, with today's INTEREST RATES you can't go wrong Nothing to do just move in your tenants, and start collecting the rent. Property information
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A break in gasoline prices and a few deals at the mall drove inflation down in Alberta again in November, with consumer prices inching up 2.1 per cent from a year ago. While deals were sure to be had at the gas pump, where prices were down 12.4 per cent, consumers did have to dig a lot deeper for necessities such as fresh fruits and vegetables, natural gas and shelter costs. ATB Financial senior economist Todd Hirsch attributed the price jump in fruits and veggies in part to a weaker Canadian dollar. However, he noted November's overall inflation rate is a continuation of a downward slide that started in June, when inflation in Alberta was 4.4 per cent. "Alberta's inflation figures are being swept lower by falling commodity prices, especially crude oil and gasoline, but also by softer consumer demand," he said. Still, Canada's inflation was two per cent in November, the first time in two months that Alberta's inflation edged higher than the nation's. Released Friday, Statistics Canada's Consumer Price Index for November showed that the price of food in Alberta was up 7.3 per cent on a year-over-year basis, led by a 29 per cent jump in fresh vegetables and an 18.8 per cent jump in fresh fruit. The price of cereal puffed up 15.2 per cent, and meat, excluding poultry, rang in 12.6 per cent higher. Natural gas rose 6.4 per cent. Shelter costs were also up, 4.3 per cent. Calgary saw a 2.4 per cent rise in consumer prices in November on a year-over-year basis, while Edmonton had 2.2 per cent. Yellowknife was the highest at 4.7 per cent, and Saint John, N. B., the lowest, at 0.7 per cent. Regionally, still-booming Saskatchewan experienced the greatest price pressure with the annualized rate rising to 3.2 per cent. Last week, the Bank of Canada cut its trendsetting lending rate by 75 basis points to 1.5 per cent in an effort to stimulate the economy. "Overall, this somewhat complicates the Bank of Canada's outlook, as by our calculations it seems as though core CPI could remain above the two per cent level for several months to come," said Charmaine Buskas, economics strategist at TD Securities. "That said, the bank is still going to focus on alleviating the strains on the economy due to the global economic recession and ongoing turmoil in the credit markets," she added. Gina Teel, Calgary Herald; With Files From CanWest News Service;Published: Saturday, December 20, 2008 http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/calgarybusiness/story.html?id=3f43f4a6-1268-4633-ad74-c6abd84f5450
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Rebuilding Canada: Can Our Crumbling Cities Save The Economy? Each morning, Mike Rogers catches a bus at a stop four doors from his house. Mike Rogers takes a Southland transport bus daily from Okotoks to downtown Calgary, paying $240 a month for the service. The Okotoks resident takes his seat at the back--often dozing for a catnap--until he is dropped off an hour later in downtown Calgary."I pay a pretty huge premium," he says of the $240-a-month fee, "but it's worth it." The daily service, operated by local charter bus companies, is offered in several communities surrounding Calgary, including Okotoks, Cochrane, Chestermere and Airdrie. Not only is it convenient for the hundreds of commuters who use the service, it also relieves the pressure on Calgary's congested roadways and crowded C-Train cars. With thousands of residents from outlying centres using Calgary's roads or transit every day, some municipal officials suggest bedroom communities should contribute toward the city's growing infrastructure costs. "Calgary already picks up a disproportionate share -- for example, 12 to 15 per cent of our transit users live outside the City of Calgary,"Mayor Dave Bronconnier has said. "That is being picked up by Calgary taxpayers." This summer, the provincial government announced a$2-billion public transit fund focused on regional co-operation. The plan will be aimed at building public transit infrastructure, including projects such as buying new buses and trains, building regional transit and buying land for rail corridors. Calgary city council will ask the province to pay for the $2-billion southeast leg of the LRT through the new fund, and hopes to improve its chances of getting funding by including commuter buses to neighbouring towns in the plan. Unlike the private buses that Rogers catches each weekday, these ones would be publicly funded and seamlessly connect the bedroom communities directly to the nearest Calgary transit station. Once there is a large enough population, the buses could be replaced by a passenger rail service connecting Calgary with Cochrane, Airdrie, Okotoks, Strathmore and potentially even Canmore. Rick Butler, executive director with the Calgary Regional Partnership, which represents local communities, says the provincial money could go a long way to improving transportation in the region. "The stars are lining up,"Butler says, noting the group had just received a $500,000 grant to explore new transit options when the provincial government announced the$ 2 billion for regional transportation networks. The partnership, made up of 18 communities and one First Nation in the region, is also looking at water usage and land-use planning in southern Alberta. Even companies running the existing private bus service between Calgary and several bedroom centres see a rapid transit commuter system as a good first step. "Any time you put buses on the roads and take cars off the road, it's a good thing for everybody," says Tom Jerersek, general manager of Southland Transportation, which runs the commuter service from Cochrane and Okotoks. Rogers, however, begs to differ. He worries that any attempts to integrate such services will leave more passengers stuck in already crowded C-trains and transit buses. "It would become too convenient," Rogers says. "It will get overused. More people would start to use it. "The fear is that a rail system would probably increase the amount of people in Okotoks." Colette Derworiz, Calgary HeraldPublished: Friday, December 19, 2008 http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=6a4e0f33-a486-46d1-a7db-0c2761e551f8
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Headlines continue to inform us rather harshly that housing sales are down. According to Canadian Real Estate Association figures, Alberta experienced a year-over-year decline in MLS sales of almost 35 per cent, while prices dropped by 4.2 per cent to $338,354. And new construction is also drastically down. That means a big increase in the number of people renting accommodation. Bob Dhillon, president and CEO of Calgary-based Mainstreet Equities has a good handle on the rental market--his company owns more than 5,600 units across Canada; 1,300 of those in Calgary and 1,800 in Edmonton. Mainstreet serves the mid-market range and Dhillon says that his business has been very good over the past while. But the majority of his renters are due to a continuing in-migration of people from Ontario and Quebec where the economy is causing some to seek their fortune further afield. Dhillon says that sector has been particularly strong over the last quarter but yet has been far outweighed by foreign contract workers. The majority of his new renters are from Mexico and the Philippines; they find it easier to rent for the time they are working in Canada. He has 17 men from the Philippines working for his own company, which includes a construction division. Mainstreet specializes in purchasing apartment blocks and upgrading to today's high environmental standards. Although he owns units from the coast to Ontario, Dhillon says he is concentrating on the Alberta market, where he finds a good amount of rental stock for sale. His latest acquisition is a 48-suite block in Cochrane--one of Canada's fastest growing cities. Cash position is excellent and Mainstreet is taking advantage of the decrease in share value to buy back its shares for $6.25 (they currently sit at $5.83). City Search caters more to the executive renter and it also reports a thriving business. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says that Calgary is the most expensive city in Canada for rental properties. Our average is $1,148 per month for a two-bedroom apartment (the same apartment would be $1,095 in Toronto). But that figure is low according to the type of accommodation that City Search leases and manages. It does have condos in the $1,200 to $2,000 range, but most of its properties are in the west downtown and Eau Claire districts, which fetch quite a bit higher. Most newer condos in those areas can ask between $1.75 to $1.90 per square foot, which is down about 30 cents from last year. Furnished units rent for around $2.50 per square foot but in today's market, there is a fair amount of negotiating going on. Armelle Kilpatrick, associate/vice-president property management, says most of its clients are executives and engineers on contract to Calgary companies, generally for two to three years. She says employers today encourage contract workers to rent rather than buy, which avoids having to help sell homes should they want to relocate them to another area. Many come from the U. K., France and India, and those from the U. S. are happy to rent instead of trying to sell their homes back in the States during this depressed time. The company currently has around 250 condos, town houses and houses in its portfolio, with most of the single family homes being in the Mount Royal, Rideau/Roxboro, Britannia and Elbow Valley communities. Its 15 homes in the Mount Royal area are rented out for monthly costs of between $6,000 to $8,500 unfurnished, but partially furnished houses realize from$8,500 to $12,000. Kilpatrick says people owning property in the more exclusive areas of Calgary are shying away from selling right now, so using an agency like City Search to lease, collect rent and manage makes such good sense.
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But to get down to our average of $1,148, there must be many apartments, duplexes and houses available for a lot less and a quick check with the Herald's classified section shows a number of suites available for way under that mark. Within walking distance to the downtown office core you can find several in the $750 to $1,000 range and even homes in outlying districts for around the city average. David Parker, Calgary Herald Published: Saturday, December 20, 2008 http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/lifeathome/story.html?id=c6fc35da-8a85-491f-975d-998389a8f1a7
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Global turmoil takes toll on real estate; Alberta MLS numbers fall 35 per centThe MLS residential market is continuing to reflect the grim economic reality in the country. Sales have plunged from a year ago, average sale prices have dropped and a forecast calls for the housing funk to remain for several more months. According to data released Monday by the Canadian Real Estate Association, sales plunged by 42.2 per cent in November--the second consecutive steep monthly decline -- across the country compared with November 2007. Every province witnessed a sharp drop led by British Columbia at 62 per cent and Ontario at 43.5 per cent. Alberta experienced a year-over-year sales decline of 34.6 per cent.
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Average sale prices also took a hit during the month, falling by 9.8 per cent nationally to$280,880 compared with$311,485 in November 2007. In Alberta, prices dropped by 4.2 per cent to $338,354 compared with $353,125 a year ago. British Columbia registered the steepest drop in prices--12.5 per cent -- to $395,687 from $451,991 in November 2007. September MLS numbers were higher year-over-year in Alberta and it appeared the market was taking a turn for the better, but October coincided with the elimination of 40-year mortgages and zero-down mortgages, said Richard Corriveau, regional economist for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. "With that, we've seen a decline in overall activity. It's not a surprise given the current economic turmoil," he said, adding the province remains in buyer's market conditions. Corriveau said the prospect of further price reductions is helping to postpone people's decisions on buying residential property as they take a wait-and-see approach and are in no rush to buy. "We think this type of market will prevail heading into the first six months of 2009," said Corriveau. "And only when buyers really gain confidence that prices have stabilized, and of course economic conditions are improving as well, only then will we see higher sales. On a year-over-year basis, we don't think that will occur until perhaps the second half of 2009 or even into 2010." New listings across the country were also down by 4.6 per cent compared with a year ago, while in Alberta they were off by 18.8 per cent. "The housing market reflects the economic reality of Canada,"said real estate association president Calvin Lindberg in a news release. The association also said research shows the decline in housing activity so far this year translates into $2.8 billion less in spinoff consumer spending in Canada. On a year-to-date basis to the end of November, sales in Alberta are down by 20.3 per cent from a year ago and national sales are off 16.3 per cent.The average MLS sale price for the period is down by 0.7 per cent in Alberta($353,712) and by 0.3 per cent across the country ($304,462). "These changes in the Canadian housing market reflect a broader and weakened picture of both the economy and buyer sentiment," said real estate association chief economist Gregory Klump in a news release. "National sales activity and price trends will continue reflecting increased cautiousness on the part of lenders and buyers, as the economy works its way." Mario Toneguzzi, Calgary Herald Published: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/calgarybusiness/story.html?id=5373cd39-f881-452b-888f-7d0a74c22ca2
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Citizens averse to multi-family units in their neighbourhoods The LRT line is ugly and in the wrong place. That multi-family building will add too much traffic to the neighbourhood. A highrise near an LRT station doesn't fit, causing cars to cut through the community. Similar complaints from Calgarians are heard often as the city attempts to move forward on plans to add more transit and increase the number of people living in established areas. Those already living there --usually in single-family neighbourhoods-- aren't in favour of change and city council sometimes gives in to the dissent. It's a fine line between Nimbyism and legitimate concern about neighbourhood-altering projects. As the city tries to build up, rather than push further out, these battles become increasingly vital. Adding multi-family units to existing community neighbourhoods are almost always accompanied by people worried about esthetics, traffic or access. Getting around initial community disapproval is a barrier the city must overcome as it moves to put more people within its existing boundaries. "It's human nature to get used to what's around you,"says David Watson, the city's general manager of planning, development and assessment. "Another one of our biggest challenges is that although people say they like the idea of (densifying neighbourhoods) it's always somewhere else, seldom next door. "We have to help people through the changes that take place." Even the local poster-development for mixed-use, high density communities--Garrison Woods --was opposed by neighbours in the planning stages. New fire stations, including one downtown, were both met with residents offering "better" locations. Ald. Druh Farrell, a proponent of transit-oriented development, which aims to put high-density residential and retail around LRT stations, says the key to selling often-unpopular projects is good design and more communication with the affected neighbours. "Density is seen as an impediment. The positive aspects are not communicated," she said. Individual alderman have to stop looking at development around LRT stations as community projects, she says"These aren't ward issues. (Transit-oriented development) is a city-wide issue and requires a thoughtful, consistent approach," Farrell points out. Kim Guttormson, Calgary HeraldPublished: Monday, December 15, 2008 http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=f613e4db-0c46-4ce2-988c-a7f444d88989
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