Watch for Your New and Improved Water Utility Bill

JANUARY 2019
COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER CONTENT

Watch for your new and improved water utility bill

Delivering safe and reliable drinking water, treating wastewater, providing flood protection and maintaining a system of pipes, plants and pumps for a city of 1.2 million is complex.

Reading your bill shouldn’t be.

You told us you wanted your utility bill to be simple and clear. We worked with you to make it easier to see what you pay for and how your rates are calculated.

What’s new?

Starting this month, the water portion of your utility bill clearly outlines your City of Calgary water services. It shows your usage, how it’s calculated and how your rates ensure reliable water service and support critical infrastructure for our city.

Your water charge pays for the cost of treating your drinking water and getting it to you. Your basic service charge enables us to maintain the infrastructure needed to do that.

Your wastewater charge pays for the cost of taking away the water you’ve used and treating it before it’s returned to our rivers. Your bill now shows you are paying for 90% of your water usage rather than 90% of the wastewater rate. The calculation more clearly shows thaton average through the year, 90% of the water you use goes to the wastewater system and a portion (e.g. outdoor watering) does not. While the calculation shown on your bill has changed, what you pay has not.

Calculation prior to bill improvements: 8m3 @ $1.4852/m3 = $11.88.

Calculation now: (8m3 x 0.9) = 7.2 @ $1.6502/m3 = $11.88

Your wastewater basic service charge enables us to maintain the infrastructure to treat wastewater.

Your stormwater basic service charge enables us to maintain reliable street drainage, flood protection and the health of our rivers.

Every business, organization and home in Calgary depends on around-the-clock access to water services. Your rates support us to deliver high quality drinking water, treat our wastewater safely and protect the river – our source of drinking water. Together we make life better every day.

For more information on water rates and reading your bill, visit calgary.ca/waterbill.

Interested in doing a job that counts? The City is hiring civic census takers!

The City’s civic census is conducted annually starting on April 1 and that means census taker recruitment is underway. The City needs flexible workers to help collect this information using mobile tablets.

Census takers are assigned an area to collect census information; areas vary in size, but are generally between 400 and 600 dwellings. Census takers have three weeks to complete the collection in their assigned area. They set their own schedule to get their work done and may be required to work in the evenings and weekends when most people are at home. Census takers need to be able to complete online training at home and be available for an in-person session in March.

Applications can be completed online by visiting calgary.ca/census. Applications can also be completed at The City of Calgary Elections and Census Office (1103 55th Ave. N.E.) between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4p.m. Monday through Friday.

If you or anyone you know would be a good fit as a census taker, be sure to send them to calgary.ca/census to fill out an application. The Elections and Census Office will be selecting applications between Jan. 21 to Feb. 8, 2019.

Calling for Calgary Awards Nominations

The Calgary Awards is one of the largest citizen recognition programs in our city. The City of Calgary established the Calgary Awards in 1994 to celebrate and recognize outstanding achievements and contributions made by Calgarians in the previous year. Each year, individuals, corporations, community groups and organizations are nominated in five major award categories, for a total of 13 awards.

The City of Calgary encourages all Calgarians to look to their neighbours, colleagues, community leaders, local organizations and businesses for those who could qualify as recipients of the Calgary Awards.

The Calgary Awards are for Calgarians. Individuals, businesses, not-for-profit organizations, community groups and other organizations can all be nominated. For additional information, nomination criteria and the online application form visit: calgary.ca/calgaryawards phoning 403-268-8881, or e-mail . Nominations open on Wednesday, January 16, 2019.

Fun Fact

The Calgary Awards began in 1994 as a Centennial project to commemorate Calgary's 100th year as a city and to recognize outstanding citizen achievements. The Calgary Awards celebrate Calgarians who have helped make Calgary the best place to live. Visit calgary.ca/calgaryawards for more information.

New Year’s Resolution - Assemble Important Documents

It’s the New Year again; a time when many are making resolutions and taking steps to be better organized. This January, start small with one task: organize your important documents so that you are prepared for anything, including an emergency or disaster.

In a disaster, your immediate concern will be the safety of you and your loved ones. But, once the immediate danger passes, having access to important financial, insurance, legal, medical, and other personal documents will be crucial to help you start the recovery process quickly.

“Trying to gather up all of these documents during or after an emergency can be very challenging,” said Tom Sampson, Chief of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency. “Taking time now to safeguard these critical documents will help you avoid additional stress when a disaster actually hits.”

What kind of information should you gather?

Identification: copies of driver’s licenses, passports birth certificates, social insurance numbers.
Household: mortgage records, insurance policies, photos of household contents.
Medical: health care numbers, insurance/benefit information, copies of prescriptions, names and addresses of doctors and specialists.
Financial: tax and banking information, credit card numbers and contacts.

Sampson offered the following tips:

Consider storing paper copies at home in a fireproof and waterproof box or safe, in a bank safe deposit box or with a trusted friend or relative.
Store electronic copies of important documents in a password-protected file on a flash/USB or external hard drive in a fireproof and waterproof location, or consider using a secure cloud-based service where you can always get access.
Make sure your documents are together, and easy to grab and go if you needed to evacuate your home.

For more information about how to prepare your family and your home for an emergency,visit calgary.ca/getready. Learn what the risks are in Calgary, how to build a 72 hour emergency kit and take the Calgary Emergency Management Agency’s Ready Calgary course.

Drive safely this winter

Getting safely to your destination is easier with a bit of preparation, whether you are taking shorter trips around the neighborhood or longer excursions on the highway.

Have your antifreeze levels, battery and ignition system, brakes, heater and defroster checked on your vehicle.Install good winter tires for the best traction in slick conditions. Also, driving with your gas tank nearly full ensures that even if you are stranded that you will be able to keep warm until help arrives.

You will also want to have a vehicle emergency kit, with:

Jumper cables
Flares or reflective triangle
Ice scraper
Car cell phone charger
Cat litter or sand for better tire traction
Non-perishable food and water
Blankets, extra warm clothes and winter gloves
Small shovel

Should you need these items, you will be glad you took a few moments to plan ahead.

Safe driving, Calgary! For more information on winter emergency safety, and to learn more about how to prepare your family and your home for an emergency,visit calgary.ca/getready. Learn what the risks are in Calgary, how to build a 72 hour emergency kit and take the Calgary Emergency Management Agency’s Ready Calgary course.

Canyon Meadows Aquatic & Fitness Centre: Maintenance Work

The Canyon Meadows Aquatic & Fitness Centre will be partially closed from January 1 to early February 2019. The pool areas will be shutdown for maintenance, but the weight and fitness rooms will remain open. Canyon Meadows customers are encouraged to take advantage of nearby City of Calgary Recreation facilities during the closure. Visit calgary.ca/CanyonMeadowsPoolfor more information.

Bob Bahan Aquatic and Fitness Centre: Maintenance Work

The Bob Bahan Aquatic and Fitness Centre will be closed from December 3, 2018 to mid-January 2019 for maintenance and renovation work. Bob Bahan customers are encouraged to take advantage of nearby City of Calgary Recreation facilities during the closure. The Forest Lawn Activity Centre will remain open for existing registered programs for the duration of the shutdown. Visit calgary.ca/BobBahanPoolfor more information.

Keep active this winter with The City’s Recreation Program Guide

The City of Calgary’s Winter Recreation Program Guide offers hundreds of fun and affordable recreational opportunities to get you and your family more active, more often. Registered programs include swimming, skating, fitness, arts and sports. With dozens of facilities located throughout the city, there are many convenient locations for you and your family. Registration is now open. To learn more and find a program that’s right for you, visit calgary.ca/register.

Tap into your creative side with The City of Calgary

Think you don’t have a creative bone in your body? Think again! We all have the ability to be creative and programs with The City of Calgary can help you find your inner artist. The City of Calgary is offering hundreds of artistic and creative programs for all ages, interests and abilities, allowing you to get more creative, more often. Performing and visual arts classes range from beginner drawing and painting for adults, to pre-school dance and ballet, clay classes for families, and even belly dancing for those looking for something a little different. Registration is now open. To tap into your inner artist and see which program is right for you, visit calgary.ca/register.

The fun starts after the bell with Calgary AfterSchool

This school year the fun starts after the bell. After school programs are offered by The City of Calgary for FREE or low cost. Youth are provided positive, fun and supervised after school programs in schools, recreation buildings and community facilities across Calgary. Children and youth grades 1-12 can drop into a weekday program in their community and take part in a variety of activities from 3-6 p.m. Activities may include basketball, swimming, arts, leadership, skating, sports and much more.At Calgary AfterSchool, it’s more than just getting children and youth active. These programs are designed to stay productive, increase self-esteem and teach them skills that will follow them throughout their life. Learn more at calgary.ca/afterschool.

Recreation Activities

Saturday and Sunday Splash Swim – $1 for kids
Check your favourite pool schedule for Splash Swims. Admission is $2/adult and $1/child or senior. Search calgary.ca/recreationdeals.

Terrific Tuesdays at Southland Leisure Centre
Tuesdays, 4 - 10 p.m.Come join us for 50% off regular admission. Waterpark access begins at 7 p.m. All ages. Visit calgary.ca/southland.

Wild Wednesdays at Village Square Leisure Centre
Wednesdays, 4 - 10 p.m. Come join us for 50% off regular admission. All ages. Visit calgary.ca/villagesquare.

Toys in the Waterpark, Thursdays at Southland Leisure Centre
Toys in the Waterpark from 7 - 9 p.m. Try out our giant inflatable obstacle course or “walk on water” in one of our WOW balls. Anyone age 7 and up can try them out. General admission applies.Visit calgary.ca/southland.

Saturday Night for 50% off regular admission
Saturdays, 7 – 10 p.m. at Village Square Leisure Centre. Come join us for 50% off regular admission. Visit calgary.ca/villagesquare.

Sunday Family Swim

Sundays, 8 a.m. – noonat Southland Leisure Centre. Come enjoy our waterpark! Adults must be accompanied by a child and all children must be accompanied by an adult. Regular admission applies. Visit calgary.ca/southland.

Soccer Drop-in
Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Calgary Soccer Centre

Age: 18+. Develop foot skills, practice drills or play a game. Bring your own ball.

Drop-in Climbing Wall

Located at Southland Leisure Centre and Beltline Aquatic & Fitness Centre. For drop-in schedules, visit us onlineor contact 311.

Playschool programs for preschoolers at Southland and Village Square Leisure Centres

Flexible options for preschoolers: registered, drop-in or year round. Visit calgary.ca/playschool.