Oh No! Not Again! 3 for 1 MLA Proposal
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Northern Edge News — Your Official News Source of the JULY 2017 Northern Hills Community Association Country Hills • Country Hills Village • Coventry Hills • Harvest Hills • Panorama Hills www.northernhills.ab.ca Oh no! Not again! 3 for 1 MLA proposal By David Hartwick three different MLA’s, adding additional work to a Not only did the NHCA successfully challenge volunteer organization already stretched thin on the commission in 2010, but we worked hard to Every eight years, the Alberta Government resources. have municipal and federal boundaries changed to appoints an Electoral Boundaries Commission “to As constituents, we are concerned that having reflect the different needs and common interests review the existing electoral boundaries and make three MLAs could diminish our effective representa- west of Deerfoot Trail. Effective as of this October’s proposals to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta as tion. Since there is no requirement for MLAs to live election, the Ward 3 boundaries will group north to the area, boundaries and names of the electoral within the districts they represent, imagine having central Calgary communities together. We were un- constituencies of the province in accordance with three MLAs, none of whom have a vested interest successful convincing the federal commission that Alberta legislation.” in their district? the boundary needed to move, and we continue to When the commission met eight years ago, The NHCA is concerned that in not having an have an absentee MP in Calgary Northeast repre- the Northern Hills Community Association made a MLA dedicated to the majority of the Northern Hills senting Coventry Hills and Harvest Hills. It is con- submission for a Calgary-Northern Hills Constitu- residents, getting infrastructure needs such as the cerning this commission wishes to go backwards ency. However, their interim plan was to split up North High School, may be lost to other communi- and reunite us with communities east of Metis Trail. the Northern Hills, designating Coventry Hills with ties. Could there be a benefit to having three MLAs? communities east of the airport. We considered this Vivo desperately needs expansion and we are Possibly, but that is difficult to determine and at unreasonable for a number of reasons including still hopeful for a north Greenline. However, if Har- face value, seems more of a detriment. The NHCA not meeting the requirements of legislation. So we vest Hills and Coventry Hills, are represented with acknowledges there could be some benefit in requested to make a presentation to the Commis- communities east of Deerfoot that already have having ONE boundary within the community. The sion who then challenged us to come up with a LRT, a high school and a newer recreation facility reason is that the current average population per new plan for all 25 constituencies in Calgary, which as community focal points, it may be difficult to constituency is 46,697. The commission has a we did, and Calgary - Northern Hills was created. engage an MLA to represent our needs. Continued on page 14 Eight years later, we find ourselves challenging the commission again. This time, the Interim Report is even worse, in our opinion. The Commission has proposed a boundary Building Safer Communities, running along Harvest Hills Blvd designating Coven- try Hills, Harvest Hills and Livingstone into Calgary North East, again grouping these communities with now in Panorama Hills communities east of Metis Trail. Country Hills, along with Beddington, Hidden Valley and Huntington By David Hartwick Community Resource Officer right or maybe doesn’t fit. The Hills are designated into Calgary - Beddington. Steve Kelly would like to remind call volume generated from With summer well into gear, Panorama Hills will become part of Calgary - North people that with the summer our members has helped CPS so are the Building Safer Com- including Evanston, and Carrington. here, so is the criminal element. respond with the appropri- munities (BSC) Block Watch The commission is required to make several Let’s all do our due diligence ate resources. Coventry is fully groups. We have launched the considerations including: community boundaries, and ensure all crimes of oppor- rolled out with an active large program in the Panorama Hills interests and community organizations, existing tunity have been closed off. This group, and crime has trended area, and the uptake is fantastic community boundaries within the City of Calgary, means locking and securing your down month after month since with 300 members in the first existing municipal boundaries; geographic features cars, and removing anything it’s launch. With Panorama in month. Please keep passing including existing road systems and the desirability valuable from sight. Also, ensure the development stage, mem- the word along to friends and of understandable and clear boundaries. your ground level windows and bers are getting used to what neighbours that they can join the It is our opinion that splitting up our commu- doors are secured at night. to call in (which is anything group on Facebook by searching nities into three different constituencies does not The Calgary Police Service that doesn’t look, smell, or feel “panorama hills area nhca bsc meet the legislation. Why is this important? and our committee encourage right). We are confident as more block watch” As a community association, this would mean everyone to call in and report people join and more members The BSC and Calgary Police attempting to coordinate and communicate with ANYTHING that doesn’t seem Continued on page 14 JULY 8: VIVO, MLA JAMIE KLEINSTEUBER & MP DARSHAN KANG STAMPEDE BREAKFAST CROSSWORD 4 JULY 9, 9-11 AM: HARVEST HILLS ALLIANCE CHURCH STAMPEDE BREAKFAST ACTIVATE YYC 6 JULY 15: STAMPEDE CARAVAN & ROYOP STAMPEDE BREAKFAST AT COVENTRY CENTRE COACH PROFILE: KAROL ANGORITA GIL 5 JULY 17-31: COMMUNITY MOBILE SUMMER SKATE PARK AT VIVO AUG 8-10: BREAKOUT YOUTH COLOURING CONTEST 10 & SUDOKU AUG 14-18: PARK AND PLAY & STAY AND PLAY For up to date community news and events, visit www.northernhills.ab.ca or ELECTED REPS 12 follow us at Twitter @northernhills/like us on Facebook: northernhillscalgary 2 NORTHERN EDGE NEWS JULY 2017 ™ MONDAY–THURSDAY 7am - 8pm FRIDAY & SATURDAY 8am - 4pm FAMILY DENTAL CARE CLOSE TO HOME! 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Located Beside Save-On Foods In Panorama Hills 403.226.4788 www.PanatellaDental.com JULY 2017 NORTHERN EDGE NEWS 3 From the President so that the High School need is top of mind going into the elections this fall What’s the Good News? driving the and remains there during the budget campaign. and planning times. Over the past few years the North- atmosphere of trust where people They can be ern Hills Community has had its fair start to get to know who lives next reached at NHCA is looking to create a positive share of challenges and we have often door. Other community associa- harvestplay- environment where collaboration and been played out in the public forum, tions are taking notice of the level of [email protected] thoughtful, persistent conversation gets as part of our advocacy efforts to drive success that this Block Watch program • Coventry Community Space Project- us the constructive center stage atten- awareness about issues impacting our is getting and are looking to duplicate NHCA and Vivo have partnered on an tion we deserve for advocacy issues, neighbourhoods. However, I am con- similar ideas in their areas to continu- exciting initiative to identify and revital- while simultaneously finding ways to cerned that the focus on these impor- ally squeeze out the elements of crime ize the use of the 14 playgrounds in improve and impact the lives of our tant big picture items has sometimes and improve the communication be- the Coventry Hills area. It is a proactive citizens, on a day to day basis. overshadowed some of the amazing tween the community and the police approach that will observe the current How are we going to do this you things that are happening in our area. service. usage, engage Coventry Hills residents ask? Simple… through connection and We have not celebrated our successes • Harvest Hills Community Playground- in planning and create inclusive, cost cooperation with all stakeholders… with the same amount of vigor as the Green space is always at a premium, effective long term plans for the com- government, other community/cultural frustration we expressed about some but a handful of Harvest Park citizens munity spaces as they each hit various groups, local residents and businesses… our challenges like the Harvest Hills de- determined the park on Harvest Glen levels of deterioration. The community we will build partnerships and develop a velopment, the Green Line and the lack Way needed significant improvements. is taking a proactive approach to en- clear vision of what is most important to of high schools. They started redeveloping a communi- suring the green space we have avail- the residents of the Northern Hills.