Celebrate Neighbour Day in your community on Saturday, June 15! You’re invited to get involved in this year’s event by organizing a block party with your neighbours. Invite Mayor Gondek, your Councillor, a police officer or book a fire truck to drop by your event. You can also enter to win one of several great prizes, including 30 minutes of live musical entertainment at your block party. 

Neighbour Day is our city’s annual celebration of community connection. Held on the third Saturday in June, Neighbour Day is a step toward creating welcoming and inclusive communities where neighbours connect and belong every day of the year. Good things happen when you get to know your neighbours. They can add a friendly visit to your day, and you can lend a helping hand when needed. Social connection with neighbours reduces loneliness and isolation and builds strong communities where people feel they belong.  

Yard Security: Keep your Dog Safe

Securing your yard to prevent your dog from escaping is crucial for both your pet's safety and the well-being of your community. Not only does it ensure that your furry friend stays out of harm's way, but it also minimizes the risk of accidents with neighbours. Here are some measures to safeguard your yard:

• Inspect your yard perimeter for any existing gaps, holes, or weak spots in the fence or barriers. Reinforce these areas by repairing fences, filling in holes, or adding additional barriers like chicken wire or lattice. Ensure that gates are securely closed and consider installing locks or latches.
• Assess potential escape routes such as low-hanging branches or objects near the fence that could be used as leverage for climbing. Remove objects that could assist your dog in scaling the fence.
• Supervise your pet while they're outside and provide ample mental and physical stimulation to deter them from attempting to escape out of boredom or frustration.

Moreover, licensing your dog is not only a legal requirement but also aids in their safe return if they do manage to escape. Proper identification, including tags and microchipping, with current contact information significantly increases the chances of being reunited with your pet as well.

Securing your yard keeps your dog safe and contained and is part of responsible pet ownership. By taking proactive measures to prevent escapes, you're ensuring the well-being of your furry companion and fostering a safer environment for everyone.

Learn more at calgary.ca/petlicences.

Buckmaster Park Area Improvements

Construction is almost complete in Buckmaster Park! We have a few items to finish in the upcoming months, but the park has reopened for public use.

Items we’re finalizing in 2024:

• Building the stage platform.
• Planting perennial shrub beds.
• Installing sport surfacing for the basketball hoop.

We’re excited for the community to enjoy the upgrades this year!

There will be localized disruption and limited access to certain areas of the park while this work is being completed. Visit Buckmaster Park area improvements (calgary.ca) for more information.

Use your Water Meter to Check Your Home for Leaks

Use your water meter to check your home for leaks

Together, we can make every drop count during this drought. Using your water meter to check for leaks, inside and outside the home, is one way you can do your part to use water wisely.

Using your meter to check your home for leaks is easy:

1. Turn off all taps and water-using appliances – inside and outside your home.
2. Watch the flow register on the face of the meter. The register could look like a gear or a needle depending on the model of meter you have.
3. If it keeps turning, you have a leak somewhere in your house.
4. Check all water devices, such as your toilet, taps, humidifier, hot water heater and water softener.

To learn more about common sources of household water leaks, including some helpful repair tips, visit calgary.ca/waterguide.

Be YardSmart

With Calgary and much of southern Alberta continuing to experience drought conditions, we all need to do our part. YardSmart’s online resources and practical advice helps Calgarians establish and maintain yards and gardens that are well suited to Calgary’s growing conditions and use less water.

Together, we can make every drop count during this drought. Visit Be YardSmart (calgary.ca).

Drought: Water Reductions Advisory

As of April 19, 2024, the Calgary region and southern Alberta remain in a drought.

What we’re seeing:

• Natural river flows are normal to slightly below normal for April.
• Reservoir storage in the Bow watersheds upstream from Calgary and at the Glenmore Reservoir is above the normal range for April.
• Mountain snowpack has improved, but has not fully recovered.
• Snowfall over the last 1-3 months has helped, but precipitation over the past year remains below average.

How we're preparing:
We’re currently monitoring how quickly the mountain snowpack melts and the amount of spring rains our region receives to inform upcoming water restrictions later this season. We will keep Calgarians informed as conditions evolve.

This spring, we’re implementing a Water Reductions Advisory, asking Calgarians to reduce their water use and make every drop count.

Be ready for outdoor water restrictions.