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What to do when it snows in May

I told myself I wouldn't complain about the weather. This is Calgary. Every year the same thing happens - it snows - way after the time that you've purchased and worn your open toed shoes. Just live...

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'Get around the city in the quickest way' day

May 7 is bike to work day.Like Copenhagen's Mikael Colville-Anderson, I prefer to think of the bike as a tool, the quickest way to get around town. In the latest addition of WALRUS magazine,...

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Autopia - the happy urbanist visits L.A.

On my recent visit to Los Angeles, I was told that rather than talking about the weather like we Canadians do, Angelenos discuss the route they took to get to their destination. With great pride, they...

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Landscaping, Victorian Style

Why not celebrate Victoria day in the oldest inner city park in Calgary?You can find a gorgeous cameo of Queen Victoria on the side of the base holding the equestrian statue of a soldier who fought in...

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L.A. Part 2 - HOLLYWOODLAND

On my recent trip to L.A. I had the opportunity to photograph the HOLLYWOOD sign nestled majestically among the hollywood hills. This landmark has come to symbolize the city and the movie making...

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Lost in Transition

Change is good, at least that is the message I've been picking up at the Cities and Towns in Transition two day conference, jointly organized by the faculties of Social Work and Environmental Design at...

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(PUNK) ROCK Gardening 101

"For those about to rock, we salute you" – AC/DC's famous line plays in my head whenever I think of my friend Stephanie Ferguson, a hardcore urban (punk)rock gardener here in Calgary. She's the real...

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Plan it Calgary for Dummies

I wanted to get up to speed with the latest Municipal Development Plan for the city so I popped into the free workshop presented by the Federation of Calgary Communities and the city. I've been to a...

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The beautiful city

If you are like me, you've had your eyes glued to the FIFA world cup, taking place this summer in the enchanting South Africa. While certainly intrigued with the beautiful game, in my role as happy...

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Pumping up the Volume in the East Village

It won't be long before Allied Works of Portland unveil their architectural plans for the eagerly awaited National Music Centre at the King Eddy Hotel in the East Village. After winning out over four...

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High Speed beyond your internet connection

I take my high speed internet for granted. Having just this week lost a modem (they wear out), I was forced to consider my life pre-high speed. How on earth did I survive? Sure, I exaggerate, but...

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Saving Place

Have you ever noticed how well Parisians dress? I have a theory about this. One of the reasons Parisians dress so well is to keep up with the beauty of their surroundings. Those steel gray Mansard...

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A grocery store of one's own

My husband and I decided to check out Sunterra's new urban market at the base of the Keynote condos on 1st Street S.E. between 11th and 12th avenue. As I squeezed the squash and sampled the fresh...

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Give Peace a Chance

When I first found out that Santiago Calatrava was building a bridge in Calgary I was ecstatic. The world-renowned, award-winning, Spanish architect, famous for his bridge structures, was coming here,...

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Sidewalk Citizen

I'm so thankful for people who are doing their part to make this city more vibrant, adding life to the street. I'm even more thankful when they can bake a beautiful loaf of bread. One such person is...

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Learning from Curitiba- the transformative powers of a Mayor

On Monday, October 18th you will be asked to choose a new Mayor for Calgary. This person, working with an elected council, will help shape the city you want to live in. So it's a big decision.There are...

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In with the New Urbanism

It's that time of year —where one reflects on the year that's passed (the end of a decade!) and looks to the future with hope (or dread or a bit of both). I for one am feeling rather optimistic and...

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Going Brown-field: Alternative Strategies to Greenfield development

The following is a paper I submitted for the EVDS 601 Interdisciplinary Seminar in the fall semester of my MEDes (master of design) program. I think it may be informative to those outside of the...

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I ♥CHINOOK: Transforming Chinook C-Train stop with a little help from New York

Once again, I'm putting up one of my class assignments, this one a precedent case study on the innovative High Line Park, situated in the heart of the meatpacking district in New York. The entire area...

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Walk a mile in Jane's shoes

The weekend of May 7-8 marks the celebration of one of the most influential writers and urban activists in North America – Jane Jacobs. (Had she lived, Jane would have been 91 May 4). You may know her...

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No packing required

I don't really like packing. Inevitably I bring either too much or too little. Shoes never pack well, have you noticed? Emptying large pots of cream into tiny travel containers is a bore. Right now I...

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The Price is Right- Infrastructure Edition

Although it may not be as sexy as a new park or sleek steel tower, infrastructure is what the city is all about. It mostly goes unnoticed, at least until something goes wrong with it – like when...

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A Win for Calgary's Heritage Community

Members of the Century Homes Calgary Steering Committee at Rideau Hall, OttawaIt's an honour just to be nominated….…but its even better to win! I'm one of a group of very lucky heritage advocates who...

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d.talks - addicted to design

If you know me you probably already know about d.talks, but let me fill everyone else in. Back in 2012, amery calvelli, host of CJSW's Space + Place pod cast, got an idea. Why not pull together a group...

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