February 21, 2018

Kick-off March Community Association Awareness Month with us!
On Friday, March 2 we will be hosting an exciting event to kick off March Community Association Awareness Month! Join us at the Southview Community Association for an evening celebrating our amazing network of volunteers with your peers over wine and snacks, and be part of the big reveal of the 2018 Faces of Community! This event is our new annual volunteer celebration as Faces of Community is our new annual volunteer recognition program. Don’t miss out on this fun Friday evening – register today!
Peer-to-Peer Emails: What’s that all about?
A lot of the questions we receive from you, our members, are questions about what other organizations are doing, what works best for them, or ideas they have on a certain topic. We have found that the best way to answer your questions is to simply connect you with each other, and that is why we send out weekly “peer-to-peer” emails. Every Monday we send out the questions we’ve received from you over the past week, and let you connect with each other to answer them. So, if you ever have a question for your fellow Federation members, all you have to do is email Jovita, our Member Services Coordinator, with your question and your preferred contact information, and she will include it in the next peer-to-peer email!

Calgary Foundation’s Pitch Night: Neighbour Grants LIVE
Pitch Night encourages Calgarians to pitch their ideas to improve, enhance, or revitalize their community or neighbourhood. These grants are available once each year through a grant application process. Finalists are selected to pitch their idea to a live studio audience. The audience, in collaboration with a panel of judges, award up to $50,000 to winning groups in grants ranging from $3,000 – $10,000. The application deadline is March 5. Click here for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Internal Controls and Financial Policies – Thursday, February 22
2018 Faces of Community Event – Friday, March 2
Monday Mingles – Monday, March 5
Websites, Social Media and Your Organization – Wednesday, March 7
Click here for more upcoming events

 

Shifting Attitudes

Join us on April 28, at Winston Heights-Mountview Community Association for a day of learning to shift our attitude about community. One of our sessions is about shifting from Space to Place. “Engaged residents are vital to community building. Join us as we critically examine how to develop your own community hub through experiential learning. Shift your focus back towards what community hubs are all about!” For more info or to register, click here.

Calgary Awards
The nomination deadline for the City of Calgary’s Calgary Awards is fast approaching! Do you know a Calgarian who has made a difference? Nominate them today! The Calgary Awards celebrate and recognize outstanding achievements and contributions made by our citizens, in a number of different categories. The deadline to nominate is Wednesday, February 28. Click here to learn more or to nominate someone today.
Round 1 Energizing Spaces Fund Deadline
The first 2018 deadline for the Energizing Spaces Fund is March 31. You can apply to the fund to replace your old, energy-sucking electric appliances with new energy-efficient models, and/or your old outdoor facility and ice rink lighting with new LED bulbs. The next deadline won’t be until the end of September, so don’t miss out! Click here for more information and to fill out the simple online applications.
New Workshop: CA’s Without Walls- Thinking outside the Box
How can you offer successful programs and events outdoors? How can you generate revenue without a facility? What can you do to more fully engage residents? Join the City of Calgary and other community stakeholders for an interactive discussion about community associations without facilities. This workshop is free and light snacks will be provided. For more info or to register, click here.
Community Energy Capacity Building Program Grant
Energy Efficiency Alberta has opened its Community Energy Capacity Building Program to provide funding for two types of projects that build capacity within a community organization, which will eventually result in the development of a specific, small or micro-scale renewable energy system. Projects with activities focused on community energy development, could include but are not limited to, renewable energy project feasibility studies, business case development, webinars and training. The deadline for applications is March 12, 2018. If your community organization is engaged or planning to engage in sustainable activities please click here to email for more information. 
Changes to Community Newsletter Fees
It has come to our attention that the economic downturn has affected community newsletter publisher’s ability to bring in steady advertising revenue to offset the cost of the newsletter to community associations. Because of this, community newsletter publishers are having to ask some community associations to help support the distribution of their newsletter by paying for either some or all of the monthly cost to deliver it through Canada Post. Publishers have communicated with those communities via letters and/or emails. Please consult with your respective community newsletter publisher with any questions you may have.

Here are a few highlights from our urban planning world this month – be sure to check our blog for a complete listing of recent events and updates.

  1. Secondary Suites: The City is working on three separate motions related to secondary suites. They include 1) allowing basement and backyard suites as a discretionary use in R-1, R-C1 and R-C1L districts; 2) developing a policy to guide discretion and relaxations on development permit files, and 3) creating a mandatory suite registry and fee schedule. Administration will present their report and amending bylaw at the March 12 public hearing. Click the link for more info about the changes and how you can have your voice heard.
  2. Update on the low density scoping report working group: The working group, which contains a Federation representative as well as three community representatives, will begin working in March. The intent of the group is to assist City of Calgary staff with feedback on possible Land Use Bylaw amendments (Phase 1) regarding several technical issues. Phase 2 of the project will include a broader discussion on complete communities in the developed areas. Click on the link to find out more about the issues and background information.
  3. Partners in Planning: Urban Design & Character-Main Streets, Streetscapes & Heritage Our communities: evolve over time and that evolution is guided by policies and standards that help shape and define the look, feel and character of the community. This course will dive into Urban Design by examining Streetscapes, the Main Streets program and Heritage planning.
  4. Orientation to the Planning Process 201: Want a deeper understanding of the planning process? This workshop will cover the planning application processes, stakeholders’ roles and implementation of policies and plans. There will also be time for questions and discussion. Click on the link to register!
  5. Update on the City of Calgary Cannabis Legalization Project: City Administration released their draft report on cannabis legalization on Friday, February 16 and will be presenting it to a committee of Council on Wednesday, February 21. Council is scheduled to consider the Committee’s recommendation on April 5, 2018. Click on the link for more background information about the project and to learn about how you can give input.
  6. Information Sessions on the ‘Development next to Freight Rail Corridors Policy’: The City of Calgary is proposing a Development next to Rail Corridor Policy to guide development near freight rail corridors (such as the CN and CP train lines). The purpose of the policy is to manage the risk of development in these areas. Information on the draft policy will be available at several information sessions throughout the City during the month of February.

 

Financial Accountability Handbook
Are you new to the board? Or just stepped into the role of treasurer? Check out this excellent and extensive resource to help understand the importance of financial roles, internal controls, reporting, GST, bank reconciliations, penalties and much more!

  1. CRA – GST/HST Information for not-for-profit organizations
  2. Getting your books ready for audit
  3. Understanding Financial Statements
  4. Stiff penalties for not filing the T1044
  5. The Importance of Bank Reconciliations

Our judges are hard at work voting on new ActivateYYC projects! While you wait for the announcements on our social media & website, why not explore the stories behind some great past ActivateYYC projects here.