President’s Message – June 2024
By the time this issue of Inside Edgemont appears in your mailbox, the ELM committee will have been busy planting greenery and flowers in our pots and flower beds. It always makes me smile when I pull into Edgemont and am welcomed by that burst of colour. For the past few years, ELM has been working with Foothills Landscaping and we have been very pleased with the results. Prior to Foothills, Able Landscaping supported these efforts. Although our requirements changed which prompted a changed in vendors, friendships were formed with Able and its staff. ELM was saddened to hear that Wayne Thomas, the owner of Able has recently passed away. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends.
Residents have been in their yards enjoying the sunshine. People got an early start to lawn care that was interrupted by the snow in early May. With respect to grass mowing, please be aware that if your property is adjacent to city property, there are restrictions on how far past your property line you can cut grass. Natural areas, in particular, don’t like to be mowed! Mowing diminishes the health and integrity of natural areas and reduces their ability to provide benefits like some water storage and filtration, carbon sequestration and pollinator habitat. Know where your property line is. For more information on natural areas and how they are maintained, visit the City of Calgary website or call 311.
May was a busy month at the Edgemont Community Centre. Thanks to all the volunteers who supported our Mother’s Day Tea and the Disc Golf Tournament. Thanks to the companies and individuals who provided items for door prizes. I’d like to particularly thank the vendors from our Spring Craft Market who donated items.
The centre hosted our Annual General Meeting where we reviewed the activities of 2023, shared the audited financial statements, and elected a new Board of Directors. At the time of writing this article, the Board list hasn’t been compiled so watch for the July issue where the Directors will be identified.
Our centre is well used for summer camps. Check out the ECA website for a list and registration information. We are pleased to see the rentals of our meeting rooms expand. Many brides pick the Panorama Room to host a ceremony and families use the centre for birthday parties, anniversaries, and celebrations of life. Our staff are happy to help you choose a suitable room for your event. We offer reasonable rental rates and several amenities to add on if you choose.
Looking forward, we will be hosting our Stampede Breakfast, Nordic Rodeo and Citizenship Ceremony on June 22. Although the event is free, please register so we can anticipate how many pancakes our volunteers will be flipping that morning. Our thanks to the City of Calgary for funding to support this program. Watch for additional Stampede related events coming in July!
Speaking of funding, a look at the ECA financial statements quickly reveals that membership fees alone would not sustain our association. Without the funding support from the City of Calgary, the Province of Alberta, the Government of Canada, Alberta Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis, the Calgary Parks Foundation and other agencies and individuals, we would not be able to offer the types of programs that we do. A THANK YOU to those who invest in our community. Your membership dues are an investment, too, and an indication of the level of support ECA has to continue its work. We use those funds to leverage grants and we continue to look for new members. If you are not a member already, consider it. You can join online. It couldn’t be easier!
Pamela Wilson
President