Is Sustainability a Possibility for Alberta?

Date: Thursday January 26, 2012
Time: 7 – 8:30pm
Location: Science Theatres 132

Join the UCLA and UofC Eco-Club with MLA Laurie Blakeman, Calgary City Councilor Brian Pincott, and Patricia Cameron from Green Calgary to discuss sustainability in Alberta!

For the last few decades, Alberta has prospered with the Oil and Gas industry. However, this industry has some serious environmental impacts that need to be addressed. Can we diversify and become more sustainable (in energy, environment and its tie to society)? What are the obstacles to sustainability in Alberta? And most importantly, what do we need to do to make our province greener? This panel discussion will focus not just on the environment, but also on its connection with our industries and our society.

This is an open event so please bring your friends! We want to hear what people think, and have an open and democratic discussion.

Sustainability Seminar Series: Mirror, Mirror, A Design Approach to Facilitating Public Interaction in Urban Space‏

Natalia Dmuchowska, Environmental Design master’s student, will be presenting on A Design Approach to Facilitating Public Interaction in Urban Space. Her approach connects radical experiences posed by avant-garde Parisian activists from the 1960s, a body of theory known as psychogeography and a contemporary art festival, to create a complex and unique understanding of the public realm.

When: Thursday, January 19^th, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Where: Environmental Design (Professional Faculties) Building, Room 2140
Students, staff, and faculty are encouraged to attend. Please forward this invite to anyone potentially interested in attending.

Upcoming Sustainability Series Seminars:

Ximena Gonzalez De Aguinaga, on All-inclusive tourism development: Contested Space in El Borrego, Las Islitas and Matanchén Beaches (Mexico,) January 26, 2:00 PM Room 2165
Judy Stewart, LL.M. on Low Impact Development:  Opportunities and Barriers for Implementation in Alberta, February 2, 2:00 PM Room 2165
David Cooper, Calgary Transit Planner, An Intensive Introduction to Transit Planning, February 9, 2:00 PM

Leadership in Sustainability – Annual Year in Review & Awards Celebration

Urbanized – Urban Documentary – Calgary Film Festival

Check out this film being shown at the Calgary Film Festival!

“URBANIZED is a feature-length documentary about the design of cities, which looks at the issues and strategies behind urban design and features some of the world’s foremost architects, planners, policymakers, builders, and thinkers.”

More info:
http://www.calgaryfilm.com/2011/schedule/film/1991/?utm_source=CivicCamp+Calgary&utm_campaign=70f44e5d5a-january+2012+postcard&utm_medium=email

UrbanCSA – Winter Social

Hey Urban CSA members,

We are hosting a meet and greet night at The Kilkenny Irish Pub on Thursday January 19^th. This is an opportunity to catch up with members of the club and learn about the exciting things we have planned for this semester! We will be meeting beginning at 7 p.m. (feel free to join later) and have a section booked so just look for a large table of familiar faces.

We will be providing drinks and food, and since there are no exams yet I’d encourage everyone who can make it to come early before we inevitably spend the whole budget. There won’t be an Urban CSA booth set-up during clubs week so we also implore anyone interested in the club to join us and buy a membership for only 5 dollars, which will pay for itself immediately.

I’m sure many of you are intimately familiar with Kilkenny, but for those who aren’t it is located in Brentwood just across from the University, walking distance from transit and the University. 3630 Brentwood Rd NW.

Also a reminder, we are hosting a trip to Edmonton at the end of the month and there are still a few spots available. Cost is approximately $200 and trip goes from January 25^th to the 27^th. Email contact@urbancsa.org to join or for more info.

TLDR

When: 7pm; Thursday, January 19th, 2012
Where: The Kilkenny; 3630 Brentwood rd nw
What: Food, drinks, and UrbanCSA company

Hope to see everyone there!

A Message from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary and Area

Good Afternoon,

My name is Sabrina Maschmeyer. I am the Community Relations Coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary and Area. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary and Area is a donor supported, volunteer-driven organization recognized for our mentoring programs for children and  youth in schools and communities throughout Calgary, Airdrie, Chestermere, Cochrane, High River, Okotoks, Rocky View County and surrounding areas. We match young people 6 to 18 years of age with caring volunteers in a variety of mentoring programs.

Many of your co-students are already volunteer Big Brothers or Sisters with our agency, so many that we also have a BBBS Calgary Student Club on campus. This year our goal is to serve 2142 children and youth and we cannot do it without volunteers such as students from U of C. We are hoping that you would be willing to either let us come and speak with your membership at your next event or send out information about how to become a member.

If you are interested, you may contact either myself at 403-692-1865 or sabrina.maschmeyer@bigbrothersbigsisters.ca or by contacting our student club at bbbs@ucalgary.ca (or they will be at clubs week). If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you. Have a great day.

Sincerely,
Sabrina

Master of Environmental Design (Planning) Information Session

The Environmental Design (EVDS) Faculty is hosting a information session on their new Masters of Environmental Design (Planning) degree. The information session will take place on Friday, January 13th from 12 – 1pm in the Professional Faculties Building, Room 110. If you are interested in Planning and want to learn more about their new degree definitely go check it out!

MEDesPlanning flyer 2012

UrbanCSA – Edmonton Trip!

Last year UrbanCSA hosted a trip to Banff for 20 of its members. The trip consisted of a presentation and walking tour given by Banff’s senior town planner, Darren Enns. The trip was a great success, and this year we wanted to take this style of event even further.

This year we have planned a trip to Edmonton, where we will be spending three days and two nights exploring many of the City’s major planning initiatives, and other interesting community activities. Some highlights of the trip will be discussions on:

· The Downtown Area Plan
· City Centre Airport Redevelopment
· Southeast-West LRT · 118th Avenue Revitalization
· A ghost tour (pending)
· A meet up and discussion with the President of APPI, Beth Sanders
· And exploration of Edmonton’s night life

The trip will run from Wednesday, January 25th to Friday, January 27th. We will be staying at the Holiday Inn in downtown Edmonton. A number of planners from the City of Calgary will be joining us on the trip. This trip will be an excellent learning and networking experience; an experience that will be useful to put on your résumé, or talk about during an interview. Because the trip will be more expansive than in the past, we estimate that the cost will be approximately $200.00 per attendee (for bus fare, and hotel, etc). We are working on trying to supplement this cost, so it may lessen.

Currently there are 15 spots available for UrbanCSA members. If you would like to join us, or have any questions about the trip, please contact us at contact@urbancsa.org. Spots will need be filled within the next couple of days, so please make sure to contact us as quickly as possible.

End of Semester Celebration

Come join us for an end of semester celebration!

All UrbanCSA members and friends (the more the merrier!) are invited to come to the Drum and Monkey Pub, on Saturday December 10^th, 2011 from 7:00pm until whenever.

We’ll get you started with a few nachos, wings and pitchers on us.

See you there!

TLDR

What: End of Semester Pub Night

Where: The Drum and Monkey Pub (1201 1^st st  SW)

When: Saturday, December 10^th, 2011 @ 7:00 pm

Exploring Urbanization – EVDS Design Matters

TLDR
What: EVDS Design Matters workshop; Exploring Urbanization
When: Thursday, Dec 1, 2011; 7-8:30pm
Where: Event center at the downtown campus!
Who: Richard T.T Forman

Richard T.T. Forman, considered by many to be the ‘father’ of landscape ecology and road ecology, will be speaking at the downtown campus as part of The Faculty of Environmental (EVDS) Design Matters lecture series.

Forman, a professor of Landscape Ecology at Harvard University’s graduate school of design, has helped to catalyze the emergence of urban-region ecology and planning. His primary scholarly interest links science with spatial pattern to interweave nature and people on the land.

His presentation will explore the outward implications of urbanizations in the ring-around-the-city and propose ideas for dramatically reconnecting land and society.

For more info:

http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/utoday/november30-2011/urbanization?utm_source=UToday&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=November-30-2011-Exploring-Urbanization

Next Up Calgary – Action Projects Opportunity!

Next Up Calgary is looking for Action Projects for its program participants.
What is Next UP?

We offer a free training / leadership development program for youth (18-32) years old to support them in their growth as Social and Environmental Justice Leaders. We have an Advisory Committee made up of people from community organizations, the public and private sectors, not-for-profits and trade unions. In Alberta we also have an organizational partnership with the Parkland Institute. One of the goals of NU is to build and support a network of young social change leaders across Western Canada.  We do this through a combination of workshops, training and hands on work.

We are looking for your help in creating Action Project opportunities for Calgary Next Up participants. So, what is an Action Project?

For you they offer you a chance to have 2 or more people working with you in an area of mutual interest. For Next Up, it will involve participants in active campaigns, and develop new relationships within the Social or Environmental Justice Movements. We hope that each action project will plant the seed of supportive, mentoring relationships and enrich our communities  and organizations with new ideas, skills and energy.

Proposing an Action Project

Projects should be SMART (Specific,  Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely). At least 2 and up to 5 participants will work on a project. Projects should be part of an established program, campaign or organization. There should be a designated mentor or supervisor that can provide an appropriate level of direction, help with access to needed resources and check in on progress regularly. Action Projects will begin in January and should reach a conclusion or a logical evaluation point by April 30.

Last year’s Action Projects were lead by A.B.C. Apiares and Bees for Communities, Transition Calgary, The Commuter Challenge / Sustainable Alberta, and  YWCAs SCREAM Project. I hope that you will consider joining these organisations in supporting progressive change here in Calgary, an in benefiting from the commitment and expertise of the Next Up Participants. A Project Planning Application is attached. Feel free to call Mike Byerley (number removed) if you would like to discuss any of these points further. Please forward your completed application to Calgary@nextup.ca

Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you know of anyone in your networks that might be able to offer a Project opportunity, please forward them this email.

Please email your complete proposal by Dec 15, 2011.

Sustainable Cities Geography Field School – Europe

When: May7 – June 17, 2011
What: 5 week European field school focusing on sustainability. 4 European countries! 4 half course credits!

Come to the information session tonight at 5:00pm in ES342

Description:
The Sustainable Cities 2012 GSP will be a field program in Geography with a focus on sustainability from the perspective of the environment, cultural, urban and historical Geography of the region. The itinerary will focus on Europe’s examples of regional sustainable development, sustainable urban design, environmental problems and policies, and the significance of the historical development of cities within this region.

The program seeks to maximize exposure to urban and rural landscapes through direct observation, instruction, fieldwork, and local university contacts. The primary objective will be for students to see firsthand examples of sustainable communities, transit, and environmental management that occur within European cities. Students will conduct fieldwork that will facilitate their ability to interpret and make connections between human and natural landscapes, and by developing and conveying critical thinking skills that extend beyond the classroom.

More info:

http://www.ucalgary.ca/uci/abroad/europe

Contact:
Aaron Williams – awill@ucalgary.ca
Group Study Programs – group.study@ucalgary.ca

“Town Planning Week”: Calgary Planning Commission Centennial

Yesterday marked the first day of The City of Calgary’s “Town Planning Week”. One hundred years ago on November 13, 1911 the first Calgary Planning Commission was established. All week centennial scroll will be displayed at City Hall, which includes, I believe (please correct me if I am wrong) pictures of some of the Mawson Report which came out in 1914. The Report was Thomas Mawson’s (a British town planner), idea of what Calgary would look like in 2014. It included boulevards, parks, beautiful public buildings, and squares. The purpose of the “Town Planning Week” is not only to see some of the past planning initiatives that have been done in the city and commemorate the people that have been involved, but also to promote the importance of planning in cities. For more information go to The City of Calgary Blog, and check out the ongoing video series at http://www.calgarycitynews.com/2011/11/century-of-vision-town-planning-week.html. If you have time I would very much recommend going to go check it out.

UrbanCSA – Software Workshops (3) – Adobe Photoshop

Hey UrbanCSA Members,

This is just a reminder about the final Software Workshop that we are running TOMORROW from 11:00 – 12:00 in ES 342. This workshop will be on Adobe Photoshop; this is great software to use when you are doing site analysis and trying to format images to visually demonstrate a site’s strengths and weaknesses. Again you can download a free trial of the software if you follow this link:

http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=photoshop

TLDR

UrbanCSA Software Workshop: Adobe Photoshop
When: Wednesday, November 9^th, 2011
Where: ES 342
Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

The Calgary Region as a Transportation Hub Conference

The Calgary Region as a Transportation Hub Conference is being held on November 18, 2011 at the Executive Royal Inn.

Leaders from the transportation, supply chain, logistics, distribution, air transportation, surface transportation, passenger transportation, and warehousing industries will discuss a vision of Calgary’s future economy and develop a blueprint for the transportation infrastructure and policy changes required to support that economic vision to ensure that the Region maintains its competitive advantage as Western Canada’s distribution hub.

Please see the attached program and registration form.  Our student rate is $73.50. (Regular $451.50).

More info: Calgary Region as a Hub Conference 2011 Program.

APPI Invitation to University Students and Professional Planners

APPI Council invites Professional Planners and University of Calgary Planning Students — we are taking this as EVDS, Urban Studies and related programs — to a Social.

When:
Friday November 25, 2011 @ 4:30 pm until 8:00 pm

Where:
Moose McGuire’s
1941 Uxbridge Drive Northwest, Calgary, AB T2N 2Z2

What:
APPI Council is pleased to host this networking opportunity as a chance for Council, Professional Planners and Planning Students from the University of Calgary, to meet each other in a casual atmosphere and share experiences and their vision for the Institute.

The reception is free of charge
Light appetizers will be available and a cash bar.

 Please RSVP to the APPI office by email at:admin@albertaplanners.com prior November 21, 2011.

Thank you Tom for sharing this awesome event with us! You’re the BEST!

6th Annual Students’ Union Undergraduate Research Symposium 2011

The 2011 Students’ Union Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS) is an exciting and unique event which brings undergraduate researchers from across campus an opportunity to showcase their research accomplishments and celebrate the value of the undergraduate’s place in a research intensive institution. The centerpiece of the SU Undergraduate Research Symposium is a research poster competition and includes distributor displays, displays on a range of programs, resources, student groups and faculties that can get you actively involved in research. All undergraduate students are invited to attend the symposium and view the exciting research work conducted by undergraduate students at this university and learn how to get involved in an undergraduate research project.

For more information, go to the following link:

http://www.su.ucalgary.ca/page/quality-education/finance-and-awards/academic-awards/research-symposium

UrbanCSA – Software Workshops (2) – InDesign

Hi UrbanCSA Members,

This is just a reminder to everyone about the upcoming Software Workshop this week. The workshop is on Adobe InDesign, a program for creating posters, flyers, planning documents, really any kind of print media. This program is excellent to use for projects in classes such as Urban Studies 451 where you have to lay out pictures and tables in with text—something that can be really frustrating in Microsoft Word. If you are interested in going into a career in Urban Planning or Architecture, this is a program that employers will look for on your resume. If you are interested the workshop is running on Wednesday, November 2^nd from 11:00 – 12:00 in ES 342. If you do not have a copy of Adobe InDesign you can download a free trial using the link below:

http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=indesign

TLDR

UrbanCSA Software Workshop #2—InDesign
What: A software workshop to teach you the basics about using Adobe InDesign.
When: Wednesday, November 2^nd 2011
Time: 11:00 – 12:00

UrbanCSA – Software Workshops (1) – Adobe Acrobat

 For the next three weeks UrbanCSA will be running Software Workshops specifically geared for you to learn about programs that will help you with your studies. The first workshop will be on Adobe Acrobat.

The workshop will:

• Make you more familiar with the .pdf document format;
• Will teach you when, why and how to produce and manage your assignments, resumes, and work documents in pdf and;
• How to get the most out of readings distributed in pdf.

The workshop will be held on Wednesday, October 26 from 11:00 – 12:00 in ES 342.

In order to attend you must be a member of the UrbanCSA.

Please RSVP for the event by emailing contact@urbancsa.org.

The following workshops will be on Adobe Indesign and Photo Shop. Further details to come!

Event Poster

Transit Tour – October 14, 2011

David Cooper and Andrew Sedor from the City of Calgary, Calgary Transit, will be taking UrbanCSA members on a behind the scenes tour of the LRT. On this tour David and Andrew will discuss the history of the LRT system while riding the CTrain to the Oliver Bowen LRT Maintenance Facility. Once we’ve arrived, we will be given a tour of the facility with opportunity for questions and discussion throughout.

The tour, with travel time included, should take approximately 2 hours. We will meet at our starting point (to be disclosed to attendees) at 1pm on Friday, October 14th. Attendance is limited to 20 people, so RSVP as quickly as possible!

Attendees will require valid transit fare as we will be riding the CTrain to the maintenance facility together.

In order to attend you must be a member of the UrbanCSA. RSVP to contact@urbancsa.org quickly as space on this tour is limited!

Contact UrbanCSA at:
contact@urbancsa.org
urbancsa.org