Category: Streets (Page 6 of 9)

“Memorial Drive (formerly Sunnyside Boulevard) is a major road in Calgary, Alberta. Besides having an important role in city infrastructure, the tree lined sides of Memorial Drive serve as a living testament to the many soldiers who died during World War I and give it a parkway look on the western section.

After the First World War, a number of groups and individuals came together to plant a tree for each fallen soldier of the Great War. The hope was that a living memorial would bring solace to grieving families who did not have graves to visit. On May 11, 1922, the first tree was planted on Sunnyside Boulevard (now Memorial Drive), between ninth and nine-and-a-half St. N.W by Mayor Adams. Planting continued steadily through until 1928 and a grand total of 3,278 trees were planted.

The landscape of the Memorial Drive corridor is also experiential – inviting Calgarians to experience the poetics of the wind on the grass, the movement of water, the dance of city lights. This landscape needs to place war within the context of history, while we need to understand the place of Memorial Drive within the context of the city.”

“Yeah, it’s been quiet around here. Not quiet as in, ‘less business’, we’ve actually had more than usual. I’m meaning ‘quiet’ like, nobody wants to talk about the elephant in the room of the snow coming down outside.”

One of the last C-trains of the night passes over the Memorial Drive bridge from Sunnyside Station.

“An all too common site in the Hillhurst/Sunnyside area. I just hope that they build it to fit the character of the neighbourhood… whatever that is anymore.”

“I love this neighbourhood in the fall. It’s beautiful for about a day and then all of a sudden the wind blows through and all the leaves with it. Autumn in Sunnyside lasts about six hours and then it’s winter.”

“Ah, who knows when the construction will end. Maybe thirty years from now, Lech’s grandkids will take on the Roasterie and we’ll be a bunch of ol’ timers sipping coffee while complaining about how they ‘Just fixed the roads not too long ago.’ Take it in stride.” The construction project of The Lido (left), Kensington Condos (right), and the sidewalk repair project (bottom left corner).

The residents of Sunnyside and Hillhurst are settling in for a relaxing Autumn.

“This neighbourhood has different personalities. It has the ‘wake-up, go get coffee’ morning personality, the ‘go browsing through local stores’ personality, it has ‘after-work drinks and dinner’ personality, it has this awesome community vibe. I don’t think it’s like anywhere else in Calgary.

I like to think that it’s something that’s unique to this part of the city, I suppose that’s why so many people like it here. There’s lots of positive energy, just not the kind that spills into the street after our team wins a game sort of thing. I like that.”

New Edinborough Park, on 3rd ave and 5a Street NW. This mature park is irrigated and consists of a large playground, a large play field area and an ice surface during the winter months. It’s worth noting that this was Calgary’s first pesticide-free park.

Clouds rolling over the Bow River at sunrise on the last morning of Summer, 2015. Commuters into the downtown core have their heads down or focused ahead, not seeing the drama that unfolds in the sky.