Educator | Communicator | Photographer
“I write in Polish. It usually takes me about forty-five minutes to fill in a page. I keep a journal of what I do every day. Not stuff like, ‘I ate lunch and it was terrible’ or ‘ I’m angry at this person.’ It’s a way detailing the things I do every day. I can look back over the past four years and see what I was doing and where I was on that day. It’s a great exercise for the mind and memory. Every page is it’s own day.
I like coming here because it makes me feel less homesick.”
I can never get tired of looking at this city. Any time of day, any day of the year–it’s beautiful, along with all the people who live in it and make it what it is: home.
“I’ve been playing accordion for two years. I’m self-taught. I play a bunch of instruments like the banjo and stuff. My band is called ‘Magic In The Woods’.
My other group is a hip-hop act called ‘Shadow Wizards’ I post my stuff on band camp and sound cloud.” Tanner, musician.
“You want an idea as to how fast things change? Think about this: what if I told you that everybody in the city has their names, addresses and telephone numbers all compiled into a book and then distributed to every house, business and telephone booth in the Calgary. Yeah, we used to call it the white pages and people didn’t blink twice about having their personal information out in the open like that–in fact, it was considered convenient to be able to be looked up in that fashion.
If you tried to do the same thing now, it would be a hassle. Think about that. Times have changed so fast, society and communities have changed so fast, that the old ways seem completely alien to us. I wonder if we’ll be like that twenty years from now. We can’t freeze Kensington in time. We’ll all get left behind.” The telephone booth on the corner of Kensington Road and 10th Street NW stands in disrepair, a bygone relic of an era long passed.
“I’ve been framing for about twenty-five years. I do all my framing by myself with a crane to move material from one level to the next, to stand up big walls, and install big windows. I’ve been framing as a “one man show” for about three years.
Otherwise I do a lot of custom cedar gazebos and decks–more of like timber framing.
This project started in the first week of December, but it was on hold for a few weeks and commenced in the first week of January. It took approximately two months from foundation to roof installed. It sits two inches below the maximum elevation allowed here.
It’s got thirteen foot ceilings here on the main level, ten foot on the upper level. The biggest window is a fifteen by eleven foot window over the rear fireplace. I’m a few days away from completion and this project is a couple months from closing.
I love this neighbourhood. The people I meet when I’m doing a project are really friendly. They’re content with their little houses while they see these multi-million dollar projects going up. You know, even just the interest that permanent residents take in their neighbourhood when I’m coming to work. People take the time to get to know your name. It’s a level of friendliness that you don’t get in the big volume jobs in the suburbs.
You know, the last place I framed in Hillhurst–the guy across the street was born into and grew up in his house. He took it over from his parents. That’s what you call an old neighbour!” Steve Klassen, Framer, on his job site at 505 18a Street NW.
“We’ve lived here about three years. It’s kind of like a black hole, but in a good way, you know? You get sucked in and you never want to leave.
I like that this neighbourhood is exclusively home to the kind of people that I like the most. There’s a lot of really good people here and of course the food is great. The bars are all really awesome.
You know, it’s owners and management of the businesses that are amazing. People here are genuine, original–there’s really solid people who run the businesses down here and look after their customers.
The car? This is a 1992, BMW 318i. It’s one of four hundred made in this colour. There’s no other car like it in the city. I heard there’s one in Vancouver, but otherwise it’s super unique. I think it’s well received by people in the neighbourhood. I think we’ve been really spoiled by the good weather so I brought it out.” Brendan
“We’re members of the Calgary Lolita Fashion Community. There’s about seventy-five of us in Calgary.
Right now the four of us are just going through Kensington trying the hot chocolates for the YYC Hot Chocolate Festival.
Have a nice day!”
“I started cooking when I was seven years old. My Dad is from Kingston Jamaica, my Moms side is from Dublin, Ireland–Both sides were huge into cooking.
I’ve worked in restaurants all over the place. I worked for Ceili’s, Joey’s Eau Clair, I worked in Vancouver, I worked at Pigeon Hole, I worked at Two Chefs And A Table in Vancouver.
El Charrito sold their restaurant here on 10th street and the space re-opened as ‘Le Bar.’ It wasn’t doing so well, so I came in and overhauled the whole menu. Now I’ve got Hugo over here, my boy John working the line and it’s going good. The owner, Dave (of Deva Dave Salon & Boutique), took a chance on this concept and I think it’s amazing.
We serve Caribbean inspired fusion. We combine modern comfort food with a Caribbean influence. It’s our Grand Opening Weekend!” Jon Lea-Mills, Chef at Bodega Restaurant and Bar, 10th Street.
“I’ve been tattooing for about five years. I’ve worked at The Arthouse for about two and a half, maybe three years.
The neighbourhood is super awesome. It’s walkable, eclectic, lots of mom and pop shops, big art community… yeah.
There’s a lot of great things here!” Amber Arcadia, Tattoo Artist, The Arthouse Inc. Tattoo and Piercing on 10th Street NW.
“I don’t see why this is such a contentious thing. The businesses in this neighbourhood need business. They need people. It’s a C-Train corridor, there’s two colleges up the hill, and the University a few more stops away. This community is right in the middle of everything. Either we can build new condos to replace some of the decrepit, hold houses, or we can keep letting those tiny little places get run-down and replaced with in-fill mansions.
You know, it’s not like the City has been just sneaking these developments through. They’re obligated to inform and engage the public for any issues that might come. You know how many people come to these hearings? Practically none.
I think what frustrates people is the speed at which Kensington (and Hillhurst-Sunnyside) is changing, as well as the astronomical cost of buying into one of these new developments. You know what I think? More affordable housing and rental units. That’s what this community needs.
Don’t tell anybody my name please, haha!”
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