“Oh man, I’m so ready for some blue skies and patios. Well, it’s not like we haven’t had the best winter ever. It’s just, you know, nicer to be outside!” The marquee at Container Bar on Kensington Road informs its patrons where to go.
Tag: Calgary (Page 11 of 12)
“His name is Riggs. He’s a Boglen Terrier. Yeah, he’s an awesome dog: he listens, he sits, great with people, great with other dogs, kids love him.”
“You know, I wish more people in the suburbs would dress up their front lawns like people do over in Hillhurst and Sunnyside. All you get is block after block of lawns. Wouldn’t it be easier to just have a patch of wild flowers and some garden gnomes? Probably better for the bees anyways.”
“I’ve been a fire fighter for just a few months over five years. The story is partly connected to the military. Back in 2009 I was in Australia and coming to the end of my doctorate. I had put my application into the military to be in the air crew. When it started looking like nothing was going to happen with the airforce, I thought maybe it’s time to think about public service. The structure and camaraderie in the Fire Department appealed to me. It took eighteen months from there, haha! I started on February 7, 2011.
In early 2012 they installed these TV information boards in the fire halls. They had this call to wear the Sparky mascot and I thought ‘That has me written all over it.’ I’ve always been into the cosplay thing–I’ve got a Storm Trooper suit from Star Wars. I practically ran to the computer to apply.
This costume is no ordinary costume. It’s designed by Street Characters. That’s the company started by Glenn Street, the guy who created and wore the original Harvey the Hound for the Calgary Flames. For the 125th anniversary for the Calgary Fire Department, we got permission from the National Fire Protection Association to create our own likeness of Sparky. This is no generic Sparky, this is the Calgary Fire Department Sparky, and coming from Street Characters, this is something special. It’s a privilege to wear this work of art that you can walk around in. You are a walking emblem of the organization you serve, and it’s a part of public service that really makes me happy.
The motto on the back of the fire trucks used to say “Yours for life.” That’s something that’s really meaningful to me.
Kensington has always had a ‘feel’ to it, even back when I was a youngster. As a kid I was aware of it. This neighbourhood may seem like an exclusive place to live or for the wealthy, but it’s inclusive and comfortable. Moving back to Calgary, my focus was on community and people, so this is where I wanted to be. It’s a small town feel. We just knew we wanted to be here. We thought if we could live here, we’d just go for it. When St. John’s on Tenth opened up, we knew it’s where we wanted to live.
Yesterday I went to grab a coffee and saw kids out having a water fight – in April! It’s the essence of what I love about this community. When you have to be on time, you have to avoid certain streets because you have so many friends to greet on the way.” Kyle Rebryna, Firefighter, Calgary Fire Department
“The first apartment I bought was down here in Sunnyside. I spent a good majority of my youth down here, so it’s nice to see some of that youthfulness still around. I moved out of the neighbourhood about two years ago.
I just like that youthful vibe. Being able to go down to the coffee shops and make friends with random people. I really felt like I belonged here, and I still feel that way. It’s so welcoming in Sunnyside, even if you don’t live here.
I’ve been a journalist for about eight years all over Alberta. I’ve been with Global for about four years doing Global Morning Live. Just this past year I picked up the camera again.” Sarah Offin, Reporter for Global News Calgary.
Summer flowers in bloom on Memorial Drive.
“I just saw a guy try to kill himself from jumping off the balcony from that building there. The shit you see sometimes at ground level…
Oh well. It is what it is, I suppose. Take care of yourself brother.”
“It’s nice to see Calgary embracing hand-made crafts and artwork – it’s something special.” – Pam Morales, CraftedTruck.ca
“Who wants Riley Park!?”
“When farmer-politician Ezra H. Riley subdivided Hillhurst in 1904, he chose British street names such as Kensington Avenue, Gladstone Road, Preston Street and Beverly Street. The city annexed Hillhurst in 1907 and before long, most of the street names were changed to numbers. Kensington Avenue became Centre Avenue, and served as the dividing point between northwest and southwest Calgary. When the quadrant boundary shifted south to the Bow River in 1926, Kensington Road acquired its present name.”