Calgary News Watch

In a twist of irony that’s almost typical of Calgary, the city declared Killarney Park as it’s most recent pesticide free green space. And then it applied herbicides.

Under a seven year pilot program, Killarny was one of five parks chosen to be pesticide free. The program was developed to reduce chemical usage in Calgary’s parks. The chosen few were picked based on community interest and volunteer level for maintenance.

Chemicals are replaced with natural measures: composting, aeration, and turf maize are among the natural remedies to dandelion infestations, according to Robin McLeod, the president of the Coalition for a Healthy Calgary. Read the rest of this article »

We’ve all heard the news, read the statistics, and perhaps even discussed the topic with family, friends, physicians. Obesity kills. It causes a variety of complications.

So why do we Calgarians feel that we’re not at risk but the rest of the world’s obese is?

In a recent study by the Canadian Obesity Network, 89% of the responses from overweight Calgary residents agreed that the greater the weight, the greater the risk of heart disease. However only 8% admitted that they were included within that risk. Read the rest of this article »

Got garbage? Get it out to the curb before the bag limit is imposed. Calgary will be drafting a plan referred to as “tag a bag” limit for trash.

On top of the coming recycling program (scheduled for 2009), residents may have to deal with limits to other garbage. Those who recycle more and have less trash wouldn’t have to worry about the bag limit; those with loads of trash would have to pay. While the intent of the plan is to encourage the recycling, the end result remains to be seen.

Ald. Druh Farrell wants Calgarians to meet the example that other cities have already set regarding limits of refuse sent to dumps. Read the rest of this article »