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A Look Back at Our 2019

2019 has been a tremendous and successful year for us at the West Hillhurst Community Association (WHCA). Throughout this past year, we have seen the return of some of our favourite programming and events, as well as plenty of new opportunities to engage with families and community members in West Hillhurst. We’re always dreaming up new ways to make use of all of our great spaces here at the centre, from the gymnasium and ice arena, to the squash courts and weight room (as well as all of our other green space, rental rooms, and offices).

To showcase the growth we’ve experienced over the years, we assembled some of the numbers and figures from this past year into some helpful graphics to give community members an idea of the scope of the facility and insight into what the WHCA does throughout the year. Please take a look at the images below and let us know ways you think we can continue to improve in the coming years.

Get a Head-Start on Your New Year’s Resolution

Why wait until the New Year to get started on your health and fitness journey? If you plan on making your yearly resolution about getting into shape, let us help you get a head-start on the New-Years-Rush! It’s never too early (or too late) to start working towards your goal.

Instead of hitting the gym floor in January with the rest of the crowd, start in November and familiarize yourself with the equipment, etiquette, and establish your routine. In the WHCA Squash & Fitness Centre, our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be happy to take you for a tour of the facility and answer any questions you may have in order to get acquainted with our well-stocked weight room and cardio equipment. They can even introduce you to our great personal trainers who will work with you to establish a workout routine that fits your fitness level and schedule.

Not sure if the weight room is right for you? Consider signing up for one of our group fitness classes! We have some of the best instructors from throughout Calgary leading these programs right here at the WHCA. Variety is the spice of life, so we are always trying out new and exciting programs that can be adjusted for all fitness levels; from brand-new beginner, to the voracious veterans, we always try to have something for everyone. These programs can include anything from spin classes, HIIT, yoga, circuit training, and much more. To see what classes we are currently offering this season, visit westhillhurst.com/fitnessclasses.

Looking for something a little less formal than a group fitness class? Get acquainted with squash and tennis! We have 3 full-size courts for both of these great racquet sports, as well as the trainers and equipment to get you on your way. Both squash and tennis are high-pace, sweat-inducing, high-skill sports that can be taken up by athletes of all skill and fitness levels and can be a great way to stay in shape year-round. Our indoor squash courts will even keep you warm and active in the cold weather months. Courts can be booked in-person, by phone, or even online. Racquet sports are a great way to get in shape while building a skill, and a fun way to meet your New Years resolution goals!

So don’t wait until an arbitrary change of calendar to start your fitness journey. You’ll always wish you had started earlier, so why not start today? Stop by the facility, check out our membership packages, and start on a new path to a happier, healthier you!

Make a Difference in Your Community

There are plenty of great ways for you to get involved in the West Hillhurst community; volunteering, becoming a member, participating in local events/fundraisers, and much, much more. There is almost no better way to have your voice heard and make an impact, however, than joining the board of directors at the WHCA!

By becoming a board member, you have a direct impact and say on the goings-on within the WHCA facility. The minimum requirements for becoming a board member is you must live within the West Hillhurst community and be able to attend the 10 2-hour monthly meetings in the WHCA Boardroom. It also helps if you have a community-first mindset and are motivated to make positive change happen in our community.

We currently have multiple openings on our board so it’s the perfect time to jump-in and get involved! The coming years promise to be exciting ones at the WHCA due to a number of ongoing and upcoming projects. As a board member, you’ll be among the first to know about future plans at the facility and lend a hand in our journey towards community prosperity and success.

Want to learn more about the board, the WHCA, and the community? Be sure to attend our annual AGM! This year (2019) it will be held on Tuesday, November 12th in the Go-Getters.

We hope to see you here!

Halloween Trick-or-Treating Tips

A message from the Federation of Calgary Communities

Halloween can be a fun and exciting event for kids (and adults)! Below are some informative tips to increase neighbourhood safety on October 31.

Residents: 

  • Turn on outdoor lights and replace burnt-out bulbs. 
  • Clear a path from the road to your front door and remove any potential obstacles or tripping hazards. 
  • Keep your pets safe. Keep pets indoors and away from the unfamiliar (and spooky) guests at the front door. 
  • Beware of potential food allergies; consider alternative goodies. 
  • If you’re driving be cautious of Goblins, Ghouls and Ghosts out and about in your neighbourhood. 

Parents: 

  • Costumes should be short enough to avoid tripping; and be light coloured in order to be easily seen at night. Having your child wear reflective tape will also help them be better seen by drivers. 
  • Use non-toxic makeup to complete costumes instead of masks as masks can reduce visibility for your child. 
  • Create an easy to follow route with your children and teenagers. 
  • Travel in groups of three or four. Young children should be accompanied by a responsible adult. 
  • Practice crosswalk safety. Make your way up one side of the street and cross to the other side looking both ways, don’t criss-cross back and forth. 
  • Double-check you child’s goodie bags to ensure everything is safe to eat. 

Remember: 

Connect with neighbours! Halloween is a great time to familiarize and engage with your community!

7 Ways Your Family Can Benefit From a WHCA Membership

The 7 ways your family can benefit from a West Hillhurst Community Association (WHCA) Family Membership.

  1. Gain immediate access to WHCA Free Member Programs.
    • For just $35 a year, you can join other WHCA families for great free programs such as Member Skates, Sticks & Pucks, Friday Family Gym, Tai Chi, and more! 
  2. Experience a healthier and more active lifestyle.
    • On the North-side of the WHCA is the Squash & Fitness Centre, featuring 3 international squash courts, a fully-stocked weight room with cardio equipment, a dance studio, and tennis courts. Members get 10% off registrations for group fitness classes.
  3. Get invited to Members-only family-friendly events year-round.
    • A WHCA Membership means you’ll be on the list for our annual member’s only events, including Taste of the Neighbourhood, Summer Fest, the Halloween Party, Community Garage Sale, the annual Squash Championship, Skate with Santa, and more! 
  4. Get more involved in your community. 
    • With all of the activity at the WHCA, we offer volunteer opportunities year-round. There is no better way to give back and enrich the West Hillhurst community than to volunteer your time and skills. 
  5. Keep the kids active all year long.
    • With soccer, tee-ball, tennis, basketball, and more, we have sports for kids of all ages available all year-round, inside and outside the facility. 
  6. Meet new friends and build stronger bonds within West Hillhurst. 
    • We have over 2,500 active members at the WHCA and serve as a hub for community members to gather, meet, and mingle. Whether you’re new to the community or a long-time resident, we are always open to meeting new community members!
  7. Save big with exclusive member discounts at local area businesses.
    • Shop, save, and support local with 15 great discounts in the West Hillhurst and surrounding communities. Whatever you’re in the market for, our member benefits partners have a little something for everyone. Some of the great discounts include 10% off at Amato Gelato, 10% off wine at Kensington Wine Market, 25% off regularly priced items at Showhome Furniture, 15% off at West Hillhurst Paint & Design, 10% off at The Barn, and much more! 

Visit westhillhurst.com/whca-membership for a complete list of discounts and more membership information. 

Get Your Table for the Holiday Market!

Are you a local artist, baker, artisan, craftsman, etc.? Have you got a collection of your own creations that you know your fellow community members and neighbours would enjoy? Book a table for our annual Holiday Market and get ready to set up shop!

The Holiday Market is not until December, but we’ve opened up tables for reservations and they are going fast! With about half of the tables already claimed, do not hesitate to book yours – they tend to sell out well before the holiday season and we are on-track to sell out before fall. So whether you’ve got some homemade Holiday baking, decor, crafts, clothes, or whatever, reserve your Market table before it’s too late!

If you want to book a table, contact John, our Events Manager, by emailing him, giving him a call at 403.283.0464 ext. 4, or stop by his office at the west-end of the arena hallway.

For more information on the holiday market and to download the application form, visit our events page.

New & Returning Fall Programs

The summer months can be a little slow for our WHCA programs – with the great weather outside and the ice removed for maintenance this year, who wants to be cooped up inside anyways?

Thankfully however, we’ve got some great new programs coming this fall, as well as some of your favorites making their return in September. We’ve heard community feedback and hope to bring you the best programming at the WHCA yet!

Squash & Fitness Centre programs will make their return in September with the return of Spin With Sandra and Family-Friendly Spin. You can also expect to see the return of Intervals and Tot Yoga. There will be new yoga classes too! For adults, we’ll be introducing Yin and Yang Yoga, and Youth Yoga for ages 6 to 9.

You’ll also see the return of our WHCA Music classes, Basketball programs, and some new and innovative takes on youth tennis, as well as other youth sports. Stay tuned!

Most notably this fall is TASTE of the Neighbourhood! TASTE is our annual and premier fundraiser at the WHCA and this year’s plans to be the biggest and best yet. We’ll see the return of many of our fantastic neighbourhood vendors, as well as some new local brands as well. The silent auction is shaping up to be phenomenal, and since people had so much fun with it last year, we’re bringing back the fun-money casino courtesy of Aces R Wild!

So stay tuned to our social media, website, blog, newsletters, and bulletin boards and don’t miss out on anything this fall!

Get First Aid Certified!

Do you require first aid training for your workplace? Maybe looking to add a new certification to your resume? Or perhaps you just want to be prepared for if the worst happens to your friends and family?

Let the West Hillhurst Community Association help you get first aid certified! August 17 & 18, we will be hosting Standard First Aid – CPR C & AED with a St. John’s Ambulance certified instructor. From 9am to 5pm, this 2-day course will teach you everything you need to know in order to save lives at work, home, or play. At the end of the course, you will write a quick test after demonstrating practical skills and receive your First Aid certification.

Due to a special deal, we are able to offer this course at only $120 to the general public – typically offered at $155. If you have a valid WHCA Family Membership, you can get an additional 10% off the cost of the course and enroll for only $108! That’s $47 off of what you would pay elsewhere for the exact same certification.

So join us August 17 & 18 and learn how to become a certified first aider.

REGISTER TODAY!

Saddle Up for Stampede Breakfast

Our Annual Stampede Breakfast returns Tuesday, July 9th from 9 to 11:30AM!

Join us at the WHCA facility and enjoy a morning of delicious, fresh-made pancakes, sausage, and coffee with some family-friendly activities all courtesy of our wonderful events sponsors! Don your western wear and get in the Stampede spirit with us while we enjoy some great music by local group The Hubcaps.

This is a free event for community members, so get your family together and bring the whole posse on down for a breakfast with your neighbours and friends. Our staff and friendly volunteers will be waiting with a plate of hot and fresh breakfast!

No registration required. For more info, visit westhillhurst.com/whca-events.

YEEHAW!

Get Garage Sale Maps Starting Today

The Neighbourhood Garage Sale maps for this weekend, June 15th (Calgary’s Neighbour Day) are now available online and in the facility!

We assembled a map of all the homes throughout West Hillhurst that registered for our Garage Sale day. If you missed your chance to get included, there’s always next year! Registration gets your home added to the map, as well as a bright yellow garage sale sign to post in your yard or on your street. Which, if you haven’t picked your sign up yet, you can find those in the office at the WHCA along with yard stakes.

You can find the garage sale map here, as well as the printable PDF. If you find yourself in the area, feel free to drop-in and grab a copy! We have lots to go around.

So take part in the garage sales this Saturday. Who knows, you might find some hidden treasures!