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Community Garage Sale in West Hillhurst

Register your home for the garage sale and the West Hillhurst Community Association will provide custom yellow lawn signs*. The WHCA will market the event throughout the community. Registration is free by emailing programs@westhillhurst.com or via calling 403.283.0464 ext 1.

Let’s celebrate Neighbour Day in Calgary on June 16th with our Community Garage Sale on June 16, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and help our community out together.  *Maps of participating homes will be available in the front lobby.  Let’s come together, shop and reuse!

WHCA Community Garage Sale

Are you looking to have a garage sale this year?  Time to clean out the house, yard and garage?  Not sure what date will work best for your sale?  Why not join the West Hillhurst Community Garage Sale and your neighbours for a day of community spirit.  Help #YYC celebrate Neighbour Day in Calgary!

On Saturday, June 16, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., register your home for Community Garage Sale and the WHCA will provide custom yellow lawn signs.  The WHCA will market the event throughout the community!  Registration is FREE!!!  Closer to the event date, the WHCA will provide maps of homes that have been registered in our front lobby or online.

Please remember to register online, by email, phone or at the community association.  For more information or to register, contact programs@westhillhurst.com or 403.283.0464 ext 4

 

WHCA Neighbourhood Advertising

The WHCA and community volunteers will be walking the neighbourhood in the next couple weeks.  We will be knocking on your doors to showcase what the WHCA has to offer for the 2018 season including our member benefits, programs, events, within the Health Club, rental spaces and more.

One of the larger Community Associations in Calgary, we want you to know the privileges that come with becoming a member.  Come experience the daily pickleball play, squash courts, health club, ice arena and take advantage of the rental programs such as Summit Kid and the No-Contact Hockey League (NCHL).  Senior programming runs daily in the Go-Getters room.

Please welcome us as we warmly showcase the West Hillhurst Community Center.  Let’s strengthen the community, come together and be together.

WHCA – In Your Back Yard

Hardy Greens

Our plants and flowers have now fully died or gone into dormancy for the year, but are patiently awaiting the longer days and warmer temperatures.   I can for sure say, that I’m in the same boat as the plants.  But what if you don’t want to wait until spring to get your thumbs green again? We all know that plants help filter our air, while flowers give us a touch of colour to our eyes and sweet scents to our noses.
The best thing one can do is to have plants in the home.  It gives us the feeling of nature, spring and greenery, but often, because the lack of daytime hours in the day, our indoor plants don’t get enough light and will often shrivel up and die.

Whether your have a green thumb or not, I have collected some hardy indoor plants that will thrive through the winter months even though they may lack light on today.com and bhg.com

  1.  Spider Plant
    Why you want it: These unusual-looking indoor plants add visual interest to a room, and they haven’t fallen out of fashion after years of popularity in the home. Spider plants come in a number of varieties, and work well as hanging plants.  How to care for it: Spider plants do well with evenly moist soil and bright or medium lighting conditions. Room temperatures of 60 to 75 degrees keep them thriving.
  2. Rubber Tree
    Why you want it: This easy-to-grow indoor house plant will grow into an 8-foot-tall tree for a major pop of greenery in a room. If you prefer a smaller plant, just make your rubber tree into a shrub shape by pruning any long stems. The dark green leaves have an attractive shine to them.  How to care for it: Allow the surface of the rubber tree’s soil to dry out in between watering. It thrives in lighting conditions from medium to bright, and a range of room temperatures between about 60 and 8o.

    Alexander Walter/Stone/Getty Images

  3. Peace Lily
    Why you want it: Surely you’ve seen this indoor house plant in many homes, since it has such pretty, curving white blooms and dark leaves — and it’s super easy to grow.  How to care for it: This house plant favors low humidity and also low light, making it great for rooms with few windows. It prefers moist soil throughout the pot and tolerates standard temperatures ranging to about 85 degrees.
  4. Snake Plant
    Why you want it: It doesn’t get much easier than this indoor house plant—also sometimes known as mother-in-law’s tongue! It has variegated leaves that grow upright, and some varieties’ leaves have yellow or white edges. It has small white flowers that bloom only rarely.  How to care for it: This indoor plant grows well in a whole range of lighting conditions. The air should be somewhat dry, as should the soil. Any normal room temperature should suit it just fine.
  5. Peperomia Plant
    Why you want it: Peperomias are a diverse group of small houseplants with waxy and often highly textured leaves. Red-edge peperomia (pictured) has a narrow band of red surrounding a wide creamy leaf margin. Other peperomias we love include ripple peperomia, watermelon peperomia, baby rubber plant, and silver-leaf peperomia.  How to care for it: Low to medium light; 60-75 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
  6. ZeeZee Plant
    Why you want it:  Sometimes called eternity plant because it lasts so long, succulent ZeeZee plant tolerates low light and neglect. The thick, fleshy leafstalks are so durable that you might even think it’s plastic. It is a slow grower, so purchase a large plant if you want a big specimen. Cut stems remain green and healthy in appearance for several weeks, even without water.  How to care for it: Low to bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; allow the soil to dry between waterings

Just a few of my suggestions to help those who are wanting to bring some greenery into their homes over winter, but may not have the greenest green thumb.  Do you have favourite house plans that make it in your home through winter like they are already in their utopia?  Share with us your favourite house plants!

WHCA History & Community Support

Throughout the 20th century, Calgary began to see robust growth and opportunity.  The population exploded and the city became known for its’ success in all industries.  Calgary is southern Alberta’s hub of commercial and economic growth and the cities prosperity resulted in the expansion and creation of new communities.

But do you know the real history of West Hillhurst Community Association?  Today, the community center serves hundreds of people in the area with an extensive variety of programs, amenities and rental spaces, building rapport of neighbours and community members.

As reported on the Federation of Calgary Communities, “West Hillhurst is a northwest community located in Calgary’s inner city, west of the community of Hillhurst/Sunnyside.  It is located on the North Bank of the Bow River.
“The community began as a farm, owned by the Riley family, a prominent pioneer family. The area was annexed by the city in 1907 but development was not substantial until after 1945. At this time, a number of Victory homes were built for returning soldiers.  Although these homes were only designed to last for 5 years, many still exist today. West Hillhurst is a mixture of older homes and infill developments.
“The community’s close proximity to downtown gives residents easy access and a footbridge across Memorial Drive allows residents to walk or rollerblade to work. The community is also located nearby SAIT, the Alberta College of Art and the University of Calgary. There are both public and separate schools in West Hillhurst and the area houses an outdoor pool and tennis court.
“Hillhurst is home to an active community centre which offers an after school centre and daycare. The facility is also used for other programs including jazzercise, martial arts and squash. The community skating rink is also popular, and is used by amateur sports teams, youth skating program, seniors skate and public skating.”

There are decades of history and community spirit in west Hillhurst.  Come on down, get your membership today and start experiencing the benefits of a historical significant community center.  And if you need more information on programs, amenities, events and more, be sure to browse the website.

The WHCA looks forward to working with the residents of west Hillhurst now and into the future, creating a dynamic and beneficial center for the community to attend.

Happy Family Day from WHCA

Unfortunately, the WHCA community center will be closed today for Family Day.  We hope that everyone will take some time to cherish the extra day with your family.  Do something fun, whether outside or in, and enjoy bonding with the family.

Are you looking for Family Day activities in Calgary or area?  There are lots of low-cost and free activities to take part in Calgary.  Here are just some of my suggestions:

Glenbow Museum  – Take some time out of your busy schedule and head to a museum.  Enjoy the serene and quiet surroundings of Glenbow while browsing stunning art and displays.

Olympic Plaza Skating – Is it a beautiful day?  Head outside for some fresh hair and hit the rink.  Perfect for all ages, this fun event will get the kids outside, get their exercise and enjoy what the Calgary community has to offer.

Park & Trail Hike – There are extensive trails and paths within the city.  No matter what location you reside in the city, wilderness isn’t far away.  Get out for some relaxing exercise, fresh air and maybe even family snow ball fight.

Does your family have an annual Family Day Tradition?  Tell us about it.  What other activities are great for Family Day?  Share with our readers and help them have the best day possible.

WHCA will open for regular programs and hours on Tuesday, February 19, 2018

Happy Chinese New Years

Happy Chinese New Year!    And what important year it will be.  It’s that time of year in the Chinese culture where celebrations take place.  This year, the Chinese New Year is on Friday, February 16, 2018.

As reported on When-Is, “according to the Chinese 12-year animal zodiac cycle, the Chinese year beginning in 2018 is the year of the Dog. Each Chinese zodiac year begins on Chinese New Year’s Day.”

If you want to learn more about the Chinese New Year and the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, check out the China Highlights website.  You will find information about your zodiac sign of your birth year, as well as the traditional Chinese superstitions.

https://www.istockphoto.com/

“Chinese New Year, also known as the “Spring Festival” in modern Mainland China, is China’s most important traditional festival, celebrated at the turn of the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar, which consists of both Gregorian and lunar-solar calendar systems. Chinese New Year can begin anytime between late January and mid-February.

“China’s Spring Festival public holiday starts on the Chinese New Year, and lasts for 7 days.”

Are you looking to take part in the festivities that will be held within the city?  Check out the Calgary Chinese Culture Centre Association website to see the schedule of events, venues, times and additional information.  Festivities run from February 10 – 18, 2018

Or you can check out the events below and help support Calgary’s diverse community:

Sien Lok 48th Annual Chinese New Year Gala Celebration – Saturday, February 10, 2018
Chinatown District Lunar New Year Reception – Wednesday, February 21, 2018
2018 Chinese New Year Festival – Saturday, February 10 – Sunday, February 18, 2018

Are you heading to any events or celebrations this year?  Share your stories and favourite part of the events that you attend.

WHCA Winter Carnival

WHCA will be hosting a family friendly Winter Carnival event on February 10, 2018.  Get you and your family bundled up to take part in some awesome outdoor activities throughout the day.  The carnival is absolutely free to attend.  Bring your neighbours, friends and family down to the event where there will be a host of fun winter themed activities, hot chocolate, coffee and hotdogs.

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There will be activities such as family/ team ski races, snow sculpture contests, maple syrup candy, toboggan races and more.  Sleigh rides will be provided to anyone who wants to jump on and will be pulled around the community centre from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., graciously sponsored by Brady Dance Academy.

Come on down for some winter fun and enjoy all the fun activities.  The event will be perfect for the kiddos and we are sure they will love all offerings.  Remember, the event is full free, but additional cost may apply to food and beverage purchases.  We look forward to having some fun at the winter wonderland carnival.

Date:  February 10, 2018
Time:  11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Cost:  Free to attend

For further information on the event, please contact programs@westhillhurst.com or visit the events page.