A wry look at life in and around Calgary, Alberta http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=0 The Calgary Stampede is on again. It's an old, tired show that badly needs some new ideas and new attractions to bring more visitors to this great city of ours. http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=43 http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=43 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:55:42 EDT General The Tsuu T'ina nation have decisively voted down the very generous proposal from the city to acquire land to build the western end of the Calgary ring road. Good! Let's now get on and make a more sensible proposal. http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=40 http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=40 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:28:53 EDT Transport Newspapers will die out unless they stop complaining and face the new reality that is the internet. http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=39 http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=39 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:23:32 EDT General Canada sided with the US and a few other countries in order to ensure that the Bali climate conference ended with a toothless agreement and a commitment to do nothing significant. Why are Canadians so complacent in the face of a problem that isn't that hard to solve. http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=38 http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=38 Sun, 16 Dec 2007 09:25:07 EST General It has been proposed that Alberta needs to increase the royalties it charges on oil extracted from the tar sands. This proposal has been widely condemned as being short sighted and heavy handed. Alberta needs to reconsider its proposals and come up with a bolder suggestion. http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=36 http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=36 Mon, 08 Oct 2007 09:47:30 EDT General After a recent visit to China, I am becoming increasingly concerned about air pollution and the Canadian government's head-in-the-sand attitude to it. It is past time to take some serious and significant action. http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=35 http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=35 Sat, 06 Oct 2007 09:45:16 EDT Environment The price of housing in Calgary continues its inexorable rise, although not at quite the hectic pace of the past couple of years. The economics of the situation are proceeding along well understood lines so now is the time you should consider cashing in and moving away. http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=33 http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=33 Sun, 03 Jun 2007 10:03:57 EDT Property Alberta's legislature is discussing the imposition of rent controls to try and regulate a booming rental market. Is this really the answer to the problem of the lack of affordable housing? http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=32 http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=32 Thu, 10 May 2007 09:52:35 EDT Property Deerfoot Trail seems to have had a major accident just about every day recently. Is this because the speed limit is too high or is there some other explanation? http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=31 http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=31 Tue, 01 May 2007 18:50:48 EDT Transport Why do Canadians love their trucks so much? I just don't understand it. Help me out here. http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=29 http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=29 Sat, 21 Apr 2007 09:51:31 EDT Transport Spring is here at last. It seems to have been a long winter but spring is the best time to ski the local hills so that's what I plan to do as much as I can. See you there? http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=28 http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=28 Fri, 30 Mar 2007 10:27:58 EDT General Calgary property prices and rents continue their inexorable rise. The price of an average home in Calgary is expected to top $500,000 later this year. Rent for a small single family home is at least $1,500/month. However, there is some affordable housing left in town if you know where to look... http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=26 http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=26 Sat, 10 Mar 2007 11:22:24 EST Property Good news at last. A contract for the north east portion of the Calgary ring road has just been awarded. The northern section of the ring road will now be completed in early 2009. Hooray! But like many things happening in Calgary, the award of this contract raises questions about some of the other road projects under way. http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=24 http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=24 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 18:00:36 EST Transport Having lived in Canada since 1999, I am finally about to become a Canadian citizen. But recent events and the governments reaction to them mean I'm no longer sure that's a good idea... http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=22 http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=22 Wed, 14 Feb 2007 10:02:08 EST General More and more official reports are being produced blaming global warming on man's activities. Canadians are the world's worst polluters on an individual basis. It's perhaps almost too late to act but Canada could easily show the world the way at little real cost to itself. http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=19 http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=19 Sat, 03 Feb 2007 10:16:40 EST Environment The city of Calgary is becoming paralysed by a poor road system and noone seems interested in doing anything about it. It need not be expensive to fix, but some imagination (and drive) is clearly needed down in city hall. http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=17 http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=17 Sat, 20 Jan 2007 08:45:19 EST Transport Calgary goes smoke free today... Except that's not really true. This ill considered new bylaw simply forces smokers out of secure smoking rooms onto the streets where the risk of passive smoke is made much worse for those of us who would prefer to avoid it. http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=14 http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=14 Mon, 01 Jan 2007 12:22:40 EST Environment Why are Alberta drivers so reluctant to use their indicators? Are they lazy, incompetent or what? Here's a small refresher course. http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=12 http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=12 Sat, 23 Dec 2006 10:35:07 EST Transport British Airways have already expanded their recently restarted service from London into Calgary. It looks like other major airlines may follow suit and turn Calgary into a major hub. But once you arrive at the airport, how are you supposed to get to downtown? http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=10 http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=10 Sat, 16 Dec 2006 10:57:37 EST Transport Air pollution in Calgary is already high and causing much unnecessary illness. Something urgent needs to be done about it as it will only get worse as the city continues to grow. http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=8 http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=8 Sat, 09 Dec 2006 16:37:38 EST Environment The boom in the oil sector in Calgary and the rest of Alberta is undoubtedly a good thing. However, there are problems associated with this boom, not least a severe shortage of workers in the service industries. http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=6 http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=6 Wed, 06 Dec 2006 19:18:51 EST General The Calgary C Train, a light rail system, is the primary method of commuting to downtown for many Calgarians. The system and its supporting infrastructure is however wholly inadequate. This, the first of several posts on this topic, investigates the problems with park and ride. http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=5 http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=5 Sun, 03 Dec 2006 10:19:46 EST Transport I have travelled extensively, working all over the world and I choose to live near Calgary, Alberta. I think it's the best place to live in the entire world and this, the first article in this blog tries to explain some of the reasons why. http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=2 http://www.activeminds.ca/blogarticle.php?blogname=calgary&id=2 Fri, 01 Dec 2006 10:41:34 EST General