|| = || __ AL TALK
Okay, it’s not a talk. It’s an article. It’s an Al Article. Does that make it an Alticle? Or is it an aNews?
Al Rasmuson has a lot of info tucked inside his head from all his time in SAH and experience with different working groups. He is going to start sharing some in the eNews. This will include some of the history of our community.
Here is the first Alticle:
In the January 24 eNEWS article from FMC Campus there were a couple of acronyms used. For clarity, the names and a summary of the organizations are provided in the following:
ACWG refers to the Foothills Medical Centre Area Communities Working Group.
This group was started in 2002 with the mandate to discuss and communicate new projects and issues on the whole Foothills Medical Centre site (Foothills Hospital, U of C Foothills Campus and the new Arthur J. E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre).The group meets as needed, generally about 4 times per year.
Members of the working group are representatives from the 3 neighboring communities: St. Andrews Heights, Parkdale and University Heights, as well as Alberta Health, University of Calgary and Alberta Infrastructure (they manage government capital projects in excess of $5 million).
The Foothills Medical Centre management really appreciate the involvement and input of the neighboring community associations in their planning and maintenance processes. Over the 23 years, the communities have had significant input into many projects and issues including:
> Site Master Plans,
> location and appearance of parkades and parking lots,
> helipad locations,
> ringroad design,
> vegetation and landscaping,
> bicycle access and parking,
> pedestrian access and movement,
> noise mitigation,
> transit service,
> signage, and
> greenspace.
Original St. Andrews representatives were Al Rasmuson and Guy McLaughlin. Liz Murray replaced Guy in 2006. Adev Ahluwaila joined in 2018 and Calvin Chan replaced Adev in 2024. Al continues as a member.
SSASPG refers to the South Shaganappi Area Strategic Planning Group. This group of stakeholders from the surrounding area meets monthly to discuss new developments, issues and opportunities for collaboration on projects or activities.
The stakeholders include representatives from:
> the 6 community associations (Banff Trail, Montgomery, Parkdale, St. Andrews Heights, University Heights and Varsity Community),
> Alberta Health (Foothills Medical Centre and Alberta Children’s Hospital),
> Alberta Infrastructure,
> Innovate Calgary,
> University of Calgary,
> University District and University Innovation Quarter,
> City of Calgary (Councillors for Ward 1 and 7, Planning and Transit),
> Cadillac Fairview (Market Mall),
> Vecova,
> Western Securities (UXBorough),
> NorthWest Healthcare (Foothills Professional and Cambrian Buildings), and
> Calgary Varsity MLA.
The group was formed to improve the communication and planning on the many developments that were and continue to occur in our area. This has included early involvement in projects being planned, where input can be considered and changes made before the designs are too firm.
Over the years, many activities and working groups have been held with regard to these developments including the following list of only a few:
> Communities Sustainability Plan in 2007,
> Communities Area Plan in 2011,
> Master Planning of West Campus and U of C Main Campus,
> University District Master Plan,
> Foothills Medical Centre Master Plans,
> Working Group to collaborate and minimize construction impacts,
> University Innovation Quarter Master Plan,
> Shaganappi Trail Study, and
> Crowchild Trail Upgrade Studies.
One of the qualitative measures for the work of the SSASPG group is that our area continues to be livable and desirable to Live, Work and Play even with the over $4 billion of development in the last 24 years.
The group held its first meeting in December 2001. Al Rasmuson and Guy McLaughlin were the founding members for St. Andrews Heights. Liz Murray took over from Guy in 2016. Al became Chair of the group in March 2006.
Watch for more Alticles in future aNews. That’s A+++!
