All private homes (and some apartment and condo buildings) in Calgary are given black, blue, and green bins for waste collection. If you have a back lane behind your house, your black, blue, and green bins will stay here, near your garage or parking space. The City of Calgary is responsible for picking up and emptying these bins once every 1-2 weeks, and every neighbourhood is assigned a certain day of the week that this will happen. It is your responsibility as owner or tenant of the house to make sure your bins are in good condition and are placed near the back lane behind your home, at least 60 cm apart, before 7 am on the day they will be emptied.
Read moreAll private homes (and some apartment and condo buildings) in Calgary are given black, blue, and green bins for waste collection. If you have a back lane behind your house, your black, blue, and green bins will stay here, near your garage or parking space. The City of Calgary is responsible for picking up and emptying these bins once every 1-2 weeks, and every neighbourhood is assigned a certain day of the week that this will happen. It is your responsibility as owner or tenant of the house to make sure your bins are in good condition and are placed near the back lane behind your home, at least 60 cm apart, before 7 am on the day they will be emptied.
Read moreAll private homes (and some apartment and condo buildings) in Calgary are given black, blue, and green bins for waste collection. From left to right: garbage, recycling, and compost bins.
Read moreFood insecurity is a rising issue in Canada. The Calgary Food Bank was formed in order to address this. It is the largest, most accessible food bank in Calgary. If your family needs help getting enough food on the table, a food hamper from the Calgary Food Bank can help. Read on to find out how the program works.
Read moreSlang is defined as a type of language that consists of words and phrases that are common. Slang is most commonly used in speech and casual conversations. An example of Canadian slang is the term “eh”, which is often used to ask someone to confirm or repeat what they are saying or to ask a question. Keep reading our guide for more examples of Canadian slang.
Read moreThe First Nations (also known as Aboriginal, or Indigenous) peoples of Canada include all groups of people who historically lived on the land before the arrival of Europeans. There are many different groups of First Nations people, each with their own values, beliefs, and customs. Canada is home to 617 First Nations communities that are spread out across thousands of reservations. In Alberta, there are 45 communities.
Read moreThe Canadian Government set up the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2008. Its primary purpose is documenting the history and impacts of the Canadian Residential School System. Truth and Reconciliation reveals the long and painful history behind Canada’s treatment of Indigenous peoples.
Read moreThis guide is adapted from an essay sent in by Harold Horsefall. The Calgary Immigrant Educational Society thanks him for the insight and knowledge he has provided on Indigenous issues. When it comes to Canada, and images of the Indigenous people here, there are a number of myths floating around. “Myth-busting”, or recognizing that these myths are false and unfair, is very important. Metis author, teacher, lawyer and scholar Chelsea Vowel, is the author of Indigenous Writes: A Guide to First Nations, Metis and Inuit Issues in Canada. In this book, she wrote a chapter about myth-busting views on Indigenous peoples. This book’s target demographic appears to be for the average Canadian. However, immigrants that want to learn more about Indigenous peoples are encouraged to read Vowel’s book. Vowel’s chapter on myth-busting focuses on five myths about Indigenous peoples. Keep reading to find out what they are.
Read moreHave you ever been at the opening ceremony for an event and heard the following? Welcome. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the traditional territories of the Blackfoot and the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Siksika, the Piikuni, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Stoney Nakoda First Nations, including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Wesley First Nation. The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III. That was a land acknowledgement. The announcer likely goes on to mention other things and then you might forget all about what they said earlier. But when you arrive home later that night, it sticks with you – what are we acknowledging, and why?
Read moreThe “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth” is another name for the Calgary Stampede. With amazing performances, live rodeo, delicious new foods, rides, and music, there’s something for everyone in your family. Find out how to get to the Calgary Stampede with our helpful guide.
Read moreDo you feel like going to a party, seeing some fireworks, or having fun with your neighbours? Canada Day is a national holiday that commemorates the day that Canada became a country on July 1, 1867. Every July 1st Canadians around the world wear red and white and participate in local events that allow them to take pride in and celebrate their country.
Read moreCanadian Thanksgiving is always held on the second Monday in October. Thanksgiving is one of our very favourite Canadian holidays, and we think it could be yours, too. Why is that? It’s not just because we get to eat tables of delicious food, or because we get a day off work. While both reasons are very nice, we love this holiday because it is a time for giving thanks. It’s a time of change: the harvest season is over, a new school year has started, and Canada’s famously cold winters are on their way. As the days grow shorter, we come together with our families. Thanksgiving is a time when Canadian families celebrate and share what they’re thankful for. This painting is by Dutch-Flemish artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder, dating from the mid-1500s.
Read moreAs soon as Halloween is over, every November, you will begin to see people wearing red paper flowers on their coats. These simple flowers are usually pinned on the left lapel, close to the heart, and are only worn for 2 weeks every year. The wearing of the poppy symbolizes that Remembrance Day is near. But what does this mean? Keep reading to find out.
Read moreCalgary Police Service (CPS) is a civil service agency that works separately from the Canadian government and military. Its goal is to preserve the quality of life that Calgarians enjoy by making Calgary a safe place to live, work, and visit. If you have been the victim of a crime, or see a crime in progress, you are encouraged to immediately call the Calgary Police at 9-1-1. Non-emergency calls can be directed to 403-266-1234.
Read moreThe Calgary Fire Department provides many emergency and non-emergency services around Calgary. Teams of firefighters respond to fires, emergency incidents, and motor vehicle collisions. Firefighters are working 24 hours a day at 39 fire stations around Calgary. Thankfully, this means that a firefighter team is always nearby when there is an emergency. If you have an emergency, always call 9-1-1. Right away, an emergency response team will head to your location. You can contact your local fire station directly if you need non-emergency services. Click this link for a list of Calgary’s fire stations.
Read moreSometimes, health problems require more immediate or serious care. You cannot afford to wait and see a doctor for these problems because this could lead to your condition worsening. Such cases are known as emergencies. If you find yourself involved in a medical emergency, it’s very important to call Emergency Medical Services (EMS) right away. Calgary EMS is here to provide care and save lives.
Read moreHistory It might surprise you to learn that lacrosse is Canada’s official summer sport – that’s right, it’s not all about hockey! This illustration shows a very early version of lacrosse played by the Iroquois people of eastern Canada and the U.S. You also might be interested to know that lacrosse is a truly North American sport. It was first played by the indigenous Iroquois people, possibly as early as 1100 AD, hundreds of years before European contact. In the traditional, indigenous version of lacrosse, massive teams of 100 to 1,000 men played as warriors. This brought spiritual significance to the game that they played for the Creator. Lacrosse Today Much of what we know about lacrosse today is inspired by early Iroquois players. Today’s lacrosse is played at a variety of levels and is one of the fastest-moving, highest-scoring sports in the world. The rules described below apply to box lacrosse, a version that is played indoors during the winter. Box lacrosse is different from field lacrosse in speed and physical contact. Visit here to find out more about the differences between box and field lacrosse.
Read moreHockey: Canada’s favourite pastime. We love cheering for our home team, screaming with excitement when a goal is scored, and eating nachos and popcorn in the stands. Going to a hockey game is a great social event to experience with your friends and family. Check out a Calgary Flames or Hitmen game and experience a big part of Canadian culture!
Read moreThe first branch of the Calgary Public Library (CPL) opened in 1912, making the CPL over 100 years old. It has come a long way since then. The CPL is constantly growing to allow Calgarians of all backgrounds to use its services. Being a member of the CPL gives you access to a huge number of books, resources, services, and programs. With so many perks available, we took it upon ourselves to provide you with a snapshot of what the CPL does. Keep reading this article to find out how to use the Calgary Public Library.
Read moreAre you new to getting into sports in Calgary? Do you have kids who want to play sports? Whether you want to play competitively or just for fun, there are many options! You also have some great choices for getting your kids involved in community sports. Though there are many sports available, hockey and soccer are the most popular. Keep reading this guide to find out how to get your active lifestyle in Calgary started!
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TIES is located on the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region, which includes the Blackfoot Confederacy comprising the Siksika, Piikani and Kanai First Nations, the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda including the Chiniki, Bearspaw and Wesley First Nations. The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III.
