Calgary, AB,
24
September
2014
|
08:29
America/Denver

Doors Open YYC: A ‘backstage pass’ to see how The City functions

This weekend The City of Calgary will be opening its doors to 12 City facilities as part of Doors Open YYC (DOYYC), an annual event taking place in Calgary and around the world. Visitors will get a ‘backstage pass’ to see how The City functions behind the scenes, including a look at how the tree debris from September’s surprise snowfall is being managed.

“Visitors to Shepard Landfill will see firsthand the magnitude of the damage to our urban forest. It’s a steadily growing mountain of tree branches and debris” says Blair Riddle with Waste & Recycling Services.

“We have already received enough debris at all the three landfills to cover the playing field at McMahon Stadium to a height of three metres. Fortunately, all of those tree branches will be mulched for future use and kept out of the landfill.”

Reader Rock Garden is the only site unable to participate as a result of September’s snow fall.

City of Calgary Parks will, however, still offer tours at the Central Irrigation Control Centre and Ralph Klein Park. Ralph Klein Park is located only five minutes from Shepard Landfill, making for a convenient stopover.

DOYYC offers a unique and interactive way for citizens to experience functions of The City that they normally wouldn’t be able to see. Tours include experiences like getting to ride a CTrain while it gets washed, watching Calgary firefighters use the ‘jaws of life’, or seeing the place where traffic from all around the city is monitored and traffic lights are controlled.

The City is adding four new sites to this year’s line-up: The Central Irrigation Control Centre, Manchester Asphalt Plant, The Traffic Operations Sign Shop, and North Mount Pleasant Arts Centre.

The new sites for 2014 offer a rare look at the world’s largest automated irrigation system, where City vehicles go to load up on asphalt, and the place where City signs are designed and built.

Organized by the Doors Open Calgary Association (DOCA), over thirty sites across the city will invite Calgarians behind the scenes during this annual event. The City of Calgary plays a major role in DOYYC, contributing 12 of the total sites.

Featured properties are important to Calgary’s diverse historical, architectural, cultural and social fabric. The event originated in Glasgow, Scotland in 1990 and has since expanded to 44 countries, including Canada.

Tours are free of charge and run from roughly 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this weekend. Some tours require pre-registration due to limited space and availability. Calgarians are encouraged to visit www.calgary.ca/doorsopen for full details.

Full list of City sites:

  1. Calgary Fire Training Academy
  2. Calgary Civic Complex
  3. Central Irrigation Control Centre
  4. Manchester Asphalt Plant
  5. North Mount Pleasant Arts Centre
  6. Ralph Klein Park
  7. Oliver Bowen Maintenance Facility
  8. Pine Creek Waste Water Treatment Plant
  9. Traffic Management Centre
  10. Shepard Landfill
  11. Traffic Operations Sign Shop
  12. Southland Leisure Centre

PLEASE NOTE: TOURS FOR THE CENTRAL IRRIGATION SITE ARE FULLY BOOKED AND IT IS NO LONGER ACCEPTING REGISTRATION OR WALK INS

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