Update: State of Local Emergency

While significant progress has been made throughout the city, The City of Calgary remains in a state of local emergency while recovery and clean-up efforts continue.

 

Much of this progress is a direct result of numerous volunteer initiatives underway across the city. Because of Calgary’s unbelievable community spirit, The City implemented a volunteer transportation hub from Mount Royal University to affected communities yesterday. More than 250 volunteers utilized this transportation, and the service will be offered again today.

 

 

Participate in the “living” Canada Flag at Shaw Millennium Park at 10 a.m. today

 

Music, food, and a variety of activities will take place at Shaw Millennium Park from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; on the Stephen Avenue Walk (8 Ave. S.W. from 4 Street S.W. to Olympic Plaza) between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.; and at Olympic Plaza from 1 to 5 p.m.

 

A Canada Day fireworks display from the Centre Street Bridge will cap the festivities at approximately 10:45 p.m.

 

Parking will be restricted in many areas surrounding the downtown core and fireworks site. The City is encouraging Calgarians to walk, bike or take Transit whenever possible to the Canada Day celebrations. Please visit Calgary.ca for more information.

 

Important note: It is critical that citizens do not attempt to go near the Bow River to view the fireworks. The fireworks “fallout area” is also fenced off.

 

 

Celebrate Canada Day by volunteering to help your fellow citizens with clean-up. Meet at Mount Royal University, 4825 Mount Royal Gate, SW and park in Lots 3, 4 and, if necessary, Lot 5. Buses will transport volunteers to the affected communities of Erlton, Mission, and Elbow Park from 8 am to 11 am to assist with clean-up. More than 250 volunteers utilized this transportation yesterday, and kept roads clear for clean-up crews and vehicles.

 

The Community Support Centre in Hillhurst/Sunnyside, at 1320 5 Avenue NW, will close at noon today due to low attendance.

 

The remaining four Community Support Centres have been very well used and will continue to be open from 8 am to 10 pm daily:

 

The Centre Street Church Reception Centre is changing its hours. Effective today, the Centre Street Church will be open from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Displaced residents must register at Centre Street Church (3900 2 St NE) to access reception centre services between the hours of 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. daily

 

 

The Calgary Food Bank is working hard to meet the needs of those who are still displaced as well as those returning home to spoiled food and empty fridges. Calgarians’ generosity has been overwhelmingly generous – but the need will continue in coming days and weeks.

 

Starting Tuesday, July 2, the Calgary Food Bank warehouse, located at 5000-11 Street SE will be receiving donations of perishable and non-perishable food items. You can find more information about how to donate to the Calgary Food Bank on their website at www.calgaryfoodbank.com.

 

 

Citizens and business owners are reminded that mud, solid and slurry waste from basements, underground parking facilities and other buildings is NOT to be dumped into our river systems. This waste material could contain contaminants.

 

The City of Calgary has provided one emergency dumping facility for this waste disposal:

Non-hazardous solids may be taken to any of The City of Calgary landfills.

 

Discharge and dumping of mud, solids and slurry waste are regulated by Alberta Environment and the Department of Fisheries. All incidents of improper dumping will be investigated.

 

 

While restrictions have been lifted we ask that Calgarians continue to use water wisely. Visit Calgary.ca for water conservation tips. The City’s water quality remains good.

 

 

The train gap on the 201 line between downtown and Heritage continues, and six of 144 City transit routes are currently being detoured. These are: 17, 31, 72, 112, 412, and 419.

 

For details on closures and progress, you can access the Google map created by Transportation via calgary.ca

 

Closures for Canada Day Celebrations include:

Limited public services will be available at the Municipal Building, 800 Macleod Tr. S., beginning Tuesday, July 2. The Development & Building Approvals counter and City cashier counters only, on the third floor, will be open to the public 8 a,m, to 4:30 p.m. Enmax bills can be paid at the cashier counter but no other Enmax inquiries can be handled at this location at this time.

 

A reminder that the Civic Parkade is currently closed and parking throughout the downtown core is limited.

 

 

The Government of Alberta has committed $1 billion as immediate support for Alberta families for the first phase of emergency recovery and reconstruction. This Provincial funding is distributed through two separate programs: pre-loaded debit cards and the Disaster Recovery Program.

 

Debit cards will be issued to Calgary residents with last names starting with M to Z at the following locations tomorrow:

 

Monday, July 1: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Residents must register as an evacuee with Canadian Red Cross (by phone 1-866-696-6484) prior to applying for a pre-paid debit card.