When we think of a season of celebration, we tend to think of the mid-winter holidays. During this time we get together with friends and family, eat warm food, drink warm drinks and share in the warmth of good company. But as the edge comes off of the chill in the weather, putting me in an anticipatory mood for spring – I realize that this is a celebratory time as well. Continue Reading

 By Alderman Joe Connelly, Ward 6

Your daily commute is about to become more challenging, if it hasn’t already. While I have been successful in securing over a billion dollars in new infrastructure for Ward 6, I do realize and hope that you do as well, that all this construction does come with a cost. Continue Reading

The long, frustrating waits while CNR trains move boxcars in and out of the Foothills Industrial intermodal yard will soon be greatly reduced.  Ald. Joe Ceci says southeast businesses, especially transportation and delivery companies, will especially benefit. Continue Reading

By Ward 7 Ald. Druh Farrell

Over the course of 2009, 15,899 snow and ice control service requests were received by the City’s Customer Contact Centre.  Of these, 6,709 (42%) were received in December alone.  Continue Reading

Ald. Linda Fox-Mellway, Ward 14 column

In Canada, all telecommunication systems are governed by federal regulations. For wireless communications (cell towers, cell phones, etc.), Industry Canada – Spectrum Management & Telecommunications – is the licensing body. Telecommunication companies must apply to Industry Canada for a licence to operate an installation at each specific location. Continue Reading

The Calgary Beacon offers a regular series of political commentary and inteviews with southeast Calgary MPs, MLAs, aldermen and community leaders called 3 Minutes With…  The intent is to provide a forum where our elected officials can explain in detail their position on issues of the day, to move beyond the “sound bite.” Continue Reading

Rick McIver, Ward 12

After a public outcry over the state of Calgary’s roads following the mid-December snow dump, at least one alderman is trying to come up with a solution. Ward 12 alderman Ric McIver has introduced a notice of motion for Monday’s City Council meeting that could dramatically change the way the city’s roads are cleaned during the winter.  Suggestions to improve snow clearing include allowing citizens to plow city streets, outfitting City vehicles with plows, revisiting the City definitions of “passable roads” and changing parking policies to make it easier for snow clearing equipment to clean residential streets. Continue Reading

Southeast aldermen Ric McIver, left, and Joe Ceci are at odds over the Municipal Complex Bylaw revisions, which would have changed how Calgarians can protest at City Hall

Ward 12 Alderman Ric McIver isn’t happy with City officials after they brought forward a bylaw that, in his opinion, would have dealt a serious blow to freedom of speech in Calgary .  Ald. Joe Ceci, Ward 9, thinks his fellow southeast alderman is blowing the issue out of proportion.  Both aldermen sit on the Standing Policy Committee on Community and Protective Services, but certainly they don’t see eye to eye on this issue. Continue Reading

Joe Ceci

Summer has drawn to a close, and I’m rolling up my sleeves to get back to work after a bit of a break. I also like to visit other cities to get inspired with ideas for how to manage our city better. Over the summer, my wife and I took our holidays in Iceland, which offered the rich experience of seeing one of the world’s oldest democracies in action, and allowed us to witness how the country is coping with their financial crisis. Continue Reading

Linda Fox-Mellway, Ward 14

I am on the Steering Committee for this new facility.  The Pine Creek Water Management Centre construction project is now 95% complete.  This project has reached a number of important milestones.
• In the Fall of 2008, commissioning of the plant began.  This process tests systems and components of the plant and allows staff to optimize plant operations.   Process performance was established very quickly and effluent quality continues to be excellent.  Continue Reading