Suburbs Satellites - Calgary Herald · 2013-01-28 · SUBURBS + SATELLITES SEptEMBER 2012 1 Suburbs...

WWW.CALGARYHERALD.COM/SUBS SUBURBS + SATELLITES SEptEMBER 2012 1

& Suburbs SatellitesCALGARY & NEIGHBOURING COMMUNITIES • september 2012

Cochrane’s iconic MacKay’s ice cream parlour is still serving up creamy scoops of fun

Ice creamdream

ALSO INSIDE: Southeast Calgary receiving three new recreation centres PLUS: Advantages of life in High River • Airdrie • Cochrane • Chestermere • Okotoks • and more . . .

2 SUBURBS + SATELLITES SEptEMBER 2012 WWW.CALGARYHERALD.COM/SUBS

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in this issue

20 chestermere Town surveys residents to work out future plans.

16 airdrie Teen golfing sensation prepares for big leagues.

26 calgary Three new recreation centres slated for Southeast Calgary.

22 High river Community benefits from TV show’s high profile.

25 Strathmore Anniversary book looks at town’s fascinating past.


& Suburbs SatellitesCALGARY & NEIGHBOURING COMMUNITIES • september 2012

Cochrane’s iconic MacKay’s ice cream parlour is still serving up creamy scoops of fun

Ice creamdream

ALSO INSIDE: Southeast Calgary receiving three new recreation centres PLUS: Advantages of life in High River • Airdrie • Cochrane • Chestermere • Okotoks • and more . . .

SUBURBS + SATELLITESA special publication of the Calgary Herald

Special Projects manager:Barb Livingstone, [email protected]

Project co-ordinator:Jamie Zachary, [email protected]

contributors: Wil Andruschak, Alex Frazer-Harrison,

Carl Patzel, Joel Schlesinger, Gerard Young and Gerald Vander Pyl

cover photo: Gavin Young

4 cochrane Tradition isn’t forgotten at iconic MacKay’s ice cream shop.

23 Okotoks Business is booming as entrepreneurs find an edge.

these days it seems finding a nice home in a good community is simply beyond most people’s budgets. But the good life is within reach—and it’s a lot closer than you think.

In fact affordable, family living is only 20 minutes away in Wildwood Village.

It’s a cosy community in the vibrant town of Strathmore, and it has redefined bedroom community living over the last five years.

But all good things must come to an end. With only 24 units remaining in the final phase of construction, home buyers still have the opportunity to customize their town home with a personal touch.

Currently under construction, the last of Wildwood’s homes will be ready for occupancy starting this October, says Jade Mahon, sales and marketing manager with partners Development Group.

the developer expects the townhouses to continue to garner a lot of interest from young families and empty nesters alike because of the bang for their buck that Wildwood Village offers.

Starting at $194,900 for a 1,125-square-foot three-bedroom

home, the neighbourhood is one of the best deals going, including 2.5 bathrooms, a private driveway and a spacious basement — ideal for future expansion.

Some of these units also include ‘spec features’ that are normally considered upgrades, such as laminate hardwood

and ceramic tile flooring. Seven units are 1,400-square-foot

three bedroom floor plans and come with double garages and gas fireplaces.

All homes incorporate energy efficient construction and modern designs to help growing families make the most of interior space with 2.5 bathrooms and

optional basement development plans. Nine-foot ceilings on the main floors and

large kitchens with eating bars also provide convenience and comfort normally found in higher-end builds.

that’s because partners Development designed Wildwood with quality in mind. It’s also why the community has been so popular with growing families who want more room to roam without foregoing quality of life.

And the short jaunt through the scenic country landscape is worth it because Wildwood Village does indeed offer the good life.

In fact, all homes in this final phase back onto green space and there is a playground at the heart of the community — perfect for young families, or grandparents minding the grandkids, Mahon says.

“We’ve got a wide demographic here — all looking for an affordable lifestyle away from the city’s hustle and bustle.”

Call Stan Johnson 403-560-9364 for show home details or to find out more about Wildwood Village, visit partnershomes.ca.

ADVERtISING FEAtURE

Wildwood Village: A comfortable, family-friendly lifestyle


Ice cream dreamsTradition isn’t forgotten at Cochrane’s iconic MacKay’s, but just like its founders, the third-generation owners aren’t afraid to serve up creamy, rich scoops of new flavours inspired from around the globe.

You scream. They scream. In fact, just about everybody who has tried MacKay’s ice cream finds their taste buds crying

out for more of the creamy, cold and delectable treats served up at the iconic Cochrane ice cream maker and parlour.

MacKay’s Ice Cream is arguably the premier tourist draw to the town of almost 18,000 people, about a half-hour drive west of Calgary. It largely has been for the past 60-plus years when the origi-nal owners James and Christina MacKay transformed the town’s Red and White grocery store into an ice cream shop.

It was a matter of survival at the time, says the third generation owner of the family business Meghan Tayfel, who now runs MacKay’s with her husband Mark.

James MacKay had just returned from serving in the Second World War. He had met Christina in Great Britain. They fell in love and married.

“My grandma came over with the other war brides and at that time my grandfa-ther had started working at the store,” says Meghan, 38.

They saw potential and bought the store at about the same time the town was about to undergo a sort of identity crisis.

The main highway at the time — now Highway 1A — had run right down the town’s Main Street where the Red and White was located. But the new route from Calgary to Banff would bypass Main Street and the town, meaning less business for the store.

James MacKay had an idea.“In 1948, they started making soft ice

cream,” says Meghan. “They had about three or four flavours at the time.”

It was a foreshadowing of a lot of good ideas to come. Selling soft serve may not sound revolutionary today. More than 60 years ago, it was still a novel treat. Soft ice cream had only been around since the mid-30s, and during the 1940s, it was more than just a delicious dessert. It rep-resented a new age of convenience, leisure and abundance that has now become com-monplace over the last several decades.

Business was brisk, and they soon expanded to hard ice cream at first offer-ing the standard flavours — chocolate,

story By Joel schlesingerPhotos By estelle Besserer

>> mark Tayfel holds colin while twins Isabella and Sydney enjoy ice cream.


vanilla and strawberry, which still hap-pen to be the favourites today at the store.

Meghan says her grandfather was always looking to evolve the business. It was not so much a matter of growing it into an empire as trying new things to keep work and life interesting.

“One of the classic memories was him making pickle juice ice cream because a pregnant woman had request-ed it,” she says. “Back then, in the early 70s, it was pretty experimental.”

MacKay’s Ice Cream earned its reputa-tion for providing a quality of product that is unsurpassed. It uses 18 per cent butter fat cream, higher quality than most other ice creams, in its secret fam-ily recipe.

“That extra fat gives the ice cream that smooth, creamy taste that makes a real nice feel in your mouth,” says Mark, 43.

It’s a recipe that carries on the tradi-tion of how ice cream used to be made, but that’s only half the story.

Like the town of Cochrane itself,

MacKay’s success lays in its ability to maintain its roots while adapting to the changing times.

“It is a mix of keeping our heritage and traditions, but it’s still growing and evolving,” Mark says.

That description aptly fits the town too. Some of Cochrane’s oldest build-ings are still found on Main Street. “It’s maintained a lot of its history, which a lot of towns struggle to do when they start to grow,” Meghan says, adding that includes the Cochrane Ranche Historic Site, the location of Alberta’s first large scale livestock operation that started in 1881.

Yet Cochrane also has managed to roll gracefully with the rapidly changing times.

It has grown both in size and cultural diversity, a blend of the old and new West. It has one foot in the heritage of ranchers and cowboys who built a new life at the foot of the Rockies. Yet it’s also cosmopolitan, city living without the traffic and crowds.

// Continued on 6

>> Owner meghan Tayfel offers triple-scoop cones to a lucky customer.


Looking for a community with a small town feel, but close to all the good things a big city has to offer? Cochrane, less than 20 kilometres west of Calgary, is the place to consider for raising a family or retiring. And in what is a first in Southern Alberta, four developers have teamed up in a joint campaign to promote both the town and their wide range of housing products.

“Despite the competitive nature amongst land developers, this is the first ever joint developers’ campaign to market one new home destination together,” says Yvonne Lau, marketing director for LaVita Land, one of the four developers.

“Cochrane is a prime new home destination that integrates the lifestyle of small-town living, western heritage and new home experience to one location.”

Nestled in the shadows of Big Hill in the Bow River Valley, Cochrane is home to about 18,000 residents and known for its proud prairie culture. And now buyers can enjoy that country feeling and still find a home in their price range with almost limitless design choices. LaVita Land’s Fireside community is offering

homes starting in the $270s. tamani Communities’ Riversong development has homes starting in the $290s. On the higher end, Harmony park’s Heritage Hills homes start in the $400s and Melcor Developments’ Sunset Ridge start in the $460s. Options include townhomes, duplexes and single-family homes.

Lau says buyers get much more

house for their money than in nearby Calgary. “All participating developers are passionate about creating new communities in Cochrane to maximize the new housing options for people who are attracted to the natural setting and amenities Cochrane has to offer.”

Cochrane has numerous public and separate schools as well as a wide variety

of sports and arts programs for children and adults. the Big Hill Leisure pool and Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre have many programs and facilities to choose from. the town is also known for its many outdoor and adventure activities.

In keeping with its small-town feel, there are numerous annual family events, such as Cochrane Valley Festival of the Arts on Canada Day, the Labour Day weekend Rodeo and parade and the Christmas Lightup in late November.

Local shopping is also abundant, although more options are available within a half hour in Calgary. Commuting is painless with the short ride to Calgary or an even shorter option to the park and ride lots at Ctrain’s Crowfoot station.

“the reason for us to join force together is the fact that we all see the common thread – Cochrane,” she says, adding that their catch line is “Live the West you can be!”

the website www.livecochrane.com has been launched as a “one-stop shopping/research” portal to allow potential buyers to gather all the information they need to make good home buying decisions.

ADVERtISING FEAtURE

Developers team up to showcase Cochrane’s small-town appeal

Continued from 5//Located between Calgary and Banff at

the start of the foothills, nestled in the Bow River Valley, Cochrane is today one of greater metropolitan Calgary region’s most sought-after bedroom communities.

And in many ways, MacKay’s is a reflection of the town’s success at remain-ing steeped in tradition while embracing change. The many flavours the ice cream maker offers to its ever-increasing custom-er base is certainly evidence enough.

At any given time, you can choose from 50 flavours in the store — from the basics like maple walnut to varieties that suit the taste-buds of its growing and diverse customers.

“We make durian, mango, avocado, young coconut, jack fruit, Halo-halo —which is a Filipino dessert,” she says.

Durian is a particularly interesting a flavour. It’s actually not even served in store, but MacKays manufactures it at its plant across town for mainly Southeast Asian customers.

The fruit is renowned — both revered and reviled — for its fragrance. It’s even banned from public spaces —like subways — in parts of Asia because of its powerful aroma.

“It smells like fermenting onions, at least to me anyway,” Meghan says. “No one likes to go to the manufacturing plant on the days we’re making durian.”

Despite being an acquired taste, duri-an ice cream is wildly popular.

“We don’t scoop it in the shop because of the odour because it would actually cause our freezers to smell,” she says, adding it’s only sold in containers for take out. “We probably go through a dozen a week during the summer.”

Meghan’s grandfather may have had the vision and taste for adventure when it came to new flavours, but he likely wouldn’t have foreseen in the early days that the store would serve durian, Halo-halo and the many other new flavours that the ice cream maker has produced in the last two decades.

The second generation owners, Meghan’s aunts Rhona and Robyn, really kick-started the experimentation phase for flavours. They were avid trav-ellers who sampled foods from afar that inspired many of the popular, exotic flavours now found at the store.

“They wanted to expand a lot of the flavours, in particular, into the Asian fruits,” she says.

It turned out to be a shrewd business practice. Offering great ice cream, made the old-fashioned way is one thing, but giving new Canadians and visitors a taste of their homeland has turned MacKay’s into a tourism destination for travellers from around the world.

Some customers have even asked about buying a franchise so they can enjoy the ice cream back home.

“We’ve heard ‘How do we get this in India?’” Mark says. “We’re still trying to work on that one.”

But the fact is MacKay’s will never likely be a global brand name — like McDonald’s.

“We definitely don’t want MacKay’s sold on every corner,” Meghan says. “We want it being served at the little shops and restaurants.”

To that end, the ice cream is served in cafes and restaurants, and sold in specialty stores in Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan.

They’ve mulled over expansion to other provinces, but they worry that by expanding too much they might lose what makes the ice cream so special in the first place.

// Continued on 8

>> mark and meghan Tayfel enjoy a quiet moment with their young family.


purchasing a home is probably the biggest investment you’ll make in your life, but there’s no doubt that it can be a hassle with so many locations, price ranges, design choices and sales pitches to work your way through. However, one Southern Alberta company has found a way to take a lot of the tension out of home buying.

Award-winning Calbridge, which believes home buying should be an enjoyable experience, offers its First Step program, a hassle-free home buying option that offers flexible move-in dates, competitive financing, and a free listing service when you want to sell your home, all of which can save buyers up to $40,000.

the company has been working for more than 34 years to put people in the homes they want and which suit them with the least amount of stress.

“You’ll be impressed to find that Calbridge doesn’t just build

luxurious homes where your dreams take shape. We build home where your family puts down roots,” says president Larry thomson. “the way we challenge the status quo is by turning ‘what if’ into ‘what is.’

“Our company motto Right Size,

Right Fit is more than a mantra; it’s the key to generations of lifestyles. We discover and provide unique possibilities to transform your ‘ifs’ into everyday living.”

And Calbridge maintains that commitment in a variety of locations,

including in Cochrane, a short trip from downtown Calgary. “We have our focus in Cochrane because there has been a need for new homes. there is the allure of small town living, proximity to the mountains and the outdoor lifestyles.”

Calbridge’s communities in Cochrane include Fireside, Sunset Ridge and Riversong with prices starting in the $260s for apartments, $270s town homes and $330s for single family dwellings.

Cochrane is one of the fastest-growing towns in Canada, yet it maintains its small town appeal. It has all the amenities families or retirees desire, including recreation, schools and quality health care. And it is close enough to Calgary that residents have access to countless other services and activities.

to get more information about Cochrane offerings, visit the company website at www.calbridgehomes.com.

ADVERtISING FEAtURE

Calbridge offers a ‘hassle-free’ home-buying experience

Continued from 6 //“It’s about making sure that we can main-

tain the quality as it’s headed out the door,” she says.

They’ve even considered adding automa-tion to the manufacturing process to increase production to meet demand, but it’s costly and would likely diminish its main ingredient for its success: tradition.

“I think we’re onto a good thing, mak-ing our ice cream in single batches,” Mark says. “It’s our trademark and provides a bet-ter taste than you could get with large-scale manufacturing.”

At their 8,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Cochrane, each flavour is handmade in individual batches of 20 litres.

“We have people manually adding in the ingredients — they’re actually standing there throwing in the walnuts, for instance, as we’re making our maple walnut ice cream,” Mark says. “In effect, every tub of ice cream could be slightly different because they are all hand-made.”

While the traditional means of making ice are upheld at MacKay’s, so too is its practice of stretching the boundaries of flavours. And in large part, this experimentation is only made possible because ice cream is still made

in small batches. “When you get into automation, you have

to plan for 20, 30, even hundreds of tubs at a time,” Mark says.

But MacKay’s can make one batch and if it tastes right, they can make more and test it out with their focus group—their customers.

Mark and Meghan have only run the business for a few years, but they too are no strangers to trying new things. When they travel and find a new food they enjoy, they always have in the back of their minds whether it’d make a great ice cream flavour.

Their most well-received new concoction has been one that is both offbeat and very familiar to many Albertans.

“Last year for the Stampede, Mark and I came up with Pancake Breakfast, which is vanilla ice cream with pieces of pancake and bacon, and maple syrup,” she says. “For the most part, people really liked it, but they thought we should add more bacon.”

Being small is a good thing, and not just because it allows them the flexibility to offer a wide variety of ice creams to customers.

It provides them with a decent living too. They’re a young family with twin daughters — Isabella and Sidney, both three — and a new addition, Colin, only a few months old.

Home life is very important.Mark previously worked as a pilot. Meghan

worked in event planning. Taking over the business — despite having

little entrepreneurial experience—four years ago just felt right to them.

“For us, we don’t want to sacrifice our family life,” she says. “We want to make sure we do have that balance and we’re still able to enjoy time with our children and the rest of our family, and we can enjoy life.”

Indeed they do in Cochrane. They recently bought a 3,000-square-foot-home in the community of Jumping Pound Ridge. Despite being a new development in Cochrane, the connection to the past remains.

“The one neat thing about Jumping Pound Ridge is my grandparents when young would camp with their friends here right along Jumping Pound Creek,” she says. “It’s kind of neat to be in the same area where my grandparents in their youth would go with their friends to camp and hang out.”

A couple of green thumbs, Meghan and Mark look forward to finishing landscaping their yard and bringing out a large telescope that is currently in their solarium to stargaze at night.

Inside the home, old photographs of her

grandparents hang on the walls, but most of the mementos of the past are found at the store, which aside from being a little bigger and a little more modern, is still much the same as when her grandparents ran it.

The old, wooden Red and White grocery store sign even hangs proudly inside, along with a sign from the Cochrane Creamery.

“You don’t want to see pieces of our his-tory outside being weathered away until you don’t know what it is anymore,” she says. “It’s nice to preserve them.”

The store seats about 40 people, but in the summer months, line-ups outside the store are commonplace.

Meghan’s grandmother Christine, now 87, still visits the store on occasion, mingling with customers.

MacKay’s Ice Cream’s past may be as rich as the ice cream it serves. But there are likely more stories to come with the next genera-tion at the helm.

“It’s still a question we’re working on try-ing to answer,” says Mark about the business’s next venture. “But for now, it’s just nice having just our store and manufacturing plant here in Cochrane. We have our little market out here in this beautiful area, and it maintains a nice way of life for us without working like crazy.”


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A peaceful oasis in the foothills, Jumping pound Ridge in Cochrane was created on the doorstep of the Alberta wilderness with a style that reflects the beauty of its surroundings.

perched atop a ridge in the southwest corner of Cochrane, the secluded 170-home community is surrounded on three sides by the toki Nature Reserve. With only local traffic coming in and out of the community,

Jumping pound Ridge provides a relaxing respite from the hustle of Calgary, just a 10-minute drive away.

Jumping pound Ridge is currently offering an unheard of promotion on Ridge Homes, the gems of the overall community.

A limited number of 52-foot ridge lots with homes are available, each looking out over a gorgeous vista, at a discount of up to $40,000.

Models include the Columbia by Cornerstone Homes priced at only $639,900, the Chinook from Gallery Homes at $620,000, and the Laurentian by Westview Builders at $600,000. (prices include lot, home and GSt.)

A comparable home and lot in most other communities would cost over $1 million, so this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for savings in Jumping pound Ridge’s most exclusive area.

New show homes from Gallery and Cornerstone have also recently opened in Jumping pound Ridge, showcasing the community’s unique style.

Every home is built to match the splendor of its setting, with Craftsman-style themes that combine the area’s Western heritage with upscale modern features.

For more information, go to www.jumpingpoundridge.com.

ADVERtISING FEAtURE

Jumping pound Ridge offers $40,000 discounts on view lots


How many sunsets can a person enjoy? At Sunset Ridge in Cochrane,the sky’s the limit.

Sunset Ridge aims to be “a family-friendly community,” says Alan Boucher, assistant development manager with Melcor’s Community Development Division.

“phase 12 offers homeowners a very diverse product. Everything from rowhouses to single family homes, whichever suits their lifestyles,” he says.

Work has begun on phase 12, which features 150 lots by Excel Homes, Homes by Avi, Jayman Homes and Landmark Homes. “It’s more of a starter product and there are some move-ups,” says Boucher, adding the future lots feature single-detached homes with laneways and front attached garages. “It’s not often you see both lanes and front garages.”

the new phase will also feature semi-detached homes with walkouts, many west-facing towards the mountains. “You get some awesome vistas from there,” says Boucher.

phase 12 will be available in 2013. this new area/phase will bring in an innovative multi family product to Cochrane with fee simple townhomes.

“We’re proud to have brought in something pretty new to the Calgary region — fee-simple town houses,” notes Boucher. “Your typical town house is run by a condo board, and you pay condo fees, whereas under fee-simple, the homeowner owns the land, and you don’t have to pay condo fees and you have more say in how you landscape your yard.”

Meanwhile, phase 10, featuring homes from Jayman MasterBuilt and Landmark, continues strong, with many lots fronting onto park space and a planned pond amenity, with prices starting in the $457,000s.

A K-9 school is planned for the area, and Sunset Ridge offers walking trails and a central community park area, all a short distance to historic downtown Cochrane with its shopping and services.

Visit the phase 10 show homes at 24 Sunset Manor (Landmark) and 28 Sunset Manor (Jayman) in Cochrane, or visit liveatsunsetridge.ca.

ADVERtISING FEAtURE

Sunset Ridge has great views


Cochrane is known as a Calgary commute that’s halfway to the mountainsValue with a view

cochrane

By suzanne BeauBien

With one foot in the mountains and another in the big city, Cochrane has a lot to offer new homebuy-

ers on the hunt for great value — and Rocky Mountain views — close to Calgary.

This growing city on the edge of the Foothills is projected to double in size over the next seven years, and there are more options than ever on the market for residents seeking that small-town feel just a quick drive from downtown Calgary.

Realtor Peggy Schultz says while home prices in Cochrane are generally comparable to Calgary, buyers there are often able to get a slightly larger lot than their big city coun-terparts. And, thanks to Cochrane’s location 10 minutes from northwest Calgary, the city’s 17,580 residents enjoy a few perks other sat-ellite communities cannot provide.

“Being closer to the mountains than Calgary give us wonderful vista views, for example those found in the Glen Eagles development,” says Schultz, who works out of RE/MAX’s Cochrane office. “We have

the beautiful Bow River running through Cochrane. In the Riverview, Bow Meadows and West Terrace communities, there are homes backing onto the river that are afford-able.”

(According to recent Calgary Real Estate Board figures, the average sale price for a single-family home in Cochrane is $431,466. In Calgary, the average price for a single fam-ily home is a little higher, at $458,875.)

One new Cochrane development that boasts an especially enviable location is Jumping Pound Ridge, a 170-home develop-

ment that sits atop a ridge surrounded on three sides by an environmental reserve in the southwest corner of the city.

And George Roseboom, president of Jumping Pound Ridge Developments Inc., notes Cochrane’s location is desirable for more than just the majestic views it affords residents.

“It’s the closest center to the mountains and to Canmore, and so if people want to do a weekend getaway, they’re already halfway there,” says Roseboom.

// Continued on 14

>> With calgary on the near horizon, cochrane is a convenient commute. Photos by Gavin Young, calgary Herald


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nestled next to the bow

there was a time when parents didn’t worry about their kids playing outside unsupervised and neighbours offered thirsty youngsters a glass of water. Innovations by Jayman has worked hard to create just such an atmosphere with its Riversong community in Cochrane.

“It’s kind of like the old days here,” says Areas Sales Manager Kym Daigle.

the Jayman family has been in business for more than 30 years and

sees its communities as part of the family. the company even hosts an annual summer picnic and barbecue in Riversong, giving neighbours the chance to connect.

“Young and old — everybody fits here,” says Daigle, who is also a local resident. “When you are buying with Jayman, you are buying into the Jayman family.”

Another advantage is that the community is tucked away from the

noise of the highway. “It’s very serene, very calm,” Daigle says.

And while it has the feel of country living and a range of amenities, it is close enough to Calgary and what the big city has to offer. the community has a shuttle to downtown Calgary. It also features parks for the wee ones and older children, trails and magnificent views of rolling hills and woodlands, and quick access to Glenbow Ranch provincial park. Many

more trails and parks are planned as the community continues to expand rapidly.

Innovations by Jayman is wrapping up phase 3 of the four phases planned for the community. It’s the last chance to buy the laned product with prices from $295,000 to $337,000 for home, average lot and GSt.

For more information on Innovations by Jayman and its services, homes and amenities visit the website at www.jayman.com

ADVERtISING FEAtURE

Riversong community is like a return to the Good Old Days


La Vita means the Life. Add breathtaking views, friendly neighbours, easily accessible amenities and a great selection of single-family homes and duplexes and you’ve found the good life.

La Vita Land is offering a wide variety of homes in its exceptional Fireside community in Cochrane, just minutes from Calgary, but with its own unique and quaint rural feel.

“Mountains, mountains and more mountains! the views are breathtaking,” says Yasmina Rodesly, Land Development & Marketing Coordinator with La Vita. “Location — that’s the key — we are just off of Highway 22X, so you have more than one option to get either to Calgary or to head towards Banff, beating all the heavy traffic.”

La Vita is now selling phase 1 with 182 lots and phase 2 with 53 lots, including duplexes. there are 10 show homes in Fireside, and prices start from the $270s. the company has about 8-10 years to build in Fireside, so residents will have the chance to upsize or move within the community as their needs and tastes change.

the company is committed to homes that combine luxury with affordability in a setting surrounded by green spaces, parks, pathways and natural wetlands, all snuggled within the shadow of the Rockies and all planned in a responsible and environmentally friendly way.

Cochrane boasts a wide range of

amenities, but families won’t have to venture too far from their front doorsteps to enjoy what Fireside has to offer. A new playground and park is now complete and features a stand-alone barbeque area with picnic tables separated from the playground. there is also plenty of green space for families to

enjoy time together outdoors.“Our goal is to develop that old

neighbourhood feel where everyone knows their neighbours — where people can connect in a small town, new community,” Rodesly says.

Although Fireside is a short jaunt from work or the big city offerings of Calgary, the community is a part of the vibrant town of Cochrane, which enjoys an assortment of shopping that includes local boutiques or big brand stores. And there is no shortage of entertainment and food with the Cochrane Movie House and more than 25 restaurants and bars for a relaxing day or night out. Cochrane also has three hockey arenas, an outdoor skatepark, two golf courses along with an aquatic centre and family sports centre. there are numerous public and separate schools to choose from and an excellent selection of health services.

However, it is the great outdoors that provides Cochrane and Fireside with much of their allure. For more information on La Vita’s Fireside community visit www.firesidecochrane.com.

ADVERtISING FEAtURE

Discover the good life at La Vita’s Fireside community

Continued from 12//“People in Cochrane enjoy nature.

Sometimes on the weekend the popula-tion goes down because everybody is taking their RVs and motorbikes and skidoos out and going out to enjoy nature around them. It’s really a beauti-ful place to live.”

But even more than that, RE/MAX’s Schultz notes, buyers look to Cochrane for quality-of-life factors, like its friend-ly atmosphere and activities and events that bring together residents.

“It’s a small-town atmosphere and small-town community spirit. Oftentimes, I hear, ‘This is where we want to raise our kids,’” says Schultz. “It’s a great place for families to feel like they are very connected to the community. Besides having a beautiful setting, we can offer a great life-style, geared toward small-town comfort with big-city amenities within easy access.”

But just because Cochrane feels like a small town, that doesn’t mean this com-munity, which the Calgary Metropolitan Plan has projected will more than double in size by 2019, lacks in amenities, notes Roseboom. From big-box stores to large recreation facilities like the Spray LakeSawmills Family Sports Centre and an extensive pathway system (as well as the best ice cream in Alberta, he argues), there’s no need to hit the highway to Calgary in search of necessities or some fun with your family.

“You can get anywhere on the path-ways through Cochrane. It’s kind of unique,” he says.

And while the Calgary Real Estate Board has reported inventories in

Calgary are falling, with a year-over-year decline of 10.2 per cent, at the same time, the towns surrounding Calgary, including Cochrane, have seen an improvement in inventories.

Schultz points to new developments expanding both ends of the market with a variety of offerings, from entry-level homes to high-end estates.

“For a number of years, our inven-tory was very low because we didn’t have a lot of growth by way of new communities. Since then, we’ve had a number of developments start up,” says Schultz, pointing to Riversong, Sunset Ridge, Heritage Hills, Fireside, and the estate homes found at the Monterra at Cochrane Lakes development. “As a result, we now have approximately 175-200 residential listings in inven-tory at any given time. Currently there are 185 MLS listings for single-family residences on the market.”

cochrane

It’s a small-town atmo-sphere and small-town community spirit.

>> “You can get anywhere on the pathways through cochrane. It’s kind of unique.”


airdrie


story and PhotograPh By carl Patzel

Far from your average golfer, Patrick Murphy has played along side PGA professionals, teed it up at premier

courses like Torrey Pines Golf Club and regularly posts sub-par rounds.

While most of us iron-swinging, weekend warriors toil and hack our way around the golf course, Murphy has already spent half his life on the tournament circuit, crushing drives across north America and beyond.

Those lifetime experiences involve rub-bing elbows with the professional elite, and a recent, ho-hum, Saturday round with four-time PGA winner, including the 2006 Players Championship winner, Stephen Ames.

Murphy’s trophy case overflows, pointing towards several tournament wins and dimpled-

ball accolades including the 2012 Future Collegians World Tour player of the year award.

Oh, did I mention he’s only 15 years old?It would be easy to take all this for

granted, but the Crossfield teenager blends a level-headed attitude with his long drives and smooth short game.

“Because (Stephen Ames is) a PGA tour pro from our hometown it’s such a privilege to be able to get out with him. Not many juniors have that opportunity across North America or anywhere in the world,” Murphy said of playing with the Calgary-based pro.

The high ranked Alberta junior met Ames while representing Canada twice in the Stephen Ames Cup which pits young Canadians against fellow juniors from Ames’ home of Trinidad and Tobago.

//Continued on 18

Fifteen-year-old golfing sensation gets advice from local PGA tour pro Stephen Ames

Teen takes on the big leagues


Are you looking to escape the big city for a more relaxed small-town atmosphere?

then take the short drive north to Airdrie and discover what trico Homes has to offer in two great new communities: Hillcrest and Cooper’s Crossing,

Right now trico Homes has five great models of homes to choose from in Hillcrest, which is located on a scenic hillside in southwest Airdrie.

trico area sales manager Cory Baiton says homes range in size from about 1,780 to more than 2,400 square feet, with prices starting from $370,000, including lot, home and GSt.

Most floor plans feature three bedrooms and two or two-and-a-half baths, with two-car, front-drive garages.

Baiton says trico is also now offering a number of four-bedroom models that include a bonus room, that would be ideal as a family gathering place or media room.

two show homes are located at #18 and #22 Hillcrest Street, including the Berkeley model and the Huntington II.

Baiton says one is completed to trico Homes’ impressive standard specifications, while the other showcases the available upgrades that can be done to customize a home.

She adds that there are also some spec homes underway in Hillcrest that offer the potential for early possession dates.

trico Homes’ is also building in Cooper’s Crossing, again located in southwest Airdrie on a gentle hillside.

Baiton says lots are now available in phase 3, with seven more phases to come, along with pathways, hiking trails, and plenty of parks and green space.

She says although Cooper’s Crossing is

relatively new, the community has a mix of architectural styles that give it a real old-time feeling.

trico has a variety of home models available, ranging in size from about 2,100 to 2,600 square feet, with prices starting at $450,000 for lot, home and GSt.

Baiton says with larger than usual lot sizes available, there is even the option of building an oversize two- or even three-car garage.

She adds that a new release of 43 lots include some with rear lane access, which provides additional buffer space or might appeal to RV owners.

the trico show home in Cooper’s Crossing is the Carlton, located at 1157 Coopers Drive.

A new model, the Carlton features a study on the main floor and a children’s study on the upper level, along with a big bonus room and large master bedroom ensuite.

For more information on Hillcrest or Cooper’s Crossing, call the Hillcrest show home at 403-980-8510, or visit www.tricocommunities.com.

ADVERtISING FEAtURE

Hillcrest and Cooper’s Crossing bring back that small-town feel

Continued from 17 //The venture has proved an invaluable expe-

rience for Murphy, who posted a winning 2-1 record at the event in Port of Spain this past summer. Besides the travel, Murphy has been the beneficiary of knowledge about the life of a touring pro, on and off the course.

“For (Ames) to offer his opinion on your game and offer you some advice it’s really special,” said Murphy, a sponsored junior at the Glencoe Golf and Country Club.

“It’s someone who’s been there before and proven that his message works. So to learn from him it’s awesome.”

Murphy has had a handful of teachers helping guide his game, including father John Murphy who placed a plastic club in Patrick’s hands before his first birthday. Seven years later the youngster entered his first tournament.

By other’s standards Murphy has had a successful 2011-2012 season winning three tournaments and being named a First team

All-American on the Future Collegian World Tour.

The lanky teen also finished eighth overall at the Canadian Juniors and lost a two-hole playoff for the juvenile title. He has produced good finishes at the Callaway Junior Worlds and missed the cut by one stroke at the 2012 Canadian Amateurs.

“There were 250 people in the Canadian Amateur, and these are men who all had to qualify, and I came 71st. There were a lot of good college players as well.”

Murphy, who has grown nine inches in the last two years, no longer looks at his youth as a detriment on the golf course when going iron-to-iron against older opponents.

He gathers inspiration from the careers of other prominent Canadian golfers like Ames and Mike Weir. Of course it’s hard to ignore the world’s most successful player when it comes to motivation.

“Of course Tiger Woods is my foremost idol on the golf course. It’s too bad that

he’s messed up his personal life, but when it comes to passion and dedication, it’s unsur-passed what Tiger’s really done for the game and his work ethic is unparalleled,” Murphy said.

Going forward the smooth-swinging junior, who also carries a strong short game, is con-centrating on producing quality golf shots while improving his ball striking and strategic decisions on the turf.

Playing with professionals has opened his eyes to the level of consistency and focus needed for success. That, and a solid day-to-day game will add plenty to his bag and help carry him to many places around the golfing world.

“This summer we travelled a lot and I felt like I was almost on the tour for a while,” added Murphy. “But travelling so much you get to see the world, get new experiences and you meet so many interesting people. It’s fan-tastic that the golf leads you to a successful, well experienced life.”

airdrie

This summer we travelled a lot and I felt like I was almost on the tour for a while.


New Products.New Ideas. New Trico.

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Evanston I The Ascent987 & 991 Evanston Drive NW

Evanston I Village12 Evanswood Circle NW

Mahogany344 & 348 Mahogany Blvd SE

Montreux291 Tremblant Way SW

Nolan Hill393 Nolanfield Way NW &51 Nolan Hill Gate NW

Redstone64 & 68 Redstone Avenue NE

Sage Hill51 Nolan Hill Gate NW

Montreux Villas295 Tremblant Way SW

New Brighton (York29)92 & 94 New Brighton Landing SE

Cimarron, Okotoks5 Cimarron Springs Court

Heritage Hills, Cochrane8 Heritage Green

Hillcrest, Airdrie18 & 22 Hillcrest Street

Cooper’s Crossing, Airdrie1157 Cooper’s Drive

Calgary Condos Out of TownCall Cory Baiton 403.980.8510

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Cooper's CrossingThe Carlton • 2562 sq.ft. Airdrie

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226 Cooperstown Lane • 403.980.8510

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Cooper's CrossingThe Huntington II • 2057 sq.ft. Airdrie

• Backing onto pathway & green space• Featuring large front porch & grandfront entry

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HillcrestThe Huntington I • 1915 sq.ft. Airdrie

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1060 Hillcrest Lane • 403.980.8510

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To view all our quick possession homesvisit us at www.tricohomes.com

Some conditions apply. Renderings of showhome models and quick possession homes may not be exactly as shown. Includes home, lot and GST. Prices subject to change withoutnotice. Standard mortgage payments are based on 5% down, with a 5 year fixed 2.99% interest rate, amortized over 25 years, OAC, payments do not include CMHC insurance orfees. *For a limited time Trico Homes is adjusting the above standard mortgage payments lower as shown for all Quick Possession Homes for a period of 48 months. Thisoffer is only valid on homes with possessions that occur in 2012 on the advertised price cannot be combined with any other incentives, unless otherwise specified, ask your salesrepresentative for details. Interest rates and terms can change without notice.

C/S


Future focus chestemere

By gerald vander Pyl

Getting a handle on growth for many of the bustling communities sur-rounding Calgary can be a challenge,

but the Town of Chestermere is reaching out to residents to help plan for the future.

A Town Survey done every four years is taking on added importance in 2012 as the community expects to potentially double in size during the next decade or two.

Randy Patrick, Chief Administrative Officer with the Town of Chestermere, says the last survey in 2008 helped the town complete sev-

eral planning documents including a Municipal Development Plan and a Social Plan.

Anticipating further growth, he says the town is now adopting a business plan model, and looking to the 2012 survey for input.

“This is just continuing on with that tra-dition, of asking the community what they want to do, and responding back.

“We are creating our business plans, and part of it is trying to figure out the future. This is part of why we’re getting information (from residents), to create an overall plan that brings all the (planning) documents together.

“We’re really trying to get a feeling of what’s changed from the previous survey in 2008.”

Patrick says survey questions will ask about citizens about everything from their satisfac-tion with basic town services to issues such as what people feel should be the priorities for

local policing.“We’re looking at quality of life,” he says.Chestermere Deputy Mayor Kelsey

Johnson says the 2008 survey helped guide the town and council in its planning, and almost everything that residents asked for in 2008 has since been achieved.

“A lot of it was perceived needs and wants in the community,” says Johnson, “So I think it’s important to update with as much regularity as makes sense. With the technology we have now, its not expensive or onerous to do a survey.

“I think just to reach out and make sure we are going in the right direction is real important.”

He says Chestermere is a very different place now than when he moved to the com-munity back in 1998, when there were about 2,000 residents, and “that’s about all that was here – people.”

Johnson says with the addition of many commercial services over the years, and the increasing population, now more than 15,000, Chestermere is a sizable community.

“I think what’s probably has changed as much as anything is that we’ve become much more autonomous.

“It’s not just people anymore, there are businesses and it’s still growing. Since 2008, our commercial area has grown dramatically.”

He says Chestermere annexed a large area of land a few years ago, and the survey can plan a major role in helping plan potential use of some of that land.

“That land will double the size of Chestermere. So what we’re trying to do is get a handle on some facilities we’re going to need.”

Kelsey adds that Chestermere now has a large RCMP force, fulltime fire service, and an ambulance station in town.

Alberta may be booming, but buying a home is still a pretty big investment for most young singles and couples. However, Alberta’s top builder has options that should easily fit the budgets of everyone from newlyweds to empty nesters looking at downsizing for retirement.

the award-winning Carlisle Group makes home ownership easy with a variety of choices in location, price and design with a number of floor plan choices.

“Our target market is first time home buyers or people looking to downsize to take equity out of their home to facilitate early retirement” Carlisle Group Marketing Manager Erin Ius said. “We want everyone to be able to afford the opportunity of home ownership”

Carlisle has over 30 years of development experience, building homes in the United States and other parts of Canada, but now is focusing on the Calgary and Edmonton markets with its trademark four-storey condo buildings. Carlisle also has a resort-style project now completed in Invermere, B.C. the

company, which builds both condos and townhomes, has built more than 25,000 units over its history.

With several projects within the

city they are a short commute from everywhere and very affordable with prices starting in the $120,000’s for a two bedroom condo. And if you want

to live in Calgary’s new East Village, Carlisle has condos available on the river at Riverfront pointe.

“We strategically select locations for projects to ensure close proximity to shopping, recreation, schools and parks” Ius said.

With bi-weekly payments from $245 and an easy down payment plan, Carlisle has sold more than 1,800 condos in the last 16 months.

there are many different models to choose from and all offer tremendous value. “Customers will also have the opportunity to personalize their home with options to select additional upgrades and features to make their new home unique and their own,” Ius said.

In Calgary, Carlisle has immediate possessions in the southwest, northeast, northwest and downtown. they also have new and exciting projects coming soon.

For more information or to register for the opportunity to take advantage of pre-sale pricing, check the website at www.carlislegroup.ca.

ADVERtISING FEAtURE

Carlisle Group makes home ownership easy

Community surveys residents to work out business plan


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By gerard young

Tourists regularly ask where in High River they can find Maggie’s Diner even though few are interested in

chowing down. The community, nuzzling the Rockies a half hour south of Calgary, is the Mecca for fans of the popular CBC TV show Heartland and its fictional diner.

The series, a multi-generational drama that revolves around family life on a horse ranch and the story-book town of Hudson, is in its sixth season of filming in and around High River. This past June locals, hundreds of fans, and five cast members showed up for the launch of the town’s new brand, High River — Home of Heartland.

“Sometimes (visitors) do ask if they can get a piece of pie and a cup of coffee,” said Dayna Dickens, the town’s coordinator of business and tourist development.

The Maggie’s Diner set, which also serves

as the Heartland tack and feed store, is a log building set in High River’s downtown on 3rd Avenue. Although the set is closed to the pub-lic, tourists can get a look through the windows and find numerous quality eateries within walk-ing distance, Dickens said.

“The community has really embraced Heartland,” she said. “It is special to have such a wonderful television show with such a great following.”

The show boasts millions of fans worldwide and those venturing to High River leave a lot of tourism dollars in the community of about 13,000. The show also puts a lot of revenue in the local economy when shooting from May to December.

“Heartland brings a lot of business to High River,” said John Scott, who has been supplying animals to the show since its first season. “We shoot in High River a couple of days a month. The lumber yard and hardware stores benefit (providing building material) and a lot of the

crew do some shopping in High River.”The Scott Ranch is located 15 kilometres

west of High River. The ranch, which was established by Scott’s grandfather in 1904, not only has horses, but also is a working cattle ranch and has a herd of bison. He and the ranch are no strangers to TV and the big screen.

In 1969, he met some entertainment folks at a local rodeo and soon after was involved in the 1970 blockbuster Little Big Man, which featured Dustin Hoffman and Faye Dunaway. Films he and the ranch have been involved with have earned five Academy Awards.

Apart from horses, Scott supplies wranglers for ranching scenes. Even his daughters are in on the act. Shawna and her husband Keith Church, who live north of High River, run a catering unit for the cast and crew, and Jody and Barry Hargreaves, who live in Calgary, drive for the production.

“High River wants to claim Heartland and vice versa and that is good for both sides,” Scott said.

High River has also had a long association with the film industry. Among its other credits, the community was the backdrop for Smallville in Superman III.

However, there is more to High River than simply playing Hudson on Heartland or being an ideal film location. It was also home to renowned Canadian novelist W.O. Mitchell who acknowledged that local residents influ-enced his work. He is buried in the town cemetery, as is Calgary Stampede founder Guy Weadick.

Dickens said High River is a family-oriented community that is close enough to Calgary to commute and has a full range of services and amenities, including schools, recreational, arts and culture facilities, and quality health care facilities. The Charles Clark Medical Centre, named after former prime minister Joe Clark’s father, has been attracting national attention. The centre is seen as a model in efforts to deal with the widespread issue of rural doctor shortages.

Community benefits from business and fame as tourists flock to landmarks

TV show has town at heart

high river


By alex frazer-harrison

The Las Maracas restaurant opened for business on July 12 to the sounds of a mariachi band and the rattling of maracas as customers enjoyed

their first taste of owner Adrian Santos’ Mexican menu.It’s a scene you might expect to see in inner-city

Calgary, but it actually took place not far from the Sheep River in Okotoks. Las Maracas is one of a growing number of businesses that are putting down roots in the town.

“Okotoks in the last three years has been growing up a lot,” says Santos, a 27-year veteran of the food industry, born in Mexico City, who studied his craft in New York and Mexico before moving to Alberta six years ago. He says the time was right for an authentic Mexican restau-rant — he calls his place a “high-end taqueria” — to open in Okotoks.

“The people are more open for a new business … a lot of people from Calgary want to come here and live

here because it’s quiet,” Santos says. “It’s a nice, family-focused town and my (customer) target is young fami-lies.”

As of late August, the Town of Okotoks had granted more than 280 new business licences in 2012, says Economic Development Team Leader Shane Olson. “And since June 1, we’ve had 10 new storefront busi-nesses open and 40 new home-based businesses open,” he adds.

The new businesses have reflected a diverse range of services, Olson says, ranging from social media and mar-keting consultation, to general contracting, to a home-based bridal-related service.

“A lot of operators realize, even if they live in south Calgary, it’s easy to drop down here and open a busi-ness,” says Olson. “The business property tax is lower, so that’s very advantageous. And they realize this is a grow-ing area, with 43 per cent population growth in the last five years.”

// Continued on 24

Small business is booming as entrepreneurs recognize the Okotoks advantage

Business moves to a new beat

okotoks

>> restaurant owner adrian Santos with Beatriz ramirez, left, and Karina Garza, show the Las maracas spirit in Okotoks. Photographs by Wil andruschak


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Continued from 23//Proximity to Calgary is a big plus. Santos, for example, says he’s

had customers coming in from as far as north Calgary, though he adds he tends to see more Calgarians swing by on the weekends.

Olson says the Town’s economic development plan aims to attract a diverse range of business fields, including home-based, technology, innovation, and professional and technical services.

And some of these businesses have put the Okotoks name on the international stage. Australia-based ITS Global (Integrated Traceability Solutions) established its Canadian headquarters in downtown Okotoks last year. It operates in the U.S., Australia, Egypt, Indonesia and New Zealand, providing software and scan-ning equipment to help farmers keep track of livestock.

“ITS Global purchased ComputerAid (an Okotoks company) … to get a foothold in the North American market,” says David Moss, CEO for North America. “We found Okotoks was a natural fit. Part of the staff group is from the local area. We have about 15 people, and the majority of those live here in Okotoks — and they hired me four months ago. I walk to work now — it’s beautiful.”

ITS could have set up shop in Calgary, but Moss says there was no need to relocate after buying ComputerAid. “It’s amazing the quality of staff you can get, because of the people who don’t want to commute to Calgary,” he says. “We’ve had no problem getting good people out here.”

Entrepreneurship is strong in Okotoks, says Olson, adding the town offers its own niche markets. “We’re a youthful community — 40 per cent of our population is under 20 — so what that looks like from entrepreneur opportunities, you see things like toy stores, baby boutiques. We’ve had a 39 per cent increase in the 0-4 age group in the last five years,” he says.

“We have a few more vacancies in the downtown core … we see them as opportunities for another wave of (business people) coming out of the woodwork … maybe stores in boutique areas like Inglewood that want to expand to a second location; this opportunity’s for you.”

As for Santos, his authentic Mexican menu and fun touches, like giving diners maracas to shake then they want to call over a server, appears to have hit the right culinary notes.

“I still look around with my mouth open — since Day 1 at night it’s full, every day,” he says.

>> a ‘catrinas’ skeleton doll at Las maracas.

>> mexican hot sauce at Las maracas.


By gerard young

The community of Strathmore has changed a lot over 101 years. In fact, it’s not even in the same loca-

tion as it started.About 60 townsfolk in 1905 moved from

a small hamlet on Eagle Lake to the current town site five kilometres north. Six years later Strathmore incorporated, and 36 new bylaws were introduced, including a new speed limit of six miles per hour.

These and other stories are contained in the new book 100 Years of Memories by Paul Sonsteby. Like many others, he was not born in the community, which will forever be called “The Town that Moved,” but came to Strathmore as an adult and then settled down.

The town commissioned him to write the book as a legacy to Strathmore’s centennial, which was celebrated in August 2011. The Strathmore High School teacher jumped at the chance, and the official book launch at City Hall was held a year later on August 23.

“You look at your town in a whole new light,” said Sonsteby, who moved to Strathmore in 2003. “What an honour to be asked to write a history of your town for the centennial.”

Although Strathmore has had other his-tory books written, Coun. Bob Sobol, who spearheaded the project, wanted something a bit more readable, more quirky and anec-dotal, so as to appeal to all age groups.

One story may be of particular interest to any mischievous teens in town. It seems that the teens of the 1950s used to tip over outhouses on Halloween. That was until the owners moved the outhouses a few feet away, which legend suggests resulted in a few kids falling into the dark, vacated holes. Strathmore’s oldest resident, Jessie Campbell, who turns 102 in October, per-haps might remember hearing about Mr.

Brown who in 1913 would come out of his creamery and fire a round from his shotgun at his smokestack every day. Turns out, he was just loosening a stuck vent.

There is also the story of the big opium bust in the early 1900s in Strathmore’s Chinatown, which consisted of four people and two businesses. One man spent a couple of days in jail and another was fined $100.

Today, there are not so many runaway horses or outhouses and Strathmore has not moved sites again although it has grown and continues to grow. The popula-tion has almost tripled since 2007 to about 12,000.

After a boom a couple of years ago, Strathmore has settled into a period of “gradual, slow growth,” chief administrative

officer Dwight Stanford said.Stanford, another resident who came for

a job and has been here ever since, said as many as 40 per cent of residents commute to Calgary as it takes just 22 minutes to the city outskirts. There is bus service on the 40-kilometre route east to Calgary between Monday and Friday, so commuters can leave their vehicles at home.

“It’s great,” the 20-year resident said. “I’ve raised most of my kids here. They have good schools and lots of activities.”

The town may be best known for its rodeo, Strathmore Stampede Heritage Days on the August long weekend. What might not be as well-known, but is in Sonsteby’s book, is that the event was previously called “Whooper Upper Days,” but changed because Lethbridge has a similar event called “Whoop-Up Days.”

However, the town has a lot more to offer that just the rodeo, Stanford said. Strathmore has numerous public and separate high schools, junior high schools and elementary schools. It is home to the Golden Hills School District, which covers the region as far away as Drumheller. Major industries include oil, gas, retail, manufac-turing and agriculture with numerous feed-lots and ranches.

Strathmore has excellent recreational opportunities with youth and adult hockey, baseball and soccer programs, a skateboard park, curling rink, aquatic centre, family centre, which includes the ice rink, a civic centre and a spray park to cool off the kids in the dog days of summer.

The Strathmore and District Health Care Centre has 25 active care beds and 23 extended care beds and provides a range of professional services.

Strathmore also enjoys healthy develop-ment of new homes and is ready to meet the demands as the population continues to grow.

Strathmore celebrates with a book showcasing its fascinating past

The town that moved

strathmore

>> Paul Sonsteby was commissioned to write the book


s.e. calgary

“We actually took our kids to okotoks,

because it was easier to go there than to try and get

in the overwhelmed existing facilities in

the city.”— Stephanie Campbell,

president of the Southeast Recreation Society, pic-tured with her children

Riley, left, and Zane.

Photo by Ted Rhodes, Calgary Herald


By gerald vander Pyl

Back in 2008, the City of Calgary com-missioned a study into the need for more recreational facilities in Calgary.

For residents of Southeast Calgary, the results seemed to confirm what they already knew: That their area of the city was vastly under-served when it came to recreation facilities.

In fact, says McKenzie Lake resident Stephanie Campbell, “It was not served at all. The need was extensive and had been for many years. There were no alternatives, other than traveling quite a distance to existing facilities.

“We actually took our kids to Okotoks, because it was easier to go there than to try and get in the overwhelmed existing facilities in the city.”

But after a mutli-year effort, there is light at the end of the tunnel for residents of southeast communities.

Earlier this year Calgary City Council gave

the go ahead for funding to allow four new rec-reation facilities to be built in areas of the city least served, with three of them located in the southeast.

Campbell, now chairperson of the South East Calgary Recreation Society (SECRS), which provided input to the city on what should go into the new facilities, says actually having the funding approved was a relief to residents.

“The fact I was involved with SECRS, we at least knew that the desire was there from the City to fill this gap. But for residents at large in the area, until the announcements were made for the financial commitment for these projects, there was absolutely a concern that they would never see these facilities built.”

Karen Young, Manager of the New Recreation Facilities Project for the City of Calgary, says funding for the $480-million project was achieved with no increase to the city’s tax rates.

// Continued on 28

City responds to need for facilities by funding a $480-million development plan

A new day for recreation

Great Plains ■7,891 square metres

■Two NHL-size rinks with 400-seat viewing area in one arena, 200-seat in other.

■Skate Pro Shop, food service, multipurpose rooms. ■Estimated completion 2015

Here’s a look at the three recreation facilities for Southeast calgary

Quarry Park ■9,401 square metres ■25-metre, six-lane lap pool, plus adjacent leisure pool. ■Single-court gymnasium. ■Fitness centre with fitness studios, walking/running track. ■Library, child car facility, multipurpose rooms, food service. ■Estimated competion 2015/16

1.

2.

28 SUBURBS + SATELLITES SEptEMBER 2012 WWW.CALGARYHERALD.COM/SUBSBAYWESTHOMES.COMREADY-TO-GO TAILORED CUSTOMVisit today, 18 Silverado Ranch Way SW.

p | 403-236-6029

Calgary’s LargestNew Community Lots

True to the land’s character, SWCalgary’s Ranchesof Silverado home-sites stretch an unprecedented65-95 feet wide,with pie-lots overlooking a naturereserve that span 200 feet wide.All for pricescomparable, or less than the average estate lot

in other communities.

It’s about time toreclaim thewordESTATE

www.ranchesofsilverado.com

TRIPLE GARAGE HOMESHUGE LOTS, FROM UNDER $900,000.

Continued from 27 \\Young says City Council was able to solve a

$100-million funding gap created when federal government funding did not materialize by accessing the Community Investment fund and the GST Rebate.

She says the city is ending the planning phase and moving into the design phase for the four new facilities, including ones in Seton, Quarry Park, and Great Plains.

“What we’re doing now is preparing all the sites for development, so getting all the site work done, and initiating the design work.”

Young says the city is also now seeking the third-party operators who will look after run-ning the facilities once they are built.

She adds that the public consultation that has gone on through phone surveys, open houses, and groups like the SECRS will continue.

“As we get further ahead on the facility designs, we’ll be taking it back out to the public so they can see the designs.”

Campbell says residents have welcomed the chance to provide input to the city.

“I do feel very comfortable that the city has listened to us, heard us, and is proposing facili-ties that address what people want.

“There will be people who ask, why didn’t we add this, or why don’t we have more of that?

“But we had to try and to address what were the biggest needs? We really need swimming pools, we really need gyms, we really need big buildings that can do multiple things, and that all got computed into the plans. The (city) heard us.”

Campbell says even though the facilities are still years from completion, anticipation is growing.

“I think when people see a physical struc-ture start to emerge out of the ground, you will see the excitement level in the commu-nities just explode, because they will finally see they are going to have those places they need.

“We’re all looking forward to those days.”

s.e. calgary

Seton recreation Facility ■30,578 square metres ■Aquatic centre with 52-metre, 10-lane lap pool and dive tank. ■Recreation pool with play fea-tures. ■Two NHL-size rinks.

■Gymnasium with three courts. ■Large-scale fitness centre with studios and walking/running track. ■Library, child care facility, physio-therapy centre, general purposes rooms, food service. ■Estimated completion 2017/18

3.


ANorthwest Community

A neighbourhoodbuilt for generations.

LifeOnTheRidge.ca

NEVANSTON DR NW

SHOWHOMES

EVAN

SPAR

KBL

VDNW

SYMONS VALLEY PARKWAY NWSYMONS VALLEY ROAD NW STONEY TRAIL NW

BEDDINGTON TRAIL NW

403.245.3515

Showhomes are open:Monday toThursday 2pm to 8pmSaturday, Sunday and holidays, noon to 5pm

Rear garage$299,900

Front garage$399,900

Walkouts$515,000

Ridge Walkouts$600,000

New Showhomes Open

Living in EvansRidge by Dundee Developments, you’re forgiven if you forget you’re actually in Calgary. that’s because with its incredible views of rolling hills, Nose Hill and the mountains, it almost feels like you’re in your own private enclave.

EvansRidge is located off Simons Valley parkway N.W. (128th Avenue), and Dundee has attracted some of Alberta’s top builders for this growing community.

“We’re opening phase 4 and 5 now, which offers some spectacular lots,” says marketing co-ordinator Cheryl Heilman. “We’ve been very successful with our narrow single-family lots.

Meanwhile, phase 3’s multi-family component will soon launch.

All this, combined with EvansRidge’s convenient location near Stoney and Beddington trails, makes for a community that has become a jewel

for many top builders, including Innovations by Jayman, Morrison Homes, Calbridge Homes, Homes by Avi, Landmark Homes, Genesis Builders Group, WestView Builders and Stepper Custom Homes.

“We’ve been able to attract some stellar builders,” says Heilman. “they have impeccable reputations and experience, whether you’re looking at a starter home or your dream home.”

She notes phase 5, in particular, offers a number of excellent walkout lot options.

the design of EvansRidge aims to retain and enhance property value, from paved lanes to diversity of home designs ranging from neo-modern to classical. EvansRidge has a designated site for a K-9 school, and is close to the Creekside shopping centre, as well as a major commercial hub planned to the west.

ADVERtISING FEAtURE

top builders attracted to Dundee’s EvansRidge development


Imagine waking up every morning to a taste of Ireland right here in Calgary. It doesn’t need to remain a fantasy as United Communities is offering a variety of options for homes in postcard-like Nolan Hill in Northwest Calgary.

“Set amid rolling hills and designed with a British Isles theme, complete with castle ruins-styled parks and entry features, Nolan Hill conveys Old-World charm within a new community setting,” United Communities Marketing Director Steve Lepan says.

“With the natural hills and ravines in the area, you feel the comfort of the country side without sacrificing access to the city’s amenities. It really is the best of both worlds.”

With more than 200 hectares of scenery to gaze at as you take your morning coffee or relax after a long day at work, these homes bring out the best of the natural setting while complementing the spectacular Nolan Hill landscape.

phases One, two and three are now selling starter homes with optional rear garages starting in the $300s as well as front-attached garage homes that can

be purchased from the high $300s to $700s. Eagerly anticipated phase five lots have also just been released. Large lots backing onto a ravine and surrounded by seemingly endless green space are certain to sell quickly.

Many phase three homes come with a bonus. Most are approved for secondary suites, an appealing option for families or

young couples who wish to take a cut out of their mortgage payments by renting the space or simply to have extra space.

“One of the most sought after features in Calgary homes today is the ability to have a secondary suite,” Lepan says. “Being able to offer a secondary- suite option is important, as homeowners need to know they can extend their

living space to friends or family, without sacrificing privacy or independence.”

Another advantage of this remarkable community is its proximity to all the amenities residents need.

the Shaganappi trail and Sarcee trail extensions will be open by year’s end, connecting Nolan Hill to the Stoney trail ring road, meaning a short drive to shopping and restaurants. Residents will be only minutes from Beacon Hill Shopping Centre. And if for any reason they need a break from paradise, the new access roads will allow residents to take weekend getaways without having to drive through the city.

Recreation facilities, such as Crowfoot YMCA, Cardel place and Village Square Leisure Centre, are all a short ride away. And Nolan Hill is convenient to a variety of schools.

With six of Calgary’s top builders involved in Nolan Hill, buyers can be assured of top-quality craftsmanship and design.

Start your Old-World journey by going to www.nolanhillunited.com or calling (403) 265-6180.

ADVERtISING FEAtURE

Nolan Hill has Old-World charm in a new community setting

Chestermere is a very special town that offers rare lakeside living. We’ll bet if you come for stroll along the lake you’ll find plenty of reasons to want to live there.

Now Mattamy has widened its variety of homes available in Lakepointe by introducing a brand new Bungalow design. the Birmingham offers up plenty of well-designed living space with room for two cars.

It comes with great big features such as a nice and neighbourly front porch, a Formal Dining Room, Kitchen with Breakfast Bar, a spacious Great Room, Owner’s Retreat with Ensuite, a large second Bedroom, a Den and a Double-car Garage with indoor entrance to the Mud Room. All in a single floor and all in a community right beside the lake for a very affordable $419,990.

Lakepointe offers a wonderful family atmosphere in a completely casual setting. It’s a place where a maximum number of homes offer

views of the lake. It is adjacent to the lake and the space to the shores will always be preserved. there are also walking paths that connect residents to downtown Chestermere. It’s a place

where children will rediscover the great outdoors.

And Mattamy’s collection of homes in Lakepointe has been architecturally inspired by the local surroundings.

the neighbourhood has been master-planned with homes at various setbacks from the curb, which helps create very attractive streetscapes.

the homes themselves come in a nice variety of sizes and styles so just about every family requirement can be satisfied in Lakepointe. there are Single Car Garage WideLot™ townhomes that range in size from 1,156 Sq. Ft. to 1,619 Sq. Ft. WideLot™ townhomes start from the $254,990

there is a fine selection of Semi-Detached homes ranging from 1,665 to 2,065 Sq. Ft. these homes have Double Car Garages. prices start at $339,990.

the Detached homes are a showcase for Mattamy’s solid reputation for attention to detail. these exceptional homes are available with Double Car Garages in two distinctive Series. they range in size from 1,858 Sq. Ft. to a luxurious 3,106 Sq. Ft. Series I homes start at $389,990 and Series ll starts at $449,990.

ADVERtISING FEAtURE

Mattamy adds to mix at Lakepointe with stunning new bungalow


PHASE 5 JUST RELEASED!

LAnED HOMESfrom the $300s

fROnT ATTAcHED gARAgE HOMESfrom the$380s to the$700s

Discover old-world charm inCalgary’s northwest and tour 12distinctive showhomes today.Take Symons Valley Road to 144thAvenue and follow the signs.

nolanhillcalgary.com

Shane Homes • Sterling HomesTrico Homes • Homes by AviMorrison Homes • Baywest Homes

FUTU

RESARCEE TRAIL

SYMONSVA

LLEY ROAD

BEDDINGTONTR

STONEY TRAIL

FUTURE SHAGANAPPI TR

COUNTRY HILLS BL

VD.

144 AVENUE NW

NOLANHILL

SAGEHILL

Drake Landing • Forest Crowne • Nolan Hill • The Ranch • Sage Hill • Silveradounitedcommunities.com

32 SUBURBS + SATELLITES SEptEMBER 2012 WWW.CALGARYHERALD.COM/SUBSSales Centre Hours: Monday to Thursday 1pm-8pm; Friday 1pm-6pm; Saturday, Sunday and Holidays 11am-6pm

All illustrations are artist’s concept. All dimensions are approximate. Prices, specifications, terms and conditions subject to change without notice. E.&O.E.

mattamyhomesalberta.com

Mattamy homes in both Windsong inAirdrie and Lakepointe in Chestermere comewith large windows to attract lots of natural

light into the home. And natural lightmakes every day a sunny day.

This is just one of the many architecturalfeatures that you’ll find in our unique homes

and distinctive communities.

Please stop by and see for yourself bytouring our Showhomes in Windsong.If it’s sunny, we recommend wearing

sunglasses inside.

Mattamy Showhome In Windsong Community

You Don’t Need A Switch To Have Lots Of Light.

Widelot™ Townhomes from $254,990Semi Detached Homes from $339,990

Series I Double Car Garage Homes from $389,990Series II Double Car Garage Homes from $449,990

These prices include the lot, the home and GST. There are no condo fees on any Mattamy home.

Lakepointe

Semi Detached Home, The Hayden ‘A’,1,767 Sq.Ft., $372,990

Includes: Rec Room Ready, Bath Oasis & MoreMove In March 2013

Series I Double Car Garage Home, The Abbeydale ‘B’,1,858 Sq.Ft., $418,990

Includes: Rec Room Ready, 9’ Ceilings On Main,Bath Oasis & More

Move In March 2013

Series I Double Car Garage Home, The Devon ‘A’,2,392 Sq.Ft., $480,990

Includes: Rec Room Ready, 9 Ft Main, Bath Oasis,Railing, & More

Move In April 2013

Trans-Canada or 16th Ave.

17th Ave.

ChestermereLake

Par

adis

eR

oad

10 mins.To Calgary

SalesCentre

West ParkDrive

Airport

400 West Park Drive, Chestermere, Alberta

Suburbs Satellites - Calgary Herald · 2013-01-28 · SUBURBS + SATELLITES SEptEMBER 2012 1 Suburbs...

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Transcript of Suburbs Satellites - Calgary Herald · 2013-01-28 · SUBURBS + SATELLITES SEptEMBER 2012 1 Suburbs...