Newsletter Highlights
1/ Coming Events:
- Neighbour Night - January 16
- Land Use Amendment - Engagement Session (Graywood Developments) - January 29
- Community Campfires - February 8, March date TBD
- SECA Plays programs - January, February, March
2/ Now is the time to have your say!
3/ SECA Plays programs
4/ CMSA Grassroots Soccer is coming!
5/ Nifty and Nearby
6/ Why is SECA investing in play?
7/ Adult programming
8/ Beautification Committee
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Neighbour Night - Thursday January 16
It's a chance to meet some new folks from the community. Look for the balloons on the table.
Coach & Horses Ale Room (across from Sobeys)
7 to 9 PM
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Mark your calendar for these Neighbour Nights.
February 20, March 19, April 23, May 28
**Generally the 3rd Thursday of the month except where holidays interfere.**
Neighbour Nights connect families in our community.
We are getting to know one another and building a more neighbourly community.
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Proposed Land Use Amendment
by Graywood Developments
Open House Information Session
Wednesday, January 29
5:30 to 8:00 PM
Fish Creek Exchange Sales Centre
99 Shawnee Blvd SW
This re-zoning application (file #LOC2019-0170) is related to the land bordered by the Beacon Hill condos, Shawnee Street, Shawnee Blvd and 6th Street.
Representatives of Graywood Developments, its consulting team and the City of Calgary will be in attendance to answer questions and receive your feedback. SECA board members will also be attending.
Originally townhomes were planned for this area. Graywood is applying for rezoning to allow rental apartments, perhaps a senior's residence and commercial uses, potentially including a gas bar, convenience stores and other. The density of residential units will increase and will be redistributed to free up space for the other proposed land uses.
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NOW is the time to have your say.
The information session above is your best opportunity to learn about the re-zoning application. Feedback can also be provided directly to the City Planner managing this file.
Email Angie Dean at Angelique.dean@calgary.ca. Please quote the file number (#LOC2019-0170)
Copy these officials in your email:
- Diane Colley-Urquardt at alaaw13@calgary.ca
- Patrick Briscoe at PBriscoe@graywoodgroup.com
- Norm Rousseau (SECA's Director of Development) at Norm@view-our-homes.com
Informed feedback is the most effective.
- Guide to the Planning Process is a good resource.
- Maps related to the application will shortly be posted at shawnee-evergreen.ca.
- Part of this area is covered by the City's Transit Oriented Development Policy (TOD).
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Community Campfires
Campfires are magical! Our first campfire on December 29th was a big success with over 40 people attending through the evening. The weather was perfect!
Join us at our next campfire events from 4 to 6 PM.
- February 8th at the park bordered by Evergreen Park SW and Evergreen Circle SW
- March date is TBA - we'll be at the park with the tennis courts on Shawnee Drive SW.
We'll provide the campfire, apples to roast and the marshmallows etc to make S'mores along with hot chocolate. Please dress appropriately and bring a roasting stick if you have one.
Watch our website and our Facebook pages for updates as extreme cold will cancel the event.
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Winter Adventure Play
Saturday February 1 & March 7
1 to 3 PM
Park at 1611 Evergreen Drive
Christina Pickles, our Play Specialist is returning along with a practicum student from Mount Royal University, Laura Alwast.
For children from 3 to 10 years of age with a parent.
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Let's enjoy winter with simple activities and everyday materials. Imagine, explore and innovate with ice and snow. Build a tower of ice or have a tea party.
Snow and ice provide children with endless opportunities to investigate scientific properties, utilize problem-solving skills and creativity and develop strong bodies. Whether your child chooses to build a snow structure, observe snowflakes, or make a snowy stew, playing in the snow provides real benefits.
Put on your winter gear and come and see for yourself!
Dress appropriately for the weather. A fire will be onsite to keep us warm.
Registration is not required for this Drop-In Program. For more info email play@shawneeevergreen.ca.
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Outdoor Survival Series
Melissa Pearce of Rediscover Play is returning to offer programs for 9 to 12 year olds.
- February 1 - 1 to 3 PM - Fire Building Techniques
- March 7 - 1 to 3 PM - Shelter Building
Registration* is required via play@shawneeevergreen.ca.
Free for SECA Members.
$20 annual Program Pass for non-residents. See details under the Adventure Play info above.
Parents are NOT required to stay for the session.
Registrants will be informed of the meet up location.
**SECA Plays reserves the right to cancel if minimum numbers are not achieved.**
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Families in Nature
SECA is so lucky to have Alex O'Rourke of Urban Wild and her popular monthly programs in Fish Creek Provincial Park for 2 to 6 year olds with a parent or caregiver.
- Registration is required.
- For information and to register contact Alex at Urbanwildcalgary@gmail.com
- Free for SECA Members.
- $20 annual Program Pass for non-residents.
Urban Wild inspires curiosity, connection to nature and builds family capacity to continue exploring the outdoors together. Our tested recipe has three simple ingredients: a sprinkle of nature inspired activities, a dollop of family led nature walks, and a scoop of child led play.
Bring a friend and join Alex from 10 to 11:30 AM on
- January 18
- February 8
- March 14
- watch for spring dates to be announced
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CMSA Grassroots Soccer is coming!
This program focuses on fun and skill development with qualified coaches for 4 to 8 year old players.
- 8 week season - April 27 to June 28
- once or twice a week depending upon age
- low cost but with a jersey and swag for each player
- pending availability, at the Evergreen Drive park
Confirmed location, fees and dates coming soon.
Parent volunteers are welcome to support the CMSA coaches.
Contact grassroots@calgaryminorsoccer.com.
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Why is SECA investing in play?
"Play is vital to a child's social, emotional, cognitive and physical health, however, children are spending less and less time playing and learning from one another and more time alone and engaged in passive activities including those on electronic devices.
As a result, many children have lost their ability to get along with their peers, be kind and compassionate, self regulate behavior, express delayed gratification, and focus on academic learning. This negative shift has harmful impacts on schools and communities." (from wordplaycanada.com/healthy-play)
Over the past several decades, trends in urban design, the nature of work, our economy and the tendency towards structured activities have resulted in more busy yet isolated living.
Researchers tells us that children need to develop independence through "risky play" and that there has never been a safer time to raise children in Canada. And yet, the media encourages parents to be more cautious.
SECA is supporting families by:
- working to create a more neighbourly and connected community where parents can be less fearful and more trusting.
- providing structured and unstructured experiences to help families rediscover the joy of outdoor play and nature play.
- connecting families through events and programs so that Shawnee Evergreen will become a safe and caring community where kids are more likely to play outdoors with their friends with little or no supervision from parents and where local kids knock on your door to ask your child to come out to play.
Want to learn more?
1/ Email play@shawneeevergreen.ca
2/ View the list of upcoming programs that will soon be posted at our website and plan to attend.
3/ See the SECA Facebook page and the @SECAplays Facebook group for event details.
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Are you interested in events and programs for ADULTS and SENIORS?
SECA has the funds to support these initiatives.
We just need a volunteer to help coordinate our offerings.
For more information and to volunteer to help out email info@shawneeevergreen.ca.
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Nifty and Nearby
1/ Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society offer so many programs and events. Check out their January newsletter. The "Friends" are generous and hardworking neighbours. They are looking for volunteers to support their casino on March 29 and 30th.
2/ Looking for programs and drop in opportunities to keep you active?
Check out what's available at:
- Trico Centre for Family Wellness
- Cardel Rec South
- Southland Leisure Centre for Toys in the Waterpark, Terrific Tuesdays and more!
3/ All Sport One City - January 18 to 26 (adults)
Looking to experience a new sport or physical activity for the first time or renew an interest? Calgary Recreation is partnering with Sport Calgary to showcase some of our facility amenities and programs with a week of free activities for adults. Get active, have fun and make some new friends. Drop in or register online now.
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Our Beautification Committee has launched.
We would like to get broad representation from across our area.
Contact info@shawneeevergreen.ca if you'd like to contribute to this work.
Also send ideas and feedback. What would make our community great?
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Become a SECA Member - Join Today!
We depend on revenue from annual memberships for our operations including insurance, events etc.
Though we have a healthy casino account balance, Alberta Gaming restricts those funds to specific activities.
SECA memberships are available online at
shawnee-evergreen.ca/membership/ for just $20 per year (April 1 to March 31)
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