People often complain that politicians never consult them before launching new development plans. Lately, the city has been asking for input so often it’s enough to make your head spin. And that’s a good thing. Continue reading Making plans for the Northlands site City focusing on making area more appealing
All posts by Aydan Dunnigan-Vickruck
Celebrate Latin American culture this July Festival Mi Tierra Calle 87 returns for another year
It’s mid-afternoon at El Rancho Spanish Restaurant. Dora Arevalo, owner of El Rancho Restaurant and Orlando Martinez, dance instructor and entertainer, are intensely engaged in planning the second Festival Mi Tierra Calle 87 (My Homeland 87th Street Festival), taking place July 14 to 16. Continue reading Celebrate Latin American culture this July Festival Mi Tierra Calle 87 returns for another year
Why budding trees are a sure sign of spring
We all search for our favourite signs of spring’s arrival and the accompanying hope and promise for a new year of growth: Snow melting, grass greening, geese returning, tulips blooming, trees budding, tax deadlines looming, hockey playoffs. Continue reading Why budding trees are a sure sign of spring
Serca Festival shows love of Irish influence Enjoy Irish arts and culture at long-running local festival
Liz Hobbs is an incredibly busy woman. Organizing festivals is her main gig, but she also directs theatre productions, writes, acts, and is currently the artistic director of the Serca Festival of Irish Theatre.
During the time I was tracking her down, Hobbs was in and out of the province. In and out of Edmonton. She was coordinating the Silver Skate Festival Folk Trail, then up to Kinuso (near Slave Lake) to audition 200 kids for Fiddler on the Roof, then back to work on the Chinook Festival. Continue reading Serca Festival shows love of Irish influence Enjoy Irish arts and culture at long-running local festival
Hugging regularly brings health and happiness Physical contact helps us bond with our loved ones
Science backs up what we all know intuitively: touch not only feels good, it is essential to our emotional and physical well-being.
Touching is fundamental to human communication, bonding, and health. It calms cardiovascular stress. It evokes safety and trust. It stimulates the brain to release feel-good chemicals that we produce naturally to encourage such behaviour (serotonin, dopamine and endorphins). Continue reading Hugging regularly brings health and happiness Physical contact helps us bond with our loved ones
Building communities in urban centres Mayors’ Forum addresses libraries and community
What can a library offer that most people don’t have already with smartphones and tablets?
Mayor Don Iveson and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi addressed a paying crowd of over 800 on Dec. 7 to defend the library’s continued relevance and explain why they believe it is worth the millions each city is putting into redeveloping its downtown libraries.
Blowing soap bubbles on my 63rd birthday Considering some philosophical questions about life
A journalist once asked Albert Einstein: “What is the most important question we can ask?”
Einstein replied: “Is the universe a safe place?”
That’s a big question. I am not sure how I would answer it. But since I am at the reflective stage of life, it seems like a good time to give it some consideration.
Sharing homes and developing community
Communal living can turn strangers into friends
Continue reading Sharing homes and developing community
Developing a stress-free environment Focus on well-being to create an ideal learning space
Go, Pokémon, go! Free game gets youth outside Getting outdoors creates happy, healthy communities
What do an iPad and outdoor exercise have in common?
Very little, according to a recent lecture I attended on how the predominance of Wi-Fi devices were turning a generation into high-frequency couch potatoes.