Forest Lawn has a rich history dating back to 1910 when homesteaders located in the area. The district was part of the real estate speculation of 1910-1912, and suffered a depression with the start of World War I. In 1935 the village of Forest Lawn was formed and in 1953, it was incorporated as a town in 1961, Forest Lawn was annexed by the City of Calgary. This long history has resulted in area homes displaying a diverse range of building styles.
Located just 6 km east of downtown, Forest Lawn is close to the Bow River, the Western Irrigation District Canal, a regional park, and major roadways, as well as the 17th Avenue commercial district, known as International Avenue.
As the wire service provider for Calgary, ENMAX Power maintains and operates the system of wires and infrastructure that delivers electricity to our city’s homes and businesses. ENMAX Power crews work 24/7 to ensure safe and reliable power throughout Calgary.
Below are the anticipated projects scheduled over the coming months in Ward 9. It is important to note that this list does not capture inspections, routine maintenance, or emergency work.
Just North of Ward 9 sits Big Marlborough Park. The City of Calgary has plans to improve park amenities at and create a space that can be enjoyed by Calgarians of all ages.
The project is in the preliminary master plan phase and will focus on conceptualizing and designing park enhancements.
The School Councils of Valley View School, Ian Bazalgette School, West Dover School, Erin Woods School and Niitsitapi Learning Centre, invite residents of Greater Forest Lawn to join the Community Resource Fair to learn more about and get connected with organizations and services available in East Calgary.
Thursday, February 27, 2025 | 5:30 - 7:30pm
Valley View School Gym - 4105 26 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2B 1E5
This event highlights essential resources available to families, including job training programs, recreational activities, mental health supports, language and education opportunities, and more! This event is also designed to specifically cater to newcomer families, with the intention of identifying their unique needs and helping them establish connections the community.
The Alex Community Food Center (CFC) is a welcoming space for people to come together to grow, cook, share, and advocate for good food for all. They provide Calgarians with dignified access to high-quality food, while providing all-ages opportunities to learn cooking and gardening skills in ways that expand tastebuds and help us make healthier food choices. Community members come together and take action on issues that matter to them, while creating an interconnected network of friends and neighbours.
As we embrace the winter months and prepare for spring, The Alex CFC has an exciting lineup of programs and events designed to bring the community together, share delicious food, and teach valuable new skills. Be sure to check them out and stop by for a visit soon!
From our families to yours, with love and fellowship, we wish you peace, respite, rejuvenation, and all the best in 2025.
In lieu of mailing traditional holiday cards, we’ve opted to donate to several notable local charities. This season, our focus is on supporting four organizations doing deeply meaningful and important work to care for our 2SLGBTQIA+ neighbours.
Happy Holidays!
The Salvation Army East Calgary Community Hub is hosting a variety of events for youth this November. Check out some of their offerings below, or visit their events calendar for more info on these and other family-focused programming.
Join us to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bob Bahan Aquatic & Fitness Centre.
Bob Bahan is turning 50, and we’re celebrating with a week-long event from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, 2024. Whether you’ve been a supporter for years or are joining for the first time — stop by for free classes, swimming, and food; stay for the community spirit; and leave with great memories and prizes. 4812 14 Avenue SE.
In order to facilitate construction in the area, the Government of Alberta is temporarily closing the Southview off-leash area on Provincial Land on the Western Headworks canal (near the 17th Avenue SE bus rapid transit bridge.) The closure is expeted to begin sometime in November and last for about a year.
The closure of this area is to enable to removal of large volumes of silt/sediment material from the canal. This will be an active construction area with heavy equipment hauling material, which requires additional space for equipment turnaround and maneuvering, staging of equipment and materials, and storage.
Through a partnership between Alpha House, Distress Centre, Calgary Police Service, and City of Calgary, District 4 (which includes most Ward 9 communities east of Deerfoot Trail) now has a call diversion program available to residents seeking assistance for non-emergency social disorder concerns.
Call 2-1-1 and the Alpha House HELP team will be deployed when EMS or CPS response is not required. HELP aims to be onsite within 20 minutes, and works to divert socially complex, high need individuals from law enforcement response and unnecessary healthcare use at the street level.
Parks Foundation is thrilled to celebrate the opening of Forest Lawn Park with the community on September 19, 2024.
From 4-6pm please join for a short formal program from 4:15-4:45, followed by outdoor games and activation of the park including a basketball game with the MRU Cougars Women's Basketball team.
The Pink Door Pizza Food Truck will be onsite, with a free meal provided to the first 75 guests.
In order to accommodate CTrain maintenance work. Beginning Saturday, July 27 at the start of service until Sunday, July 28 at the end of service, there will be no Blue Line CTrain service between City Hall/Bow Valley College and Marlborough Stations. There will be various replacement shuttles to help support the closure.
Elliston Village is actively developing. The project’s developers, Lansdowne, are proposing a change in height and density to Phases 5 and 6 of their comprehensive residential development that will feature townhomes, apartments, and community amenity spaces. A Land Use Amendment (LUA) will be submitted to The City of Calgary.
There are no shortage of unique and exciting events happening throughout the summer at the Twin Views Communal Garden in Dover. From live music and art markets, to educational workshops and opportunities to get to know some of your neighbours. Follow along on the Twin Views Garden Facebook for the most up to date event postings.
Please be advised that Elliston Park will be temporarily closed to the public on Saturday, July 20 and Sunday, July 21, 2024 in order to host the 2024 Cold Garden Limber Disc Golf Open.
There will be a temporary 18-hole disc gold course installed at the park. For the safety of park user and tournament participants, public access will be closed over the weekend.
The City of Calgary is delivering new routes and local improvements to Calgary's Pathway and Bikeway Network to enhance healthy, safe, and accessible travel options in Calgary.
We're developing dedicated pathway and bikeway routes in Ward 9 (Penbrooke Meadows, Forest Heights, Forest Lawn, Dover, Erin Woods, and Eastfield) aligning with Calgary's established Pathway and Bikeway Network. The proposed routes currently serve residential, recreation, shopping, education, and work destination. When the routes are improved, they will provide safe, healthy, and affordable travel choices for people of all ages and all abilities.
This year’s HMCS Barn Burner was a wild success!
Councillors Kourtney Penner and Gian-Carlo Carra along with the Friends of HMCS Calgary Committee welcomed nearly 600 friends, family, community organizations. and service members to this year’s event! All to help raise funds for the Foothills Burn Treatment Centre and The Veterans Food Bank of Calgary on behalf of HMCS Calgary, our city’s namesake Navy ship.
Councillors Kourtney Penner and Gian-Carlo Carra along with the Friends of HMCS Calgary Committee are delighted to invite you to this year’s HMCS Calgary Barn Burner!
Dust off your best western attire and kick off Stampede with the Commanding Officer and members of the HMCS Calgary crew, our city’s namesake Navy ship.
There will be good food, good drink, good music, and most of all good people! This event is family-friendly (kids under 12 are free!) with proceeds going to support two soon-to-be-announced local charities.
Our office is seeking proposals from Indigenous artists with a connection to Treaty 7 land interested in partnering to design and create an illustrated map about water. This map will highlight water resources, infrastructure, and landmarks, while sharing stories and raising awareness about water conservation, management, history, and the importance of water in Ward 9 and through Calgary.
After a 15-day Public Hearing, City Council has voted to approve citywide rezoning to allow for the construction of a variety low-density homes across Calgary.
In response to feedback from Calgarians, amendments have been introduced to address concerns regarding community engagement during the development permit phase, modified parking requirements, and adjustments to secondary suite allowances for row houses.
The Greater Forest Lawn Communities Local Area Plan is currently in its final phase: REALIZE. The project is ready to be presented and brought forward to the community and Council for review and decision.
The GFL LAP sets the vision for the evolution of the area over the next 30 years including direction on future development and investment that residents, landowners, builders/developers, City Planners, and Councillors can commonly refer to as new development and investment ideas are proposed.
Join the Forest Lawn Community Association for a day of action on Sunday, May 7th from 9am - 2pm.
Help keep the community clean and beautiful - If you have unwanted items or waste, save yourself a trip to the landfill and bring your items to the Forest Lawn Community Hall hall so they can be disposed of properly.
The community association is in need of volunteers to help make this clean up run smoothly. If you are able to help, please call (403) 826-0731 or check out the community Facebook page.
One of the best days of the year is just around the corner! Neighbour Day is Calgary’s celebration of community connection. Held each year on the third Saturday in June, Neighbour Day is a step toward creating welcoming and inclusive communities where neighbours connect and belong every day of the year.
Neighbour Day 2024 will include two kick-off events on May 4 to help raise awareness of Neighbour Day and invite Calgarians to start planning their own Neighbour Day block party or community event for June 15.
Jane’s Walk 2024 is back and taking place May 3rd through 5th. Calgarians of all ages are invited to participate in free walking tours throughout a variety of communities and areas of interest in the city!
A global event inspired by and in honour of Jane Jacobs, an urbanist and activist who championed a fresh, community-based approach to city building. Jane believed that in order to properly observe how people, through their actions and interactions, create communities with a strong sense of belonging, we need to get out and walk the city.
In order to facilitate urgent electrical repairs, Bob Bahan Aquatic & Fitness Centre will need to temporarily close.
Beginning April 14, 2024, service will be reduced to only swimming lessons and swim clubs in preparation for the repairs, followed by a full facility closure on May 6, 2024. We anticipate the facility will be closed for approximately three to four months.
Repairs at Bob Bahan Aquatic & Fitness Centre are extensive, and while we anticipate the reopening of the facility by the fall of 2024, timelines may shift as more information is gathered during the repairs.
The Greater Forest Lawn Local Area Plan project team will be hosting the next Community Conversation Series on Thursday, February 22 and Wednesday, March 13. This is an opportunity to meet with the project team to discuss plans, learn where we are in the planning process, and have your questions answered.
Location: Forest Lawn Library (4807 Eighth Ave SE) - Basement Community Room
Dates: February 22, 2024 and March 13, 2024
Calgary is in a housing crisis. We need more homes. The citywide rezoning proposed in Home is Here: The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy will help.
How will rezoning help?
This change will help increase the supply of housing to better meet demand by reducing the costs and timelines for permit approvals. This means more housing is able to be built faster. It also allows for greater housing variety, options, and price points to suit more Calgarians needs.
If you’re renting or buying, rezoning increases the number and types of homes available in all communities, making homes more affordable. If you own property, you’ll have more options to meet your future needs.
Join The Alex for their Artisan Fair and Market on December 9th from 1pm - 4pm. Share good food and holiday crafts and be part of the festivities in Forest Lawn.
The Alex Community Food Centre - 4920 17 Ave SE
Interested in being a vendor? Contact Joanna at jtschudy@thealex.ca or (403) 863-3953.
From November 30th - December 10th, we will be collecting donations for the Calgary Food Bank as part of the Mayor’s Annual Food Drive.
Like Food Banks across the country, the Calgary Food Bank has seen an unprecedented increase in demand this past year. In 2022, Council raised just over $80,000 in food and funds for Calgarians in need. We hope to surpass that number this year.
The City of Calgary is updating plans that will shape the Calgary of the future and make sure our city keeps on being a great place to live. We want to hear from you.
Calgary is a city of opportunity and choice. As our city’s population approaches two million, The City of Calgary must prepare to support this growth. The City Building program will align and strengthen The City’s plans and tools to create a place where everyone can thrive.
The City of Calgary is currently in the third phase of the Greater Forest Lawn Communities Local Area Planning Project and some great conversations and engagement have already taken place with our working group and local community associations in both online and in-person sessions.
Opportunities for the public to get involved in Phase 3 are open now until November 13, 2023.
Work during this phase of engagement will refine how redevelopment and revitalization could happen in the Greater Forest Lawn Communities of Albert Park/Radisson Heights, Applewood Park, Dover, Erin Woods, Forest Heights, Forest Lawn, Forest Lawn Industrial, Penbrooke Meadows, Red Carpet, Southview, 09Q, and a portion of Golden Triangle. We are also looking for input on local community improvement priorities.
Highfield Regenerative Farm, one of Calgary’s (and Ward 9’s) most celebrated urban agriculture projects, is entering its final two growing seasons at its current location. Since 2019, this 15-acre former industrial site has been transformed into a thriving hub for regenerative agriculture, food access, ecological restoration, and hands-on community learning.
It’s time for The City of Calgary’s annual Spring Clean-up program, which kicks off Monday, April 14. Residential street sweeping will run Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 4 pm, and continues through the end of June (weather permitting).
As sweepers make their way through communities, we’re asking Calgarians to help by moving vehicles off the road when signs are posted. Temporary parking bans will be in effect on scheduled sweeping days to allow our crews to do a thorough job—removing gravel, dust, and debris that’s built up over the winter.
Despite the recent snow fall, spring is officially here, and that means we can expect a few changes to our waste and recycling services in Calgary. Mark your calendars, and get ready for yardwork season!
If you own a short-term rental (STR) or are thinking about starting one—whether it’s a room, a suite, or an entire home—updates to the Business Licence Bylaw come into effect on April 1, 2025.
In December of 2024, Calgary City Council unanimously approved amendments to the Business Licence Bylaw for short-term rentals (STR), signally the next phase of regulations for the short-term rental market.
The amendments support housing affordability, enhance guest and community safety and improve enforcement of regulations, while continuing to permit tourism and economic benefits of short-term rentals. The updated regulatory processes for the Business Licence Bylaw will not only help effective management of STRs but will also leverage the market in innovative ways to create value for the community.
Trees are an intrinsic part to the quality of life in Calgary. They provide a myriad of environmental benefits. They also contribute to positive mental wellbeing. Trees help us connect with our communities.
Calgary’s tree canopy coverage is currently at 8.25%, this includes trees planted on both public and private property. The City is working to grow and expand our tree canopy coverage to 16%.
You can help through the annual Branching Out program. Trees are provided at no cost by the City of Calgary.
Over the weekend, crews detected an unplanned wastewater leak into the Bow River from a pipe near the Bonnybrook Wastewater Treatment Plant. City officials remain onsite and have confirmed that the leak has been contained. They continue to monitor water quality at the site as well as downstream, and are working to repair and determine the root cause of the leak.
Calgary’s drinking water is drawn far upstream from the site of the leak, and remains unaffected and safe to drink. Alberta Health Services indicated that the risk to the public as a result of this event is extremely low, though as a precaution, we ask that people and pets please stay away from the river near this area.
Calgary Jane's Walks are officially live and open for walker registration. Walks throughout Calgary are posted on the Janes Walk Eventbrite page, and free for all to join. As always, there are a TON of amazing and unique community-led walking tours happening throughout Calgary on the Weekend on May 2-4. Whether your interests are arts and culture, history and heritage, architecture and city-building, or anything in between, there is definitely a Jane’s Walk for everyone to get out and enjoy.
Learn more, grab a friend, and register today!
Starting April 1, 2025, Calgarians can receive a $50 rebate on up to two rain barrels through a partnership between the City of Calgary and Green Calgary.
This initiative aims to help make rain barrels more affordable for residents looking to conserve their outdoor water use throughout the spring and summer. Calgarians who purchase rain barrels from Green Calgary or a local vendor in Calgary can submit an application form along with original receipts to receive a $50 rebate per barrel. Eligible purchases must be made after March 31, 2025. The program is able to provide rebates for a maximum of 3,000 rain barrels.
After completing significant upgrades to the Glenmore and Bearspaw Water Treatment plants, The City of Calgary is on track to re-introduce fluoride into drinking water starting mid-April. Once a specific date is available, it will be shared with the public.
In October of 2021, Council voted to follow the direction of the majority of Calgarians who voted in favour of reintroducing fluoride through the electoral ballot (62 per cent of electors voted in favour of reintroducing fluoridation into the municipal water supply.) This decision is also backed by a majority of dental and healthcare professionals globally, as well as both our Federal and Provincial government.
Did you know more than 1/3 of Calgary’s property taxes go to the Province? The remainder is invested in City services such as Fire, Police, and Transit. Property taxes make up about half of The City's Operating Revenue, while the remainder comes from other sources, including user fees, permits, and licensing.
The recently released provincial budget was the final piece required by The City of Calgary to calculate residents 2025 property tax rates.