Calgary Comes Together

I just want to announce: We survived!

 

There’s a lot to deal with after The Flood, and Calgarians are responding in overwhelming ways!

 

For example: early Monday morning, the Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) announced that they needed volunteers to meet at McMahon Stadium to hand out information packets to displaced people who would (eventually) be returning home. They expected around 600.

 

Thanks to social media sites, around 3,000 people had arrived by 10am, all ready with boots and gloves, to start the Clean-up.

 

There’s so many examples of that. So many reception centers have had to put notices on line that they can no longer take donations, because the generosity of the people has outweighed storage space. (Not including, of course, monetary donations, which are always needed…and easily stored…)

 

There are specific websites, too, that are very specific with their “needs” lists, so you don’t have to use your imagination.

 

There’s also sites for WHERE to go to volunteer:
http://www.yychelps.ca/
http://volunteercalgary.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/calgary-flood-donation-drop-off-points-and-wish-lists/
Calgary Flood Cleanup 2013

 

(There was a pamphlet that outlined important information for volunteers…it included what to expect, what to wear, and how to protect against grime and contaminants…I can’t find it now, but if you are going to volunteer – you should find it!! Or if someone reading this finds it, please add it in the comments! Thanks!)

 

AND, there’s also websites set up for the reuniting of pets with their families.
Calgary Flood Lost/Found Pets & Fostering
Horizon Veterinary Group and Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (These sites aren’t specific about the flood, but include separated pets)

 

Using these sites, I had the very exciting privilege, yesterday, to help a puppy reunite with his family. I was browsing Calgary Flood Lost/Found Pets & Fostering on Facebook and, in passing, I saw a message from Horizon Veterinary Group about a Found pet that was the same breed and seemed to have the same expressions, etc., so I called the owner and next thing I know, he’s on his other line with the Veterinary Clinic that had the puppy, and was going to go pick him up!

 

It’s not all Clean-up. There are still power outages (as of noon on July 25th, there were still 18,500 people without power), and there are many who can’t go home yet.

 

We are kept informed by news media sites that are kept up-to-date, so we aren’t overwhelmed by not knowing.
The City of Calgary
http://www.calgarycitynews.com/ and CTV News
660News
http://www.emergencyalert.alberta.ca/
http://alberta.ca/Recoveryinformation.cfm

 

 

And, the Zoo still has no power, many areas of the Zoo are still considered dangerous, AND they are having the added pressure of trying to move the animals back to their homes, without additional stress to the animals. Their current news release says they have enough manual help (for now), but financinal donations can be made at http://www.calgaryzoo.com/. (Apparently, the giraffes are highly sensitive and stressed out, and are having a hard time adjusting The Zoo people say that they seem to be recovering now, though, thankfully.)

 

In the meantime, volunteers are showing up all over the city – people are bringing food and coffee and water to the sites. If they can’t stay to do the work, they are dropping off supplies.

 

Awwww – and I just found a new bunch of websites that are people offering free services – like pumping out basements (Action Auger and Boreal Vac & Pressure Services, and maybe others, in case I miss someone) and repairing computers (Clever Concierge), to name a few - to Flood Victims.

 

There are tons of fundraisers going on – I can’t even list everything. Lots of concerts, restaurants, etc.

 

Sigh. These things are all making me teary…

The Calgary Stampede is coming up, and many wondered if the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth would go on (since just recently the Stampede Grounds were completely under water) and Mayor Nenshi has confirmed that “Yes, the Show must go on.” And, I’m not sure who added the “Come Hell or High Water” comment after that, but you can get that on a t-shirt now, with proceeds going to Flood Victims and Clean-up.

 

And did you notice the picture of the poster at the beginning of my blog? THAT is TODAY!!!!

 

Calgary ZooLights

"They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway", but LED lighting is pretty bright, too, when there's more than 1.5 million lights. Of course, it's not Broadway, but the ZooLights display at the Calgary Zoo.

I'm interrupting our jaunt across 1/2 of the United States with something current- because we just went to ZooLights Calgary, and it's my first time! Yes, I've lived in Calgary for years and have never gone. To be fair, I don't think they've been around that long - from what I can find, maybe only since 2005? so, I'm only 7 years behind...

 

Actually, that's one of the benefits that I've found to writing a Sightseeing-themed blog. At first, I was just going to talk about places I was going already, but it's really encouraging me to do things I haven't done before, and in some cases, wouldn't have considered doing before.. (In fact, it's also making me SEE things that I "see" every day. Like the statue of King Kong climbing a building, right in Calgary. I've driven passed it so many times and never really "saw" it! Now, I'm making a special trip! Eventually.)

The ZooLights start in the end November and end the beginning of January, open every day from 6pm to 9pm (closed only on Christmas Day.) On New Years Eve, it's also technically closed, because they have a "Zoo Years Eve" party. Tickets are only $10 for anyone 16 years old and up, and for children 3-15, only $7. (Everything says that the price of your ticket includes parking...but parking was free anyway...maybe it's because we didn't arrive until 7:30ish?) (Speaking of parking - you can only get in from the North Gate, so make sure you park on that side - north side of Memorial Drive.

 

We had 9 adults and 4 children in our group, and I expected an hour and a half to be more than enough time, but we actually had to rush through the last section. (I think it could go either way - depending on how the children handle it.)


Everyone was really cold (the temperature was -13 degrees Celsius/8.6 degrees Fahrenheit), until we discovered that the atrium was open, so we went in there for a few minutes. (In actual fact, I wasn't cold at all...I wondered why, until Peter pointed out that I was wearing: a regular pair of socks and a pair of thermal wool socks, thermal pants and also snow pants, a thermal shirt under a wool sweater, a wool hat and a knit headband, thermal gloves under down mittens, Sorel boots good for -40 (Celsius & Fahrenheit), and a down coat over the top of it all. (Also, I may have had a little something yummy in my hot chocolate...)

 

The staff was great - super friendly and had a lot of information. (In particular, we learned that the camels were outside (apparently, these particular camels are Bactrian camels, and thrive in the winter), and also, apparently, the snow leopard cubs (kittens?) were also outside still (hadn't gone inside for the night, yet), although I didn't get to see those.

 The kids loved the games - building igloos, hoola hooping, something with hay bales, an icy slide through lights. Kids are so funny, though - we were there for an hour and a half, and saw over 1.5 million lights, and they were mostly just really excited to takes chunks of ice and snow and shatter them on the ground.

 

Here's some general facts that I found interesting (in addition to the fact that there's more than 1.5 million lights):

• It takes "4.5 people" 3 months to set up, and other 3 months to take down.
• Since switching to LED lighting and other energy-saving lights, there's an 80% reduction in power
• Technically, there are 6 fire pits throughout - while we were there, there were 4 working, but they were strategically placed and not only enjoyable, but kind of a relief to those who were cold
• ZooLights are strung across approximately 90 acres
• Hot chocolate is available (there are booths scattered - if the one you go to is crowded, walk on - there's others that are less crowded)

I definitely will go again (not sure if it'll be this year or next year). Next time, I'll speed through the first section and go right to Candy Land.

 

Back on track (I think) on Wednesday,
with more on Nebraska
and Chimney Rock
(as previously discussed -
- November 28th.)