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!

Come on out and see Santa, enjoy some crafts and a hot chocolate, as well as horse drawn wagon rides. Weather permitting, the ice rink may be up and running so bring your skates.

Sunday, December 7th, 2024
From 12pm - 3pm

The Erin Woods Community Associations is working to provide Christmas food hampers community members in need. If you have holiday meal staples you are able to donate to the hamper program OR you know of a family in need, please contact Christina at the hall 403-273-7209 or via email at erinwood@telus.net for more info.

Food donations will be accepted the week of December 16th - 19th, with delivery of hampers to chosen recipients on Friday, December 19th.

Nominations for families in need will be accepted from Nov 30 - December 15. The Community Association can also assist with referrals to the Magic of Christmas program.

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.

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.

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.

Kids in grades K-5 are invited to the Erin Woods Jelly Bean Dance - Friday, May 24t from 7-9pm.

$5 entry, includes dancing, games and prized, plus options to purchase food on site. Parents must be in attendance.

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.

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.

Community Cleanup events save residents a trip to the landfill for items that do not fit in their black carts. The City of Calgary suppled packer trucks with crews, funds for advertising and promotion, face coverings, sanitizer, gloves, and garbage bags for community volunteers. This service is free of charge to all Calgarians.

All Community Cleanup events occur on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the spring and fall session.

Please note, the dates listed below are subject to change Please check with your local Community Association for more information regarding specific details and times of events, and opportunities to volunteer.

The following communities in Ward 9 have registered to host a Community Cleanup event this year.

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.

Join the Erin Woods Community Association for their Annual Kids Christmas Party.

Saturday, December 2nd from 1pm - 3pm, stop by the hall for ice skating, sleigh rides, an outdoor fire pit, and a visit from Santa. All are welcome to join.

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 Erin Woods Community Association is accepting nominations for Holiday Hampers this season. If you know a local family in need of a bit of help over the holidays, email your nomination to the Erin Woods CA at erinwood@telus.net or give them a call 403-273-7209.

The Deadline for all hamper nominations is Sunday, December 5th, 2023.

Alternatively, If you have food items or other donations to contribute to the community hampers, please contact the Erin Woods Hall to make arrangements for drop-off.

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.

After three hard and emotional days, City Council voted 12-3 to pass the Housing Strategy in its entirety. The actions outlined in this strategy make up a comprehensive and critically needed framework to address housing affordability, ensuring more Calgarians have a safe place to call home.

Over 1,322 pages of written submissions were sent in, 162 members of the public came out to speak, and our office received hundreds of emails. Overwhelmingly, the stories of those desperate to find or keep a roof over their head are the ones that dominated the conversation.

You can read the full Housing Strategy report and all 66 of the recommendations HERE.

The Greater Forest Lawn 55+ Society is hosting a community breakfast on Thursday, September 14th from 9am-11am. $10 starts your day off right with eggs, sausages, hashbrowns, pancakes, fruit salad and bottomless coffee or tea. Pop by and support seniors in the community.