At the farm, on a horse!

The feel and refreshing fun of country life this fall is easy to enjoy when Butterfield Acres and Carousel Stables are both easily accessible from University District!

Don your favourite flannel check shirt, denims and boots and join us on a country jaunt.

Butterfield Acres

Make your first stop Butterfield Acres (located just off Stoney Trail NW) to celebrate country living with:

• their annual Harvest Pumpkin Festival right up to Halloween
• year-round farm-fun brought to you with a ‘We Come to You’ petting zoo

Let the piglets chew your shoelaces. Hee-haw with the donkeys. Get the turkeys to gobble back to you. Milk a goat! There are many options to get up close and interact with animals at Butterfield Acres.

There’s also so much more, with a huge choice of rustic, fun activities to choose from. Ride over the hills and through the woods on a tractor-pulled wagon, book a fire pit and roast some hot dogs, explore Nursery Rhyme Park, or get practical and hunt for freshly laid eggs.

There’s always something new to do at Butterfield Acres and no two visits are the same, as things on the farm change with the seasons. You can get up close with lambs, chicks, calves and piglets on Barnyard Babies Days in spring, give your child a memorable and educational experience at summer day camps, or in the fall, join in the hunt for pumpkins.

Although from November to March Butterfield Acres is closed, animals are still available to come and see you year-round. Plan your visit at ButterfieldAcres.com.

Harvest Pumpkin Festival

Stroll through the farmyard and find your perfect pumpkin among hundreds. Stop along the way for animal visits, fabulous fall photo-opps, pony rides, and a bumpy ride through Scarecrow Alley in the back woodlands. Later, gather round a campfire and toast a s’more, and enjoy a hot chocolate, apple cider or a pumpkin sipper. 

“Harvest Pumpkin Festival is one of the highlights of our year,” says Butterfield Acres’ Tania Katay. “It’s one big party and a family favourite with lots of pumpkins to seek out and decorate. Scarecrow Alley is not scary like it may sound but a fun tractor-pulled wagon ride for all the family. We can’t wait to see you.”

Harvest Pumpkin Festival runs every weekend until Halloween, October 31. Get more details and book your ticket at Harvest Pumpkin Fest.

Bring Animals to your Event

Make your event memorable by adding animals to it with Butterfield Acres’ ‘We Come to You’ service.

While their regular ‘mini-farm’ petting zoo sees two goats, two lambs, two bunnies and a pot belly piglet come to your party or social gathering, there are options of Little Goats Gruff (four cute little goats), Three Little Pigs, or The 8 Bunny Fluffle (eight beautiful rabbits).

Pony rides at birthday parties from ‘My Little Pony’ or a ‘unicorn’ also run all year round, while the Live Nativity is a special festive season offering.

For full details and booking, see We Come to You.

Clip Clop at Carousel Stables

Let’s go one step further in our country-life goals with Clip Clop and Carousel Stables on the boundary to the Foothills for horseback riding lessons and training programs!

Giddy-up!  Every horse lover starts riding somewhere! If your child or grandchild is keen to start riding, let it be with Clip Clop at Carousel Stables on Bearspaw Road, a short drive from University District. Clip Clop offers a fun and educational horsemanship program that teaches children how to ride, bond, and care for horses safely through riding lessons.

The goal is for riders aged 5 to 18 to learn through guided exposure to horses and knowledgeable instruction. Clip Clop understands that many parents may not be ‘horse people’, and are unfamiliar with this sport, so they go the extra mile to include and educate parents so they become comfortable around the animals.

It’s simple and affordable to get started, and each level is recognized and rewarded when achieved.

See Clip Clop’s Learn to Ride and Growth Track lesson options.

Carousel Stables’ Riding Programs 

Clip Clop is based at Carousel Stables, a beautiful, boutique dressage, full-service, equine education, and horse boarding stable. Once riders graduate from Clip Clop, Carousel Stables offers advanced riding programs and is able to accommodate all recreational and competitive riders’ needs.

Bonus: their indoor facility is heated and warm in the winter!

Owner and trainer, Crystal Kroetch is a Level 3 Certified Equestrian Canada Coach. A member of the Canadian Equestrian team in dressage, she won a Silver Medal at the 2011 Pan American Games. 

“We train both riders and horses, and I’m personally available for private lessons as riders progress through our equestrian academy,” says Crystal.

“At Carousel Stables, we look forward to hearing from anyone who owns their own horse or who would like help choosing the right horse. We take pride in our equine education, sound training principles and compassionate horse care. Your horse becomes part of the family.”

Learn more about what they have to offer at Carousel Stables Calgary.

To gain some top tips for fall fitness, we turned to fitness expert Rachel Joy Olsen, the General Manager of Orangetheory fitness, Calgary NW.

Vacations are over, kids are back-to-school, the weather is getting cooler, and Halloween is around the corner, it’s a great time to regroup and think about getting our fitness regime back on track. After all, staying active at any age is important for a healthy body and mind.

Rachel says “Fall is an ideal time of year to shift your fitness into a new gear. As we transition into a new season, we’re back to work mode, so now is the time to include exercise in our schedule, “Here are my top five tips to stay fit this fall, they will help keep you active and healthy through the winter season and have you fighting fit and ready for next summer.”

Five Tips for Staying Fit This Fall

1. Make a commitment to yourself

No matter what you choose to do, whether it’s a new fitness routine, eating healthier, getting a new job or starting your own business, the most important thing you can do to ensure your success is to make a commitment to yourself to do what it takes to be successful. Start by committing to 30-days of a regular fitness routine, or some type of physical activity, three to four days per week. This initial commitment will set you up for success as you develop new healthy habits.

2. Be specific with your plan.

Once you’ve committed to your regular fitness routine, it’s important to set specific goals and develop a clear plan. For example, you may decide that your goal is to do some sort of physical activity three to five days per week. You decide that you’re going to go to the gym or fitness classes Monday, Wednesday and Friday and yoga on Tuesday and Thursday.

When you are specific with the activity and days of the week, even the time of day you will do this activity, you will increase your chances of making it happen. When you come up with your plan, book this activity into your calendar and keep that appointment as you would with any important meeting.

3. Team up with family members or friends

Fitness doesn’t have to be a chore; it can be enjoyable quality time with a buddy or family. Challenge your family and friends to commit to their own personal goals or connect with them to do your workouts together. When you have a community of people doing the activity with you it’s more fun and will be easier for you to keep the commitment with yourself.

4. Track your progress

Keep a journal, or log of your workouts. Something as simple as placing a checkmark on a calendar or seeing the completed session marked off in your diary or smart phone will help you stay focused. If you use a heart rate monitor, or some other type of tracking device, you will be able to visually confirm your commitment to yourself as well as watch the improvements in your performance over time.

5. Mix things up

It is important to try and trial different fitness options to find what is a fit for you, but also to occasionally mix things up. After you have been doing the same thing for a while, it may be time for a refreshing change. Choose a new activity, join a new gym or fitness studio to try different workouts. This will help you move your body in new ways and meet new people. You may find this is exactly what you need to stay committed and focused on accomplishing your goals.

What is Orangetheory Fitness and how can they help you stay fit this fall?

We asked General Manager Rachel to tell us five things about Orangetheory Fitness for those who may be considering it as a fitness option.

“At Orangetheory Fitness, we offer full-body group workouts with options in and out-of-studio to make it simple for you to get #morelife out of your workout!

We focus on heart rate-based training guaranteed to produce results from the inside out. Our workout is backed by science and designed to super-charge your metabolism for better results. All workouts are tracked by technology so you can monitor your results in real time. Each workout is inspired and led by certified coaches to make sure you don’t overtrain or undertrain.”

Find Orangetheory on Retail Main Street in University District: 4128 University Ave NW

For more about Orangetheory Fitness, read our Q & A with Matt Kellett, former CFL professional football player and owner of the University District location.

YYC Cycle

Another fitness studio option easily accessible to the University District community is the recently opened YYC Cycle. See what they offer or schedule a spin cycle here.

Find YYC Cycle on Retail Main Street in University District: 4118 University Ave NW

Walk, Run, Cycle…

With 40 acres of park space in U/D and more easily accessible in the surrounding area, getting outside among nature while keeping fit this fall is easily done.

University District has been designed as a walking and cycling community and is connected to a 12km path system that makes getting moving easy and fun. Take a regular stroll, run or cycle into the Bow River valley and breathe in the stunning natural beauty as you get active.

See our guide to local Open Spaces and Parks. There are options for doggy fitness too!

Whatever fitness options you choose as a fit for you, now is the time to include exercise in your schedule at any age. Let’s all get set for a healthy fall!

Look All Around with an Eye on Design!

We all know the saying, “Don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers.” This is true in University District, too.

But we’d like to take things one step further and encourage residents and visitors to stop and notice the design elements that show why “life works here.”

Travis Oberg is the Director of Design for University District and kicks off the first in a series of blog posts about his work to bring distinction to U/D through planning and design.

Care to share with us a bit about your role here and your professional background, Travis (pictured left)?

Absolutely! It’s been a decade in Calgary’s fast moving development world that brought me to U/D. I have enjoyed the certain pleasure of working with Qualico Communities and Stantec Consulting in a range of roles that built upon my education and training in real estate development and geomatics. All topics related to planning, project leadership, public consultation and sustainability excite me and inspire my work as Director of Design for the University District development.

My peers at Calgary’s Urban Development Institute also inspire through collective work throughout the city to both solve practical problems in creative and attractive ways! Let me try and explain what happens in community design and why it matters by starting with a closer look at the Retail Main Street, with an eye on its design elements.

Great. University District’s Retail Main Street certainly is coming to life! As residents and visitors stroll around, what could they experience through design that they may not readily notice?

People may not know that community design includes choosing which business belongs in a place best. By design, U/D has sought out interest from brands that we believe will be loved by our residents and visitors and, as a result, thrive! Not samey-samey, not all small or large, not all local or well-known. We naturally drew a lot of expressions of interest from businesses who wanted to locate here. So one of the most striking things that people will notice is the retail mix — all by design!

From Monogram Coffee to YYC Cycle, Osmow’s to Orangetheory Fitness, we hope you love the variety and practicality that combine here.

The retail mix in U/D is part planned and part spontaneous…based on our vision and who put their “hat” in the ring as plans were taking shape. We are so proud of the energy they all bring and bounce off of one another!

LOOK CLOSER: Take note too that there are natural-feeling physical breaks between shops and restaurants that were planned during construction. Sometimes our eyes need a break from “busyness.”

Streetscapes are not the hodge podge that results in most major urban settings when you have a chance to build from new. What is there to look for on the Retail Main Street U/D?

That is true to some degree, but we know from our research and travels that perfect symmetry and predictability can look pretty on paper and seem efficient. But in reality in U/D there is another factor at play. Our design is far from stiff. We know that meandering matters! That planters and benches, varied heights and textures delight the eye and bring warmth to urban design. Partnering with the builders we have so far reinforces how liberty and character bring quality of life to new communities like ours.

LOOK CLOSER:Take a second to consider the paving on walkways and the surfaces of buildings and how they both vary and complete a feeling when walking along the street!

How interesting! Would you talk with us a little more about the guidelines builders were given and the liberties to mix-up the materials they use, styles of architecture etc and surprise people with information about how organic U/D’s approach to design truly is.

Most definitely. There are very carefully determined parameters and standards for the sustainable development of each parcel, including our very important Main Street. That said, each builder partner and their architectural and design teams had tremendous freedom to work with materials that work for their vision as well as ours.

Let’s touch on how U/D design along the Retail Main Street fulfills the community’s mission.

Our overall mission is to create a complete, vibrant and sustainable community that enhances the UCalgary experience in harmony with the surrounding neighbourhoods. What’s more, we have taken special effort and put it towards accessibility. Along the Retail Main Street you will see brickwork, carefully planned lighting, planter boxes and hanging baskets, custom designed poles and easy access to the greenspaces that feed into the Retail Main Street creating connections throughout the community.

LOOK CLOSER: Did you have a chance to read our blog post from last fall about the importance of great lighting? Outdoors and in! Visit here.

Do you have any closing thoughts about the inspiration for the design of the Retail Main Street to share?

I would like to add that there is no one place that we looked to emulate over the years that U/D has taken shape. It’s been a natural, organic experience and result! While we visited many places in Canada and around the continent, we took global inspiration to heart. In the end, U/D is purely unique to Calgary and its builder interpretations, its UCalgary proximity and its people. Such a wonderful mix of elements define its design. We are all proud. We are excited to see it continue to take shape in the years to come.

LOOK CLOSER: Beyond buildings, streetscapes, retailers and materials, programming and art are also integral to the way a community is used and enjoyed. Have you seen our newest mural? Learn more here!

We can’t wait to see you on the Retail Main Street!

Did you stop by Village Ice Cream’s pop-ups outside the Discovery Centre on Thursday afternoons to get your complimentary ice cream?

Across 15 Thursdays from June 3rd through September 9th, the Village Ice Cream pop-up gave away 6734 complimentary Little Villagers, that’s a lot of ice cream!Between 400 and 500 ice cream servings were eaten every single week, with an average of 449 per week!

As well as giving the community an early taste of Village Ice Cream (opening in January 2022 in Central Block on Retail Main Street), the weekly pop-up supported one of our favourite local charities that we are proud to continue to be involved with, I Can for Kids.

I Can for Kids helps feed children and youth impacted by hunger in Calgary. A big thank you to those who came out, together we collected over $3000 for I Can Kids to help families in the local community. Way to go!

How Your Donations Make a Difference

Sadly, childhood hunger is real and pervasive in our city. I Can for Kids knows how to tackle it but needs your help to provide food support to kids and their families.

I Can for Kids started out trying to fill a gap in the food system: summer hunger. The pandemic pushed them to see the wider picture, that there was a need throughout the year and how they could shift to help the community even more.

Since the onset of COVID-19, I Can for Kids has supported over 30,000 hungry kids in 136 communities in Calgary. Cash donations like those you make at the Village Ice Cream Pop-up are used to buy grocery gift cards and healthy food. When you help I Can for Kids, they help families feed themselves, giving them dignity and choice to buy fresh and nutritious food.

Why Grocery Cards Work

The once traditional method of donating food hampers often proved to be challenging for recipients. The process can be full of judgement, often unintentionally from those donating items, but who have little real-world experience of the needs of families experiencing food poverty.

The alternative of distributing grocery gift cards to families says to them that they are trusted to make good choices. In recent surveys conducted by I Can for Kids, 95% of recipients say they would prefer to receive a grocery gift card rather than food donations. Distributing grocery gift cards presents a barrier free way of empowering families.

Grocery gift cards give families access to stores closer to home, without perceived stigma or shame about being poor or a bad parent. The cards enable families to purchase food that meets their personal, cultural, religious, and health needs. That simple plastic card becomes a more empathetic response to a very traumatic experience.

Being able to “shop where everyone else shops” helps to restore pride, dignity and confidence and a sense of belonging. It is simply a more inclusive way to support hungry kids and families.

“When you’re just handed things, you’re kind of expected to just take what is given to you. Using a grocery gift card makes me feel like I’m contributing and doing something for my kids. I’m doing something they want, as opposed to…you have to eat that cause it’s all we got. You know, those nights are hard…but when you’re able to go out and [grocery shop and meal plan], it just makes you feel human, makes you feel like, yeah, I just did that myself. I didn’t have somebody do it for me.” – Katie, single-parent household, two children.

Donations Impact

Cash donations help I Can for Kids purchase grocery gift cards, removing the time and effort required to seek food donations and the need for volunteers to collect food items, package food hampers and distribute them. More so, during the pandemic with restrictions and requirements around social distancing, access to workplaces, food sharing and sanitizing, grocery gift cards prove a safe and efficient option for recipients as well as the I Can for Kids team and volunteers.

Not only do donations to I Can for Kids help immediate hunger needs in our city, but they also help further the conversation around poverty reduction. Agency partners can play a bigger part and have greater impact as they can easily distribute more cards to additional families, increasing I Can for Kids reach.

“Since the onset of the pandemic, we have distributed $1,161,500 in grocery gift cards, over $447,000 of it this year,” says Bobbi Turko, Co-founder & Executive Director at I Can for Kids.

“The immediate crisis is not over and recovery from the pandemic will be slow. Our frontline agency partners have indicated the need is greater than ever as it gets worse for families who continue to struggle with unemployment and savings being depleted. Initiatives like the Village Ice Cream pop-ups are so important to help create awareness of our work and to collect much needed donations.

“This summer we had a climbing enthusiast, Karen Knowlton, summit Mount Athabasca on July 23rd and her efforts raised over $50,000. We have a wonderful partnership with Save-On-Foods, their May campaign raised nearly $30,000 for us. And as kids settle back in their classrooms, SPUD is donating $1 for every back-to-school bundle purchased until the end of September. That said, Village Ice Cream is the most DELICIOUS fundraiser so far!

“A huge I Can for Kids thank you to University District, to Village Ice Cream, and to everyone who generously donated to this sweet summer success that helps us continue to make an impact in our community. Your generous support is helping feed hungry kids in Calgary this fall.

It’s our time to tackle childhood hunger. We’re on it, but we need your help to achieve our aim of alleviating food insecurity for more than 30,000 kids in our community. Our fundraising goal for 2021 is $1.4 million, so we have a long way to go.”

Please donate today at icanforkids.ca/donate Purchase a Back-to-School bundle from SPUD until the end of September and they’ll donate $1 to I Can for Kids.

Our Pop-Up’s Sweet Success

“The pop-up at the Discovery Centre gave Village Ice Cream and University District the opportunity to host thousands of Calgarians this summer. We were thrilled with the turnout, and excited that we could contribute to the energy that is palpable along University District’s retail main street,” says Village Ice Cream Founder, Billy Friley.

“We’re so happy we could help I Can for Kids gain donations. We can’t wait to be a permanent part of this welcoming and caring community when our new shop opens in January.”

Follow Village Ice Cream in the lead up to their UD opening on social media:

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

“Following on from the success of the Feed Kids Now campaign by Save-On-Foods, we are delighted by the success of the Village Ice Cream pop-ups and to have been able to connect this future University District tenant with I Can for Kids and their mission to end childhood hunger in Calgary,” says James Robertson, President and CEO of University of Calgary Properties Group.

“We see it as an honour to be able to lend ongoing support to this mighty little organization that does such meaningful work in our community through its outreach and spreading social awareness. We thank the University District community for getting behind an endeavour so close to our hearts and for your donations that make a real difference. We again look forward to supporting I Can for Kids at Northwestival again this year. Watch out in the coming months for all the fun details about the return of our favourite community festival.”

To keep up to date with Northwestival and other events and happenings, follow University District on social media.

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

Learn more about I Can for Kids at icanforkids.ca

Could calling FORE be your calling?

University District is all about staying active and well, with Orangetheory Fitness, YYC Cycle and a plethora of parks for play on our doorstep.Could calling FORE be your calling?

Tip: Expected to open in November Orangetheory Fitness has special pre-opening prices now. Stop by their future location in U/D at 4128 University Avenue to get the details and in on the deals!

We also love to mix it up! So why not head outdoors to give golf a go this summer and fall? Enjoy the weather outdoors and practice all kinds of golf moves to score some fun, U/D style. Solo or with friends and family, let’s explore the range of golfing options around our NW Calgary community. It’s not all caddies and club memberships; there are many different adventures to try.Bonus: This sporty activity is suitable for people of all ages and levels.

Driving Ranges in Driving Distance

Not quite ready to rival Tiger Woods? Here are some nearby driving ranges perfect to get into the swing of things!

• McCall Lake Driving Range
• Lynx Ridge Golf Club
• Golfuture YYC
• Confederation Golf Course

Other Ways to Play

Maybe you love the notion of golf but want to try a different way to approach the sport? You are in luck. Frisbee or Disc Golf or sometimes called Frolf is an ideal way to play. Just like traditional ball golf, players throw a disc into a basket or at a target instead. Scorekeeping is the same with the lowest score winning.

 

TIPS: Check out Thorncliffe Disc Golf Course, Baker Park or Forest Lawn Disc Golf. Check out this fancy Fly Through video to get your bearings before you play! And Baker Park — dubbed the busiest course in Canada 2020 and the 9th busiest course in the world — offers Doubles Challenges all winter long.

Disc golf is as social as it is sporty! There are lots of clubs and competitions to take part in. Visit their websites for more information about how to get involved!

Small is Beautiful!

Nothing is more nostalgic and fun than a game of minigolf! A few hours enjoying this activity is also a cheerful romantic date idea.

Give it a whirl at:

WinSport Mini Golf
This intermediate 18-hole outdoor course will challenge all ages and abilities and takes up to 60 minutes to complete.

Pebble Beach – Oasis Greens Golf Centre
This is the “only” Championship Miniature Golf Course in Western Canada and takes 70 minutes to complete.

Golfuture YYC 9 Hole Mini Putt
Open year-round, we love this course for its Bow River views and the fact that it is open year-round!

Step Up Your Game!

If the time has come and you feel at home on the range, here are a few golf courses near University District to visit!
 

Golf Courses 10 minutes by car:

Silver Spring Golf and Country Club
A 7-minute drive away from University District, Silver Springs Golf and Country Club offers its members a relaxing and comfortable environment for golfing. This golf course has over 300 acres of rolling hills and valleys with dramatic elevation changes that are perfect to test your golfing abilities. You can also enjoy a delicious dinner and bond with fellow members at their gorgeous clubhouse. Find out more about this amazing golf club at their website! 

Confederation Park Golf Course
Looking for something more easy-going? Just an 8-minute drive from University District and you will get to Confederation Park Golf Course! A public city golf course, it is an advanced 9 hole course as well as a driving range of ​​2 level hitting bay with 47 stalls. There’s also a putting green and chipping area for people to practice. For more information, visit its website.

Healthy Equals happy!

However you choose to play, have fun golfing outdoors and remember to distance and sanitize to keep safe. All of the courses have special measures in place to ensure you and others can enjoy the sport and peace of mind, too!

University District is quickly becoming the Northwest’s new retail and amenities hub. New retailers are opening weekly, giving new life to the northwest shopping scene, and new meaning of ‘living local’.

Among the recently opened businesses are two with Calgary roots, YYC Cycle and Monogram Coffee. We caught up with their founders to learn about their links with the Northwest, why they chose University District, and what we can expect.

YYC Cycle

A homegrown Alberta business co-founded by Andrew Obrecht and Grady Topak; the new YYC CYCLE U/D location is their third spin studio location in Calgary.

Catch-up with Andrew Obrecht, Co-founder

Do you have a background in the Northwest?
We sure do. As two business graduates from the University of Calgary Haskayne School of Business, Grady and I spent many years around the university and wider area. Grady grew up in Edgemont until he was 20, then lived in Ranchlands for the latter half of university. He now lives in Valley Ridge, so he’s always been around the Northwest. We find that the Northwest has such a tight community who are always open to supporting each other. We are very excited to now have a presence within a community that was so important to our lives and entrepreneurial journey.

What drew you to open a location in the University District?
We were most intrigued with the overall vision of the University District and the energy that it wanted to create for the Northwest. We wanted to be a part of that vibrant new community and for YYC CYCLE to add to the energy. It was also such a great opportunity to give back to a community that had given us so much. We believe that the University District is well on its way to being an incredibly vibrant place, with a unique mix of people and businesses that we haven’t seen before in Calgary.

What can customers expect from YYC Cycle?
We pride ourselves in providing a safe and inclusive fitness experience for everybody at YYC CYCLE. It doesn’t matter if you are just starting out or if you’re a spin pro, our goal is to leave you feeling energized and rejuvenated.Our riders can expect a warm and kind welcome, amazing boutique studio look and feel and a safe yet challenging workout under top-of-the-line lights and sound system that will leave them inspired and elevated when they finish! Our top-of-the line bikes not only promote cardiovascular health, but strengthen and tone muscles in your legs, core, and upper body while you continue your own personal journey. Daily classes are taught by inspirational MOTIVATORS, who will guide you to train through the beat of the music in just 50 minutes.

Covid Safety Protocols
We built and designed this studio during the pandemic, so a lot of thought went into making it the safest place it could be. It has a much larger studio footprint, planned for operating in Phase 1 and Phase 2.We invested in electrostatic sprayers to clean our bikes, and steam cleaners to clean the hard-to-reach parts of our studio. A HRV air exchanger refreshes the air in the studio with new outside air every 10 minutes. We’re all about community at YYC CYCLE, and the Northwest provides the perfect platform for this. This type of environment couldn’t be more perfect to build our Northwest Biker gang.

Stop by YYC Cycle at 4118 University Ave. Schedule a Cycle here! And learn more about YYC Cycle at yyc-cycle.com Follow YYC Cycle on Instagram @yyccycle)

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Our first U/D Block Party is on for September 19, 2021 from 1 to 4 pm. As our Retail Main Street bursts to life, we are celebrating with the Extraordinary President’s Choice® SuperDogs™, live music, roaming entertainment, a KidZone and Contests. There is free parking at this pet and family friendly event! See how you can enjoy special one-day only U/D retailer promotions, too!
Go here!

Monogram

U/D celebrates local and small chains like Monogram, a Calgary-based company co-founded by Jeremy Ho, Benjamin Put and Justin Eyford, that recently opened its fourth location on University Avenue. Both Jeremy and Justin are former winners of the Best Barrista in Canada Championship and represented Canada at the World Barista Championship.

Did you know? Another Calgary favourite OEB Breakfast Co. will be joining U/D this fall. Watch for their opening details soon!

Catch-up with Jeremy Ho, Co-founder

Do you have a background in the Northwest?
I grew up in Edgemont and attended the University of Calgary. I worked as a barista at University Café while I earned my degree. This is our first location in Calgary’s Northwest, and we couldn’t be more excited. We know many of our current community live, work and play in the Northwest and it was time to move a little closer.

What drew you to open a location in the University District?
We love the vision that U/D has in creating a vibrant community feel that is inclusive to all communities and age groups and supports local, independent quality focussed businesses like Monogram. The area is a close-knit, warm and relaxed community focused on getting the most out of what life has to offer. It’s a diverse group of folks and we’re pleased that many already call Monogram their cafe.

What can customers expect from Monogram?
At Monogram, we’re all about coffee that sparks your imagination and brings people together. When the community steps into our cafes, our goal is to have everyone feel welcomed and genuinely a part of our Monogram community. We want folks to feel a sense of wonder and new connection for the quality of our coffee and commitments towards sustainable sourcing, roasting and brewing. We’re in love with the design of our U/D space, the dry-stacked brick and clean woods and things like our brand new by-the-cup brewbar.We want people to find their perfect seat, whether it be perched at the rolled-up garage door, getting creative in the communal layouts, or feeling snug in the corner of the ‘secret’ side room.

Coffee Slushies Exclusive to U/D
Enjoy coffee slushies, exclusive to our U/D location or the tried-and-true drinks and food menu that folks have come to love from Monogram, including our fun seasonal drinks and fresh-baked butter block pastries and ritual donuts on the weekends.
Our focus is being able to use amazing coffee to build and foster relationships. Ultimately, we want people to feel they have been served warmly and that we care deeply for their needs and their community’s needs.

Learn more about Monogram at monogramcoffee.com. Follow Monogram on Instagram @monogramco

University District welcomed local street and gallery artist Rhys Douglas Farrell to our community this month to create a collaborative mural that reflects our unique personality and purpose.

The locally acclaimed artist, known for his much loved, joyful public art expressions throughout the city, was challenged to represent the essence of University District. “I was born and raised in Calgary. Been painting since I was very young. I want to acad which is now auarts,” he says. “I received my bachelor of fine arts and have been working day and night since! I work with galleries, coordinators and public art projects in several different countries.”

Here in U/D, Rhys was chosen for his colourful, bold, and fresh view of life!

He is a true Calgary success story who has made his mark in the city with his eye-popping public art projects with Telus Spark, the Beltline Urban Mural Project, City of Calgary and more. Canadian Art Magazine named his first solo show a “Must See!”

Beyond Canada, Rhys’ work is highly collectible and he has worked and studied in Spain, Sicily and Kuala Lumpur.

In U/D, Rhys drew from a long list of words that embrace the essence of University District before landing on Mindful Vibrant. Words like connected, innovative, walkable, sustainable, accessible, healthy and safe, active, educational, diverse, cultural and artistic, multi-generational, urban and gathering place all rang true!

But it was Mindful and Vibrant that spoke to the artist and compelled this piece. Mindful Vibrant, this new installation is an impressive 32 feet long and four feet tall!

It’s bold and sparks positivity through simple colours and these few powerful words — Mindful Vibrant — artfully spelled out on a massive canvas.

What’s more, Rhys wanted to involve the community in its creation. And that is precisely what elevates this art to a whole new level.

University District community members picked up brushes, chose colours and painted themselves right into the University District scene! Dozens of University District residents and visitors joined the artist in August to bring the unique paint-by-numbers style mural to life.

This colourful text mural is based on positivity and change. Using the words MINDFUL and VIBRANT to communicate to the viewer that the world is moving forward, this mural is composed of bright and vibrant shapes. They all connect to create a beautiful message.

“The inspiration behind this project was to illuminate a new area that will be created for the University,” says Rhys. “The concept of this project was to bring positivity and optimism to an open construction area that has paused due to the pandemic conditions. Using the words mindful and vibrant to express the message and scope of this project.”

YOU ARE WELCOME: On the fencing in front of the future Alt Hotel location, you can come by and enjoy the art any time. We’d love to see your smiling shots with the mural on social media! Don’t forget to tag us in them and use #udlife so we can engage!

Speaking of public art! Have you noticed the incredible chalk art by Rozzie Lee outside of the Discovery Centre? It’s interactive and calls for your input. Take a trip to the Discovery Centre and share your thoughts about what you love to do in U/D. So far, it looks like the parks and playgrounds are our most popular attributes! Pick up a stick of chalk in your favourite summery shade and have your say!

“We are excited to see and take part in the Mindful Vibrant mural project,” says University District’s Vice President Community Experience Maureen Henderson.

“This mural matters because art and artists are an important part of life through their expression and creative contributions to our world. We hope his art in our community makes people think about their unique place in our unique space. The artist invited them to step up, participate and help shape our Mindful Vibrant community one brush stroke and colour at a time.”

Using bold colours — red, pink, blues — brings cheery and vibrancy to the two words that instantly make us feel brighter and joyful, proud and appreciative of the community coming to be at University District. This summer, people are re-emerging and interacting with one another in new ways. Enjoying art that gives a smile is more important now than ever.

“We hope it puts a physical and mental spring in the steps of all in University District,” says Maureen. “Further, having us all be a part of its creation, means we can be proud about how we each helped make something extra special in our remarkable community.”

Aria at University District has entered a pilot partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC) Alberta that is sure to warm your heart!

As you may know, RMHC Alberta supports families seeking vital medical treatment for their seriously ill or injured child. Over one thousand Alberta families every year stay at one of the province’s Ronald McDonald Houses. Some stays last up to a few nights; some as long as several weeks or months at a time.

Each Ronald McDonald House has private family suites for families to rest, while the houses have open kitchens where families can sit down and share experiences over a homemade meal. The sense of community enables families to rely on each other and shore up strength when they need it the most. Learn more about Alberta’s Ronald McDonald Houses and donate at rmhcalberta.org

Aria pilot program with Graham Group and Gracorp

Two off-site suites in the nearby Aria building have welcomed RMHC Alberta with a program that will serve additional families in 2021. The new pilot partnership specifically caters for Alberta families less suited to communal living in the Ronald McDonald House when their child is receiving medical care.

These suites were made possible by a partnership with Graham Group and Gracorp Properties and are located across the street from our special neighbours: Alberta Children’s Hospital, and adjacent to the Ronald McDonald House.

Aria’s self-contained, one-bedroom apartment suites are designated for RMHC Alberta families who will have an above-average length of stay, and/or whose children are immunocompromised, making communal living in the Ronald McDonald House challenging.

“When we heard RMHC in Calgary, located a block away from Aria, needed additional space for a few families that couldn’t safely stay in their communal environment, we were eager to help,” says Novy Cheema, Managing Director of Real Estate at Gracorp Properties.

“With a Save-on-Foods grocery store on the main floor and located across the street from the Alberta Children’s Hospital, staying in a suite at Aria is an ideal set up for RMHC families to have access to everything they need and peace of mind while they care for their child who is undergoing treatment. We are honoured to help the RMHC families and look forward to continuing this partnership for years to come.”

Those families staying at Aria have full access to the programs and services offered at the nearby Ronald McDonald House.

RMHC Alberta CEO Jason Evanson, says “We are so pleased to have the Aria suites available, only 400 metres away from the Ronald McDonald House, allowing us to serve more families. All of us at RMHC Alberta are truly grateful to Gracorp for their hospitality and for enabling this pilot project.”

Meet the Butler Family

When Frankie Butler was six months old, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. After staying in the ICU at Frankie’s bedside for the first initial days, her parents Amanda and Chris were referred to the Ronald McDonald House.

“We were totalled, absolutely wrecked – we were so exhausted, and the Ronald McDonald House was so lovely and welcoming,” Amanda says.

When it came time for Frankie’s high-dose chemotherapy to begin in January 2021, Amanda and Chris were recommended for the new pilot project.

“We were shown the space and completely blown away,” Amanda says. “It was so lovely to have that natural light, that beautiful modern space, and during COVID- 19 a safe, private place just for us – it’s a situation that no one ever wants to be in, but this spot was just so perfect.”

Amanda and Chris would take turns sleeping at the hospital with Frankie, and then switching off with each other to sleep in their Aria suite.

“We’d flop back and forth from Aria to the hospital – and if we were too tired to make food, there was still that support and connection to the Ronald McDonald House so close by,” she adds.

Amanda explains that there was about one week out of each month that Frankie would be out of the hospital, and to have that non-communal space available with an immunocompromised baby was ideal.

“We would never want anyone to actually understand what we’re going through – but I don’t think I can describe as a parent how helpful it was to have this little piece of support for us,” Amanda explains. “It helped a lot, and not just because it was a place to sleep, but because it’s a beautiful place – Aria allowed us to take care of ourselves so we could take care of Frankie better.”

For Amanda and Chris, the Aria suite gave them a quality of life that can’t be overstated.

“When you’re in this position you need convenience because you’re just so tired and all the little things are what are the most exhausting,” she says.

“After a long day at the hospital, going down to the gym to do a quick run on the treadmill, or popping into Save-On-Foods to get some fresh fruit, or heading over to the Ronald McDonald House for a prepared meal – kept us happier and healthier for our daughter.”

For the Butlers and families like them, collaboration amongst neighbouring organizations in University District had a profound impact on their life.  It is an example of what University District stands for: people, connection and community. By working together, our neighbourhood can grow and thrive in the most amazing ways.

Hustle for the House

It’s time to lace up if you want to help families like the Butlers who need to stay at a Ronald McDonald House.

From July 19-24, RMHC Alberta is hosting its second-annual provincial walk/run, Hustle for the House! Walk, run, bike, or stroll in support of RMHC Alberta families in your community. Registration is $35 for adults, $20 for youth, and $10 for your four-legged furry friend!

If you raise over $100, you’ll receive a pair of iconic red and white striped socks! Go to rmhcalberta.org/events to register or for more information.

Like to find out more about RMHC Alberta or to donate? Visit: rmhcalberta.org. Donate here.