A New Look at Downtown Calgary

Ken and I just returned from spending a few days in Calgary. As someone who prefers parks and natural areas, I generally avoid its downtown.  However, because of construction on other roads, we found ourselves driving west on 6th Avenue late one afternoon.

I caught glimpses of public art that intrigued me, so at the next opportunity, we made the downtown our walking destination. It was Sunday morning after the excitement of a late spring storm the previous day. We spent a stimulating few hours exploring the city streets, navigating slushy gutters and ice covered sidewalks, and avoiding icefalls from office towers.

Seen just after we started our walk. Shortly after we went for coffee to warm up!

I was intrigued and enchanted by the imagination and aesthetics I saw reflected in the buildings downtown. Here is just a small sample.

Alberta sky, big buildings, and snowy trees. 6th Avenue looking south

Bow Building, 6th Avenue`

Suncor Energy (left) and Bow Building (right)

The curved lines of the Manulife Building on 5th Avenue

Heritage Buildings

Calgary's original downtown has been declared one of only three "National Historic Districts" in Western Canada.

According to the City's heritage directory, over 30 buildings along Stephen Avenue have been restored.  A walking tour and map can be downloaded from the city's website.

I was impressed at how many fine old buildings the city has managed to preserve, given the amount of construction that the central area has experienced. Somehow, despite the incongruous comparison of scale, the old buildings maintain their dignity.

100 6th Ave SE, the old Calgary Chamber of Commerce Building.
Tenants are being sought for the building.

Old Fire Headquarters building, now "repurposed"

Hudson's Bay Building. As a child I loved this store and the dreams of the wide world that it symbolized; my parents let me take the bus downtown just to wander the store. 

Bankers Hall tower with historic Canada Life Assurance (Hollinsworth Building)
in foreground, Stephen Avenue

Alberta Block / Hull Block

Colour

Splashes of colour are appreciated - especially on the drab slushy morning when we were walking.

Stephen Avenue Mall - The Arts Commons is a multi-venue theatre complex. 

Our walk down Stephen Avenue took us through Olympic Plaza and past multiple theatres. On this quiet Sunday morning, I had to imagine the life of the street.

A new office condo on 6th avenue, with vacant office space

Calgary's new Public Library with two of three "Drinking Bird" sculptures outside.
These move freely in the wind like a pendulum.

The new library building is worthy of its own blog post, so I will feature it in a future separate entry. We were both truly impressed.

Public Art

Apparently downtown Calgary alone has over 100 public artworks. It has been called "one of the world's largest art parks". I did not know this when I caught my first sightings of a few of these pieces, viewed through the window of a moving vehicle.

Family of Man, from Expo 67's British Pavilion, by Sculptor Mario Armengol.
When this was installed outside the Board of Education offices, its nude figures were controversial. It is a reflection of how the city has changed, that this is now part of downtown Calgary's identity. 

The Conversation, Sculptor William McElcheran, 1981.
I love the substantial feel of this piece, its placement, the animated feel of the conversation, and the contrast of the bronze with the arcade of the Bay in the background.

Mural celebrating the oil industry. This is one of many murals throughout the city.
The artist is Doug Driediger, a Calgary-based mural artist.

The Calgary Tower in the background used to be the city's tallest structure. In the foreground is Olympic Plaza, dating from the 1988 Winter Olympics held in Calgary.

"Wonderland" in front of the Bow Building, by Barcelona-based sculptor Jaume Plensa.
I felt the head's network of pathways symbolize the power of the human brain,
amongst the technological marvels of downtown Calgary. 

The sculpture creates a surreal image
juxtaposed with surrounding buildings.

Sadko (red) and Kabuki (yellow) were created by Sorel Etrog in 1972.
As well as the colour these two sculptures add, I liked the contrast between their shiny finish, the building facade, the trees and the black vertical fencing. 

Detail from the Famous Five Sculpture by Barbara Paterson. Suffragette Nellie McClung holds the 1929 newspaper declaring that "women are persons" This is in Downtown Calgary. A similar sculpture stands on Parliament Hill which is where I first encountered it. Standing with this sculpture still gives me shivers, when I consider the efforts of women before me who fought for my right to vote.

Streetscapes

There is much diversity and variety to keep a pedestrian interested. This image shows the variety of buildings, human scale of the street, the sidewalk cafe, colourful banners, and interesting street lights.

Stephen Avenue Mall looking westward

Further to the west down Stephen Avenue is the Galleria Trees installation. Besides the impressive artistic contribution the trees made, they perform the function of reducing wind tunnel effects amongst the downtown buildings.

Stephen Avenue Mall - "Galleria" Trees public art.

Century Gardens. The city is engaged in a redevelopment plan for this park.

I found trees tucked away in pocket parks, and as part of landscaping in many different areas. I especially appreciated them in parking lots.

Another parking lot edged with trees and sculpture

I have captured only a taste of Calgary's public art and architecture. The next time I visit the city, I will be spending much more time exploring its substantial body of art and urban design.

Knowing Nature, and Keeping it Worth Knowing

When I was in Victoria in February I heard a talk by James Sacamano, a psychiatrist connected with UVic, who spoke of what he calls the "heart-mind" moment. A heart-mind moment is one that inspires us, gives us joy. It can be small, a simple observation of somebody doing a kindness from their heart, or of an experience in nature or in art that gives us joy.

James suggested that we take the time to share such moments with another person. The other person in turn gives us feedback about how our telling them about our "moment" affects them.

This process, James suggested, helps build our resilience.  Paying attention to when we feel inspired helps strengthen our mental health. It is a practice which could become a daily one.

Yesterday Ken and I visited friends on their property along the Sunnybrae-Canoe Point Road. Two things stopped me, and gave me one of James' "heart-mind" moments. One I was able to capture - clusters of yellow avalanche lilies growing in moss.

Yellow Avalanche Lilies

The other was impossible to capture: the sun-warmed aroma of Douglas fir sap, in an open glade, with the sun streaming, and songbirds calling. The fragrance took me to dozens of summers past, hiking in montane forests, and captured the fleeting essence of time. Yes, paying attention to the moment is so important, and I was grateful for the land my friends were sharing with me, for their company, and for being able to share it with Ken.

The avalanche lily is part of the logo of the Shuswap Naturalist Club.

The club has recently partnered with SABNES (Salmon Arm Bay Nature Enhancement Society) and through the gargantuan efforts of two members installed fifty new bird boxes for swallows in the marsh area of Salmon Arm. Here's a recent story about this project. https://www.saobserver.net/community/residents-dig-into-birdhouse-replacement-project/

The mission of the club is twofold: "to know nature, and keep it worth knowing".

"Knowing nature" means learning about it, and understanding it. One of the strengths of naturalists is their ability to carry out citizen science, observing nature and recording it.

The Christmas bird counts are one example of this kind of scientific observation. These records are valuable for monitoring changing landscapes, as a result of natural or human-caused disturbance. The Shuswap Naturalists have decades of records of Christmas bird counts.

Many members document nature through their excellent photography, and their work is featured locally in publications and promotional material for the area.

The project "Save Shuswap Songbirds" is a joint effort of club members and members of SABNES. This month at the Salmon Arm Art Gallery the Songbird project has partnered with artists of the area, to feature the plight of disappearing songbirds. From now until June 1, 2019 the art gallery hosts a multi-media exhibition of photography, painting, and other visual artists.

Bohemian waxwing in flight. Photo used on the program of
the gallery exhibition "Flight". Photo by naturalist Roger Beardmore.

"To keep nature worth knowing" speaks to conservation action. Some of the actions that the Shuswap Naturalist Club is involved in includes weed pulls of invasive plants like Woody Nightshade and Yellow Flag Iris.

The club provides input to Salmon Arm City Council on matters such as use of Salmon Arm bay. Recently it suggested a policy for drones on the wharf area, and provided advice on the impact of dogs on the foreshore trail during nesting season.

The club is a member of BC Nature, which represents naturalist groups across the province.

BC Nature frequently provides the perspective of naturalists in provincial policy consultations.

To know nature and to keep it worth knowing - this is the mission of my life. I am constantly learning, and I am becoming increasingly passionate about doing whatever I can, to keep it worth knowing.

As I write this, there are two weeks of protests taking place in London, England as part of the "Extinction Rebellion" movement to move our global governments to action on climate change. Here are two images, from a Guardian newspaper story:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/apr/20/battle-of-waterloo-bridge-a-week-of-extinction-rebellion-protest

Extinction Rebellion climate change protesters occupy Waterloo Bridge in London.
Source: Guardian Newspaper April 20, 2019.  Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

Extinction Rebellion protesters block Oxford Circus.
Photograph: Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA Source: Guardian Newspaper April 20, 2019

It is easy to despair at the global environmental news. Paying attention to heart-mind moments can help transform our despair, and involvement in action - whether it is building bird boxes, or protesting in the streets - can counter the feelings of being powerless and overwhelmed.

I applaud the Extinction Rebellion movement. There are folks in Salmon Arm who are aware of it. Here's a poster that I found in the westerly tunnel under the TCH about ten days ago.

It may be that it is going to require people taking to the streets in non-violent protest to get our governments to listen and seriously act on climate change, recognizing it as the global emergency that it represents.

A Walk through Gardom Lake Park

Gardom Lake Park has been in the news lately over the question of whether the provincial government was going to renew the licence of the society which has been managing the park, quite successfully, and with volunteer labour, for over 25 years.

Based on the local news stories, it appears that the licence will be renewed, for at least some time into the future.  https://www.saobserver.net/news/province-says-park-will-stay-in-community-groups-hands/

If I need a break from city pavement and want to find a forest, Gardom Lake Park is my go-to destination, less than 20 minutes from downtown Salmon Arm.

Many Salmon Arm folks are familiar with the beach at the park. It's small, but it does not flood in high water like Shuswap Lake beaches. So when the big lake's beaches are under water, families can still find a place that is child-friendly. Gardom Lake is primarily spring-fed, and it has a very small watershed (unlike Shuswap Lake); its water levels fluctuate very little compared with Shuswap.

Summer view of one of two picnic shelters at Gardom Lake Park,
with the beach and swimming buoys in the background.

What is less well known are the forest trails of the Park. These were laid out and built by volunteers, probably at least 15 years ago. I lived in the community at the time, and hauled many wheelbarrows of gravel, along with others. The trails are brushed during spring clean-up at the park, which usually takes place the Saturday morning before Mother's Day.

The map on the Park bulletin board shows the location of the trails:

Park trail map

The paths through the park are meant for a meander, not a hard hike. They can be circumnavigated in less than half an hour, depending on walking speed. In a couple of spots, benches provide opportunities for contemplation.

Cedar, birch and a footbridge in the ravine bottom, along "Ravine Trail"

These trails are meant to be enjoyed for just the moment of being in the forest. There are no spectacular views, nor huge firs or cedars. But there are plenty of forest smells, and birdsong. Wild ginger grows in the ravine, and, later in the spring, the attractive spires of False Solomon's Seal grow densely in the bottom, perfuming the air with their fragrance.

A shoot of False Solomon Seal pokes through leaves in the bottom of the ravine

Plenty of boxwood grows in the park, to the point that its name has been lent to a trail

Boxwood and Oregon Grape

Parts of the trail wander through a birch forest which is suffering the effects of drought. Many birch are now at the stage of their lives where they are good for woodpeckers and flickers.

There is also a most interesting array of bracket fungi growing on trees.

Because there are decaying birches, walking on these trails in a big windstorm is probably not a good idea. There are definitely signs of blow-down in various places.

I am happy that the large dead fir between the beach and the wharf at the park continues to stand. I know there has been concern that it might be a hazard during a windstorm. However, it is also important habitat for woodpeckers. The large sign reflects the approach that has been taken by the society managing the park.

Sign on tree near beach, Gardom Lake Park

An intriguing item of interest is a very large anthill near the entrance to the park.

This anthill is usually hidden from view by vegetation in the summer

View from Gardom Lake Park, near the beach
One of the park's diving platforms can be seen at the left

In 2009, Ministry of Environment embarked on a project to remove invasive fish from Gardom Lake. These had been introduced into several lakes in the Shuswap - Kamloops area, by persons unknown.

The perch and bass had voracious appetites, and completely altered the ecosystem of Gardom Lake. The lake, which used to thrum with frogs in the spring, had become silent. Freshwater snails and other invertebrates like damselflies were almost non-existent.

Trout were few in numbers, whereas perch were plentiful, but had become so prolific, most of them were very tiny as they had exhausted all available food supplies.

For more information about this project, go to the blog I wrote at the time, when I was living on the lake.   http://lakesideliving-sarah.blogspot.com/

Ministry of Environment signs about invasive species at Gardom Lake.
A reward still stands for information about how the fish were put into the lake.

Since 2009, the frog population has rebounded. Here is a brief clip I recorded of frogs at the exit creek, early last night.

If frogs are an indicator species, Gardom Lake is still doing well.

As well as the Gardom Lake Community Park Society which manages the park, a stewardship society has been monitoring water quality, and doing public education over the years. Gardom Lake Stewardship Society (https://www.gardomlakestewards.org) hopes to keep the lake as healthy as it is, and ensure the protection of this sensitive lake.

Both societies are making significant contributions to our ability to enjoy the lake and forest around it.

(Note: full disclosure - in the past, when I lived on the lake, I was a board member of both societies at different times.)

Turner Creek in the Early Spring

Living in the downtown, I have three options if I want to walk and find some forest - the foreshore trail, Pileated Woods, or Turner Creek.

Sunday morning I decided I needed both a workout and some "nature time", so I chose to hike up Turner Creek. The trail along its length was developed a number of years ago through a partnership with Rotary clubs and Katimavik.

There are a few different ways the trail can be accessed; I started from McGuire Lake, where spring melt water is flowing steadily into the lake.

Turner Creek flowing into McGuire Lake

Early spring flowers are blooming; the two pictures below are of naturalized non-native plants - Glory of the Snow, and Violet.

Glory of the Snow at McGuire Lake

Violets at McGuire Lake

The trail cuts off from the McGuire Lake pedestrian path, and runs below the Trans Canada Highway, heading towards the High School. To follow the creek up the hill requires going through a pedestrian tunnel under the highway. 

Entrance to pedestrian tunnel under highway

High school art students have decorated the walls of the tunnel with some fascinating pieces of work. Here are just a few samplings:

Tunnel Art

Tunnel Art

Tunnel Art

Tunnel Art

The trail starts to go steeply uphill once past the highway.

It skirts the newly named Hilltop Inn (formerly Podollan), and climbs through groves of poplars, birch and fir.

All the time, I heard the sound of burbling creek water -- such a welcome sound after the snows and ice of winter!

Wetland on the creek, above Hilltop Inn

Poplar and birch beside the trail as it climbs

With all the native trees, there is plentiful birdsong along the creek. I heard robins, chickadees, nuthatches, song sparrows, and other song birds that I would need a birder to identify for me.

And I saw - and heard - flickers and a pileated woodpecker.

Okanagan College

The trail emerges at the attractive Okanagan College, and skirts one of several ponds along its length.

Various projects over the years have attempted to focus awareness of the forest, especially for young people.

Sign at the trail near Okanagan College

Okanagan College drumming area

Higher up the creek, near 28th Street

Cedar forest along the Turner Creek Trail at 28th Street

Listening to bird song along the trail, between 28th and 30th St. 

NOTE: this is a large file for those with slow connections.

Turner Creek trail is a treasure within the heart of Salmon Arm. A detailed map of the trail can be found at http://www.shuswaptrails.com/trails.php?area=0&id=23

It skirts housing developments, but there is enough of a forest to provide the experience of "forest bathing" -- soaking up the smells of the forest, its sounds, and the feel of the spongy forest floor.