Calgary Citizen Newsletter Thursday Aug 10

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Good morning, there!

With just under 1,500 reported UFO sightings across Canada from 2021 to 2022, it’s not an uncommon occurrence to spot something unusual in the skies. But you might be surprised to know that Calgary is the best place in Canada to see UFOs, with 47 sightings since 2021, according to an ontariocasinos.com study. Albertans reported seeing things like glowing objects, long lines of white lights, and pulsating orbs in the sky, with August the most likely time to witness something strange.

- Krista Sylvester, Managing Editor

👀 In today's edition:

• Students feel the housing crisis

• Watch lightning strike a YYC home

• Check out our 10 favourite patios

Today’s read time: Approx. 4 minutes

QUICK POLL

WORTH KNOWING

🌧️ Today: High 22C, Low 11C. See the 7-day forecast.

🚗 Driving today? Check the current traffic situation, and find the city’s traffic report and road closures.

⚠️ Here’s the current smoke forecast / check Calgary wildfire and fire restrictions and the Alberta Wildfire Dashboard.

A major housing crisis looms for the city’s post-secondary students

As the fall semester gets closer for Calgary’s post-secondary institutions, students fear where they will live. The University of Calgary currently has 740 students on a waitlist, SAIT has 100, and for the first time in a decade, Mount Royal University has placed 50 students on a waitlist.

No affordable housing: Mark Keller, director of residences services at MRU, told CTV that students who may be looking to live off-campus are struggling to find affordable accommodations in the city, which is increasing the demand for MRU’s residence.

Call for spare bedrooms: As CBC reports, U of C says it will be informing Calgarians through community newsletters and social media about the housing shortage and is urging Calgarians to consider renting out spare rooms.

Students fear the worst: U of C Students’ Union VP external Mateusz Salmassi told the Calgary Herald that last year students had to live in their cars for periods of time due to the lack of housing. He fears this school year may be worse.

Affordable housing meeting: Ward 8 Coun. Courtney Walcott told Global News that city council is working to find a solution and encourages Calgarians to attend an affordable housing committee meeting on Sept. 14. He adds that he wants students to live a high-quality life near post-secondary institutions, as many drive from the edges of the city to be able to afford housing.

Related Story

Need to know

🌩️ A homeowner captured a video of a lightning strike hitting her home during a storm. (Global News)

🦷 Dentists are raising awareness for a federal program that provides up to $1,300 over two years for uninsured children to receive dental treatment. (CBC)

❤️ A woman being sexually assaulted was saved after several Good Samaritans stopped the assault and held the man until police could take him into custody.

⛰️ A power outage shut down the Banff Gondola leaving hundreds of visitors stranded at the top of the mountain. (CTV)

💉 Lethbridge police confirm a bag of candy found in a park was laced with fentanyl. (City News)

👮 In an organized crime bust, seven Calgarians were charged on 33 counts including drug trafficking and money laundering. (Calgary Herald)

👮 In response to high energy rates, the mayor wants city council to discuss the impacts and how changes to the fees could help Calgarians.

🎭 TELUS Spark recently opened a new exhibit, Barbie: A Cultural Icon, honouring 60 years of fashion and inspiration.

🏀 Parks Foundation of Calgary celebrates the opening of Century Gardens Sport Court, a new court that includes three half courts to be used in a game of 3x3 basketball.

🎥 The Calgary International Film Festival will take place Sept. 21 to Oct. 1 with nine Alberta films being highlighted.

🎒 Bored kids? Calgary’s Child Magazine’s free weekly newsletter is packed with family-friendly activities, local events, excursions, and giveaways. Sign up here and never hear “I’m bored” again!

THE CALGARY GUIDE

Calgary’s patio season has been booming all summer as there is a patio for every occasion

There’s nothing better than soaking up the sun, grabbing a bite to eat, and enjoying some drinks on one of the city’s many patios. We’ve compiled a list of 10 patios to enjoy before the snow arrives this fall.

National

Ship and Anchor

Vin Room

CRAFT Beer Market

Hose and Hound

Modern Steak

The Bank and Baron

The Porch

The Rec Room

Blanco Cantina

Read the full story to learn more about each patio.

Where to eat and drink

🍴 Baekjeong: BBQ and dine at your own table with built-in grills and indulge in the finest cuts of Premium Alberta Sterling Silver meat. On top of that, enjoy bottomless Korean-style salads and vegetables and more.

🍴 Shoebox Fried Chicken: It is exactly what it sounds like: enjoy some fried chicken in a shoebox at this new chicken stop on 17th Ave.

🍴 Oolong Tea House: A modern tea shop in the heart of Kensington, Oolong has been serving the community for 18 years. Order a drink from Oolong’s talented baristas or grab a bag of leaves to bring home!

Local specials

💸 Jane Bond BBQ: Join the Bond Club and get 7% off for life! Sign up with your email and enjoy a 7% discount on meals, merchandise, and more.

💸 DG’s Grill and Bar: Come out and enjoy Sunday Funday at DG’s with buy one, get one free cocktails! (Some restrictions apply.)

💸 Illuminated Escapes: Calgary’s first transparent, hybrid kayak-canoes with LED light and Bluetooth. Rent a single kayak for $60 or a tandem kayak for $120!

🗓 Things to do

Thursday

• Personality Pageants Canada: Join Personality Pageants for its national preliminary show where you will be one step closer to finding out who the new 2023 queens are! Taking place at Cardel Theatre on Aug. 10.

• WildScapes: New to the zoo this summer, visit the exhibit of 10 larger-than-life plant sculptures now before they disappear for good this September.

Friday

• Coff-omedy: Where coffee meets comedy, join Heritage Roasters as they host some of the rising stars in the Calgary Comedy Community on the evening of Aug. 11.

• The Hive Bee Tour: Learn all about the honeybee through a MOB Honey workshop at The Hive in East Village on Aug. 11.

Saturday

• Art in the Garden: Celebrating its 14th year, the Art in the Garden Show and Sale will be at 3443 Kerry Park Rd., SW Aug. 12 and 13.

• Seafood Boil: Following the launch of The Dorian’s outdoor patio, the hotel is hosting an all-you-can-eat seafood boil in the outdoor space on Aug. 12.

Sunday

• Marda Gras Street Festival: The 36th annual Marda Gras Street Festival will feature over 200 local vendors and over 20 live performances. The festival will be in Marda Loop on Aug. 13.

• Dinner and Show: See Canadian country music legends Russell deCarle, Diamond Joe White, and more perform at Rachmans on Aug. 13.

Monday

• Gogo 101: Join Mint Entertainment as its experienced instructors teach you the latest Gogo dance moves. The class takes place at Evergreen Community Spaces on Aug. 14.

• Kids Summer Photography Camp: This four-day photography camp will get kids to learn the basics of photography, explore the neighbourhood, create art, and showcase their work! The camp is held at cSPACE Marda Loop from Aug. 14 to 17.

That’s it! Thanks for reading. If you have a hot story tip you want to share, feel free to reply back anytime.

We’ll see you back here on Tuesday, same time, same place!

THROWBACK THURSDAY

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