Calgary Citizen Newsletter Thursday Nov. 28

Advertise | Sign Up

Good morning !

We know we aren’t Americans but that doesn’t mean we can’t take advantage of Black Friday. To mark the occasion, we are offering a 20% discount for anyone who signs up to be a Calgary Citizen Insider. That means you get the entire year for $39.20 instead of $49, which works out to $3.27 a month to support local journalism. Not only does it help us keep doing what we do, you also get our Saturday Insiders newsletter, which is also the first place we share our giveaways and extra content. We appreciate your support. Here is the discount!

👀 In today's edition:

• Arson case gets even scarier

• Holiday season is lost in the mail

• Kid-friendly food spots

Get your story told! Promote your business, event, or restaurant in front of 34,000+ engaged locals! Contact our team today.

WORTH KNOWING

⛅️ Today: High -14C, Low -17C. See the 7-day forecast.

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

QUICK POLL

Calgary arson victim shares his horrifying story

On Tuesday, Nov. 19 just after 3am, police were called to Hillhurst for a fire that was almost entirely destroyed. Afterwards, police said the victim was a random target and may be tied to letters demanding money be sent to a bitcoin address. Police say several residents from nearby properties came forward and reported they received threatening letters asking for bitcoin transfers, which were left on the front steps of their homes. The victim of the arson recently reached out to CM Calgary to share his story in hopes that it will spur more information from the public.

Dustin Hittel says his life was “upended” when his home became “ground zero for a random and devastating act of arson.” He says he heard popping and crackling, discovering his porch was engulfed in flames. He was able to escape with some lung damage and minor injuries.

“While I am grateful for my life, the threat to my children ignited a visceral, anguished fury. If they had been home that night they would have certainly been overcome with smoke and worse,” he says, adding he’s grateful for the quick fire response.

Hittel says in his letter that the neighbourhood has come together, finding solace and support in each other, but their sense of community has been shaken by the disconnect of such a violent crime to any rational motive.

“I share my story to put a face and a very real family to this intentionally uncontextualized violence. I share my story with hopes that a modicum of our shared humanity will compel someone to come forward with information about this crime and report it to the Calgary Police Service.”

Police are now asking for CCTV footage from the neighbourhoods of Hillhurst, Hounsfield Heights/Briar Hill, and West Hillhurst to help identify the person responsible. Anyone with information or footage of suspicious individuals or vehicles in the area surrounding the 1700 block of Eighth Avenue NW, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, from 1 to 4:30am, is asked to contact police.

Throughout September and October 2024, similar arsons are believed to have occurred in Edmonton, and police are looking into whether these incidents may be connected.

Related Story

Need to know

 📫️ ‘Holiday season is already lost’: Calgary small businesses hit hard by Canada Post strike

🔥 The Calgary Fire Department says that natural gas was the cause of a powerful explosion and fire at a town house complex.

🪧 Coun. Richard Pootmans has resigned from city council effective immediately, citing personal family reasons.

⛄️ With the city receiving more than 25cm of snow over the past week, some Calgarians are volunteering their time to remove snow for others.

🏒 Ukrainian girls’ team finds hockey haven in Calgary at Hayley Wickenheiser’s annual festival.

👮 Calgary police preparing to beef up security ahead of G7 summit in June.

🥊 A Calgary boxer is returning home with a national super heavyweight title. 

👮‍♂️ Police issued a warning about an offender being released into the community after serving two-thirds of a six-year, seven-month sentence.

👮 Police are asking for help from the public in their investigation into a road rage incident.

🎒 Be the first to know about the best events, insider tips, and jaw-dropping deals and contests — all delivered every Thursday straight to your inbox. Subscribe to Calgary’s free newsletter to find out what’s up!

SPONSORED BY CALGARY FLAMES

SPORTS FANS: GRAB YOUR DEALS

Black Friday brings incredible savings for fans of Calgary's teams at the Saddledome. Don’t miss these limited-time deals:

Flames: Save 25% on select December and January home games when purchasing in multiples of four.

Wranglers: Enjoy 20% off tickets for the December 20 game and Winter Wranglerfest on December 22.

Hitmen: Grab 2 tickets for only $30+GST for all December home games (excluding Teddy Bear Toss).

Roughnecks: Take 20% off tickets for the Home Opener on December 28.

Whether it’s hockey, lacrosse, or festive fun, there’s something for everyone this season. These deals are only available until December 1, so secure your seats before they’re gone!

Kid-friendly restaurants for the whole family to dine at

Finding kid-friendly restaurants can sometimes be a challenge for parents, especially with those picky eaters. Luckily there are many kid-friendly restaurants throughout the city that are happy to host children, and offer menus for every taste bud and diet. We found four kid-friendly restaurants that everyone in the family can enjoy.

The Belmont: If you've ever wanted an alligator-shaped pancake, this is the place for you. The Belmont asks kids what kind of animal pancake they would like and the cooks whip it up! The skilled chefs pour pancake batter onto a griddle and shape it into the likeness of various creatures that will bring a smile to anyone’s face, parents included.

Famoso: With pizza and pasta on the kid's menu and a complimentary drink and a scoop of gelato or sorbet, there's not much not to like. What’s even better is that while the kids wait for their food, they can play with fresh, uncooked pizza dough to keep them entertained.

Cora: Cora’s is a fantastic option for kids with a wide variety of delicious and nutritious options. From paninis and eggs to crepes and French toast, kids will have no problem finding something they enjoy.

Nando’s: This northeast restaurant is known for its delicious and spicy chicken, but more often than not children don’t enjoy overly spicy foods. At Nando's, kids can order from the Nandino’s menu to choose from more kid-friendly options.

SPONSORED BY AEROPRESS

Perfect coffee anywhere with AeroPress

AeroPress coffee makers let coffee lovers in 60+ countries brew their ideal cup anywhere, blending the best of French Press, Pour-Over, and Espresso techniques into one unique brewer. Portable, affordable, giftable and fast, AeroPress is adored around the world, with 55K+ 5-star reviews. Shop now.

Where to eat and drink

🍴 Santorini Greek Taverna: It’s been around for more than 30 years for a reason; delicious Greek food, large portions of over 40 dishes, impeccable service, and an authentic atmosphere.

🍴 Grey Eagle buffet: This buffet has different buffet themes each night and lots of options for everyone, with weekends boasting prime rib. Don’t forget about the $9.99 breakfast.

Have a food or drink suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

Things to do

🎟️ Late Night Shopping holiday event: Jingle all the way to Kensington tonight for the community’s annual Late Night Shopping Event from 5-9pm. Enjoy promotions, duelling pianos, and a tree lighting ceremony, Santa Claus, fire pits, and complimentary hot chocolate.

🎟️ Cooking When Fatigued Dec 10: Learn from an AHS Dietitian and Occupational Therapist to be more successful in the kitchen and to support eating well, despite living with fatigue in this free, in-person class.*

*Sponsored Listing

Have an event suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

From our readers

That’s it!

Thanks for reading today. If you found something interesting, please forward this email to another Calgarian and tell them to sign up!

And before you go, we’d love to know…

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