All posts by VVCA

Science Geeks: Canadian Light Source Tours!

VVCA News & Events, ,

Tours of the Canadian Light Source on the University of Saskatchewan/Innovation Place campus are offered for generally interested individuals and small groups on a weekly basis, except statutory holidays. Tours last approximately 45 minutes to an hour. There is no charge. Reservation in advance is required. If you would like to request a tour, please fill out the form here, call (306) 657-3644, or email well in advance as space is limited.

We currently offer public tours most Thursdays at 1:30pm. On the following Thursdays, public tours are offered at 7pm (doors open at 6:45): Jan 30, Feb. 20, Mar. 20 and April 17.

The Canadian Light Source is committed to being a world-leading centre of excellence in synchrotron science and its applications by working with the scientific community to promote the use of synchrotron light, promoting industrial partnerships and innovation, and engaging in scientific and educational outreach.

VVCA Projects Survey

VVCA News & Events,

VVCA is excited to announce that we are considering our next major project(s) for Grosvenor Park/ Varsity View neighbourhoods. On the heels of our success with the playground improvements in President Murray Park and energized by a strong core of volunteers, we are eager to gather feedback from residents about what projects would best benefit our community and fulfill our mandate of improving quality of life for our residents.

Please read the full description of each proposal here, before filling out your survey please!

These major projects impact your community so please send your feedback. You can also send email to Projects with comments, ideas and feedback!

[powr-survey label=”VVCA Projects Survey”]

LiveWell Peer Leader Training

VVCA News & Events,

LiveWell with Chronic Conditions Peer Leader Training Opportunity: Join us to be certified as a workshop leader for the LiveWell with Chronic Conditions Program – an evidence-based program designed to help others manage their own health, stay active and take charge! We are looking for people who are motivated to help themselves and to assist others.

There is NO FEE, but you must attend all four days of the training to be certified. It is not necessary to have previous teaching or healthcare experience. You will receive all materials, handouts, supplies and refreshments during your training. After completing the four day training you will be able to co-lead the six week workshop in your community.
February 4 – 7, 2014.
For registration or for more details, please contact Samantha at 306-655-1460 or 306-655-LIVE, or visit their website.

KidSport Family Mini-Golf Tournament

VVCA News & Events, ,

The Saskatoon KidSport committee is hosting its annual Family Mini Golf
Tournament at Market Mall on February 9, 2014. The event runs from
11:00am until 5pm. Families are encouraged to come out and play a round
of mini golf for $24.00/group of four with all proceeds going to KidSport! No pre
registration is required, just come out an have some fun. There are
lots of great prizes and some of our local sport celebrities will be in
attendance including the Saskatoon Blades, U of S Huskies and the
Saskatoon Hilltops.

KidSport™ is a children’s charity dedicated to assisting children of
families facing financial obstacles to participate in community sport
programs.

We believe that no kid should be left on the sidelines and all should be
given the opportunity to experience the positive benefits of organized
sports. KidSport™ provides support to children in order to remove
financial barriers that prevent them from playing organized sport.

All kids should be given the opportunity to develop healthy lifestyles,
no matter the financial barriers that may exist. Staying physically
active helps encourage children to maintain healthy habits throughout
their whole lives. The challenges that come with playing sports also
teach children valuable life lessons and skills including leadership,
hard work, dedication and self-confidence.

Varsity View Neighbourhood Traffic Concerns

VVCA News & Events, , ,

Tuesday, January 21, 2014
7:00 pm- 9:00 pm
Albert Community Centre
610 Clarence Avenue South

Residents of the Varsity View neighbourhood are invited to attend a public meeting to discuss traffic concerns in their area. The meeting will be hosted by the City of Saskatoon, Transportation Division.

A presentation will be made providing background information on the Traffic Management Program; as well as previously identified traffic concerns in the Varsity View neighbourhood. The presentation will be followed by a small group workshop to identify other traffic issues, and a question and answer session.

The Transportation Division will use the feedback received during the meeting to conduct appropriate traffic counts and studies. This information will be used to develop an area-wide plan for the Varsity View neighbourhood which will be presented in late 2014.

Varsity View Traffic Concerns Meeting.

Proposed VVCA Projects

VVCA News & Events, ,

We are collecting your feedback on VVCA proposed projects. The projects proposed are listed below with a short write up of how they are envisioned at this point. As residents in our neighbourhood have a wide array of worldly experiences and skills, we ask that you comment on which projects resonate the most with you and for ideas on how to make them world-class. We will be taking comments at our next registration night, January 21th, and gathering feedback via email info@vvcasaskatoon.com. After a period of public consultation, VVCA will announce our next major project(s) at our annual Louis’ event in the spring.



Heritage Trail and Recognition Signage in VV and GP
A Heritage Trail would serve to celebrate the history and heritage of one of Saskatoon’s oldest and most distinct neighbourhoods in Saskatoon, while encouraging conscious and active lifestyles. The trail would flow through quiet side streets, area parks and other neighbourhood corridors, potentially building on/improving existing street, sidewalk, walkway, alley and park infrastructure, with the opportunity to build site enhancements along the path route as desired. Such enhancements may include identifying signage, special trail lighting, water features, gardens, educational/activity sites for children, seating or picnic areas and bike medians/lanes to encourage alternative transit modes. The trail may receive best use from alternative traffic modes if situated diagonally across our communities, running from the southeast corner of Grosvenor Park to the Northwest corner of Varsity View (to McKinnon Ave and College Dr or Munroe Ave and College Dr).

Brunskill School Playground Renewal
The play structure in the school yard at Brunskill School was last updated in 1999. Since then the population of the school has steadily increased to its present capacity of 450 students. Brunskill School is the only Elementary school located in the Varsity View/Grosvenor Park area. Due to the number of children outside at recess time the structure is used only by the younger grades up to Grade 4. The playground is also regularly used by the children residing in the Varsity View area after school hours. The administration at the school would be very interested in partnering with VVCA and pursuing the possibility of an addition or replacement of this structure to improve the quality of the students’ recess experience. This project would have a very large impact on the play and enjoyment for the residents of Varsity View and the students at Brunskill/KCC Elementary School.

Multi-Use Court
The idea of a multi-purpose court is to incorporate a wide mix of sport and game activities into one court space, allowing a large cross section of the community to play their game of choice. Currently, the city of Saskatoon has no multi-use outdoor sport facilities, and a large (and still growing) demand for such space. While tennis is very well served, basketball, futsal, volleyball, ball hockey, badminton, bike polo and roller derby enthusiasts are all lacking in public sporting space that would allow them to play in Saskatoon parks. This project would make the chosen park a destination location for the city of Saskatoon, and the project could easily pair up with several community groups who are keen to improve the public access to active spaces for both children and adults. 

Litter Receptacles and Awareness
The walk-ability and proximity to the University of Saskatchewan results in a high-volume of both vehicle and foot traffic throughout the neighborhood, and particularly closer to College drive, and other main thoroughfares such as Clarence and Cumberland. With increased use can also come litter. Our community does not currently have a strategy in place to help deal with litter, and offer pedestrians and motorists alike options for waste disposal. As a result, litter can be a problem in these high use areas, and has an impact on our neighborhood aesthetics. Providing more waste disposal options for both residents and passers-by would go a long way to keeping our neighborhood beautiful.

Albert Rec Unit Replacement
Albert Recreational Park borders on Nutana and Varsity View communities. It is a unique park – fully fenced, divided in half with paddling pool and play apparatus on one side, basketball court and play structures on the other. With the city’s continuing growth the upgrade for this park keeps getting pushed back and safety has become an issue. In partnership with Nutana Community Association (NCA), VVCA and NCA could bring this park back to life!

Dog Park
Our community enjoys a number neighbourhood parks, many of which are underused for many months of the year. A site suitable for dog owners to take their pets to within the community to walk, run and play in an off-leash setting has been raised by a number of community members in past years. This proposal recognizes that the City of Saskatoon has numerous off-leash parks, however none within walking or cycling distance of either Varsity View or Grosvenor Park. Such a site could feature low-maintenance rubber pellet or natural prairie landscaping (for minimal operating expense) within a fenced/hedged perimeter to enclose the space, minimizing noise disturbance to neighboring homes. A park would be complete with pet waste and watering depots, sun shelters/trees and seating areas for owners to visit with one another. Rod V. Real Park has been identified as one possible site for such development.

Climbing Area/Skateboard Park

Although VV and GP have spaces for young children, teens have few recreational opportunities close by in VV&GP. This project would construct an all ages climbing area of natural stone for children and children at heart to enjoy coupled with a skateboard park. Areas of increasing difficulty would allow children to practice their dexterity while developing coordination in a unique climbing environment. Teenage residents would enjoy skateboard features to practice their skills close to home.

Public Art, Functional Public Art (i.e., Chess Boards)


Art is fundamental to our humanity, ennobling and inspiring us. Public works of art foster a sense of community and public space as being more than merely functional; they help us express our values, build inter-cultural bridges, and open up the everyday and mundane to re-examination and small moments of wonder. They make our neighborhood more welcoming, beautiful, and more lively. Public art can also be practical and interactive. For example stone chess boards along public walkways encourage non-sporting park use, and musical swings # allows playground equipment to be a multi-player instrument.

Zen Garden/Meditative Garden
As hustling neighbourhoods, Grosvenor Park and Varsity View have few spaces one can sit and escape from the world. This project envisions a restorative space within an existing public space that creates tranquility and reflection.

Varsity View Programs

VVCA News & Events, , , ,

JANUARY 2014
Registration is Tuesday, January 21, 2014 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Brunskill School-Gym, 101 Wiggins Avenue North. A membership fee of $5/individual, $10/family per year is required to participate in programs and must be presented at the time of registration. A fee of $10 will apply to late registrations. Please consult the community association newsletter or visit www.vvcasaskatoon.com for further program details. Varsity View Community Association honours other community association memberships. **Please note that most programs run for 15 weeks**

VVCA Programs 2014

Parents are reminded to walk their children in to class to make sure the school is open and the class is still on.  As well, children must be picked up immediately after class is over.
Remember that VVCA is sensitive to the needs of families facing financial hardships, and may partially fund, or fully fund participation fees in various activities. Subsidization is only to cover the cost of programs and will not include membership in VVCA. Please contact one of us at registration night. We are more than willing to be of assistance in a very confidential manner. In addition, assistance may be available through KidSport.

Barb & Maya, Indoor Co-ordinators

Message from the Indoor Coordinators

VVCA News & Events, ,

JANUARY 2014
Hello Everyone, Sure hope you had a healthy and happy break! With all those New Year resolutions people make consider joining one of our winter programs!
 
It is time to mark JANUARY 21, 2014 on your calendar cell phone or any other device you use for our winter registration from 7:00 – 8:30 PM in the Brunskill Multi Purpose Room!

There are a few NEW programs!
Bike Polo – More similar to pick up hockey on bikes than the original game of Polo. Bike Polo is a fun, fast paced, (slightly rough around the edges) team sport without set teams. The game is played with two teams of three players each (throw rules apply for each new game). Players of all skill levels are welcome, any bike can be used (no mark indoor tires and helmet required) and mallets will be provided. We’ll spend the first several weeks introducing new players to the basics of the game then it’s all fun, all the time. For a complete list of rules and sense of how play functions, check your local internets for Hard court Bike Polo.
Beginner Boot Camp – a short but intense circuit that keeps your heart rate up, burns calories (lots), and tones your whole body. The idea is everyone goes at their own pace and gradually works towards a goal. No equipment is needed. A lot of our body weight, push ups, squats, lunges burpees jumping jacks, walking, running etc.. 30 second intervals building up to a minute.
Play and Sign – A program for Sign Language and Literacy Development. Play and Sign is a family oriented twelve week course for young children to explore communication and expand vocabulary through games and activities with a parent /adult. Early sign language development has proven to be the best way to develop early literacy and social skills. Through play and sign participants will learn how to listen with their eyes and pick up non-verbal cues, read and express body language and develop tools to communicate in noisy environments with deaf peers. This is a joint initiative by VVCA and Saskatchewan Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (SDHHS).
Brick 4 Kidz– 5-12 yrs One hour classes exploring architecture engineering and technology concepts following the Bricks 4 Kidz motto We Learn We Build We Play with…. LEGO Bricks. We Learn – Instructors provide a 5-10 min themed lesson We Build – Students build the model of the day with simple step by step instructions We Play- Students explore their own creativity through free play time Little Builder 2 1/2 – 5yrs – Reinforce essential preschool skills with run, new approach based on the time tested popularity of LEGO bricks! Introduce your preschoolers to the fun of learning building and playing the Bricks 4 Kidz way! Children gain a greater awareness of the world around them as they talk about topics like fish, gardens, keys, or other everyday objects.
 
A few changes from the Leisure Guide
Cardio and Muscle sculpt – This class will not be starting till Feb 26 and therefore the fee will be $75.00. a ten week course
Romp N Read – This class will start @ 10:30 and run till 11:30
Play and Sign – This class was not listed in the Guide
Bike Polo – This class was not listed in the Guide. For persons interested in seeing how it is played you can go watch starting the first Saturday in January to get an idea and then register at registration
Learn to Skate – This class was not listed in the Guide. The fee is $25.00 If you are interested in signing up your child please contact Barb @ 306-652-0279 and I will get you registered. Helmet and skates required
 
Outdoor Competitive soccer registration will be at a later date! We will keep you posted!!!!!!
 
Here is to a fun filled winter to make it go by quicker!!!!
Barb & Maya, Indoor Coordinators
 
 

VVCA Newsletter

VVCA News & Events,

‘The View’ WINTER (January 2014) newsletter is here! If you didn’t receive a copy in your mailbox or from your child’s school, you can download a version here.

Newsletter Advertising Policy:
We do not accept paid advertising from commercial entities or political parties.
We do accept public service announcements or articles, for example from our City councillor, or the City, health region or school.
Space permitting, we also accept announcements or articles from charitable and non-profit organizations.

Councillor’s Messages

VVCA News & Events,

JANUARY 2014

Happy New Year!

I hope you have all had a good Holiday season.   In this update I will touch on the 2014 Budget and the Infill Guideline situation.

Budget 2014

We completed the budgeting process in early December and passed the highest tax increase that I have seen – 7.4%.  This will result in about 108$ more per year (9$ a month) in property tax for a home worth $300,000.  I don’t take it lightly that we introduced this increase.  I believe that the increase in investment is needed to avoid paying even higher costs down the road if we allow our infrastructure to deteriorate further, but I also think that it compels us to make changes to how we do things to avoid these kind of increases into the future.

This will mean doing a meaningful review of our operations through empowering our staff, utilizing technology, and being willing to rethink our services in order to make the best of the resources we already have.  The recent street sweeping overhaul was one example of how we can improve things.

Second, as I have said before, we have to change the way we are growing our City.  Our own analysis is showing very clearly that right now growth is not paying for growth.   The new neighbourhoods we are adding to the outside edges of the City simply don’t cover the costs of what it takes to provide transit, fire, police, street sweeping, park maintenance, and transportation infrastructure it takes to keep them vital.  Channeling growth into a more compact form and building a transportation system that provides convenient alternatives to residents will be crucial to curtailing tax increases into the future.

I am as convinced as ever that we won’t be able to both keep taxes low and build urban sprawl.  I see no benefit in pitting suburban neighbourhoods against urban neighborhoods, this is not my intent.  What we need to do is take a look at these real costs and figure out as a whole City what the best growth model will be into the future.  This will be the focus of some very crucial planning over the next year as part of the “Growing Forward: Shaping our City” planning process.  More information can be found on my website or the City of Saskatoon website.

Infill Guidelines

The Infill Guideline process is moving forward and we have received the report developed with recommendations on guidelines for how to ensure new builds in old neighbourhoods fit in better and cause less harm to surrounding residents.  The document contains several key recommendations for protecting existing trees, ensuring that proper drainage plans are established, reducing the height of the sidewalls of new houses, and a number of other recommendations about the form that a building could take.  The report also recommends that garden and garage suites be allowed on a case by case basis after consultation, and that the City consider allowing up to 4 units to be developed on corner lots.

Now that the recommendations have been received, the details need to be worked out and formed into a bylaw.  There is a plan for a public meeting in the New Year to give people a chance to understand and discuss the recommendations further.  I have put a link to the whole report on my website at www.charlieclark.ca

If you want to get information on when this meeting will be or about other issues affecting Ward 6 and the City, please consider signing up to my E-newsletter which I send out about 3 times a month.  You can sign up easily through my website at www.charlieclark.ca

All the best!

Charlie Clark

Saskatoon Council on Aging Programs

VVCA News & Events,

The Saskatoon Council On Aging is a non-profit, community based organization dedicated to promoting the dignity, health, and independence of older adults through programs, services, advocacy, and education.

Visit their site and view their e-newsletter for more information on programs. Programs include drop-in information sessions, health and blood pressure clinics, cooking and art classes, caregiver support, and technology classes.

Family Service Saskatoon Winter 2014 Programs

VVCA News & Events,

Family Service Saskatoon offers programs, services and leadership that develop and support individuals, families and communities to have safe, healthy and respectful relationships. Their staff are fully qualified and experienced counsellors and group facilitators.

They are accountable to their clients and to the community. They serve the whole community, reaching out to people of all backgrounds and financial means.

They help clients build on their strengths, make positive changes in their lives and look forward to happier futures.

Visit their website for more information and download a PDF brochure of 2014 programs.

School Zone Safety Reminders

VVCA News & Events, , ,

When the weather turns colder, more students are being driven to school. The City would like to remind drivers about the importance of “No Parking” and “No Stopping” zones as well as parking bylaws used for the safety of students. Drivers are asked to please obey signs when dropping off or picking up children from school.

“No Parking” and “No Stopping” zones ensure that drivers passing the school can clearly see anyone crossing the street.

“No Stopping” zones are created to address safety and avoid congestion. Stopping, even for a moment, to pick up or drop off passengers is prohibited.

Parking is prohibited in “No Parking” zones, even when the vehicle is occupied, unless you are actively engaged in the loading or unloading of merchandise or passengers. Drivers are NOT allowed to wait for their passengers while in a “No Parking” zone.

Other parking bylaws to remember in school zones to keep our children safe:

  • Keep “school bus” zones clear,
  • Leave 10 metres between your car and any marked crosswalk or intersection unless otherwise indicated by a sign or pavement marking,
  • Avoid double-parking, and
  • Stay back at least 1 metre from driveways and alley entrances/exits. Do not block driveways.
  • These bylaws are enforced by Saskatoon Police Services and City Parking Enforcement and may result in a fine. While not enforceable, drivers should also turn the ignition off when parked in the winter because the exhaust may affect visibility for pedestrians and drivers.

Saskatoon CarShare Co-operative

VVCA News & Events,

Formed by a group of local residents over the past two years, the Saskatoon CarShare Co-operative (SCC) have now launched their service and membership. SCC offers cost-effective, convenient and sustainable alternative to private car ownership.

The procedure to use these cars is very simple:

  • First book a SCC car online.
  • Find the car in its designated parking spot and wave your unique access key in front of a sensor to unlock the car.
  • At the end of your booking, return the car to the same designated parking spot and wave your access key to lock the car. This will also end your booking and the system will automatically log the time and distance of your drive.

See their website for more information.

SCC carshare member Lesley
SCC carshare member Lesley