Your Braeside Beacon (August 2025)

A Soaked Summer and a Blooming Braeside

After what felt like a monsoon month, July came in with a splash. Calgary saw well above average rainfall, with over 130 mm recorded, making it one of the wettest Julys in recent years, according to Environment Canada.

The silver lining?

Our green spaces have never looked more lush. Lawns were thick and vibrant, gardens were thriving, and our parks were perfect for a game of frisbee golf, a friendly round of tetherball, or gathering around the firepit on a cooler evening.

But the rain didn’t come without its challenges. The Southland Drive dry pond, located in the fields east of John Ware and St. Benedict schools, was designed to manage these bigger storms. When we’re hit with extreme rainfall, instead of water pooling at intersections and backing up into basements, the pond temporarily holds excess stormwater until the system can safely drain it away.

This month, the system worked well. Flooding was significantly reduced at known trouble spots, including Braeside Drive and Southland Drive. Still, we know that some neighbours experienced basement flooding and that’s hard.

If you saw water pooling on your street or around storm drains, please report it to 311. While 311 doesn’t handle interior flooding on private property, they do investigate stormwater drainage issues and can flag recurring problem areas for future upgrades.

Did You Know?

The 311 Calgary app now lets you track your service requests in real time, from potholes to plugged storm drains. Snap a photo, tag the location, and stay in the loop while the City works on it. Download the 311 Calgary mobile app

What makes a community space feel like you belong?

Is it a place to connect with neighbours, stay active, or somewhere your kids can play or be cared for before and after school? Maybe it's about fitness, activities for all ages, or simple, quiet spaces to unwind.

We’re exploring how Braeside’s community spaces are used today, what’s working and where there’s room for change or enhancement.

With vibrant community centres nearby, like Oakridge with its tennis courts and Hungry Thaiger, or Cedarbrae's pickleball program, we’re taking a moment to ask: what makes Braeside special, and how can we make it even better?

Braeside Barometer

That’s why the BCA is launching a six-month project to take a closer look at our spaces, programs and priorities, so they reflect what matters most to the people who live here. Your input will help shape what comes next. It only takes a few minutes to share your thoughts in this quantitative survey.

Speaking of Pickleball ....

The BCA has been granted funding to transform the outdoor rink into seasonal pickleball courts! We’ve been gathering information from the City of Calgary and other community associations, and now we’re ready to take the next step.

We’re forming a committee to help guide the project. If you’re interested, please email pickleball@braesideyyc.ca

Now powered by Communal, the BCA’s new system makes it easier than ever to register for programs, renew your membership and book space.

Thanks to Gail, Karen, and Heather, who have been working diligently to help us transition to Communal, we’re already seeing the benefits.

You can now:

• Register for programs like line dancing, yoga and youth skipping with ease.

• Renew your membership! If you’re a current member, keep an eye on your inbox, we’ll be sending you a renewal reminder soon.

  If your membership lapsed last year, you can use this link to rejoin. We have lots of amazing new perks and discounts that you won't want to miss!

• Book facilities more efficiently for birthday parties, meetings, or events.

• And it’s all easier for office staff and volunteers to manage, meaning more time spent helping you!

Exciting news for Braeside's Annual Back to School Bash

We have just received word that Servus Credit Union has granted us $1000 for this year's Bash. They’ve been incredibly supportive since we teamed up with them in 2023!

Mark your calendars for Friday, September 12th as we’re planning an outdoor obstacle course for both adults and youth, plus fun games for kids under 5. If you'd like to be a part of the planning crew, email Jenny Mae at president@braesideyyc.ca

The Mini Titans Market at the BCA, gives kids a chance to explore creativity, teamwork and even a little entrepreneurship. Expect handmade crafts, artwork, snacks and plenty of smiles. Stop by, support our youngest community members and see what these little legends are up to!

The upcoming market dates are August 8th, August 22nd and September 12th from 4-7pm in the BCA parking lot.

Shine up your community spirit

We’re looking for friendly faces to help with this August event! Sign up for volunteer concession shifts for the All Ford Show & Shine

Calgary’s next General Election is on October 20, 2025, and if you’ll be away or can’t make it to a voting station during the Advance Vote or Election Day, you can now request a mail-in ballot.

The deadline to have a mail-in package sent to you is October 3, 2025.

After that, you’ll need to pick it up in person from the Elections Calgary office. To request your ballot or check eligibility, visit electionscalgary.ca or call 403-476-4100.

Help Make the Election Happen

Want to take part in one of Calgary’s biggest community events? Elections Calgary is hiring 5,000+ election workers to support the vote this October.

It’s a great way to show civic pride, meet neighbours, and help democracy in action. You just need to be 16+ and eligible to work in Canada. Applications open in August at electionscalgary.ca.

​Things are blooming at the BCA Ecosanctuary

So far this year, 182 new plants have been added, including the recent completion of our beautiful English cottage garden bed, featuring a step-stone path, mock orange, honeysuckle, daisies, fireweed, and more.

Big thanks to Adam, the Federation of Calgary Communities (via the ACTIVATE grant), and generous plant donors, especially Elsbeth for her recent gift of fireweed, columbines, and windflowers.

Our latest Planting Party was full of laughs, debate and teamwork, plus some hopeful guessing about how big things might grow in 20 years! The orchard is even producing apples and plums this year, proving we must be doing something right.

Up next: a rose garden and new birdhouse poles going up in August.Want to join the garden crew or get invited to the next Planting Party? Email Jim at garden@braesideyyc.ca

We do more than dig holes — we grow community.

With love,

Your BCA Board