Tradition continues thanks to civic and volunteer support

Skating in the great outdoors is as Canadian as hockey sticks and double-doubles – a tradition that is now thriving in Calgary thanks to renewed civic support and the ongoing dedication of community volunteers.

The City of Calgary reports that outdoor skating rinks are experiencing a resurgence in the city, supported by a number of initiatives that encourage communities to take ownership of their facilities.

More than 35 communities have signed up for the Adopt A Rink program this year, where the City provides boards to allow flooding on an ice surface, which is then maintained by community volunteers.

Zoey Duncan is what you might call an engaged citizen. Having showcased her unique commentary on Calgary life through social media and blog zoeywrites.com, it didn't come as a major surprise when she was chosen as the East Village's first resident ambassador.

Having now added the ability to survey city life from high above, CREB®Now caught up with Duncan to find out what's going on in and around Calgary's "oldest newest neighbourhood."

CREB®Now: ?How exactly did you come to have a rent-free condo in the East Village for a year?

Duncan: The Calgary Municipal Land Corp. (the brains behind East Village) began a competition earlier this year in search of an East Village resident ambassador – someone who could see the revitalized neighbourhood through the eyes of a resident and share it with the rest of the world.

From Chaparral to Sage Hill, off-leash areas are becoming more common in Calgary neighbourhoods

A few years ago, Amy Malke bought her first place: a condo downtown, just two blocks from River Park. Although she didn't have a dog at the time, she'd often wander through the off-leash area and dream of having a pup of her own.

That dream was realized much sooner than she'd expected. Six months after moving in, she adopted her beloved Schnauzer, Maximus, from a colleague whose child was allergic. After that, she frequented the park daily — and not just for Max's enjoyment.

"One of my friends calls [the dog park] his third space. There's work, there's home and there's a third space — a place you go to every day or even a few times a week, that's not work or home," she said. "Some people have a coffee shop. Others have church. But for dog people, it's the dog park."

Local real estate professional leads change for mobility-challenged Calgarians

For Dave Bonk, 2012 was a year that made him rethink his life's purpose. After building a successful real estate business specializing in rental properties and fixer-uppers, he realized he needed an outlet to help give back to the community.

"One of the things that my company does is buy dilapidated properties and renovate them," said Bonk. "We were buying properties in foreclosure and I was seeing the condition that people were living in. It was unimaginable."

After throwing a few ideas around with his business associates, contractors and other acquaintances, Hearts and Hammers was born.

Relaxation on lot size, floor space

It's going to be a little easier for Calgarians looking to add a legal secondary suite to their property.

In the latest development in the ongoing secondary suite saga, council has voted to relax the regulations on lot size and increase the amount of floor space allowed in the suites. The change was initiated by councillors Andre Chabot and Gian-Carlo Carra, who brought forward a motion to change the regulations.

As city plans next phase, new study reveals light-rail transit has positive effect on property prices

Light-rail transit could boost the value of your home. At least that's the general finding of a new study from the University of Calgary.

According to new research obtained exclusively by CREB®Now and completed by Economics master's degree student Laura Dick, LRT line development has had a modestly positive effect on the price of housing located close to stations along new lines in Calgary.

"Properties within zero to 500 metres of a station saw, on average, an increase in sales price of about 1.5 per cent compared to properties that are 2,000 metres or more away from a station," said Dick, whose recently completed work is still to be published in an academic journal.

Yearly update on the local and national housing markets

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) has issued its outlook on the local and national housing markets. Detailing several factors impacting Canada's housing market -- both new and resale - CMHC's numbers provide a basis for what to expect heading into the remainder of 2015 into 2016 and beyond.

To help provide a little more understanding, CREB®Now digs a little deeper into CMHC's Outlook.

Expected to open 200 units across Western Canada

Calgary-based Mainstreet Equity Corp., which specializes in mid-market apartment building in Western Canada, announced Wednesday that it will allocate at least 200 apartment units to house Syrian refugees expected to come to the country this year and next.

The apartments will reportedly be located in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Saskatoon, Surrey, B.C., Abbotsford, B.C., and New Westminster, B.C.

Details of how many apartments will be allocated in Calgary were not yet available.

The Calgary real estate community mourned the loss of Calgary MLA Manmeet Bhullar Tuesday.

"The Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®) is very saddened by the sudden passing of MLA Manmeet Bhullar," the member organization said in a posting on its website. "Mr. Bhullar was a great friend to Alberta REALTORS® and a strong advocate for the average Albertan. During his time as Minister of Service Alberta, he took an important leadership role in initiating reforms to the Condominium Property Amendment Act for the betterment of the organized real estate industry and the home-buying public.

"Mr. Bhullar will remembered for his humour, passion, intellect and, above all, his dedication to public service. He will be greatly missed by all those who had the privilege of meeting and working with him. CREB® extends its condolences to Mr. Bhullar's family, friends and colleagues."

Proper planning avoids nightmare situation for heirs

What are Canadians, particularly the massive Baby Boomer generation, going to do with increasingly valuable real estate?

According to a new CIBC poll, many of them will be leaving assets, including recreational properties, to heirs in their wills.

And while it may be done with good intentions, Jamie Golombek, managing director of tax and estate planning for the bank's Wealth Advisory Services, says without proper planning, that real estate could end up on the housing market, as those heirs sell properties to deal with all sorts of tax issues.