Winter is here.

Calgary gets an average of 129 centimetres of snow in a year. While this can be a headache for some drivers and shovellers, it's also an opportunity to head out with the family and explore the winter wonderland in both Calgary and area.

The City of Calgary suggests changing up some holiday acts to decrease environmental impact

The City is urging residents to green up their season this year with some easy tips.

"It doesn't have to be complicated to cut back our environmental impact this time of year," said Claire Beckstead, corporate environmental specialist witht he City. "There are many simple green actions Calgarians can take that lessen our impact on the environment while keeping the fun and excitement of the season."

Reportedly taking its name from the distinctive (at least if you use a little imagination) nose-like hillsides that surround the area, the Nose Hill Natural Environment Park – as it's officially known – is one of the largest municipal parks in North America.

Encompassing 11 square kilometres of native grassland in Northwest Calgary, the park was created in 1980 after citizens spoke out against a plan to turn the area into a residential development.

Read up on raising plants before the spring showers start to fall

Want to become a better gardener next spring? Start reading about it now.

No, seriously.

The most common winter gardening activity is reading. The cheapest source of information is seed catalogues – they are packed with inspiration.

I learn so many new things from catalogues. According to The Baker Creek Heirloom seed catalogue , 300 independent farmers grow and supply their seed; tulip flowers are edible and delicious when stuffed and baked; there are at least 15 kinds of orange tomatoes, and; Peru is a domesticated crop hot spot.

Interest rate increases looming for borrowers

Heading into the home stretch of 2014 and toward 2015 is an opportune time to review or create a mortgage plan.

A mortgage plan — whether you're buying a home, already in one, or planning on purchasing revenue properties in the next few years — is vital to you and your family's overall financial health.

The last several years have been unique as a result of the 2.99 per cent mortgage craze. Banks have been highly competitive, lowering fixed rates to historical lows in an attempt to gain market share.

And in today's low-interest-rate environment, it's not a question as to whether rates are going to increase, but when. Borrowers need to position themselves in a way they can absorb higher interest rates and/or be able to still pay off their mortgages faster.

Several big time Calgary businesses throw their support behind secondary suites

City council's inability to move forward on secondary suite reforms are sending a message to potential newcomers that Calgary is closed for business, said Chamber president and CEO Adam Legge.

"We basically have a no vacancy sign sitting over Calgary," he told a crowd of supporters at a Chamber-hosted event last week.

"So how easy do you think it is for a business to attract and retain someone to the city when they can't find a place to live?" said Legge.

Calgarians rallying in support of Heritage Park landmark

Heritage Park is hoping Calgarians love their letter.

The towering "Big H" that has welcomed visitors to the park since 1975 is in need of repair, and the park is asking people to pitch in to conserve the aging consonant.

Calling on Calgarians to donate money and post their memories of the Big H to Twitter, Instagram and Facebook under with the hashtag "#SavetheBigH," Heritage Park is hoping to raise $200,000 to replace the cracked logs and crumbling base.

Sandstone City: A series looking at the people, architecture and culture of Calgary's sandstone glory days

Sandstone schools thriving as educators and more in Calgary

Constructed after a fire in 1886 wiped out more than a dozen wooden buildings in downtown, today's inner-city sandstone schools stand out as daily reminders of Calgary's storied past.

According to the Chinook Country Historical Society, 19 sandstone schools were built in the city between 1894 and 1914, helping earn Calgary the moniker "Sandstone City."

Here's a breakdown of how some fit into Calgary's landscape today.

Council votes 8-7 against secondary suite reform

''If this fails today, we're done ... I'm done, frankly."

So was the sentiment of Mayor Naheed Nenshi earlier this week prior to council voting 8-7 against a reform plan for secondary suites in the city.

The mayor, expressing frustration at the tedious talks, followed up by saying if secondary suites showed up in council again, he'd leave the room until it came time to vote.

Ward 7 Coun. Druh Farrell, meanwhile, likened the entire process to "giving birth to a chair."