Airdrie, AB

Airdrie is now ranked as one of the top 10 communities in which to do business in the June 2009 edition of Venture Magaine. The top 10 cities were chosen based on criteria including costs, business traffic, existing strengths and upside potential. 2314 new business licenses were issued in 2008 and underlines the increase in Airdries population increase and new home starts.
Number one was Alberta's International Region which includes thew City of Leduc and the towns of Calmar, Beaumont, and Devon. Visist www.albertaventure.com to review all the winners.

Airdrie's Recreation Centre now named Genesis Place,that features a Water Park , Basketball courts, Gymnasiums, Wellness Centre, Weight and Exercise facilities has now opened phase two. This opening was attended by a select few who were lucky enough to get a look at the site where 115,00 Square feet of multi-purpose athletic space will entertain our residents starting this fall.

Some of the features of this new space are:

A World Class 25,000 Sq Ft Gymnastic Space

An Indoor Soccer Field (this can double as a Grand Hall for Banquets and Ceremonies)

A New Work-out Area

A 200 Meter Running Track

Change Rooms for football players using East Lake Park

This additional space is a welcome addition to the already fantastic Genesis Place facilities. Drop by my Office next time your in Airdrie and I'll be Happy to take you over to Genesis Place for a mini-tour.

The City of Airdrie, just north of Calgary, is experiencing unprecedented growth with near doubling of real-estate prices. City Council, staff and citizens are increasingly interested in sustainable growth and development which has led the City to work with The Natural Step in creating a municipal sustainability plan, as part of its Sustainable Communities Program.

Airdrie will be using the Alberta Urban Municipal Association (AUMA) Municipal Sustainability Planning Guidebook which is based on The Natural Step Framework. The Natural Step will continue to provide training and coaching to the City of Airdrie as their municipal sustainability plan is developed. Airdrie has committed to engaging its citizens, participating in peer to peer networks and sharing the outcomes of their process.

Wow! what a Kick off, the first day of the annual AIRDRIE Home and Garden Fair held at the Twin Arenas in Airdrie Alberta was a Rip Roaring success. Everything was kicked off by a Stampede style Chuck Wagon Breakfast in the company of Royalty. The Calgary Stampede Queen and 2 Princesses,were present at the Breakfast, along with City, Provincial and Federal government dignitaries.

These were the Best Flap Jacks this writer has experienced at one of these outdoor breakfasts and by the size of my belt you can tell I've been to more than a few. ALI-OOP was there in good form , he's the mascot from The Scoop Newspaper, along with Al and Lois Jones the Proprietors of The Scoop, you should really advertise with these folks if you can they are wonderful business people to deal with.

The Calgary Stampede Board sent folks out to run the Breakfast and throw lariats around youngsters, Oh and then they'd Brand them. Don't worry it was an ink stamp, just so the parents wouldn't complain ;)

After a great breakfast and visiting with numerous Business Friends, Past, Present and Future customers , I went inside and took a look inside the Twin Arena's at the large number of exhibitors booths. You might have thought the tight economic times may have dissuaded some if the business people to save their shekels and stay home. Not in Airdrie business small and large were out with some truly fascinating Booth displays and everyone I spoke with was very positive about 2009 and where Airdrie is headed as a City in Alberta. There were booths covering ever aspect of business including a Fresh Pies being sold to support the Lioness Christmas Hamper and of course our Century 21 booth presided over this morning by Bonnie Wegerich our Broker and President of the Calgary Real Estate Board, and did I mention FRESH PIES, there goes that belt size again.

I had the opportunity to man our booth I the afternoon, what a blast, met tons of great Airdrie folks and even got a chance to do some magic for the local kids. We still have another full day of FUN and FRIVOLITY at the Annual Airdrie Home and Garden Fair, why not come out and join the fun, we re all looking forward to seeing you there.

The Airdrie Hunting and Fishing Association was formed last February by Wes David and aims to get Airdrie’s youth and families involved in more outdoor sporting activities.

The main goal is to get kids and families involved. It’s not just about going out and hunting. It’s about all outdoor sports from fishing right down to gopher hunting.

The association met for the third time on April 21 and implemented a new program called Garbage for Gophers.

Airdrie has grown enough now and there are enough young people to get involved in the outdoors rather than Xbox and GameCube and stuff. It’s a good way to get them out. One common stereotype a hunting and fishing association gets is that it’s an old-boys club, usually dominated in numbers by men, but that’s something this association wants to avoid.

One hope is that the association will implement initiatives, like stocking the local ponds around Airdrie with fish.

There is a chance the association would affiliate with Alberta Fish and Game in an effort to get their name and voice heard by more people.

The last meeting held at the Local Bass Pro Store in the New Cross Iron Mills Mall, in Balzac was well attended on April 21, 2009.