Projects
Bridgeland Riverside Community Association—The Heart of Our Community
Community Run Projects
BRIDGELAND LOVE
Bridgeland Love
Everything cool that’s happening in our neighbourhood
Bridgeland-Riverside has so many amazing places, projects, and people.
This is a space to share some of that: whether it’s a past project, event or activity, people or businesses that have gone above and beyond, special places in our community, or upcoming opportunities. This is a space to share and build more of all we LOVE about Bridgeland-Riverside .
What makes our community great?
People. People who care, connect and lead through action. People like you.
Pretty much all the awesome things that you hear about or can spot walking around the neighbourhood were started and carried through to completion by a small group of committed volunteers. The baseball diamond, the preservation of Tom Campbell Hill as a natural area, the Piazza on General Avenue, Flyover Park, the rainbow crosswalk, the Bridgeland gateway sign just off Memorial Drive (with its big-time funny, makeshift small “D” of mysterious origins), the murals, the skating rink by the Hall. The small-town sense of community. The love, really.
This “awesomesauce” in our community is a labour of love. Bridgeland Love, that is. (Yes, Riverside, of course this includes you.)
Bridgeland Love means building a better community through kindness and involved, inspired action.
Every day, bit by bit, Bridgeland Love is built by community leaders who volunteer to shape, grow, and keep our community amazing. Get inspired and join in!
NORMIE KWONG PARK DEDICATION
Normie Kwong Plaque
Normie Kwong Park Dedication
You are invited to join the Kwong family, friends and local residents, as the Bridgeland Riverside Community Association dedicates a neighborhood park to the Honourable Normie Kwong, former Riverside resident, CFL player and Lieutenant Governor of Alberta.
When : Saturday October 19, 2024
Time : 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Where : 9A Street and 4th Avenue NE, Calgary
Born in 1929, Normie Kwong grew up and went to school in Bridgeland Riverside, where his parents operated the Riverside Cash and Carry. A star athlete, Normie earned a position with the Calgary Stampeders Football Club in 1948, becoming the first Chinese Canadian to play in the Canadian Football League, and the youngest player to win the Grey Cup, at just 19 years old. Three more Grey Cup wins would follow with the Edmonton Eskimos, until his retirement in 1960.
After his football career, Normie began a career in real estate but continued to play an instrumental role in professional sports, notably being one of the owners bringing the Flames hockey team to Calgary from Atlanta in 1980. He became the general manager of the Calgary Stampeders in 1988, where he was credited for recruiting Wally Buono to coach and revitalize the team.
His commitment to Calgary sports, as well as numerous other philanthropic initiatives, was highlighted when, in 1998, he was named a Member of the Order of Canada, and in 2005 when he was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, a position he held until 2010. He passed away in 2016.
Video of Park Dedication (by Lynda Valliere)
Normie Kwong Global News Video
CALGARY GENERAL HOSPITAL COMMEMORATIVE PROJECT
PAPER MAKING STORY by ANDREA LAU
Paper Story Exhibit and Installation
Sat Sept 21 & Sun Setp 22
1-5-pm
BRCA Hall
Closing Reception -Sun 3-5 – take a sheet of paper home!
BRIDGELAND SPORT COURT
Basketball/Sports Ball Court
BRCA is actively fundraising to build a 3-on-3 sport court (photos below) at Murdoch Park in the SE corner. This will not interfere with the two full-sized soccer fields.
Basketball is one of the fastest-growing sports in Canada. It is a relatively accessible sport since all you need is a ball and runners! This design was chosen so multiple people of varying ages and abilities can play at the same time and the full court cannot be monopolized by one group. Plus we could host some amazing 3-on-3 tournaments!
We have raised $80,000 to date and have another grant out for $50,000 (fingers crossed). We are hoping to raise the remaining $12,000 from the community and local sponsors. You can contribute to the project and receive a tax credit online through our partners at Parks Foundation Calgary here (select Bridgeland Sportcourt from the drop-down menu)
Spread the love of basketball and let’s grow the game!
🏀 Treat all users like basketball family and respectfully share the space.
🏀 This court is designed to allow all abilities and ages to play at the same time.
🏀 Each hoop allows for different levels of games to be played at once. Please keep this in mind and encourage others to play.
🏀 Adhere to City of Calgary noise bylaws for play times.
BRIDGELAND LOVE MURAL
Bridgeland Love Mural
February 1st, 2022
It has come to our attention that racist graffiti was spray-painted today on the wall of a family-owned business in our community, the commercial building housing Inglewood Art Supplies and other small businesses.
The Bridgeland Riverside Community Association (BRCA) unequivocally condemns this act of hate and racism.
We are horrified to see this happen in our city and community. The BRCA stands for kindness and anti-racism. This is what we call #BridgelandLOVE, and wonderful neighbours like you help build it every day.
Neighbours, this is an opportunity for all of us to demonstrate that Bridgeland is a welcoming, diverse, kind community. It is up to all of us to stand together in strong support of love and anti-racism in our city and community.
Love wins. Please help us spread it.
The BRCA is mobilizing to support our neighbours. Building a wall of hope, love and kindness is a wonderful way in which you can help us support the kind, anti-racist community that we wish to live, work, and play in.
#BridgelandLoveMural #WallOfUs
UPDATE: October 19, 2022
Thank you to everyone who has contributed and supported the fundraising campaign for the Message of Hope and Stand Against Racism Mural. To date, we have raised $14,000 allowing the project to move forward.
Local Calgary Artist Alex Kwong has been selected to design and complete the mural. Over the winter months he and the Kullar family will collaborate on concept ideas, which will then be shared with the community prior to installation in the spring of 2023.
We are looking forward to seeing the images Alex creates.
BRIDGELAND PARK NAMING PROJECT
BRCA Parks Naming Project
Honouring History Together
From the Bow River’s edge north to the escarpment, Bridgeland-Riverside has numerous parks and green spaces. Many of these places are unnamed, so people are unaware that they exist. Giving a place a name helps to identify and recognize it. To facilitate this, the BRCA Beautification Committee is implementing the Parks Naming Project to come up with names for the community’s small parks and green spaces.
The lands now known as Bridgeland-Riverside have a rich history. Indigenous peoples have lived in this area for thousands of years. White settlers first arrived in the area in the late 1800s. Bridgeland-Riverside is now home to generations of newcomers from all parts of the world.
The goal of our Parks Naming Project is to facilitate a conversation to name these eight small green spaces. In the process, we will build a stronger sense of community together. To formally name our parks we must comply with the City of Calgary’s Policy CP2016-01* which requires taking into account information such as history, geography, plants and animals, and notable public figures. The Parks Naming Project team has proposed names that reflect the unique aspects of Bridgeland-Riverside. Now it’s time for Bridgelanders and other stakeholders to get involved by providing their feedback.
* Section 1.3.3 of Schedule 2 of the Policy states:
Names should not be divisive in nature. When an individual or group is identified by a name, best efforts should be taken to ensure that the name is not seen as linked with discrimination, oppression and systemic racism nor in violation of community standards as they exist today. Names that are otherwise offensive, misleading, or ineffective are also not permitted.
Please note: The survey process has closed. Thank you for your input. The park descriptions and name explanations are still in the links below. We will be sharing the next steps of this project soon.
If you have any further questions, please contact brca.beautification@gmail.com
Thank you for being part of this community engagement project!
Park Surveys
PLEASE NOTE:
The survey process has closed. Thank you for your input.
If you have any further questions, please contact brca.beautification@gmail.com
Park #1 – Regal View Park
Park #2 – Hidden Park
Park #3 – Olmsted Corner
Park #4 – Normie Kwong Park
Park #5 – Schule Park
Park #6 – The Piazza
Park #7 – Annie Gale Park
Park #8 – Helen’s Garden
Park #9 – coming soon
Park #10 – Provide Feedback
Park #1 -Regal View Park
BRCA Parks Naming Project…… Welcome to Park #1
Some background about Park #1 & Recommended Name
This steep grassy slope has long existed adjacent to Edmonton Trail… which is an historic and significant travel corridor northward. With completion of the nearby condominium projects this land was added to the Calgary Parks system as a ‘natural area park’. The hill was sculpted, trails and benches were installed and vegetation planted in 2016. On its northern boundary was an early Calgary community called Regal Terrace that, in the 1950’s became part of the new community of Renfrew. In recognition of the area’s previous name and with its amazing location and vistas we are recommending that the park be named “Regal View Park”
The survey process has closed. Thank you for your input.
If you have any further questions, please contact brca.beautification@gmail.com
Thank you for being part of this History Naming project!
Park #2 -Hidden Park
BRCA Parks Naming Project…… Welcome to Park #2
Some background about Park #2 & Recommended Name
This steep hillside area adjacent to 4A St and 5 Ave has been a park for many years. In the past playground equipment was present but this was removed as the number of nearby children diminished. The hillside, trees and mowed grassy area make this a sheltered, quiet and pleasant place to spend time but the steep hillside and back lane access has made it difficult for people to find and use the park.
We are recommending that the park be named “Hidden Park”
The survey process has closed. Thank you for your input.
If you have any further questions, please contact brca.beautification@gmail.com
Thank you for being part of this History Naming project!
Park #3 -Olmsted Corner
BRCA Parks Naming Project…… Welcome to Park #3
Some background about Park #3 & Recommended Name
The section of land that became the community of Bridgeland was deeded to the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) by the Federal government in the late 1800’s. As the railway expanded west, the CPR divided the land and sold small lots for houses, in order to fund the building of a transcontinental railway that connected our country from sea to sea. The CPR hired the Olmsted Landscape firm to design the street layout on Bridgeland’s hilly escarpment as well other CPR owned lands in Scarboro/ Sunalta and Mount Royal. The designers favoured gradually rising streets and park like settings to take advantage of the escarpment topography instead of the usual grid streetscape. This small green space, adjacent to 5 Ave and 6A / 7 St and located between two parts of Bridge Crescent is on a significant slope. We recommend naming this green space “Olmsted Corner” in recognition of the unique contribution of the Olmsted firm to the city and to our community’s streetscapes.
The survey process has closed. Thank you for your input.
If you have any further questions, please contact brca.beautification@gmail.com
Thank you for being part of this History Naming project!
Park #4 -Normie Kwong Park
BRCA Parks Naming Project…… Welcome to Park #4
Some background about Park #4 & Recommended Name
This endearing space is known informally as 9A Street Park by at least 4 generations of Bridgelanders. This park has mature trees to enjoy nature, a children’s playground, a spider web climbing structure, picnic tables, and a small sports field which is a skating rink in winter. Thank you to the community spirited volunteers who have activated this park for the enjoyment of families from all over Calgary.
Normie Kwong was born and raised in Riverside. He was the first football player of Asian heritage to play in the Canadian Football League with Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Eskimos. Normie was an all star, winning 4 Grey Cups. After retiring, Normie was in the ownership group which brought the Flames to Calgary. Normie’s contributions to Calgary and Alberta through his sportsmanship were recognized by his appointment in 2005 as Lieutenant Governor (the Queen’s Representative) of Alberta. He died in 2016 and a memorial fund was set up in his name to help immigrant youth with a focus on sports. Normie is remembered as a family man who related to people from all walks of life. These qualities were nurtured by his upbringing in Bridgeland Riverside.
We are recommending this park be named Normie Kwong Park to recognize and connect the lifetime achievement of Normie with the hard work by current and past Bridgeland volunteers to make this park a special community space.
The survey process has closed. Thank you for your input.
If you have any further questions, please contact brca.beautification@gmail.com
Thank you for being part of this History Naming project!
Park #5 - Schule Park
BRCA Parks Naming Project…… Welcome to Park #5
Some background about Park #5 & Recommended Name
Since 1921 this green space north of 2 Ave at 11A Street has been part of the Bridgeland School playground. In 1998 the CBE closed the school and Delta West Academy moved in. The playing field and adjacent hillside is a registered Calgary park and is unofficially called Tyndale Park. The origin of this name cannot be found so compliance with city naming policy cannot be established.
The Project Team’s Recommended Name for Park #5 is Schule Park. This name recognizes the role immigrants of German descent played in the history of Bridgeland Riverside. “Schule” (pronounced shula) means school in German.
The survey process has closed. Thank you for your input.
If you have any further questions, please contact brca.beautification@gmail.com
Thank you for being part of this History Naming project!
Park #6 - The Piazza
BRCA Parks Naming Project…… Welcome to Park #6
Some background about Park #6 & Recommended Name
Calgary General Hospital, played a central role in our community for 88 years and after its implosion in 1998 a new development “The Bridges” was established. Several park areas were created and this area beside 1st Avenue, ringed by new condominiums had a small park installed. Known as ‘General Plaza’ in recognition of the hospital, the park has new enhancements that attract many people to stop and enjoy the park. A new initiative to commemorate the hospital is being planned for area of the CGH Memorial Wall in Murdoch Park on Centre Avenue. It is expected that attention about the hospital will be focused on this area, leaving the 1st Avenue park open to a new name.
Italians have had a notable presence in Bridgeland over the years and to recognize them we are suggesting that General Plaza be renamed “The Piazza” which translates to village square.
The survey process has closed. Thank you for your input.
If you have any further questions, please contact brca.beautification@gmail.com
Thank you for being part of this History Naming project!
Park #7 - Annie Gale Park
BRCA Parks Naming Project…… Welcome to Park #7
Some background about Park #7 & Recommended Name
This new park is located behind 2 recently built apartments at 816 McDougall Road. This sheltered and nicely treed green space is bordered by the Vacant Lots Heritage Garden, the 7A St stairway, and the dog off leash/natural area slope. The Vacant Lot Garden, established in 1914, is a Bridgeland treasure. In the early 1900s food prices were climbing in a rapidly growing Calgary. Mrs. Annie Gale, represented the Consumers League in the Vacant Lots Garden Club and worked tirelessly to promote the idea that vegetables were just as likely to succeed in Alberta gardens as in B.C. gardens. Her work on this and other social justice projects helped her become Calgary’s first female alderman in 1918.
We are recommending to name Park #7 Annie Gale Park to honour her advocacy to improve the health and wellbeing of Calgary’s residents through initiatives such as the vacant lot gardens, the public market and improved housing for all Calgarians.
The survey process has closed. Thank you for your input.
If you have any further questions, please contact brca.beautification@gmail.com
Thank you for being part of this History Naming project!
Park #8 - Helen's garden
BRCA Parks Naming Project…… Welcome to Park #8
Some background about Park #8
Tucked in the SE corner of our community, this small new park area was created with the recent building of Forward Housings’ Bishops Manor residence (200 Nina Gardens). Originally this area would have been open grassland, grazed by buffalo and later by cattle of settlers. During the 1988 Olympics small cottages were built here for the media. They were then converted to Seniors Independent Living and managed by Bishop O’Byrne Seniors Housing (now Forward Housing) and decommissioned in the early 2000’s. A residence for the blind was nearby and many generations of seniors have lived in the vicinity.
The suggested name for Park 8 is “Helen’s Garden” in recognition of the significant and long standing involvement of local resident, Helen Jusic. From her arrival to Calgary in the 1950’s, to work at the Calgary General Hospital, to years of volunteering with agencies and residences in this southeast quadrant Helen has shown caring to others. Covid-19 presented new challenges for us all and Helen responded by being present at the 1st Ave/12 St corner to share a friendly greeting with passersby. Helen, who is also a successful gardener has made a huge difference to many people in our community now and over the years and we are recommending that park 8 be named for her.
The survey process has closed. Thank you for your input.
If you have any further questions, please contact brca.beautification@gmail.com
Thank you for being part of this History Naming project!
Park #9 - Coming Soon
Park #10 - Please provide feedback
BRCA Parks Naming Project…… Welcome to Park #10
Some background about Park #10 & Recommended Name
Park #10 is found at the southeast corner of our community boundaries – next to the confluence of the Bow River and Nose Creek. It’s close to the muskox paddock for the zoo. The bike path goes right beside it. This park shows great potential for indigenous naming because of the natural setting next to the river. Near here was the original trail from Calgary to Blackfoot Crossing. Settler history is also evident in the train bridge built in the early 1900’s. A park bench provides a peaceful place to pause and enjoy the scenery. Take a walk or cycle with a friend along the Bow River pathway to discover this lovely park.
We continue to explore the naming of this park, including indigenous naming. We welcome your thoughts about this park and what it means to you now and into the future.
The survey process has closed. Thank you for your input.
If you have any further questions, please contact brca.beautification@gmail.com
Thank you for being part of this History Naming project!
Hugs From Helen
A Hero of Hope
Helen Jusic has lived, worked and volunteered in Bridgeland for most of the 84 years of her adult life. When COVID-19 came along, her volunteer work was curtailed and life became very lonely for Helen. But she turned the lemons of our pandemic times into lemonade… Helen started to spend time – during afternoon rush hour – at a busy 4 way stop sign – 12 St and 1st Avenue…. and she waved and gave virtual hugs to the drivers passing through. And they responded with waves and smiles back to her. Helen’s daily sharing of warmth and caring has made a huge difference to many people, and word of her actions has been picked up by local media and beyond. Helen has shown all of us that we can reach beyond our own situations and make the lives of others a little better. Helen Jusic is an amazing woman, a wonderful role model, and an amazing Bridgeland Love ambassador.
CLICK HERE to watch Helen’s story on Global
CLICK HERE to read the Calgary Herald article
Foosball in the Plaza
Squad Goals for the Win
The General Plaza has become a favourite hangout place for Bridgelanders and visitors. With comfortable seating, hanging lights, and local shops and restaurants an arm’s length away, this space has become a beloved hub of the community.
A most welcome addition to this gathering space last summer was a foosball table donated by Ahmad, the owner of Roma’s Pizza. Many people have enjoyed playing a game or two with friends, so it was very heartbreaking for the community when the table was stolen one evening. It wasn’t long before the media caught wind of the theft and put the story on the evening news, and to his surprise, Ahmad received a phone call right away from an anonymous donor who offered to replace the table. “There are always more good people than bad,” Ahmad shared.
We definitely agree, and thanks to neighbours like Amahad and the mystery donor, we can once again enjoy foosball in the Plaza.
CLICK HERE to read the news article
Triangle Mountain Art in Murdoch Park
Backlane Project
Wayfinding Project
BRCA Skating Rink
Peonies Mural
Back to the Bow
More projects coming soon!
Free Little Library
Bridgeland Rocks – Easter
9A Street Park – Rink and Art
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