A lot of you might be wondering, “What does CASE actually do?”

Besides posting information, photos, and videos related to skateboarding in Calgary, we’ve been doing a lot of behind the scenes stuff.
We meet monthly and set objectives– both short term and long term. Our short term goals are things like keeping the website updated and setting up events. Long term goals are getting more parks.
One big thing we’ve been working on is an indoor park. We spent a lot of time putting together a proposal, in conjunction with the Inglewood Community Association. The proposal was submitted about two weeks ago so we’re waiting to hear back now. Check back for updates here.

CASE is also working closely with the City of Calgary on the upcoming “skateboard strategy” put forward by alderman Joe Connelly. Our goal is to catch up to other cities like Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and countless others who have a network of skateparks, both large destination parks and small skate spots.

The skateboard strategy also promises to examine the city bylaw that prohibits ramps on private property. It’s CASE’s objective to get this law taken off the books so anyone is free to build a ramp in their back yard.

We’re an association of volunteers with a common goal– promoting skateboarding. If you’ve picked up one of our T-shirts, came out to any of our events, or even mentioned CASE to some of your friends, thanks for your support. We hope to be updating you on some big developments soon.

Thanks to all the sponsors and everyone who came out to Millennium Park for Go Skateboarding Day. The weather cooperated and the park was busy. Congratulations to all the “best trick” winners who ripped all day long in the hot sun.
Special thanks to Alderman Joe Connelly for not only making the event possible, but for backing it up by showing up at the skatepark.
Today was potentially a huge day in Calgary. A motion was passed by the City of Calgary to develop a “city-wide skateboard strategy”. That means that the City will perform a study to determine if more skateparks are needed and examine the bylaw that prohibits ramps on private property. CASE believes that more skateparks are needed; having a medium-sized park in each quadrant of the City would take a lot of pressure off crowded Millennium Park, therefore making it safer for everyone.
Here are some news stories about today’s motion:
Calgary Sun
Calgary Herald

All aspects of Skateboarding in Calgary are restricted by City policies and bylaws that unfairly and unreasonably restrict skateboarding  as a healthy, environmentally friendly, fun activity.  On Monday June 21st, Go Skateboarding Day, Alderman Joe Connelly is presenting a notice of motion to council seeking their support for two initiatives:

1. The development of a  City of Calgary Skateboarding strategy – a process that should see more skateparks and skate friendly laws and policies
2. The amendment of the land use bylaw to allow backyard skate ramps under certain conditions just like any other structure

Calgary Skateboarding Needs Your Help NOW!
If this motion is to have a chance to succeed The Calgary Skate Community must let every alderman and the Mayor know how much they support it. Show your support in two  ways:

• Write an email to council – see directions below
• Forward this email to EVERYONE you know who skates, is a fan of skateboarding, or who is a supporter of a skateboarder so they can join the email campaign

Email Directions:

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Back in October we told you about a north west Calgary family who had received an order from by-law officers to remove their backyard skate ramp because it violated Calgary’s no ramp bylaw (Land Use Bylaw 4.27mb PDF). We’re kinda slow but it is time for us to give you an update on the Collins’ appeal of the removal order.

Jeff watching son Jack skate their ramp

Back on January 14^th Jeff Collins formally appealed the removal order, appearing before  the development appeal board.  Jeff laid out his case that the ramp was not noisy and had in fact been in place for three years without incident.  Collins informed the board that Calgary stands alone in Canadian cities with it’s outright ban on backyard ramps and that skateboarding is part of the active healthy lifestyle that the City of Calgary and others promote so vigorously.  Having made his case before the board as best he could without the help of anyone like Ben Matlock, Mr. Collins had to wait a further two weeks until January 28^th to hear the verdict for the ramp that he and son Jack love to skate.

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Thanks to everyone who came out to the clean up on Saturday. Lots of people cleaned up lots of garbage in a short period of time. Unfortunately, by-law officers ordered us to stop pretty quickly into the day.
We were told that we would be fined $500 for setting up a tent in a public park without a permit and giving out free stuff in a public park.
It’s unfortunate that bureaucracy gets in the way of fun events that are beneficial to everyone but that’s the way it goes sometimes.

After talking to some folks from the City, it appears the letters that have been sent recently regarding the ramp bylaw and getting more parks are getting through. The higher-ups at the City are starting to take notice and they are beginning to realize that something needs to be done to change skateboarding in Calgary. Keep the letters to the Mayor, Aldermen, and MLAs coming and keep them positive!

Like many  Calgary skateboarders Jeff Collins and his ten year old son Jack enjoy skating their back yard mini-ramp.  Their fun is set to come to an end because after two years without a problem Calgary by-law officers have ordered the Collins’ to remove their ramp.

The Collins' ramp

In a recent survey of 61 Canadian cities and towns, Calgary stands alone at the only one with a ban on skateboard ramps.  You won’t even need a permit in most of the municipalities that responded and when permits are required the limitations are usually very reasonable (height limits  as high as 5m/16’ ). Clearly no one else thinks skate ramps are a problem so they clearly should not be an issue in Calgary.

The Collins’ are challenging the bylaw, starting by appealing the order to remove their ramp.  Challenging a bylaw will not be cheap and the cost should  be shared by the skate community in Calgary because the Collins’ are fighting for your right to have a mini-ramp or launch ramp too! If you want to see the bylaw overturned you and your parents need to do two things to help:

1. Make a cash donation to CASE who will use the money to help the Collins’ pay costs related to the bylaw challenge

• To direct your donation to the ramp bylaw challenge, please indicate so in the comments field or send an email to indicate your wishes
• If all money donated for the Ramp Bylaw challenge is not needed for it, the funds raised will be used by CASE  to advance skateboarding  in Calgary

2. Write your alderman and the mayor asking that the ban be lifted immediately because:

• The city has no reason to ban a healthy activity
• There are no similar bans on trampolines, swimming pools, ball hockey, volleyball, or other sports
• The noise by-law can address potential noise concerns
• No other Canadian city or town has an outright ban on skateboard ramps and few mention them in their land use bylaws

To help you with  your letter:

• Click here to download a template (MSWord.doc) Just replace the parts in the <angle brackets> with your own ideas.
• Find out who your Alderman is here.
• Mayor Bronconnier’s contact  information can be found here. Be sure to write him as well.

If the state of skateboarding is going to improve in Calgary it will only happen if people like YOU get involved to make it happen.  Changing the ramp bylaw is the first step in overcoming prejudice and getting skateboarding and skateboarders treated with respect.  CASE hopes YOU will get involved starting with the ramp bylaw issue!

Whether it’s a new concrete outdoor park or an indoor to skate in the winter, Calgary needs more skateparks. Our current options aren’t really cutting it. With the removal of Westside, Millennium Park is the only concrete skatepark in Calgary. Millennium Park is dated and has many features that aren’t even skateable (that’s being kind). Did you know that Calgary is the only major Canadian city that has an actual law that prohibits skateboard ramps? That means if you have a mini-ramp in your back yard or a little launch ramp on your driveway, you could face a fine and have to remove it. This is what you need to do as a Calgary skateboarder to help make some changes:

Contact Mayor Bronconnier. E-mail him here. Write to him at PO Box 2100 Station M, Calgary, AB T2P 2M5. Phone him at 403-268-5622

Contact your local Alderman. Check out this link and find out what ward you live in. Then click on your ward’s alderman and complete the contact form.

Contact your MLA. This site has all the contact info for the Province’s MLAs. Just figure out what constituency you are in so you can e-mail the corresponding MLA.

If you choose to contact any of these politicians, it’s important to be polite and clear with what you want. Here are some important points:

-Calgary is grossly behind other Western Canadian cities when it comes to concrete skateparks. Edmonton has 6, Winnipeg has 5, and Vancouver has dozens.
-No other major city has a bylaw that prohibits skateboard ramps, so this law needs to be changed
-There are thousands of skaters in Calgary (one recent estimate is 10,000)

Here’s a quick post regarding the bylaw governing backyard ramps. According to bylaw #1P2007 section 344, subsection 7, “A skateboard ramp must not be located on a parcel.”
This means that no piece of land in Calgary can have a skateboard ramp.

Since the weather is finally conducive to skateboarding outside, this is a good time to become acquainted with the City of Calgary’s by-laws as they apply to skateboarding.
If you check out this link, you will notice that skateboarding on city sidewalks is legal, provided it’s not in the “Central Traffic Zone” (essentially all of downtown). Skateboarding on any city street is technically not legal. Skateboarding is allowed on all city pathways, provided you’re not doing anything “unsafe to other people” and not breaking the other pathway rules (speed limit 20 Km/h, pass on the left, etc). You can see the pathway by-laws here.
Most importantly, you can’t skate anywhere where there is a “no skateboarding” sign (duh). This includes places like Stephen Avenue Mall and in front of the Kerby Centre (8th Ave SW between 10th St. and 11th St.)
Technically, permission from the owner is needed to skate on private property.
As long as you’re aware of these rules, are courteous to other people, and use some common sense, you should be able to “street skate” without any problems.