The Calgary Fire Department held a ceremonial ground breaking on a replacement fire station in the community of South Calgary. The replacement station will be located on 14^th Street S.W., adjacent to the existing station which was built in 1952.

 “The Calgary Fire Department is committed to serving the South Calgary area, as all areas of the city, with the most appropriate fire-fighting equipment,” says Fire Chief Bruce Burrell. “This replacement fire station will accommodate modern apparatus without the restrictions and limitations of the existing station, ensuring the fire service needs of this growing and evolving area are met.”

 The existing station is currently the oldest active fire station in Calgary. To honour the history of this station and to ensure aspects of the past remain present, the existing fire station will be deconstructed after the new one is built. Several recognizable elements will be incorporated into the new station, including the Fire Station No.5 sign, the red brick and the antique firefighting equipment. Attention has been paid to ensuring the new station compliments the look, feel and needs of the community. The new station will remain a resource for the community with blood pressure and cholesterol testing, public art, green spaces and pathways.

 The South Calgary Replacement Fire Station will also be built to a Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Gold standard. Some of the environmental features of the new station include solar water heating panels to supply hot water, solar photovoltaic panels on the roof to supply some of the electrical needs and Variable Refrigerant Flow air handling for reduced noise and better heating and cooling control.

 The South Calgary Fire Station currently serves more than 28,000 residents of Altadore, Bankview, Cliff Bungalow, Elbow Park, Marda Loop, Richmond, Scarboro, Sunalta/Sunalta West, South Calgary and upper Mount Royal.

 The $15.25 million cost of the station and required apparatus has been fully budgeted for, with $10.25 million funded by the Province of Alberta’s Municipal Sustainability Initiative.

 The South Calgary Replacement Fire Station is expected to be fully operational in 2013.

 If I can be of assistance on any civic matter do not hesitate to contact my office by phone (403) 268-2430, fax (403) 269-3823 or at www.calgary.ca/alderman/ward8.

I pledge to be an accessible, responsive, and strong advocate for the people of Ward 8.

John Mar, Alderman Ward 8