Calgary police are sharing some insight into the state of gun violence in the city, saying there have been 91 shootings so far this year, compared to 52 in the same time period last year. The total number of shootings in Calgary in 2021 was 95, a number we’re getting close to eclipsing with four months left in the year. https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/what-calgary-police-are-saying-about-a-rise-in-gun-violence-shootings

A local organization wants to establish a permanent reminder of the sacrifice of Canadians in war. Homes for Heroes and the Forest Lawn Community Association are looking into painting a crosswalk to honour veterans. It would be at 36 St. S.E. near the Veterans Village. https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/calgary-community-group-pitches-crosswalk-that-honours-veterans-in-east-calgary

August 5, 2020 Gar Gar talks about his initiative ‘YYC Kids Ride’ with the help of Calgary police service superintendent Mike Worden to collect, fix and donate bikes to children in need this summer. https://globalnews.ca/video/7251885/hometown-heroes-yyc-kids-ride-provides-hundreds-of-bikes-to-calgary-families-in-need

The back side of the Forest Lawn Community Centre has been transformed from a large and often empty field into a vibrant and treed seating area, basketball court and inclusive playground. The president of the local community association says the final design is exactly what he imagined when he started advocating for a new community park. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/forest-lawn-community-association-park-1.7328960

A Calgary grassroots group is surprised and a little dismayed at the response it has had for free backpacks and school supplies. Gar Gar launched the School Supply Surprise initiative a couple of months ago. It was designed to fill the need for back-to-school resources — by filling backpacks with free school supplies.

Thousands of Calgary families are struggling to make online learning work as they try to balance front-line jobs and budgets where choices can involve feeding a family or having internet access. While some can run to Best Buy and purchase a couple of laptops or boost internet speeds with a quick phone call, others are parking outside restaurants to piggyback Wi-Fi so their kids can stay in school, according to organizations focused on addressing poverty in Calgary. “There’s a lot of people going through the pandemic and poverty right now,” said Meaghon Reid with Vibrant Communities Calgary. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-calgary-covid-online-learning-1.6027241