Fat off the Land: a Blog About Calgary Real Estate, Parenting, and Food

In my experience schools are a hot topic of conversation; not only for people who are looking to relocate to a new community, but also for young families who need to plan for which schools are available to them and where they want to send their children. It’s because of this that I want to take a quick look at the schools available in the communities of ward 12 also known as Calgary’s deep south. These communities include; Auburn Bay, Copperfield, Cranston, Douglasdale Estates, Douglas Glen, Mahogany, McKenzie Lake, McKenzie Towne, New Brighton, Seton, Shepard, and Quarry Park.

Combined the deep south is home to 11 Public schools and 8 Catholic schools, these include a mix of grades K-9. Of these schools only Monsignor J.S. Smith School in Douglasdale

Jaime had the idea to compile a list of the best pizza in SE Calgary (specifically Auburn Bay, Mahogany & Cranston) after so many requests on Facebook for people's personal preferences on pizza in the area. I (Rachel) fell in love with the idea immediately and asked her to write it. She stumbled briefly on the idea of quantifying the goodness of pizza and the impact it would have on small businesses, but I reminded her that this was a reality of a free market. (She's so cute and tender-hearted!)

So the list below is a result of Jaime's tireless research. She went and blended up the number of Facebook recommendations, Yelp reviews, and Trip Advisor ratings, and made this list of the best pizza places in SE Calgary. I trust her implicitly, since there is

You have now joined a spectacular diverse community which is home to over 5400 houses.
Auburn Bay Community is home to two new schools Auburn Bay K-4 & Prince of Peace K-8, 14 playgrounds, an off leash dog park, Auburn Station commercial mall, future home to LRT transit, walking/cycling trails, 2 baseball fields, 2 large soccer fields, 2 ponds and of course our LAKE!

Playgrounds

Schools

Auburn Bay School (Public)
7 Auburn Bay Avenue SE T3M 0K6
Grades K-4
phone: 403-817-3540

Prince of Peace (Catholic)
43 Auburn Meadows Blvd SE, Calgary, AB T3M 2C9
Grades K-8
Phone: (403) 500-2125

Grocery Shopping

Co-op (Auburn Station–Open Fall 2016)
Costco (Okotoks, Heritage Gate, East Hills)
Save-On Foods (Seton)
Sobeys (McKenzie Town, Cranston, Mahogany

Seton’s new 330,000 square foot recreation facility is due to open in 2018. The location will be located beside Calgary’s future high school and the southeast Greenline LRT. The address with be 19340-45 Street S.E. This multi-use amateur sport building will be home to:

• 10 – 50m competition swim lanes
• Dive tank
• Hot tubs
• Water park
• Two multi-purpose ice rinks
• Multiple gymnasiums
• Running track
• Fitness center
• Theater (approx. 300 seats)
• Meeting rooms
• Youth center
• Dedicated Art space
• Childcare services
• Food services
• Physiotherapy/medical clinic

And also, a full service 25,000 sq.ft. Calgary Public Library. Home to reading and learning spaces. Plus interactive technologies.

This is a City of Calgary

Calgarians have a very unique opportunity to have 3 MEC’s (Mountain Equipment Co-op’s) in our city!!

Seton Urban District, in south-east Calgary will be home to MEC’s newest expansion store set to open in Fall 2018. Following roughly six months later in West Calgary, in the Trinity Hills development community called Medicine Hill. MEC sells and rents equipment for outdoor adventure, camping, climbing, hiking, cycling, running, fitness, yoga, watersports and snowsports. Along with fitness clothing and gear for all your upcoming excursions. MEC hosts how-to educational classes. Services will include a full-service bike & ski tech shop, and bike fitting stations.

Together, MEC’s south and west Calgary stores will provide approximately 160 jobs through

Mahogany's Urban Village retail plaza is set to impress. Opening early 2017.

This outdoor mall will be home to shopping, fitness, dining, banking and daycare facilities.

 Retailers proposed to include:

Auburn Station in SE Calgary will host a local option for residents. Grocery, Gas, Liquor, Food, Specialty Services, Restaurants and 2 Patios!

Bordering on 52nd street at the upcoming LRT stop, we will have access to a diverse list of businesses set to open at the end of 2016.

•  Calgary Co-op Grocery
• Calgary Co-op Gas Station
• Calgary Co-op Wine Spirits & Beer store
• A&W
• Tim Hortons
• Domino's Pizza
• Neighborhood Pub & Restaurant
• Auburn Bay Dental
• Prestige Dance Academy
• Salon Jolie
• Eye Am Well Optometry Clinic
• Mangat Pet Care Veterinarian
• I Spa & Nails

 Leasing Opportunities are still available by contacting Brookfield: https://alberta.brookfieldresidential.com/calgary-homes/commercial

 Picture by

Who's excited - I am, I am!

The official countdown to completion is on for Starcraft Construction, opening Sept 2016: the much anticipated Auburn Bay Public K-4 Elementary School---standing at 7 Auburn Bay Avenue SE. This 53,000 sq-ft school is designed to accommodate 600 Auburn Bay students. Students will have access to 15 dedicated classrooms, 6 modular rooms, Music Class, Phys Ed, and a Library. CBE has announced our first Principal - Lori Cullen.

Fundraising has for been in full swing for a playground to be built on location! Can you believe the total is close to 20K already? This is about 10% of what is required, so please continue to support, hot dog sales, bottle drives, GoFundMe & donating clothing to the marked recycle bins at Seton

The Vanderveen Team is so honoured to introduce our new esteemed guest blogger, Jaime Wilton. (I spelled it right this time, Jaime!) Not only is she a dear friend to the team, but she is easily the most talented and well-versed community expert I have ever encountered. She knows all; she sees all. She IS Auburn Bay.

With that, I introduce a new series of blogs from our guest blogger, Jaime. You'll know it's her because she'll sign each post with her lovely name. Now without further delay I bring you her first blog on Auburn Bay parks.

Parks and playgrounds are such an essential way to burn off energy, increase creativity, and encourage active outdoor activity for children. There is no doubt that Brookfield has succeeded in bringing Auburn Bay a

There’s a lot of people, including myself, who are surprised by just how much of your stuff needs to get packed up before you go live on the market. Your stuff kind of just sits there around you for so long that it just kind of becomes part of the environment. Sometimes seeing what you need to remove, needs a second set of eyes. A home stager is absolutely invaluable at this time. I, myself, had to pack up nearly two thirds of my home when we listed. It was shocking. Not only how much stuff I had to pack up, but how much I needed to throw away. Ever since that move, I have tried to be ruthless in my trashing of things that really don’t need to take up space. I’ve had moderate success.

When it comes down to what needs to be decluttered, take it down to