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Events

Notice of Griesbach Community League AGM and bylaw changes

The date for the Griesbach Community League AGM has been set. Please join us:

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Major General Griesbach School gym, 304 Griesbach School Rd.

7-9 p.m.

The Annual General Meeting is open to the public.

This is your chance to hear what directors have been up to this year, vote in new board members and express your priorities or concerns for the upcoming term.

Interested in running for the board? We are recruiting. Learn more about open positions here.

Anyone who wishes to vote must have a valid GCL membership. You can buy a membership with cash or cheque at the membership table ahead of the meeting, online through the CommuniBee app, or through the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues website.

Bylaw changes

It has come to our attention that the Griesbach Community League’s current membership term is not in line with that of the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues. We need to update our membership term from its current April-March term to a September-August term. A Special Resolution to amend the bylaw term will be proposed at our AGM.
Bylaw Three, Article Three to be amended from:

Membership shall be for a period of one year, and this year shall commence on the 1st day of April and end on the 31st day of March of the following year, as per Edmonton Federation of Community League guidelines.

To:

Membership shall be for a period of one year, and this year shall commence on the 1st day of September and end on the 31st day of August of the following year, as per Edmonton Federation of Community League guidelines.

We will ask all GCL members to vote on this change at the March 12 meeting.

The Griesbach Halloween house decorating contest is back

UPDATE: Judging will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 29. We’ve assembled a highly trained team of judges (nine neighbourhood kids and one Halloween-obsessed Dad). So, get your decorations up this weekend!

Halloween decorations are already going up in Griesbach, and the Griesbach Community League wants to recognize residents who put so much hard work into making their houses fun and spooky.

That means, it’s time for the Griesbach Halloween house decorating contest. The spookiest house in Griesbach will be awarded a $100 gift card.

There will be 12 runner ups, three from each section of the neighbourhood, which will win $25 gift cards. Photos of winning houses will be shared on the community league website and Facebook page.

The sections are:

  • Northwest – Griesbach Road to 113 st, 153 Ave. to 146 Ave.
  • Northeast – east of Griesbach Road to 97, St. north of the school
  • Southeast – south of the school to 137 Ave. and west of Gault Blvd.
  • Southwest – south of 146 Ave. to 137. Ave and west of Gault Blvd.

The Grand prize winner can be from any quadrant.

No need to nominate anyone, you enter just by putting up decorations. However, if you DO want to ensure you, or a neighbour, gets noticed, please email a picture and address to: fundraising@griesbachcommunity.com.

Book your table open now for the Griesbach Outgrown It Sale

Mark your calendars for Griesbach’s second annual Outgrown it Sale on Saturday, May 18!

This event, hosted by the Griesbach Community League, gives parents the chance to sell gently used clothing, toys and other children’s items. Shoppers can find great deals to take home.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Major General Griesbach School gym at 304 Griesbach School Rd NW.

Private table vendors only. NO businesses. Table cannot contain any items that are not your children’s clean and gently used toys, clothes etc.

Spots are limited and will be given out on a first-come first-serve basis to those who have reserved. Please limit yourself to one table per person until April 30. After that date, any remaining tables will be opened up to whoever needs more space.

At the end of the event, a charity will accept any donations of unsold goods.

Table cost and seller information

Click here to book your table through Eventbrite. (Use the green “tickets” button on the top right.)

FREE for Griesbach Community League Members. Bring proof of community-league membership to the event, or purchase one here. Membership cost is $25 for a family.

$25 for general public.

Tables and chairs are provided. Sellers can bring their own racks and hangers, or other organization and display materials if they have them. (Though, not required.)

Items that are NOT permitted: car seats, baby walkers. Any item that is expired or does not meet current Canadian safety standards.

General admission

Admission is free for shoppers. Bring cash, as there will not be an ATM on site.

Any questions email: communications@griesbachcommunity.com

Griesbach Community League welcomes new president, board members

The Griesbach Community League welcomed a new president on Monday night.

Shelby Corley will take over as president from Brad Tilley.

Corley is a proud Griesbach resident who runs a consulting firm and is a mom to two young boys. She brings two years experience as board secretary to the position. Corley also served on the board of her professional association.

“I am excited to take over the president position and to build on the legacy that Brad has created over the last eight years,” said Corley. “I had heard about the great community league in Griesbach and got involved not long after my family moved here. I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent our neighbourhood along with the other amazing volunteers on the board.”

Tilley stepped down after founding the Griesbach Community League and then running it for eight years.

Tilley took a moment to reflect on his eight years of service to the community, which started when he and one of his daughters put flyers in neighbourhood mail boxes, asking residents to meet in the school gym.

“There were a bunch of people who showed up. I didn’t know what to expect,” said Tilley. “Its not just about the community league. I’ve also made a lot of friends.”

Carl Knowler, past president who has served with Tilley since the beginning, joked that Tilley finally deserves a break from his volunteer duties.

“Brad has been a pillar of this community,” said Knowler. “It really is a great community and we should all feel proud to live here.”

The rest of the new board members are:

Vice-president – Dave Loken

Treasurer – Aaron Gregson

Secretary – Erin Neil

Communications – Emily Senger

Civics & Community Development – Michael Ching Jiunn Chen

Fundraising – Norman Yee

Facilities & Structures – Don Napier

Memberships – Chelsea Rowland

Neighbourhood Watch – Todd Demaine

Parks & Community Gardens – Justin Laverty-Harrigan

Programs – Morgan Gauthier

Social – Cheryl Flaig

Sports – Bill Countryman

Volunteers – Li Pan

Members at Large – Carl Knowler, Kawtar Idrissi Machichi, Jason McCulloch

Local politicians pledge support on Sobeys lot issue

The community league was happy to welcome representatives from all three levels of government to the meeting: Edmonton Councillor Bev Esslinger, Edmonton-Calder MLA and Education Minister David Eggen and Edmonton-Griesbach MP Kerry Diotte.

Esslinger had good news to report on transit funding. The city received $1 billion from the federal government to fund its next phase of transit expansion, including the north LRT leg, towards the Yellowhead.

MP Kerry Diotte, incoming president Shelby Corley and outgoing president Brad Tilley at the 2019 AGM.

 

Sobeys was a big topic for our provincial and federal representatives. Both Diotte and Eggen commended Griesbach for its efforts to complain to the Competition Bureau about the neglected Sobeys lot.

Diotte has already met with league members on the issue and promised to support further action.

“I’m happy to work with the community however I can,” Diotte told community members.

Eggen said that the issue of restrictive covenants hampering commercial development is an issue not just in Griesbach, but in other parts of Edmonton, and the province.

“The nice thing is you are helping to bring forward issues that can help other communities in the province,” Eggen said. “I think this is something we can bring forward for Service Alberta and Justice to look at.”

Outgoing president Tilley said he will continue to pressure Sobeys, along with the new board members. “We are trying to do our best. It is a tough hill to climb,” Tilley said. “Believe me, this isn’t the end of it.”

Aaron Gregson, CGL treasurer who has been playing a large role in the Sobeys campaign, said he is still encouraging residents to submit a Competition Bureau complaint, if they have not already done so. The next phase after the media campaign is to meet with the province about restrictive covenants and with the federal government about the Competition Act. “We want to get to a scenario where the competition bureau can more thoroughly investigate,” Gregson said.

Eggen also said that the province is looking to tighten up laws around selling salvage metal. Such legislation is intended to reduce property crime, as was the case with stolen memorial plaques in Griesbach in 2017.

An early vision for the police training centre

Vice-president Dave Loken reported that the community league is in talks with the city and other stakeholders to look at future uses for the police training centre, once EPS fully moves out of that building in the next six months.

The community league is looking at the feasibility of taking a portion of that building over, possibly as a community hub with other city partners. “It would be great for us to have part of it,” said Loken. “Not having a community hall does limit what we can do. It could be another gathering place for us.”

The building has a large gymnasium and plenty of office space that could be used by the community league, the city and other non-profit partners.

However, Loken cautioned that talks are in the early stages. The community league, and the city, will have to do their due diligence before moving forward.

Development underway on Maple Leaf Pond, says Canada Lands

Canada Lands Company senior director Marvin Neumann shared plans for what will be called Maple Leaf Pond, the final lake to the west of the central hill.

The lake will have a hard edge that will create a maple-leaf shape, visible from the top of the central hill, he said.

When complete, the lake will include a multi-use trail around it, a skating pond, exercise equipment and plenty of benches and other seating.

Unfortunately, a soft real estate market means work on the lake, and other developments in Griesbach, is slower than initially planned, he said.

“I was hoping we would start more of it this year, but it will probably be pushed back a year,” said Neumann. “We’re just not seeing the uptake on the lots.”

Neumann also shared a plan for the southwest corner of the neighbourhood, along 137th Avenue, where the eventual LRT stop will go in.

The developers envision that as a higher-density area, with one or two residential towers, he said. The city would have to approve any plans before development moves forward.

“There is no point in having an LRT station if you don’t have anyone who is going to jump on the train,” Neumann explained.

Neumann also addressed resident concerns about slipping architectural guidelines in Griesbach, saying the softer market means some guidelines have to be altered to improve affordability.

“We are trying not to water it down or reduce it,” he said. “There are some things we need to move on. We still have another 10 or 15 years left out here. It is a balancing act. We started 17 years ago. People then had some different ideas about what houses should look like.”

He also addressed questions about a new monument or statue in the roundabout on Griesbach Road. Neumann said that is on hold for now, because of questions about who will pay for the monument upkeep once Canada Lands moves out of the Griesbach neighbourhood.

“The city does not like taking those [monuments] over,” said Neumann. “There is a maintenance agreement that is attached to that and I don’t want to burden the community league with those things.”

Notice of Griesbach Community League AGM

The Griesbach Community League Annual General Meeting is scheduled for:

Monday, March 11, 2019

Major General Griesbach School gym

304 Griesbach School Rd NW

This is an open meeting. All members of the community are invited to attend. We will be giving an update on events and accomplishments during the past year, current projects and future priorities. There will be an opportunity to ask questions of the board and to let the board know what you would like to see in 2019/20.

The AGM is also the time we hold elections for new board members.

You must have a valid 2018/19 Griesbach Community League membership in order to run for a board position or vote in new members. Memberships will be on sale ahead of the meeting, or you can purchase one online here.

List of positions up for election

president (this is the only position that requires a minimum of two years experience on the GCL board)

secretary

structures & facilities

neighbourhood watch

sports

programs

fundraising

membership

For more information about what is required for each position, please click here.

How much time does it take to be on the GCL board?

Your time is valuable! Board meetings are limited to one evening per month and last a maximum of two hours. They usually take place at MGG school, from 7-9 p.m.

After the once-per-month meeting, time commitment will vary depending on the projects and events related to your position. You can take on more, or less, work, as your schedule allows.

Why should I run for a board position?

Meet new friends. The board works hard, but it finds lots of time for fun. There are social events for board members at least a few times each year. The board is a friendly bunch and you certainly don’t need to know anyone on the board to join.

Make the neighbourhood even better. You will have a hand in planning and executing the kind of events and programs you want to see to make Griesbach an even better place to live.

Be in the know. You will be the first know what is going on in the neighbourhood. You will liaise with local developers, politicians and other stakeholders to have your say on new projects and priorities.

Build your resume and network. At least one of our board members launched a great new career this year through a connection made during GCL volunteer work. We can’t promise you a new or better job opportunity, but we can promise a chance to develop skills and meet all kinds of people.

Send questions here

Want to know more about getting involved before committing? Email president@griesbachcommunity.com

We look forward to seeing you on March 11.

Party at the Park and playground dedication goes off with a bang

What a party! The Griesbach Community League would like to give a big high-five to everyone who made our playground dedication and annual community party the best one yet.

An estimated 700 people came to the event on Saturday, Sept. 8. Volunteers served up more than 500 burgers and hotdogs. There were bouncy castles, face painting, beer and music, cotton candy, balloon animals, a photo booth, a bike parade, games, a climbing wall and a huge fireworks display to cap it all off.

The Party at the Park 2018 would not have been possible without support from this great community, including dozens of volunteers and sponsors, and the hundreds of community members who came out to the event to enjoy the festivities.

Notably, Fireworks Spectaculars was the team behind our awesome nighttime display, with Canada Lands Company also sponsoring the fireworks show and the event earlier in the day.

Staff at Fireworks Spectaculars—Rich Juchli, Leonard Nordlund and Wilf Bullerkist—donated their time to put on the show. This means the community league only had to cover the cost of the fireworks and permits, as these three men worked all day for free as a service to the community. This gave us way more bang for our buck. The fireworks would not have been possible without such a generous donation of time and expertise. Thank you!

Photo: Allan Au

Skuba Dental was another big sponsor. The dental office just north of Griesbach was not only a major donor to the playground project, it also sponsored the photo booth at the event and donated door prizes.

Other sponsors include:

  • Funky Petals donated beautiful flower arrangements for prizes.
  • Shopper’s Drug Mart, Griesbach, was a sponsor for the playground and donated prizes to the scavenger hunt.
  • Tim Hortons in Griesbach donated jugs of coffee to warm up anyone who dropped by the beer tent.
  • Griesbach Dance Company provided volunteers to flip so many burgers and hotdogs and handed out cotton candy.
  • Bone and Biscuit donated two door-prize baskets for dog and cat lovers, along with plenty of giveaways at the event.

Thank you so much to all of these local businesses! We ask community members to please show your appreciation by supporting them, in turn, if you are able to do so.

We’re also thankful for all of the fundraising superstars who attended our ribbon cutting to officially open the Maple Leaf Park playground. Notably, Education Minister and Edmonton-Calder MLA David Eggen and Edmonton Ward 2 Councillor Bev Esslinger. Both of these leaders were instrumental in building the Griesbach playground.

Dignitaries cut the ribbon at a playground dedication on Sept. 8. From left to right are: Addison Tilley, Griesbach Community League president Brad Tilley, Kara KempinJim Chronopoulos, MGG fundraising society president Ammanda Cole, MGG principal Brent Zmurchik, MLA and Education Minister David Eggen, Edmonton Ward 2 Councillor Bev Esslinger, Canada Lands Company director Marvin Neumann and Joylyn Teskey.

Door-prize winners have been drawn and will be contacted in the coming days to arrange prize pickup. Scavenger hunt winners will also be chosen and contacted after the next community league board meeting on Sept. 12.

Stay tuned for more events like this one. The Griesbach Community League board members are taking some time to catch our breath before planning more events around Christmas. We’re also looking for new volunteers, and ideas, to help keep the party going. Email communications@griesbachcommunity.com if you would like to get involved.

Win big with the Party at the Park scavenger hunt

Calling all history buffs! The Griesbach Community League is launching a military history scavenger hunt ahead of the Party at the Park on Sept. 8.

Download and print this entry form (opens as a PDF), or print off this entire page with the questions below. All of the information needed to answer these questions can be found on the plaques and information pedestals in the community. Fill out the answers and drop it off at the Party at the Park on Sept. 8 to win.

There will be three prizes for correct entries, at a value of $100 per prize. Only correct entries can win. If there are more than three correct entires, winners will be randomly drawn from all correct entries.

Happy hunting!

Party at the Park History Scavenger Hunt

Rules

  • Entries must be submitted at the Party at the Park on Saturday Sept. 8, 2018 at the membership registration tent.
  • Only entries that get 100% of the answers correct will be entered in the draw.
  • Winner of the draw will be contacted and their name will be posted online and/or in the community newsletter.
  • Only one entry per household.

Name:                                                             Address:                                                                                   

Phone number:                                    Email address:                                                           

To answer these questions, begin your journey through Griesbach at Patricia Lake, continue through Bedford Basin with a quick stop at the Central Park, before moving onto Roundel Lake. All of the information needed to answer these questions can be found on the plaques and information pedestals in the community.

1. Who is the founder of the P.P.C.L.I.? ___________________________________

a. In the Battle of __________________________­­­­ he was seriously wounded

b. and lost a leg at _________________________

2. What is the name of the type of bridge at Patricia Lake? ____________________________

3. There is a time capsule in the memorial at the Patricia Lake. On what date is the time capsule to be opened? _______________________________________________________________________

4. The Canadian Airborne Regiment was disbanded in which year? ____________

5. What is the name of the park where the Canadian Airborne Memorial Cairn is located? ______________________________________________________________________

6. The last Canadian to be awarded the Victoria Cross was ________________________________

7. Name the first real warship of the Canadian Navy _____________________________________

8. Name of the Edmonton Division of the Canadian Navy (Reserve) ______________________

a. The motto for the Edmonton Division of the Canadian Navy is (English or Latin) _________________________________________________________________________

9. At the top of hill in Central Park, what is the theme of the information pedestals? _________________________________________________________________________

10. Name the system to identify military aircraft, attached to the wing or fuselage ________________________________________________________________________

11. What was the name of the air demonstration team before the Snowbirds? _______________________________________________________________

12. The current RCAF motto is “Sic itur ad astra.” Ad astra is Latin for _______________________

13. Who wrote “In Flanders Fields”? ________________________________________________

Griesbach’s first ever adult mixer

Join us on Wednesday, May 30 for the Griesbach Adult Mix & Mingle.

Ever notice how a kid can go to the park and meet five new friends in less than two minutes but the adults who brought the kids just sit there all alone on the bench?

Now there’s a chance for adults to meet other adults/couples in the neighborhood in a safe, fun environment.

Borrowing concepts from the speed dating movement, individuals/couples will rotate from table to table and meet other individuals/couples via a variety of icebreaking questions and fun games.

WHO’S WELCOME?

Adults looking to meet other adults. Come as a couple or as a single. If you are in a couple and only one of you can attend, that’s OK, too.

WHO’S NOT WELCOME?

Children under the age of 18. No exceptions. Kids get lots of opportunities to meet each other at the park so now it’s our turn.

WHEN?

Wednesday May 30, 2018 starting at 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

WHERE?

Paramo Café in the Griesbach Landing complex

HOW MUCH?

$10/person. If you’re a community league member you get a $10 credit at Paramo for food and beverages on the night of the event, so it’s basically free for community league members! In addition, community league members are eligible to win door prizes at the event.

TICKETS

Purchase tickets in advance via Eventbrite. Ticket sales end on May 23, 2018. Paramo is a cozy venue, so tickets are limited.

Mark your calendars for the Griesbach Outgrown It Sale

The Griesbach Community League is excited to partner with the Griesbach Mommy Tribe for the neighbourhood’s first annual Outgrown It Sale in the Major General Griesbach School gym on Saturday, May 5.

The event gives parents the chance to sell their kids’ gently used clothing, toys and other items. Parents who don’t want to pay full price for new children’s items (and who does?) can find great deals to take home.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will allow private table vendors only. This means no businesses, just a giant indoor garage sale full of kid and baby stuff.

Spots are limited and will be given out on a first-come first-serve basis to anyone who books a table through Eventbrite. Tables are limited to one per person until Friday, April 27. After that date, any remaining tables will be opened up to whoever needs more space.

At the end of the event, a charity will accept any donations of unsold goods.

Admission is free for shoppers. Bring cash, as there will not be an ATM or credit-card services on site. Exact change is appreciated!

Book a table here.

Questions? Send them here: griesbachoutgrownit@gmail.com

Griesbach Easter egg hunt is fun for every bunny

It was a hopping good time, as 200 Griesbach kids and their adults met on Easter morning for the sold-out Easter Egg Hunt 2018.

Though the weather was chilly, with temperatures around -10 degrees Celsius, 85 families donned their snowsuits and descended on Roundel Lake. Each child had to collect one egg of each colour from around the lake path before turning in their eggs for a Kinder Surprise prize basket.

This year’s event saw a venue change, moving to the northwest section of Griesbach. It was a chance for residents, and their guests, to appreciate the new development happening in the area.

Some Edmonton firefighters dropped by to hand out firefighter hats and colouring books. Kids had the chance to climb aboard a firetruck. The Easter Bunny himself also made a special guest appearance.

The Griesbach Community League would like to give a big thanks to Tim Hortons for donating the doughnuts and to all the dedicated volunteers who made this year’s event another great success.

Click on any of the images bellow to see a larger version.

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