I hope everyone has had a chance to enjoy some quality summer weather with friends and/or family, and as Fall approaches you are ready to slip back into the routines that come with the change of season. While your AGCL Board also took some time away from duties to re-charge, there were still a few things that required attention. If you’ve been to the Hall grounds this summer you will have noticed some new landscaping on the north end of the big rink. This was the final bit of our shed project that was to be completed; re-grading of the earth around the shed and near the rink (that was disturbed during construction), with a new drainage swale leading from the parking lot to our main sewer catch basin. New sod was laid as part of this, and a big thank you goes out to two community youth, Sam Pretzlaff and Zack Bowie, who took on a last minute job for the League to make sure this was watered all summer so that it had a fighting chance to grow! This project could not have been completed without the ongoing effort of community volunteers, as well as City of Edmonton & the Province of Alberta financial grants that help support community infrastructure development.

Board members also assisted & supported the Move for Mental Health 2022 run that took place in our neighbourhood in July; a successful event by all accounts. Thank you to those who organized and supported an event that brought people together for a good cause.

Behind the scenes work in the summer included ongoing efforts geared towards our plans for our Building Renovation - come out to Harvest Fest to hear more at an information table that we will have on site - we will be happy to share the up-to-date information that we have! And finally, the plans for Harvest Fest are coming together - save time in your calendars for the afternoon of Sunday, September 18th. We are celebrating Community League weekend with an event from 2-5pm and we are excited to bring you live music with Martin Kerr! September is also our feature month for Memberships, so please come out and support your League by enjoying one of our traditional (free!) community events & purchasing a Membership to our League. Membership fees go towards supporting our Leagues events, ice rinks and programs that we are able to offer throughout the year, and you can also benefit from discounts at local businesses. Check out our Membership section at the end of this newsletter for participating businesses.

Cheers!

Sponsored in part by the City of Edmonton

Your AGCL Board is looking for a few volunteers willing to help out by taking a shift selling Memberships, liquor tickets, and man the beer garden. If you can donate a bit of time to help out, please email Jessie @ jtrufyn@ualberta.ca

The GirlStrong weekend session was so successful in July, that Play Strong Canada is looking to do it again! 

7 Week Class: September 10th - October 15th (Saturdays).

Location: Aspen Gardens Hall Gounds (outdoors).

Registration (and fees) are required. Want to save a couple bucks? Opt to pay via an invoice and you will save the credit cards fees attached by Eventbrite

Minimum 15 participants required to run.

Link to Register:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/aspen-garden-power4girls-multi-sport-class-tickets-388868134057?fbclid=IwAR1HMeSKCnPLKXtqRImxWQFkzrmkxYYTAxPu5gwvK0pGxNyIBztP4eLLLHs

Community Swim is back starting September 10, 2022! 

Where: Confederation Leisure                   Centre (11204 43 Avenue)

When: Saturday: 4:00pm-5:30pm Sunday: 4:00pm-5:30pm

Community swims do not take place on Statutory Holidays or days the facilities close early (Christmas eve, Christmas day, New Years eve, New Years Day, Canada Day, Easter Sunday)

*Valid Community League Membership must be presented at facility.*

2022 is the “Year of the Garden” and a perfect time to visit the nearby Green and Gold Garden on South Campus! Our garden is totally volunteer run, and with over 50 varieties of vegetables, a large assortment of herbs, flowers, fruit orchard, and a hoop house—the harvest is in full swing— and there are special Year of the Garden events every Saturday. The Green and Gold Garden is a “garden with a difference.” Because we are totally volunteer run, 100% of the money raised from produce sales at our market days throughout the summer, go to support the Tubahumurize Association in Rwanda. This non-profit offers socially and economically marginalized women vocational training, counselling, health care education, and micro credit loans for sustainable income generating activities.

Our market hours are Tuesdays from 7-8:30 pm and Saturdays from 11-1 pm.

To find out more, go to our site: www.greengoldgarden.com or email gggarden@ualberta.ca

PETROLIA SENIORS GROUP (55+) hopes you will come to enjoy LUNCH and a PROGRAM ($25) at Greenfield Community Hall - 3804 -114 Street

11:45 am - 2:00 pm. (Please be seated no later than 11:40)

September 20th - Celebrating Petrolia Seniors’ 35th Anniversary!

Speaker: Billie Millholland, “Life before Plastic & Toilet Paper”-- Early Stories of Edmonton

October 18th – “Navigating the Unexpected in the Health Care System and the ER”

Speaker: Dr. Darren Nichols, Emergency Room Doctor (bring your questions)

November 22nd -“Protecting Yourself from Fraud and Scams” - ECP Constable Corinne Kline

For more information or to CONFIRM your attendance PLEASE CALL:

Betty - 780-434-0711 or Claire - 780-435-3051

An additional “outing” is offered each month for your enjoyment; for information call Joyce - 780-435-6388

We look forward to your participation!

Babysitters:

Brooke Tyson: Aged 14. She has completed the Red Cross babysitting course. She is very good with children and can do housework (e.g., dishes, cleaning, cooking) when kids are asleep. Contact Brooke @ 780-720-9067

Maddy Dublenko: Aged 14. Maddy has completed her babysitting course and lives in Aspen Gardens. Contact via Nicki @ 780-267-4277.

Matthew Herd: Age 14. Lives in Aspen Gardens (west half). Matthew has completed Babysitting and Home Alone courses and has prior babysitting experience (references available). Keen interest in basketball, Lego, and all things Star Wars. Please contact via Emily @ 780-655-7508

Megan Tyson: Age 13 Megan is a very responsible babysitter 780-451-3095

Adrian McCurdy: Aged 19 - They love band, art and being creative. Adrian has a part time job at Build-A-Bear and is in their first year of a Bachelors of music. As well as a child development assistant certification, they have completed 2 babysitting courses. Contact Adrian @ 780-935-2803 or adrianmcc@gmail.com

Jack Hamm: age 12 has completed his Red Cross babysitters training course and is interested in babysitting children aged four and older. He attends Vernon Barford junior high school and is offering to walk kids home from Westbrook school and babysit until parents are home from work as well. If interested please contact Lisa at lisamichellehamm@gmail.com

Juliet Robertson: Age 12 has completed her Red Cross babysitters training course. She is a qualified babysitter with experience taking care of children of age 3 - 9. She has excellent communication skills, is enthusiastic, responsible, safe, and patient. She charges $10 an hour. If interested please contact 780-433-7972

Tutors:

Summer/ongoing weekend tutoring and mentoring available for grades 5-8 students. Teacher is one of the top students in Grade 9 at VB, headed for Grade 10 at Old Scona in Fall 2022. Contact Saras Agrawal agrawalsaras0714@gmail.com, or phone 7802677298.

*If you wish to be added to the Youth For Hire please let us know.

We Need Your Help!

Your AGCL has a couple of opportunities available for those who may be interested in getting involved:

Social Director:

We are looking for someone willing to get involved as an Aspen Gardens Social Director. This volunteer position involves working collaboratively with the Board, while taking a lead role in planning and hosting community events, and is ideal is a shared position if you and your bestie want to team up to take it on!

If you have an interest in getting involved and helping out with some of the fun stuff that happens in our community, please be in touch - we would love to hear from you!

The more hands on deck, the better! Please send inquiries to president@aspengardens.ca

Ice Maker:

Aspen Gardens Community League is looking for to an individual who would like to create and maintain our ice rinks for the upcoming 2022/23 season. 

This is a paid position (monthly) that generally runs from November-February/March, however, is weather condition dependent.

Our neighbourhood maintains 3 rinks- main hockey rink (grass base), small boarded rink and extra snowbank rink. 

The contract would require 

- initial ice making, ice maintenance and snow removal

- on going flooding to keep the ice in great shape

- maintenance and snow removal for the entirety of the season (until weather permits) 

Our ideal Ice Maker has the time to commit to building/flooding the rinks in early November; the estimated time being 40-60hrs to flood the rinks and get them started. Time commitment after that is weather (snow) and use dependent (higher time commitment early in the season), to clear and maintain the rinks throughout the winter season.

We have a riding tracker with both a snow blower and sweeper attachment for ongoing clearing/maintenance, and our previous Ice Maker is willing to provide tutorial & guidance on its operation. 

If this role is of interest to you, please contact vicepresident@aspengardens.ca before September 25th.

Upcoming SWAC Casino:

The South West Area Council (SWAC) has a casino slot coming up in December. SWAC is made up of representatives from the 15 S.W. Community Leagues—including Aspen Gardens. One of the functions of SWAC is to provide grants on an annual basis, to member Community Leagues.

The upcoming SWAC casino (at Argyll Casino) is an opportunity for Aspen to earn up to $3000 for our League!

All we have to do is provide 3 volunteers to work a casino slot and our league will earn $1000 per volunteer! This over and above any future grants we may receive from SWAC. With the COVID restrictions lifted, and pent up demand, recent casinos have brought in very large earnings. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to our League!

If you would like to volunteer— please contact president@aspengardens.ca

Community Membership is available for purchase online and has it's benefits, including discounts at:

• 15% on multi-admission passes to City of Edmonton recreation centres
• 20% on annual passes to City of Edmonton recreation centres 
•  discounts at the following local retailers:
• 5% at Petrolia Liquor Store
• 10% at Square One Coffee
• 10% at Stone & Wheel Pizza
• 10% at Roma Pizza & Donair
• 10% at Anava Esthetics Studio
• No GST at Westbrook Drycleaners
• Good Stock Restuarant & Catering
• 10% at REP Physio for Therapeutic Massage

Membership Fees

The 2022/2023 Membership Fees are $40 and include all of the benefits listed above, in addition to supporting your community.

How to Purchase a Membership

• On-line at https://efcl.org/membership/ (Note: There is a $5 administrative fee. Visa and Mastercard are accepted.)
• In-person at any AGCL event
• At any Servus Credit Union
• Email the AGCL Membership Director at membership@aspengardens.ca

WESTBROOK TUTORING SERVICES:

Nicole Gilbert, certified teacher and learning coach of 30 years, is continuing to offer private tutoring and mentoring in the neighbourhood. Tailoring my approach to the learning styles of each child, I offer assistance to students of all ages and competencies. Committed to developing long-standing rapport with families in the community, I now offer both online and in-home services employing full AHS protocols. Please contact me at 780-218-1319 or westbrooktutoring@telus.net

BLUE SKY DOGS PROFESSIONAL DOG WALKING AND PET CARE:

Dog walking, Pet Sitting, and Pet Visits. Licensed, Insured and Bonded. Visit blueskydogs.ca, email tim@blueskydogs.ca or call 780-903-8016.

MUSIC LESSONS:

Piano lessons in your own home, beginners a specialty. Evening, afternoon, daytime spots avail. Richard Van oosterom, B.Mus, [M. Mus (courses)] piano, theory, harmony, RCM, and university exam preparation. 780-437-2391 (home), 780-292-3489 (cell), rjvano@primus.ca or www.mauranuimusic

JIM’S HOME MAINTENANCE SERVICE:

Experience with plumbing, painting, install and repair of toilets, faucet, drywall, cleaning roofs, gutters, grout and silicone bathtubs. $30/hr, 20% off AGCL members. Jimxu4808@gmail.com

HANDMADE CROCHET NECK COWLS, WRIST BANDS, & NECK WARMERS:

100% Alberta grown ALPACA wool. Eco-friendly, hypo-allergenic, soft & soothing. Great for gifts! See some of the Alpaca products on Kijiji, under the heading of Alpaca Cowls (buy and sell section). Contact Monica: mmerrikka@gmail.com

HAPPINESS IS YOU PHOTOGRAPHY

Family, maternal, newborn and personal branding photography sessions offered. 10% off for all AGCL members. Please contact Tara Needham at 780-916-3294 or email happinessisyouphotography@gmail.com. Visit my website at happinessisyouphotography.com

MASSAGE THERAPY

Elena is a certified and licensed R.M.T offering mobile massage therapy in Aspen Gardens and the surrounding communities. Appointments available between the hours of 10 AM and 1:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Flexible hours available on the weekends. For bookings, please contact Elena via call or text at 780-655-1669.