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Calgary Westgate Recreation
Services Tax Calgary, AB. T3C 3V4 249-5656
Westgate Recreation Services Tax (Initially know as the Maintenance & Enhancement Levy) The Westgate Community Association made history on March 4, 2002, two years after embarking down a pioneer trail, Calgary City Council passed the Westgate Recreation Services Tax By-law. Not only is Westgate the first, but as a result of our work the Administration of the City and Community Neighborhood Services now have the ability to move forward with policies and guidelines that can be used by other community associations in the future. When the Board, armed with a motion made and passed at the Annual General Meeting in January 2000 took their first steps down this trail they were pioneering unknown ground. The CA worked with the finance department, the city solicitors and Community Neighborhood Services to ensure that what we were undertaking was done in complete accordance with the Municipal Government Act. No one will deny that we found more than a few obstacles along the way. No one will deny that the processes and guidance we were provided and followed uncovered unforeseen obstacles and objections. No one will deny that the process generated misunderstandings and confusion along the way. However, the community association committed to completing the journey and on March 4th the destination was reached. When Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon, his first words to an entire world were, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” No one has said it, but someone should, “One small step for communities, be prepared for one giant leap.” The efforts made by the volunteer pioneers of Westgate have enabled Council, Finance and Community Neighborhood Services the beginnings of several initiatives and programs that will enable communities to meet their future lifecycle and operation costs. The ground work has been done by Westgate and the future will likely see two processes for communities, Lifecycle Maintenance Grant and Recreation Services Tax Levy. The processes for both will be refined, defined and outlined in such a manner that CA’s will be able to complete the process in a timely manner without running into the obstacles that Westgate encountered, uncovered and ultimately overcame. A lot of people volunteered to embark on this journey, like most pioneers they had an idea where they were headed, how they were going to get there and what they would find when they arrived. Like most pioneers they encounter obstacles on the journey, they overcame them and reached their destination. If no one volunteered to pioneer what would the future hold? Thank you everyone who supported and objected to this pioneering quest all of you helped us reach our destination and helped us reach a better future for all Community Associations in Calgary. Peter Pasmore, Secretary Westgate Community Association
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