To accommodate a growing ridership, Calgary Transit has begun construction on several LRT station platforms in preparation for the operation of fourcar trains as opposed to the usual three.

Work has already started on the Fish Creek-Lacombe and Heritage stations with an expected construction duration of five months. Chinook Station construction is expected to begin this year, though Transit has marked likely closure in 2013. The 39th Avenue and Banff stations have an expected construction start date of next year or the year after.

Calgary's residential sales are continuing to show positive growth.

Sales increased by 15 per cent on a year-to-date basis in 2012, and were up eight per cent this November compared to last. With nearly eight consecutive months of double-digit, year-over-year sales growth, the city's inventory levels are decreasing, as new listings haven't been able to keep up. However according to CREB®'s monthly stats, the ratio between sales and inventory shows the market remains in balanced territory.

Monday December 3rd CREB®now and Canadian Blood Services partnered up for CREB®now:A Day of Giving during their 'Miracle on 7th St' campaign.

We saw a lot of first time donors the other day and were very encouraged by their efforts. There were also many donor reaching well over the 50 and 100 donations mark.

In the past three years Calgarians have recycled more than 200 million kilograms of materials.

"Calgarians have made recycling a part of their every day routines and are doing the right thing by tossing their paper, cardboard, plastic containers, food cans and glass jars into their blue cart or community recycling depot," said program development leader Paula Magdich.

CALGARY RESALE MARKET REMAINS IN BALANCE

Inventories continue to fall, but sales growth eases to keep market stable Calgary, December 3, 2012 – Residential sales in the City of Calgary have increased by 15 per cent on a year-to-date basis, and were up 8-per-cent in November compared to the same month in 2011.

Nearly eight consecutive months of double-digit, year-over-year sales growth has caused inventory levels to decline because new listings have not kept up. However, the ratio between sales and inventory indicates the market remains in balanced territory.

Once the I's are dotted and the T's are crossed, the Calgary community of Victoria Park will have a new green space for its residents.

"It's a for sure thing, we have funding in place," said Michelle Reid with City of Calgary Parks. "We are in the process of trying to get our development permit and we plan to start construction next summer."

The holiday season has come a little early at one of Calgary's most historic sites with Lougheed House's Christmas All Through the House Nov. 17-25.

For the fifth year, The Calgary Design Group — a group of 10 local designers who meet on a regular basis to talk the trade, its products and how they can best work with their clients — have collaborated with Lougheed House creating a variety of holiday themed design throughout the house.

The mayors of Canada's biggest cities are pledging to match new federal and provincial government funding dollar for dollar in an attempt to procure more funding from the federal government.

Modernizing Canada's "crowded and rapidly-aging transportation networks" was cited as a major reason behind the need for increased funding.

According to the the 22-member big city mayors' caucus, one out of every four roads is congested, with 50 per cent in need immediate repair.

Buoyed by net migration, job prosperity and low mortgage rates, MLS® sales in Calgary this year are expected to reach their highest level since 2007, before increasing even further in 2013.

As outlined in the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's (CMHC) annual Calgary Housing Outlook Conference, which took place Nov. 20 at the BMO Centre, Richard Cho, CMHC's senior market analyst for Calgary, said sales in Calgary should increase by almost 16 per cent in 2012 to 26,000 units, rising by another 500 units in 2013 to 26,500.