Golf season in Calgary is officially underway, after public courses received the go ahead to reopen on May 2 and several City of Calgary courses opened on May 14. However, thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this will be no ordinary golf season.

City and public courses have instituted a variety of new safety measures and procedures to keep golfers and staff safe and healthy. The specifics of these safety measures vary from course to course, but there are still several best practices golfers should follow.

For many residents of apartment-style condo buildings, a balcony offers a small, private slice of the outdoors – a place to kick back with a book, sip your morning coffee, catch a few rays, or enjoy an al fresco meal or cocktail.

In recent months, the widespread adoption of social distancing and self-isolation to combat COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of private outdoor spaces. For those who have them, balconies and backyards provide a crucial refuge – a safe space to get some fresh air while avoiding contact with other people.

As self-isolated gardeners in charge of our own personal food security this summer, it's good to know which vegetables are fast from seed and which ones are oh so slow.

Spring might have officially started on March 19, but as Calgarians know, "spring" in this city is an elastic concept. Now that temperatures are rising and nature is showing new signs of life, it's time to give your home the spring-cleaning treatment.

After the first full month with social distancing measures in place, the housing market is adjusting to the effects of COVID-19.

To their credit, many Calgarians have not let the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic dampen their spirits or diminish their sense of community. This fact can be seen in the many heartfelt – and sometimes humorous – messages of thanks and support displayed throughout the city.

These may be uncertain times, but, as one of the messages reminds us, "we're all in this together."

The Bank of Canada announced on April 15 that it would keep its overnight rate target at 0.25 per cent and that no additional rate cuts should be expected.

This decision to hold rates steady came on the heels of three rate cuts in over a month, as the COVID-19 pandemic and plummeting oil prices exact a heavy toll on the Canadian economy.

When the novel coronavirus arrived in Alberta, residents and managers of tightly packed multi-family housing developments quickly realized special precautions were necessary to keep people safe and healthy.

As governments and individuals around the world work to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus, it has become clear the epidemic will have far-reaching impacts for Calgary's residents, businesses and economy.

Since 1984, the CREB^®Now newspaper has been a part of the city's news community.

Through our editorial work, we've covered all things real estate, residential and commercial, to ensure our readers make the most of their home buying and selling experiences.