I HEART BOWNESS

Kyle Huhn, USP Quality Control Supervisor

Growing up in rural Alberta - things feel a little different compared to living in the city. There was a strong sense of community, whether that be driven by the local arena, curling rink, or community centre. Everyone seems to know everyone, so it is important to maintain relationships that might continue to exist for generations.

Fast forward 20 years to living in Calgary: There might be more people here, but those same interpersonal connections aren’t built quite the same way. There are community hubs, but they don’t always foster the same sense of community. While some individuals show pride in their city of residence, individually, they make up a tiny percentage of the population compared to a resident of Carseland, Standard, or Acme choosing to do the same.

However, after spending over a decade in Calgary, there seems to be a strange outlier nestled in the northwest: the neighbourhood of Bowness.

One of the oldest neighbourhoods in Calgary, amalgamated into the city in 1964, Bowness has somehow managed to keep some of that small town charm inside the big city. You won’t have to look far to find “I HEART BOWNESS” stickers, signs, or artwork in the neighbourhood. It seems like every time I step outside, I end up chatting with a friendly face, whether it be the resident cat walkers, servers from the nearby restaurants, or local business owners. However, Bowness isn’t immune to change, and with the large number of construction projects going on in the area, more and more locate requests are being submitted.

I always take pride in the work Utility Safety Partners does, but there is something special about going for a walk and seeing that impact in your own backyard, knowing you’ve played a part in keeping your community safe.