Wednesday Cart Collection

No Wednesday cart pickup on Christmas or New Year’s Day.

Instead of the usual Wednesday pickup, blue, black and/or green cart will be collected on: Monday, Dec. 23 and Monday, Dec. 30.  Only Wednesday blue, black and/or green cart collection is changing. All other households will have their regular pick-up on their usual day.

Visit calgary.ca/collection to check your collection schedule and sign up for reminders.

Things to do

Celebrate New Year’s Eve with fireworks and music. Ring in 2025 with family-friendly activities, live entertainment, food trucks, a skating/dance party and a midnight fireworks show launched from Prince’s Island Park. Park close to the celebration and fireworks with free event parking on the south side of Memorial Dr. N.W. (eastbound) between 10th St. N.W. and 4A St. N.W. from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

This spectacular display will be synchronized to music by Canadian artists on CJSW 90.9 FM. You can also enjoy the show at home by watching our livestream at calgary.ca/NYE starting at 11:55 p.m. Tune in for a blessing from Indigenous Elder, Clarence Wolfleg, followed by a countdown to midnight with Mayor Jyoti Gondek.

Free public skating

Join us over the holiday break for some free ice skating at arenas across Calgary.

Boxing Day: Dec. 26, 1 – 2:15 p.m.

• Ernie Starr Arena (4808 14 Avenue S.E.)
• Frank McCool Arena (1900 Lake Bonavista Drive S.E.)
• Optimist/Blunden Arenas (5020 26 Avenue S.W.)

New Year’s Day: Jan. 1, 1 – 2:15 p.m.

• Murray Copot Arena (6727 Centre St. N.W.)
• Optimist/Blunden Arenas (5020 26 Avenue S.W.)
• Rose Kohn / Jimmie Condon Arenas (502 Heritage Dr. S.W.)
• Shouldice Arena (1515 Home Rd. N.W.)

Arena rules for public skates:

• A helmet is required for participants 17 years and under (a CSA-approved hockey helmet is recommended).
• A helmet is recommended for participants 18 years and over (a CSA-approved hockey helmet is recommended).
• Skates or ice cleats/grippers are required while on the ice.
• Long pants and long sleeves are recommended while on the ice.
• Children under the age of eight must be accompanied on ice by a person 14 years and older.
• Chairs, skating aids, strollers and other devices are not permitted on the ice.
• Figure skating or hockey drills are not permitted.
• Sticks and pucks/rings, tag or other games are not permitted.

Equipment rentals are not available.

Check out VisitCalgary.com to learn about other local events and activities happening near you.

We are adjusting our hours of operation over the holiday season. Find full details at calgary.ca/pools

The following facilities will be closed Dec. 23 – Jan. 1:

• Acadia Aquatic & Fitness Centre (9009 Fairmount Dr. S.E.)
• Foothills Aquatic Centre (2915 24 Ave. N.W.)
• Glenmore Aquatic Centre (5330 19 St. S.W.)
• Inglewood Aquatic Centre (1527 17 Ave. S.E.)
• Shouldice Aquatic Centre (5303 Bowness Rd. N.W.)

The following facilities will be open Dec. 24, 7:30 – 11 a.m. & Dec. 31, 6 a.m. – 4 p.m. and closed Dec. 25, 26 & Jan. 1:

• Bob Bahan Aquatic & Fitness Centre (4812 14 Ave. S.E.)
• Canyon Meadows Aquatic & Fitness Centre (89 Canova Rd. S.W.)
• Killarney Aquatic & Recreation Centre (1919 29 St. S.W.)
• Renfrew Aquatic & Recreation Centre (810 13 Ave. N.E.)
• Sir Winston Churchill Aquatic & Recreation Centre (1520 Northmount Dr. N.W. )
• Thornhill Aquatic & Recreation Centre (6715 Centre St. N.W.)

Our Leisure Centres will open on Dec. 24, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. & Dec. 31, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. The pool opens at 10 a.m. both days. They will be closed Dec. 25, 26 & Jan. 1:

• Southland Leisure Centre (2000 Southland Dr. S.W.)
• Village Square Leisure Centres (2623 56 St. N.E.)

Calgary Soccer Centre (7000 – 48 Street S.E.)

• Closed: Dec. 24 – Jan. 1

North Mount Pleasant and Wildflower Arts Centres

• Closed: Dec. 20 – Jan. 2

Arenas

·        Closed: Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1 except free public skate times listed above or pre-booked tournaments.

Getting around

Calgary Transit

We will have adjusted service for Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. Transit service is free this New Year’s Eve, courtesy of J.P. Wiser’s.   

For more details including customer service, Calgary Transit Access, and On Demand hours, visit https://www.calgarytransit.com/NewYearsEve 

Wednesday, Dec. 25	Buses and CTrains operating on a Sunday level of service. On Demand service operating on Sunday schedule and level of service.
Thursday, Dec. 26	Buses and CTrains operating on a Sunday level of service. On Demand service operating on Sunday schedule and level of service.
Tuesday, Dec. 31    Transit service is free on New Year’s Eve, courtesy of  J.P. Wiser’s.	CTrain:   ·   The Red Line will run every 10 minutes until around 9:30 p.m. and then switch to every 15 minutes.  ·   The Blue Line will run every 10 minutes until around 9:30 p.m. and then switch to every 15 minutes.  ·   Service will end around 4 a.m.    Bus: Service extended for Routes: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 22, 301, 302, MAX Orange, MAX Yellow, MAX Teal and MAX Purple. These buses will run every 30-35 minutes. Last trips will leave downtown at approximately 3 a.m.  On Demand service operating on Sunday schedule and level of service.
Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025	Buses and CTrains operating on a Sunday level of service. On Demand service operating on Sunday schedule and level of service.

 

 

Road closures

New Year’s Eve closures (Dec. 31 – Jan. 1)

• Road closure: Memorial Dr. N.W. (eastbound and westbound) from 10 Street N.W. to 4 Street N.E. will be closed from 7 p.m. on December 31, 2024 to 2 a.m. on January 1, 2025.
• For pedestrian and traffic safety, there will be a no stopping zone on Crescent Road N.W. between 7a Street and Centre A Street N.W. from 7 p.m. on December 31 to 2 a.m. on January 1, 2025.

December 22: From midnight to 4 a.m. 16 Ave N.E. will be fully closed between 19 Street N.E. and Deerfoot Trail.

4 Avenue Flyover (ongoing): reduced to a single lane.

Mission Bridge (ongoing): Full closure of the bridge for vehicle traffic.

Parking

Enjoy free parking in on-street ParkPlus zones on Wednesday, Dec. 25 and Thursday, Dec. 26, and Wednesday, Jan. 1. Please note that regular rates will be in effect at partner lots such as TELUS Spark, Stampede Park, Calgary Zoo and Heritage Park.

The Calgary Parking Contact Centre and Impound Lot will be closed on Wednesday, Dec. 25. For more information, please visit Calgary Parking.

Around the house

Landfill and Eco Centre hours

Landfill and Eco Centre locations will be closed on Dec. 25, 2024 and Jan. 1, 2025 only. Landfill and Eco Centre locations and hours are available on calgary.ca/landfill. 

Recreation Facilities
We are adjusting our hours of operation over the holiday break.

Winter Safety

Storm ponds

The City of Calgary is reminding Calgarians that storm ponds are not for recreational use. Walking, skating, sledding or allowing your pet to venture out on to the ice is unsafe and prohibited under the Stormwater Bylaw. We encourage Calgarians to enjoy over 65 volunteer-maintained Adopt-a-Rinks or City of Calgary natural ice rinks instead, which are regularly inspected and maintained for safe skating. Visit calgary.ca/rinks for locations and rink status.

Frozen pipes
As we head into winter and holiday travel, remember to take preventive steps to ensure your pipes don’t freeze.  Frozen pipes can burst leading to water damage and service outages. It is important to take preventive actions in the event the temperatures drop while you are away. 

• Maintain indoor temperatures: Keep your thermostat at a minimum of 15°C, even when away.
• Have someone check on your property when away: Refer to your home insurance for the frequency they require.
• Eliminate drafts: Seal cold drafts in unheated areas such as basements, crawl spaces and garages.
• Open cabinets and doors: Let warm air circulate to exposed pipes in colder areas.
• Heat maintenance areas: Ensure external hot water tank rooms are adequately heated.
• Keep water flowing: Have whomever is checking on your home run water through pipes to reduce freezing risk.

To learn more visit calgary.ca/frozenpipes