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Winston Heights–Mountview Residents,

The Winston Heights–Mountview Powerline Committee met with ENMAX yesterday to receive an update on the Central Calgary Transmission Line Replacement Project. We want to share the key points from that meeting with our community.

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New Application Coming

ENMAX confirmed that they plan to submit a new application to the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) for the transmission line replacement. Because the AUC declined the first application, all route options are once again under consideration.

This means ENMAX is reviewing several potential routes, including:

• 16th Avenue
• The alley south of 16th Avenue
• 17th Avenue (overhead or underground)
• 18th, 19th, and 20th Avenues

The start and end points of the line—Substation 3 and Nose Creek Valley—remain fixed, but the route between them is open for evaluation.

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Community Consultation Timeline

ENMAX emphasized that they are committed to improving their consultation process with all stakeholders, including our community. They outlined the following timeline:

• December 2025: Public sessions to gather general input
• Q1 2026: Consultations to present route concepts and gather feedback
• Q2 2026: Consultations to present the preferred route options that will be part of the new application

ENMAX aims to submit the second application to the AUC in June 2026. The AUC typically takes about 10 months to make a decision, so a final decision is likely in 2027.

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Why This Matters to Our Community

Because the potential route area now extends as far north as 20th Avenue, this project could affect many parts of Winston Heights–Mountview. It’s imperative that everyone in our community is aware of the possible impacts and participates in the consultation process.

Please share this email with your friends and neighbours in the community, and encourage them to join our mailing list to stay informed.
To subscribe, simply send an email with the word “subscribe” in the subject line to powerline@winstonheights.ca.

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Next Steps for the Committee

Once we know what route options ENMAX plans to include in their second application, the committee will decide whether to act as interveners again in the AUC process.
If we proceed, we will once again engage McLennan Ross LLP to represent our community’s interests.

At this point, thanks to a generous community donor who provided a top-up, we currently have $15,000 held in trust with McLennan Ross for future use related to this project.

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Our committee will continue to stay engaged in this process and share updates as new information becomes available. We strongly encourage residents to participate in the upcoming consultations to ensure our community’s voice is heard.

If you have questions or would like to share your thoughts ahead of the consultations, please contact ENMAX at stakeholderrelations@enmax.com.

Thank you for your continued interest and involvement in this important project.

Warm regards,
Winston Heights–Mountview Powerline Committee

This month, I would like to introduce you to the inner workings of two of the WHMCA communications channels.  The paper newsletter is distributed to every community household at the beginning of each month by Canada Post.  However, our editorial deadline is the 9^th of the previous month which means some information will be more than three weeks old by the time you read it.  This can be too slow for fast-moving developments such as the ENMAX power line proposals.  To compensate for that, we also send e-newsletters once or twice per month to all WHMCA members by email.  If you wish to have timely community information please sign up for membership.  Household membership is only $20 per year and also allows you to volunteer, have free admission to seasonal events, vote at general meetings, and other benefits.

Following public engagement earlier this year, the City of Calgary will start work on upgrades to Munro Park in November.  These upgrades will be additive to the work done in 2017 and will include natural play areas and gardens, 120 new trees,  a community plaza, salvaged public art from Olympic Plaza, and a 3-on-3 basketball court.  The work is scheduled to take a year to complete.  Learn more.

Finally, the WHMCA Board of Directors is looking for additional board members and committee members.  The Board of Directors meets the first Tuesday of every month except August starting at 7 pm.  As a board member you can see all aspects of how the community association works and have a say in its direction.  Want to be more focussed instead?  The Communications and Facility & Operations committees need additional members to progress ongoing activities and larger projects.  If any of these roles are of interest to you please contact Alex Reed at president@winstonheights.ca or 587-582-5342.

Thanks,

Alex
Winston Heights-Mountview Community Association
Calgary, Alberta

Paper Newsletter Distribution Problems

One of the goals of the WHMCA in the past year has been to increase the number of ways we communicate with you, our community members.  Unfortunately, the Canada Post strike has been a severe disruption to the WHMCA newsletter.  The September newsletter was given to Canada Post but they have not distributed it.  Great News Media, our publisher, has made arrangements for a private contractor to place these newsletters in your mailbox going forward.  If you or your neighbours have not received them, please contact newsletter@winstonheights.ca or president@winstonheights.ca.

ENMAX Power Line

Despite the AUC decision in August to turn down the ENMAX application to build a powerline along 16th and 17th Avenues and through Munro Park, ENMAX may soon submit a revised application to the AUC, potentially including a similar route through our neighborhood. The Power Line Committee is still active and has retained Gavin Fitch of McLennan Ross to provide legal representation to ensure our community’s concerns are effectively heard and considered. If you live near the route and would like to help the committee, please email powerline@winstonheights.ca.

Would You Like to be a Board Member?

Finally, the WHMCA Board of Directors is looking for additional board members and committee members.  The Board of Directors meets the first Tuesday of every month except August starting at 7 pm.  As a board member you can see all of the aspects of how the community association works and have a say in its direction.  Want to be more focussed instead?  The Communications and Facility & Operations committees need some additional members to progress ongoing activities and also larger projects.  If any of these roles are of interest to you please contact Alex Reed at president@winstonheights.ca or 587-582-5342.

AUC Denies ENMAX Application

As many of you may have heard, the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) has denied ENMAX Power Corporation’s application for the Central Calgary Transmission Line Replacement Project.

The AUC’s decision was based primarily on two issues:

• Insufficient consultation with adjacent landowners
• Safety concerns related to the proposed above-ground route

This is a significant win for our community—thank you to everyone who contributed time, effort, and support throughout the process.

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Potential Second Application

Despite the positive outcome, ENMAX may soon submit a revised application to the AUC, potentially including a similar route through our neighborhood. If that happens, it will be important to have legal representation in place to ensure our community’s concerns are effectively heard and considered.

Gavin Fitch of McLennan Ross, who represented us in the first hearing, has indicated he is willing to represent us again under the same condition: securing a $15,000 retainer to cover any legal expenses not reimbursed through the AUC’s participant cost recovery program.

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Financial Update & Community Contributions

As part of the first hearing, individuals who formally intervened on behalf of the community received small honoraria from McLennan Ross in recognition of their time and efforts. We’re pleased to share that every intervener who received an honorarium has generously donated it back to the legal fund, in anticipation of the possibility that we may need to respond to a new application.

Thanks to these donations—totalling $1,100—we are now only short $429.25 between the total legal fees billed and the amount reimbursed by the AUC. This remaining amount will be covered by the retainer currently held in trust by McLennan Ross.

With the approval of the original donors, we will keep the remaining $14,540.75 in trust for now, pending ENMAX’s next steps.

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Upcoming Meeting with ENMAX

At ENMAX’s request, the Powerline Committee will be meeting with them on October 29 to learn more about their updated plans. We will share a summary of that discussion with the broader community afterward.

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Committee Update

King Yip has stepped down from the Powerline Committee.
A heartfelt thank you for all your contributions, King! Your work has made a real and lasting impact.

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We’ll continue to keep you informed as the situation develops. Thank you again for your continued interest and support.

The Winston Heights–Mountview Powerline Committee (Craig Baskett, Jack Jonasson, DJ Kelly, Trish Kotow, Alex Reed, Anne Scott)

We need your help! Please consider taking a volunteer shift for our upcoming casino. 
No experience is necessary – all training will be done at your shift. A meal and snacks are provided too! 

November 11th and 12th, 2025
Pure Casino – 1420 Meridian Road NE

Thank you for supporting the WHMCA!

Hi everyone,

We finished our final prehearing committee meeting with the lawyer Gavin earlier today and have a few updates to share with you.1. The petition in opposition to the overhead powerline route has ~760 signatures. We would love it if we could break the 1000 signature mark. Please share one more time with your friends and family! The petition will be shared with ENMAX, municipal decision makers such as the Mayor and our councillor as well as referenced in the actual hearing as being evidence to strong opposition. Here is the link to the petition as well as the QR code. 

2. The timelines for the AUC process are as follows…

• This coming week our lawyer Gavin will work with our witnesses to prepare for their testimony for the hearing.
• The actual hearing runs from May 26th to 28th from 9:00 to 4:00pm.
• The actual decision by AUC on the powerline route will likely be around the end of August.  
• 30 days from the close of the hearing Gavin will submit a cost claim to AUC for his expenses as well as the expenses for the expert witness (David Capper of Urban Systems).
• Decision on how much of Gavin and David Capper’s costs will be covered will be determined by the AUC in the early fall, after which we will work on refunding any of the remaining ($15,000) retainer.

3. The hearing is virtual and public –  click here if you would like to watch the live-streamed hearing via YouTube starting Monday, May 26th at 9:00am. 

4. ENMAX has responded to our submission with “Reply Evidence”. If you are interested in reviewing ENMAX’s response the documents are attached but please remember the process does not allow for any new submissions or responses to this “Reply Evidence”

5. DJ Kelly has crafted a terrific op-ed piece that we hope will run in the Herald this week with the goal of creating further awareness and with the hope of exerting some political pressure on the decision makers. Keep your eyes peeled and share it as well.

We will continue to keep you up to date on any further developments. 

29583-X0200 EPC Central Calgary Transmission Line Replacement Project Reply Evidence 4153-7247-5740 v. 1.pdf

29583-X0201 EPC Central Calgary Transmission Line Replacement Project Reply Evidence – Attachments A-E

Nose Creek Concerts

We Launch Nose Creek Concerts on February 16th

Nose Creek Concerts is the new name of our Sunday afternoon concert series presenting blues, roots, soul, folk and light rock, accompanied by a simple, light home-cooked meal.

For those who have attended one of our Sunday concerts these past months, we are taking what’s worked best and are launching an ongoing series that brings community together through music and food. We’ll continue to use 3 of our halls and, who knows, maybe we’ll move outside when spring comes around.

Each event will start with a light home-cooked meal which is included in the ticket price. We’ll open the doors at 2PM so there’s ample time to eat and mingle. We’re adding a cash bar. The concert will start at 3PM, there’ll be one intermission and we’ll all be out at 5PM. Your hosts and presenters will continue to be Suzanne Mott from Winston Heights-Mountview Community Association (WHMCA) and Dave Donovan from Calgary House Concerts.

Kirby Sewell Trio on Valentine’s Day Weekend & Family Day Weekend!

The 2025 series will kick off February 16th with a very special treat for Valentine’s Day Weekend and Family Day Weekend – The Kirby Sewell Trio!

The Kirby Sewell Trio will take the stage with a presence that will be as soulful as it will be electric.

Award-winning blues vocalist Kirby Sewell joins Jerry Proppe on piano and Jeff Meszaros on acoustic guitar, blending their voices in harmony to breathe new life into classics. From McCartney’s melodic elegance to Simon’s storytelling, from Clapton’s raw blues to Bowie’s edge, they take audiences on a musical journey that moves from gospel’s rich resonance to New Orleans’ lively streets. With

distinctively original arrangements, this trio promises an afternoon that’s not just music—it’s an experience!

Advance Tickets Can Be Purchased Online – Here and On Our Website

Tickets are $25. Content will be family-friendly and young people 14 and under can attend for free.

There is a 15% discount for WHMCA members. Advance tickets are encouraged (so we can estimate food) and can be purchased online using VISA or Mastercard. Tickets can be purchased at the door as well.

TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED HERE

Summary

A group of concerned neighbours is actively involved in opposing the above ground option. We are opposed on the basis of the following…

• Loss of value for adjacent properties – up to 44.9%
• Aesthetic reasons/visual impact
• Sterilization of a green belt and community park (Munro)
• Impact on the quality of future development due to reduced property values
• Noise impact – hum and crackling (winter)

Update

So far we have contacted all relevant elected officials including Sean Chu, Jyoti Gondek and Lizette Tejada to voice our opposition. In addition some of us have registered as interveners for the Alberta Utilities Commission hearing where it will be decided as to whether the line will be above ground or buried. 

We have been in touch with a lawyer who has represented groups opposing these types of projects in the past. We are waiting to hear back regarding our appeal.  Apparently Enmax will be responsible for the cost of us hiring lawyers.

The deadline that we have received from AUC for interveners submitting written evidence is March 27 2025 at 4:00:00 PM. We have not been notified as to when the actual hearing will be held.

We have canvassed the properties on 17th avenue, Marlowe Crescent, Marsden Road as well as the businesses on 16th avenue to raise awareness. We will be canvassing Moncton and Montrose in the near future.

We will continue to keep you up to date on what is happening in terms of our activities.

What Can You Do?

• Please share this email or attached “door hanger” info sheet with your neighbours
• Contact Alex at president@winstonheights.ca with reasons why you would be opposed to the above ground option. He will use this in the AUC hearing.
• Register to become an intervener at the AUC hearing. The proceeding number is 29583
• Send emails or letters of protest to the contacts listed below.
• Join the WHM Community Association at www.winstonheights.ca for continued advocacy

Contacts

1. Alberta Utilities Commission – Proceeding 29583     
2. Ward 4 Councillor Sean Chu – Sean.Chu@calgary.ca 
3. Calgary Klein MLA Lizette Tejada – Calgary.Klein@assembly.ab.ca
4. Calgary Mayor – Jyoti Gondek
5. Enmax – stakeholderelations@enmax.com

Project Overview:

Enmax has proposed two options for the new transmission line:

1. Above-Ground: The preferred option by Enmax due to cost considerations.
2. Buried: A more expensive alternative over a relatively short distance of approximately 900 meters.

Proposed Route:

The above-ground option will follow this path:

• Along the alley on the south side of Munro Park.
• South side of 17th Avenue, behind the COOP development.
• Crossing 6th Street, continuing along 17th Avenue behind Mountview Apartments, Fanning Centre, and Ambassador Motel.
• Crossing Moncton Road, jogging south and then east to parallel 16th Avenue.
• Extending above ground to Nose Creek.
• Buried only from Centre Street to Edmonton Trail (Munro Park).

Enmax plans to install free-standing towers between 22 and 28 meters tall (approximately 7 to 9 stories high). For reference, the Mountview Apartment building is 7 stories. The included images from the Enmax proposal illustrate the scale of these towers in comparison to nearby houses.

Community Impact:

The installation of these towers will significantly affect the visual landscape and character of our community. Many residents feel that burying the line, while costlier, is a more appropriate solution given the relatively short distance.

Advocacy on Behalf of Our Community:

• Alex Reed, WHMCA President, will act as an intervener on behalf of our community during the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) review process.
• Craig Baskett has also registered separately as an intervener to further advocate for our neighborhood.

The AUC will decide whether to approve the above-ground transmission line as proposed by Enmax or require the line to be buried.

For more information, please refer to the following resources:

• Enmax Proposal Link
• Map of Enmax’s Preferred Route

We encourage all community members to stay informed and involved in this critical issue. Your input and support are vital as we advocate for the best outcome for our neighborhood.

Things you can do to try and prevent this from occurring…

1. Please inform your neighbours and forward them this email

2. Contact Alex at president@winstonheights.ca with reasons why you would be opposed to the above ground option. He will use this in the AUC hearing.

3. Also register to participate as an intervener with AUC for proceeding 29583.