Rutherford Parent Council has asked us to share an important reminder about the bylaw for dogs on school fields and why it's more important this year:  

"The City of Edmonton website states 'Dogs must always be on a leash when on public property. Dogs are not allowed on school grounds, sports fields, playgrounds and golf courses. The fine for violating this bylaw is $100.'  

Dog poop is found daily on the school field. The snow fort created by our youngest students and painted blue during their outside classtime is now covered in yellow dog pee around the base, making it less desirable to play in.  The snowmen are also covered in dog pee.  

Students remain in their assigned learning cohort during recess activites and a rotating schedule is utilized where each cohort has an assigned area outside for each recess break that supports physical distancing and promotes play and physical activity.  Classes do not mix.  The playground equipment is not permitted to be used during recess.  As a result, every zone of the school field is used daily, both for recess, outdoor class work and gym.  

Please walk your dogs in designated places rather than our school field.  Thank you for your understanding." 
​

Join your Bonnie Doon neighbours as we drive out of town (near Drayton Valley) to cut down our own Christmas trees. BDCL will buy permit(s) and coordinate the trailer sharing, however there will be no car pooling this year.  We have one trailer but may need a second; do you have one?

This will take most of the day. We drive out, tromp through the woods, cut some trees, haul them back, tie them onto a trailer, etc. Meanwhile, kids (big & small) may want to toboggan on the nearby hills. Write to Mark at social@bonniedoon.ca before December 6. Mark will contact you with final details. Space is limited.

Your tree may not be the very best but you and your kids will never forget the day!

When: Saturday, December 12. Cohorts in their own vehicles. 
Leave BD Park 9 am, arrive 11 am, depart for home 3 pm.
Trees: usually Alberta spruce, rarely a pine.
Bring: warm clothes, extra socks etc for sliding, sliders, axes, saws, food and drink for yourselves.

Updated November 9, 2020: The event is confirmed. It will occur online, via Zoom. Please register via Eventbrite.
​
Tuesday, November 17, 2020, starting at 7:00 pm we will host an online meeting where you can meet our Bonnie Doon Watch leader, Darryl Lagerquist. Darryl is eager to hear your questions & ideas re reducing crime & improving safety in Bonnie Doon.

Also at the event you can meet local EPS constables and learn about the city's NET program. The Neighbourhood Empowerment Team (NET) began with a conviction that community safety is best achieved through partnerships. The Team is supported by Edmonton Police, City of Edmonton, The Family Centre and the United Way.

If you have put your name forward for Neighbourhood Watch, we strongly encourage you to attend. Thank you for volunteering and we will make every effort to keep you informed of this and other community safety initiatives.

(We intend to join Edmonton Neighbourhood Watch but their process is exceedingly slow.)

Written by Bonnie Doon resident Barb Neil:

"Two years ago I ordered radon detection kits from University of Calgary’s Evict Radon to test my Bonnie Doon home, built in 2002, and my brother’s Lendrum home, built around 1960. These long-term detectors were in place for four months, over the winter, when radon typically builds up houses. I thought my home would be fine and my brother’s might show moderate levels of radon. But in fact, my home showed high levels, and the Lendrum home very little.
 
Radon is uranium gas released through the soil. Odorless and tasteless, it dissipates in outdoor air but can build to dangerous levels in confined spaces. Air tight homes with basements and sump pumps – the types of homes we build in Canada – trap radon and circulate the gas through our heating systems during the winter months. High radon exposure over time negatively affects human health and can cause lung cancer.
 
It’s possible the soil in Bonnie Doon emits more radon than Lendrum, but it’s likely the higher radon level was the sump pump. Building code in 2002 did not require an airtight cover on a sump pump. The area around the sump gave off high radon readings. The highest readings however, were in the furnace room; air was being pulled from around the sump pump towards the furnace whenever the heating system booted up. And all that radon/furnace air was being distributed throughout the house! After installing a radon mitigation system, radon levels dropped immediately, from above Canadian maximum levels, (200 Bq/m3), to half of the World Health Organization maximum level, (100 Bq/m3).
 
While Evict Radon tests cost more, your results will be added to the project’s data base, and be used to map and compile a picture of which neighbourhoods and lands have higher readings, creating a broader understanding of Alberta’s overall radon situation. Test kits also can be purchased from hardware stores and radon monitors can be borrowed from the Edmonton Public Library but the wait list is long!"

Link to Evict Radon
 
 
 
 
 

Some of us have no idea who our neighbours are. Others host street parties and know the first names of many on their block. Researchers are discovering there are health benefits to being connected with your neighbours and risks to being isolated.

Since 2014 the league has taken advantage of Edmonton's support for Abundant Community, an initiative that nurtures connections between neighbours (here & here). Recent developments (!) have motivated us to increase our efforts in this area.

Some background:

• When the pandemic first hit, we put out the call for people who could support isolated seniors by picking up groceries and doing other small tasks. Over 50 Bonnie Doon residents stepped up!
  
• A recent increase in back lane break-ins resulted in a number of Bonnie Dooners organizing around Neighbourhood Watch. We've nominated our rep for Edmonton NW and are preparing events to promote looking after each other.
  
• Our Abundant Community work has created a network of over 20 Block Connectors that nurture connections amongst immediate neighbours. Some connectors hold backyard BBQs or bonfires, some share news of nearby births and deaths, etc.
  

The league expects the upcoming pandemic winter to test out mettle. We wrote this post to to tell you we plan to reinvigorate our "neighbouring" initiatives. If you want to join in the discussion you can write to Mark at abundant@bonniedoon.ca.

Stay safe. And say, "Hi!" to that neighbour you've been meaning to introduce yourself to!

Please see the notice below regarding recent coyote encounters in Cloverdale / Gallagher Park.  We understand there is a coyote den on the wooded edge of Maurice Lavallee school grounds.
 
For more information, community members can also visit Coyotes or check out Your Guide to Coexisting with Urban Coyotes in Edmonton. A recent community webinar with more information in addition to the information on the City website is available here: https://youtu.be/PvENP4tI1e8  

Hi Bonnie Dooners

The coronavirus put the kibosh on our annual Supper's On Us community BBQ but we still want a chance to see your smiling faces and make it easy for you to renew your league membership.

Date: Sunday, October 4, 2020
Time: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: Bonnie Doon Park, 9240 93 Street
How: Wearing a face mask

We'll be set up between the hall and the rink shack. No BBQ this year but we will have a temperature-appropriate beverage and treat for Bonnie Doon residents who attend. We've streamlined the process to collect your info, to minimize the time you spend with our volunteers.

Of course, we'll have the usual COVID-19 precautions in place. Please remember your face mask; it's an outdoor event but let's do all we can to be safe and to put our neighbours' minds at ease.

The 2020/2021 operating year is a tough one and we really need your help to resume programs & events like yoga, paint classes, the playgroup, T'ai Chi Chih, the Christmas Party, etc.

If you can't attend October 4, please visit Marlene at the Bonnie Doon Corner Market and buy a membership.

A note from Rutherford School Parent Councill:

"Rutherford Parent Council is hosting a Bottle Drive in support of Rutherford School (Bonnie Doon's elementary school) on Tuesday, September 1, from 10am – 3pm. 

Please drop off your donations to the auxiliary parking lot, outside the gym.  If you prefer weekend or evening drop off, please drop off to 8540-84 Ave prior to Tuesday at noon. 
 
We are also collecting food donations so that we can continue to make hampers for families at the school who are experiencing food insecurity.  With the Rutherfridge fruit program not running this quarter, we are especially interested in donations that families can use for packed lunches and for school snacks, as well as breakfast and dinner foods.  Some ideas include: granola bars, apple sauce, boxes of cereal, oatmeal, soup, pasta, beans etc. 
 
Finally, we are collecting masks to help ensure equitable access to masks amongst students.  If you have spare reusable masks, please consider dropping them off in our collection box for other students to utilise.
 
Thank you so much for your support!  If you have any questions, please email rutherfordparentcouncil@gmail.com 
​ 
Rutherford Parent Council"

Join Bonnie Doon Corner Market on Sunday August 30th from 1 to 3pm for Bonnie Doon Back to School Bicycle Safety Day.
Bonnie Doon bike enthusiast, Peter Codizal, is organizing a Bonnie Doon Back to School Bicycle Safety Day, in collaboration with Bonnie Doon Corner Market, the Alberta Cycling Coalition, Outspokin Bike Works, and Tamarack Coffee Roasters.
Meet at the Bonnie Doon Corner Market parking area (9104 88 Ave.)
• for a lesson about bike safety
• help registering your bike serial number
• enjoying a free cup of Tamarack Roasters Coffee
• entering a draw for a bicycle accessory package.
Please practice physical distancing during this event.
Note this is intended for children from the Bonnie Doon neighbourhood and children that attend school in this area, due to class size.🚴‍♀️