Calgary Citizen Newsletter Tuesday Dec. 12

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Good morning, there!

Now that the snow has hit the ground, we hoped to put another call out for our readers’ photos to share on Thursdays. Send us your photos to [email protected]. We also want to put together a Christmas story compiled of our readers’ favourite Christmas traditions to run on Dec. 21 before we take Christmas week off so also send those to [email protected].

👀 In today's edition:

• Three dead after shed fire

• Hey you! Are you $50 million richer?

• Jubilations’ Highway to the Danger Zone

Today’s read time: Approx. 4 minutes

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WORTH KNOWING

☀️ Today: High 2C, Low -8C. See the 7-day forecast.

🚗 Driving today? Check the current traffic situation, and find the city’s traffic report and road closures.

Three people are dead after a parking lot shed fire

Three people were found dead in the Crowfoot Crossing parking lot adjacent to Lowe’s home improvement store. Firefighters were called to the parking lot for reports of a fire just before 4am. Emergency crews arrived to find one shed destroyed by the blaze and another partially damaged. The sheds were part of a dozen display units in the store's parking lot.

As CTV reports, officials believe the victims were using the shed for shelter, but that will be confirmed as part of the arson investigation. Officials say the deaths are not considered suspicious.

As Global News reports, the area councillor said businesses in Crowfoot Crossing have seen increased numbers of unhoused individuals in the area and have taken steps like securing recyclables or hiring private security.

Anyone with photos, videos or information before CFD’s arrival is asked to email [email protected].

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Need to know

💰 Check your numbers: The winning $50M gold ball lotto ticket was sold right here in Calgary.

💸 It now costs more to afford basic necessities in Calgary than in Vancouver and Toronto: StatsCan.

🐧 The Calgary Zoo announced the names of its new penguin chicks after a contest.

⚖️ A Calgary youth suspected of terrorist activity has to enter into a 12-month peace bond.

🚓 Calgary police are investigating a jewelry store robbery involving ‘chemical weapons’ in Chinatown.

💉 Calgary is on pace to set a new record for deaths by drug poisoning this year.

👮 Of the 19 homicides Calgary has recorded so far in 2023, nine of them remain unsolved.

🏒 Too good to fail, too bad to win: The long and short story of the Calgary Flames.

🚧 Construction of a $1.2B biofuels plant on the edge of the city is slated for next spring.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Jubilations’ latest brings Top Gun to life on stage

Jubilations Dinner Theatre takes a ride on the Highway to the Danger Zone with a parody spin on the classic fighter jet franchise. Actor Fraz Wiest stars as Colonel Chapman/Dr. Lipchenshtien and while it’s his fifth Jubilations show over 21 years, he did have a 13-year hiatus and is now back on stage. Check out the promo video here! We spoke with Wiest about his first role in more than a decade.

Tell us about how you got back onto the Jubilations’ stage.

Well, it is my first show in 13 years, so that's pretty wild. I took quite a long break, I moved to Vancouver for a few years. Then I moved back to Winnipeg just in time for the pandemic and got a job working in the nonprofit sector there. I did that for about four years straight and it had gotten to a point where I just wanted to rekindle some passions and go back to my roots a little bit… and here I am, 13 years later doing Top Gunn Maverick Musical, which is a real trip. Everything old is new again, as the old saying goes.

Did you have any stage jitters almost like it was your first time again?

You know what? I appreciate that question. It's one of those things where if you don't get butterflies, and you don't get a little anxious and a little nervous, then you probably shouldn't be doing it. So yes, I definitely still get those. There are three acts per show, so before every act starts, I kind of get the butterflies. As soon as the lights hit you and you see those smiles out in the audience… at the risk of using a cliche and an old expression, it’s just like getting on a bike. There is a real comfort and a real joy and a real almost liberating feeling of not doing something for 13 years and stepping back into it and feeling like not a day has passed at all.

What can audiences expect at this show?

Every Jubilations show is great, but I will say that this one has great vocals and all of the choreography and all of the humour. I don't want to give anything away either, but there's a lot of great video, a lot of great lighting, and a lot of great scoring that isn't necessarily the music. There’s singing, dancing, and all of the things people like about our shows, but then there's also this huge tech element that is really exciting.

Jubilations has the perfect Christmas gift for dinner theatre lovers. The three and five-show VIP subscription options offer huge savings with lots of perks.

Things to do

🎟️ Calgary Community Painters Winter Art Show: Enjoy a free and fun exhibit featuring the work of 16 talented painters at cSpace Gallery all month.

🎟️ Posada Navidena: Enjoy an evening full of traditional Posada, pinatas, presentations, music, food, ponche, and Christmas spirit on Dec. 16.

🎟️ This Friday! Countess Cabaret (Luann de Lesseps of Real Housewives NYC) arrives at Grey Eagle with show tunes, a hot band and plenty of surprises.*

Have an event suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

*Sponsored Listing

Where to eat & drink

🍴 Aroma Cafe: Check out this new boutique coffee shop to enjoy fresh coffee, pastries, and authentic Mexican food in Marda Loop’s cSpace Gallery.

🍴 Jane Bond BBQ: Choose from two locations and a catering option with one of Calgary’s favourite BBQ spots.

🍴 Mondays Plant Cafe: Grab a drink, plant-based breakfasts, and more at this little cafe. A warm and inviting space, Mondays will make you feel right at home!

Have a food or drink suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

Local specials

💸 Bottlescrew Bill's Pub: Build your Gingerbread house at the pub for $20, including all of the home-building materials for December.

💸 Once Upon a Christmas: There’s less than a week left to enjoy this Christmas staple so snap up the Holiday Bundle promo to get four tickets for just $40.

💸 Maven: Indulge in Maven’s $9 happy hour menu every day from 3 to 5pm with signature cocktails, wine and beer, french toast, pasta, poutine, and more!

Know of any hot specials or deals? Message us and we might share it!

That’s it! Thanks for reading. If you have a hot story tip you want to share, feel free to reply back anytime.

We’ll see you back here on Thursday, same time, same place 🫡

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