Allison James

Canmore is a magical place nestled in the Canadian Rockies along the Bow River and only an hour’s drive from my neighborhood in Calgary.  There are so many things I love about Canmore, not the least of which is the small-town vibe that permeates the town and its down-to-earth friendly residents.

Canmore is a quaint mountain town that has all the tourist attractions one would expect without being touristy.  It’s the perfect destination for a day or weekend trip from Calgary.  I love to visit for the day, take a hike along the river, browse the cute shops and enjoy a lovely meal with friends or family.  Canmore has a number of fine restaurants, including a fair number that offer gluten-free menu items.

In addition to the spectacular scenery and abundant hiking trails, Canmore offers world-class skiing and snowboarding, ice fishing, dog sledding and ice climbing.  When the spring snow finally thaws, it’s time for golf, fishing, cycling and rock climbing.  There is even a massive indoor aquatics facility.   Shoppers can enjoy browsing for local art and collectibles in the many boutiques and galleries.

One of my favorite memories of good times spent in Canmore involved a family wedding where I was joined by my two sisters, one from Ontario and the other living in Nova Scotia.  Given the distance that separates us, we don’t have the opportunity to get together as often as we would like.  On that wedding day, we had a photograph taken of the three of us posing against a backdrop of Canmore’s famous Three Sisters mountain peaks.  The photograph is a fond memory of a wonderful day with my family in a very special place.

Canmore is so special that I’ve been known to drive there just to enjoy a cup of coffee with friends.  When friends are in town for a short visit or even a layover on a long flight, I often take them to Canmore for a few hours.  The mountain air and awesome scenery is irresistible any time of year.

Do you need to move to celebrate the changes that are happening in your life? Let me serve you in helping you make the move to the place/home that reflects where you are in life’s journey! I listen to your needs and have the knowledge and expertise to make this a smooth transition to the right place for you to call home in Calgary.

Do you need to move to celebrate the changes that are happening in your life? Let me serve you in helping you make the move to the place or home that reflects where you are in life’s journey! I will listen to your needs and use my knowledge and expertise to make this a smooth transition to the right place for you to call home in Calgary. Contact me at 403-708-5873, ajames16@gmail.com, or www.allisonjames.com and let’s get on with your journey!

About Allison James

Allison James has been a realtor® since 1999 with Century 21 Bamber Realty Ltd. in the changing Calgary real estate market. A Century 21 Centurion Award 2007 recipient and a member of CREA and AREA, she specializes in residential real estate and has her designations as a Seniors Real Estate Specialist and a Certified Condominium Specialist. These designations testify that she has the expertise and resources to help her clients make a smooth transition to the next step in their life journey. She enjoys helping her clients as they move through many of the same stages of life that she, too, has experienced. The fact that the majority of her business comes from past clients and/or referrals from satisfied clients speaks volumes about her dedication to the high quality of service that she offers her clients to meet their Calgary and surrounding area real estate needs. She is a mother of four who are all on their own now, and a grandmother of eight. Besides helping people buy or sell real estate, she loves spending time with her family, being active outdoors, traveling and meeting new people, photography, playing the drums, reading, scuba diving, listening to music, learning new things, and nurturing her spiritual growth.

As residents of Calgary, we are blessed with an abundance of natural beauty in every direction. One of my favorite activities has always been hiking. It’s a great way to exercise, clear my head and commune with nature and good friends. Here are a few of my favorite hiking spots in and around our beautiful city.

Weaselhead Flats:

Weaselhead Flats is situated at the mouth of the Elbow River along the west end of the Glenmore Reservoir in the city’s southwest quadrant. This park is unique in that it is home to a large coniferous forest and a marshy delta. Even on a short hike, you are bound to spot loons, swans, hummingbirds and even the occasional black bear in this urban oasis.

Elbow Falls:

This picture perfect set of small waterfalls is located about a half hour from south Calgary off Rt. 66 just west of the lovely hamlet of Braggs Creek. Unfortunately, the area suffered some damage in the floods of 2013. A large section of the picnic area was washed away, but the falls and viewing deck remain intact and the scenery is as breathtaking as ever. I’ve always found that a short hike in this serene area with my morning coffee is a great way to start the day. The crystal-clear water is infused with the most beautiful hint of turquoise and the ice formations found here in frigid weather make for popular calendar images for the winter months.

Grassi Lakes:

The Grassi Lakes trail is a little over an hour’s drive from Calgary but well worth the trip. After hiking an easy trail through a forest, you will be rewarded with two of the most beautiful lakes imaginable. The water is an amazing combination of emerald and turquoise hues. The more adventurous climbers can take a slightly more difficult path to the lakes with several semi-steep inclines and a waterfall. Further up the mountain beyond the lakes are 1000 year old pictographs on the rock walls.

It doesn’t matter whether I’m in the mood for an evening stroll or a full day’s adventure in the mountains. In Calgary, the trailhead is never far from home.

Do you need to move to celebrate the changes that are happening in your life? Let me serve you in helping you make the move to the place or home that reflects where you are in life’s journey! I will listen to your needs and use my knowledge and expertise to make this a smooth transition to the right place for you to call home in Calgary. Contact me at 403-708-5873, ajames16@gmail.com, or www.allisonjames.com and let’s get on with your journey!

About Allison James

Allison James has been a realtor® since 1999 with Century 21 Bamber Realty Ltd. in the changing Calgary real estate market. A Century 21 Centurion Award 2007 recipient and a member of CREA and AREA, she specializes in residential real estate and has her designations as a Seniors Real Estate Specialist and a Certified Condominium Specialist. These designations testify that she has the expertise and resources to help her clients make a smooth transition to the next step in their life journey. She enjoys helping her clients as they move through many of the same stages of life that she, too, has experienced. The fact that the majority of her business comes from past clients and/or referrals from satisfied clients speaks volumes about her dedication to the high quality of service that she offers her clients to meet their Calgary and surrounding area real estate needs. She is a mother of four who are all on their own now, and a grandmother of eight. Besides helping people buy or sell real estate, she loves spending time with her family, being active outdoors, traveling and meeting new people, photography, playing the drums, reading, scuba diving, listening to music, learning new things, and nurturing her spiritual growth.

Homebuyers will often make significant sacrifices relating to price, size and amenities to ensure their children are educated in a desirable school. A 2013 survey by Realtor.com showed that 60% of homebuyers factor in school districts and boundaries when searching for a home. Of the 60% of respondents for whom schools are a factor in the buying process, 90% considered access to their school of choice to be “important” or “somewhat important.” Parents want choices when it comes to their children’s education.

The City of Calgary offers a wide array of choices in educational opportunities for elementary and high school students. In fact, a report issued in February, 2014 by the Fraser Institute stated that Alberta school districts offer parents “the greatest degree of choice in Canada.”

A full 94% of school-aged children in Calgary attend government-funded public or Catholic schools. The remaining 6% are enrolled in an assortment of private schools. The Calgary Board of Education (CBE) serves over 105,000 students in 225 schools while the Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) is roughly half that size with 47,000 children in 105 schools. Calgary can also boast of a fully-funded charter school program consisting of six schools.

In 2014, the following Calgary high schools received the Fraser Institute’s highest ranking in their most recent report card for Canada’s schools – Western Canada, Sir Winston Churchill, William Aberhart, Bowness and Queen Elizabeth Junior/Senior High School. Rundle College and Webber Academy, two prestigious private schools, tied for the Institute’s number one ranking in Alberta.

On the elementary school level, Fraser named six Calgary schools among Alberta’s top ten, including Webber Academy and Clear Water Academy. These schools tied for the number one spot, followed closely by the Sunalta School. The public Sunalta School can take particular pride in the fact that the school has an enrollment where a full 25% of the students have special needs and 22% are in an ESL (English as Second Language) program. Principal Chris Aylesworth believes that “A school is only as strong as the system and the people behind it”.

A strong school system equates to a bright future for Calgary homeowners and buyers. The presence of good schools and alternative choices has a positive impact on property values. With ten new schools in various stages of construction, the educational choices available to Calgary families will continue to grow.

Do you need to move to celebrate the changes that are happening in your life? Let me serve you in helping you make the move to the place or home that reflects where you are in life’s journey! I will listen to your needs and use my knowledge and expertise to make this a smooth transition to the right place for you to call home in Calgary. Contact me at 403-708-5873, ajames16@gmail.com, or www.allisonjames.com and let’s get on with your journey!

About Allison James

Allison James has been a realtor® since 1999 with Century 21 Bamber Realty Ltd. in the changing Calgary real estate market. A Century 21 Centurion Award 2007 recipient and a member of CREA and AREA, she specializes in residential real estate and has her designations as a Seniors Real Estate Specialist and a Certified Condominium Specialist. These designations testify that she has the expertise and resources to help her clients make a smooth transition to the next step in their life journey. She enjoys helping her clients as they move through many of the same stages of life that she, too, has experienced. The fact that the majority of her business comes from past clients and/or referrals from satisfied clients speaks volumes about her dedication to the high quality of service that she offers her clients to meet their Calgary and surrounding area real estate needs. She is a mother of four who are all on their own now, and a grandmother of eight. Besides helping people buy or sell real estate, she loves spending time with her family, being active outdoors, traveling and meeting new people, photography, playing the drums, reading, scuba diving, listening to music, learning new things, and nurturing her spiritual growth.

When Mother’s Day approaches each spring, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to have a large and loving family.  Without a doubt, raising children has been the most rewarding journey I have undertaken in my life.   It is an amazing experience!  As the proud mother of four grown children with eight grandchildren, I’ve learned much of what I know through on-the-job training.

In a recent conversation with a close friend, we shared thoughts on the challenges of raising children in today’s world.   Of course, there is no foolproof recipe for childrearing.  Every family dynamic is unique and every child has their own set of needs. Still, several things stand out for me as essential ingredients for raising happy and healthy children.

Group Activities

Kids crave the company of other kids, but they need the guidance and supervision of adults. While reluctant to admit it, most of them also crave structure.   I believe in keeping children occupied in group activities with their peers in a place where you can still keep a watchful eye on them.  It doesn’t matter whether it is team sports, or school plays or the ski club.  Help your child find an activity to love that sparks their passion and nurtures their body, mind and soul.   It will keep them from spending too much time in front of the television or on the internet and provide valuable life lessons in the importance of friendship, commitment and fair play.

Reading, Reading and More Reading

As far as I’m concerned, you can never read to your children enough.  During my own childhood, I was enamored of horse stories and read everything I could get my hands on that featured horses.  Bedtime stories and reading were nightly rituals in our home when my children were young.  My personal favorite was and still is Charlie & the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl.  My kids and I spent hours together giggling about Charlie and the Oompa-Loompa characters that help Willy Wonka bake the chocolate.  Today, my eldest daughter is a published author and she continues the tradition of bedtime reading with her son.

My kids have gifted me with a million memories of shared moments that I will treasure all my life.  They are all grown now and, I am proud to say, living on their own.  Seeing your children grow and venture out into the world is the reward for a job well done.  So let’s raise a glass to all the moms all over the world who love their children unconditionally and work so hard to make sure they have the tools they need to live happy and productive lives.

Do you need to move to celebrate the changes that are happening in your life? Let me serve you in helping you make the move to the place or home that reflects where you are in life’s journey! I will listen to your needs and use my knowledge and expertise to make this a smooth transition to the right place for you to call home in Calgary. Contact me at 403-708-5873, ajames16@gmail.com, or www.allisonjames.com and let’s get on with your journey!

About Allison James

Allison James has been a realtor® since 1999 with Century 21 Bamber Realty Ltd. in the changing Calgary real estate market. A Century 21 Centurion Award 2007 recipient and a member of CREA and AREA, she specializes in residential real estate and has her designations as a Seniors Real Estate Specialist and a Certified Condominium Specialist. These designations testify that she has the expertise and resources to help her clients make a smooth transition to the next step in their life journey. She enjoys helping her clients as they move through many of the same stages of life that she, too, has experienced. The fact that the majority of her business comes from past clients and/or referrals from satisfied clients speaks volumes about her dedication to the high quality of service that she offers her clients to meet their Calgary and surrounding area real estate needs. She is a mother of four who are all on their own now, and a grandmother of eight. Besides helping people buy or sell real estate, she loves spending time with her family, being active outdoors, traveling and meeting new people, photography, playing the drums, reading, scuba diving, listening to music, learning new things, and nurturing her spiritual growth.