When Josh Innes boarded the nine-hour flight from London, England, to come work in Calgary, he thought it might take months to build relationships and meet people in a new city.

But a few days after landing in town, Innes joined the Calgary Social Club, an online group that plans various spontaneous events in the city.

"I went to my first event — a wing night at Joyce on 4th — and within two minutes there is this guy talking to me," Innes says.

"The club is truly amazing. It saved me from knowing nobody and having to go out to try to meet people in bars and has turned into something that I truly feel a part of." ]]> ktaylor@cjournal.ca (JONATHAN VERN MCGILL) frontpage Sat, 28 Apr 2012 19:23:04 +0000 http://www.calgary20.ca/features/profiles/326-geoffrey-picketts- http://www.calgary20.ca/features/profiles/326-geoffrey-picketts- John Bodman's plight reveals complex nature of homelessness

John Bodman was 51-years-old when his life began to unravel. He had a welding ticket, owned a business and had a place to call home in Prince George, B.C. Having two friends over one night ultimately became the catalyst to a brutal chain-reaction that saw Bodman lose it all.

"They asked, 'Mind if we smoke?" Bodman said. "I said, 'Nahh, everybody smokes.'" He thought they meant cigarettes. Then they slapped a pipe and other crack-smoking paraphernalia on the table.

Bodman didn't want anything to do with crack-cocaine, but admitted "it looked like they were having fun." A few hours later he tried his first hit.

"It went downhill from there. I pawned everything, sold my business and started rooming in crack houses in Prince George," he said.

When you walk into Changes Consignment Clothing, a high-end women's consignment store in Marda Loop, you are welcomed by colourful clothing illuminated by the sun shining through multiple windows.

Customers bustle around picking from rows and rows of designer items that have been significantly marked down from their original prices by about 60 per cent.

Barbara Davis has successfully operated Changes for over 25 years and says that there has always been a misconception towards the word "consignment." However, people are finally starting to realize the benefits of shopping at stores like this.

Right before the credits begin to roll, the viewer is treated to an upbeat and energetic dance number — one definitely not lacking in flair or style. Danny Boyle's 2008 film "Slumdog Millionaire" certainly ended on a high note.

This scene was one of North America's first mainstream exposures to what is known as Bollywood dance.

Originating from Mumbai, India, Bollywood dance is a mixture of classical and Indian folk-dancing styles, amongst many others.

Raw energy collides with a release of cathartic enjoyment as palms fly in many directions, embracing the moment. ]]> ktaylor@cjournal.ca (DAVID GOLDENSTEIN) frontpage Sat, 28 Apr 2012 19:37:04 +0000 http://www.calgary20.ca/trends/325-written-by-shane-flug- http://www.calgary20.ca/trends/325-written-by-shane-flug- Privacy concerns of new Timeline convinces Calgary writer to clean slate

My public-opinion courtroom will soon be in session, and I will present my case as a job candidate.

As I prepare to look for work, human resources people Googling my name will serve as my career judges, juries and executioners.

The onus is on me to make a strong case that I am the one worthy of the position. If I do, I'll be able to get that interview and go from there.

On April 14 at SAIT, a group of Calgarians are hoping to set a record for the "Guinness Book of World Records."

But this is not a hotdog-eating contest. Instead a local karate club is hoping for the largest number of people – 250 – to break boards at the same time.

This is the fourth annual event known as "Break the Cycle" was established to raise funds and awareness for the Calgary Counselling Centre.

When I was 15 years old, I moved to Canada from Venezuela.

Most people don't think I'm an immigrant because I look Caucasian — I have green eyes, white skin, and straight hair.

My looks have never seemed to affect how people treated me. As far as I know, I have never been discriminated against because of my appearance.

However, I've always been curious as to what it might feel like to be singled out because of what you look like. The problem was I didn't really know how to make myself stand out.

They arrive at meetings, protests, and other events decked out in long, flamboyant skirts, canvas sneakers and old-fashioned aprons. Sometimes they are invited; sometimes they just show up. They re-write lyrics to familiar songs to impart their social concerns. They are witty, self-depreciating and concerned with social justice.

They are the Raging Grannies.

The Calgary Raging Grannies represent a social justice movement that began in Victoria, B.C. in 1987 when a group of older women joined together to protest the presence of United States Navy warships in Canadian waters. “The original Raging Grannies in Victoria were all ‘of a certain age’ as we say, and thought they might draw more attention by dressing up,” says Sandra Vida, a member of the Calgary Raging Grannies. “The stereotypical ‘granny’ was just a brainwave of that moment. They did get attention, and kept it up.” ]]> ktaylor@cjournal.ca (KARRY TAYLOR) frontpage Sat, 28 Apr 2012 19:51:23 +0000 http://www.calgary20.ca/features/profiles/315-lisa-hallet http://www.calgary20.ca/features/profiles/315-lisa-hallet A shift with a Calgary police officer reveals community concerns about crime and drugs

What's in a name?

Take Forest Lawn, for example.

Crime? Drugs? Prostitution? These seem to often be the words associated with this community in Calgary.

I recently got the chance to get a first-hand look from the inside of a police car to see what exactly happens in this neighbourhood.

I entered the District 4 Franklin Calgary Police Service Station at 5 p.m. sharp — you don't want to be late for the law.

Since 2002, bicycle helmets have been mandatory in Alberta for all cyclists under the age of 18. But unlike four other provinces (British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island) where helmet use has been legally mandated for cyclists of all ages, bicycle helmets are not mandatory for adults in Alberta.

Statistics Canada reported that in 2009, about one third of Canadian adolescents and young adults wore a bicycle helmet all the time.

]]> ktaylor@cjournal.ca (KARRY TAYLOR) frontpage Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:16:45 +0000