Tuscany fire hall to serve as hub for community

Calgary’s newest fire hall will not only serve as a critical emergency resource but as a community hub, officials say.

On Saturday, the Tuscany fire station opened its doors, and will now serve four northwest communities — Rocky Ridge, Scenic Acres, Arbour Lake and Tuscany — along with some 30,000 residents.

In addition to housing fire engines and facilities for personnel, the facility also boasts public resources including a community meeting room, a drop-in work area for city employees and an outdoor fitness park that can be used by members of the community.

Fire Chief Steve Dongworth said the public features were included following overwhelming feedback from residents the station would ultimately serve.

“We asked the surrounding communities what their vision was for the new Tuscany station. Overwhelmingly we heard that the fire station should also serve as a hub for the community,” he said.

“We’re very pleased with the resulting features, which will foster a greater connection between Calgarians, firefighters and city staff.”

Even the look of the station was the result of community input, with the fire department opting for designs for the public portions of the building chosen by area residents during the consultation process.

The $16.4 million station saw the bulk of its price tag covered through the developer-funded Community Recreation Levy, with additional financial support from the provincial Municipal Sustainability Initiative.

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said the new facility will ensure fire resources are more accessible to the quartet of northwest neighbourhoods. “Calgary continues to grow and be recognized as one of the most livable cities in the world,” he said. “This new fire station is an investment in the safety and quality of life for all Calgarians in our northwest quadrant.”