#yychelps

[smartiecanz]

#yyc#yycfood #yychelps#calgary#calgarycooks#kensigtonyyc#modernsteak#fortmac#prayforfortmac#everydollarcounts#alberta#albertacanada#chefsofinstagram

[monsywoodland]

How Scotiabank is Helping Flood Victims

While thousands of Albertans faced the devastation following the flooding in our province, it's great to see companies like Scotiabank are doing their part to help out.

So far, Scotiabank has donated $100,000 to the Alberta Red Cross, to help with flood relief in our province. The donation will help flood victims start to rebuild.

Flood relief donations will be accepted at any Scotiabank branch across Canada, until July 26, 2013.

If you're concerned about how the flooding has affected your recent buy, sell or mortgage application, please feel free to contact me. I'm also on Twitter: @MonsyW.

[anonymises]

Things I found in trees today: Cupboard door Egg carton Doll Telephone book

[knackthatarticles-blog]

How to avoid Storm Chasers and Scam Artists

With the recent Alberta floods, something to be aware of is to be on the lookout for storm chasers and out-of-town contractors that may be soliciting door-to-door.  The reason we post this article as this has become a issue in the United States after such storms as Hurricane Sandy and Oklahoma Tornado.   I would like to think that could not happen here in Alberta, but to protect our ourselves, please be aware to ensure it does not happen to you or any of your loved ones. 

Here are a few good tips to avoid becoming a victim to storm chasers and con men.

Warning signs: 

Avoid door-to-door solicitations 

A scam will usually involve the work to be done immediately since the con man doesn't want to give you extra time to discover what they are.

High-pressure sales tactics such as the “good deal” you’ll get only if you hire the contractor on the spot.

Tips to avoid being scammed:

Ask your insurance company about what’s covered under your policy and specific filing requirements. Save all receipts for food, lodging, and other expenses that may be covered. 

Never hire a laborer or contractor on the spot. It is always a good idea to get multiple estimates.

Ask your insurer to survey the damage and see if they have a list of approved contractors.  If not you can use website like BBB Accredited businesses, knackthat, homestars, handycanadian to help find what you are looking for.

Never sign a contract with blank spaces. Contractors can then enter unacceptable terms later on.

Require written contracts that specify work to be done, materials to be used, start and end dates, responsibility for hauling away debris, and costs broken down by labor and materials. 

Ask your contractor to provide proof of current insurance & licence.

Avoid large down payments, never pay in full in advance and don't pay cash. Have the contractor specify a schedule for releasing payments within the contract.

Be sure to ask for references, and actually follow up with them to ensure they are legit.

Pay by credit card, if possible as you may have additional protection if there’s a problem.

Here are just some of articles on about the scams in the US 

Hurricane Sandy Scams: Officials Warn Of Crooked Contractors, Charities - Huffingtonpost

BBB warns of post-storm contractor scams - Southwesttimes

Scam artists exploit Oklahoma tornado victims - CNN

State Warns Of Rental Scams Following Tornadoes - News9

More articles on how to protect yourself so Albertan's do not become victims too.

12 tips to avoid storm chasers - AngiesList

How to Avoid Home Improvement Scams - Readers Digest

[knackthatarticles-blog]

List of Skilled Trades who have Volunteered to Help yycflood victims.

It is heartwarming to see how this city is banding together to help one another.  The list keeps growing of skilled trade volunteers keeps growing - we will add as we get them.  You can view their information by clicking on the links.  If you are a homeowner in need of specific volunteer please use yychelps.ca for your requests.  Please share this info and like these amazing companies/people facebook pages.

Cedarglen Homes   Home Building

Align Developments Ltd  Renovations, Decks & Patios, more...

MeadowView Construction Ltd. Renovations and more...

Kurmak Builders Renovations, General contractors, more...

Aeroseal Duct Sealing Calgary Furnace & Heating, Handyman Services, Flooring..more

Whole Home Developments Ltd Renovations, Water Damage Repair, more...

STARTECH SERVICES LTD Electrical

Signal Hill Lawn Services Landscape

navagrah landscape architecture + urban design Landscape Design Services

Crystal Waters Plumbing Company Plumbing

Executive Airways Grooming Services Water Damage Repair

Active Concepts Ltd. Handyman, and more...

Durango Developments Renovations, Flooring, more..

Red seal Journeyman Carpenter Carpenter

Rob Baycroft General Contractors

Fusion Pipe Solutions Inc. General Contractors

Qualified Electrician to Volunteer Flood Victims Electricial

ION Interiors Drywall & Plaster

Paul Roberts building services General Contractor

JCRV PLUMBING 50% off for flood relief 2013  - Plumbing

EcoWater Systems Calgary Certified Water Technicians volunteer yycflood contaminated water equipment

Prairie Sun Electrical

White Water Management Yycflood - we are here to volunteer with pumping out basements or the like

Total Electrical Solutions Ltd Offering free Electrical Inspections in homes and businesses affected by the flooding

Tarpon Energy Services Electrical 

Disclaimer: Offers received from skilled workers & businesses have not been vetted nor are they endorsed by KnackThat. Please contact the business directly with your specific case to see if they can help you.

[redrackham87]

morgieporgie85 said: You’re awesome! You have no idea how nice it is to get even a thank you in a situation where everyone and everything is at its worst. If you’re up to it, bring the dispatchers stuff. Chances are they haven’t been able to leave at all. :)

Absolutely! Where are they at? The police stations and stuff?

(Also, I have to note that tonight on the police's twitter feed, they're getting overwhelmed with people asking where to send food to officers, workers and front liners. <333)

[redrackham87]

so i bought a bunch of tim horton's gift cards (that's like starbucks but better, for you non-canadians) and walked to the nearby fire station to give some the firefighters. then i walked down the hill to the neighborhood next door, which was hit hard in the flood.

it was awful you guys. clear signs everywhere of how high the water was, and so many people milling around. some volunteers helping, everyone covered in mud, a lot of people resigned and sad and in shock. lawns just bursting with debris. i would say it was like walking through a disaster zone, but it isn't like one, it is one.

i found a pair of police officers near the broken bridge, one directing traffic. i gave gift cards to the officer in the car and thanked them for being so amazing during all this flooding. i asked them if i could buy them dinner, and he said they were alright, but in a hour they could maybe use a hot drink. i said i'd be back in an hour.

i brought them apple cider and cheese buns, and the officer thanked me over and over, and i thanked him over and over (him and all the police and emergency workers) for being generally awesome and working so freaking hard to keep us all safe.

he said they'd probably be here (or at least working, not necessarily in that exact spot) until sometime around midnight. i asked if they'd even had a chance to sleep, and he said, "oh, not really. *gestures to partner directing traffic* he's been up since 4 at least. maybe 3." (this was at 7:20 pm, folks. and they're working until midnight, and this is something like day 4 or 5, depending on how you count it, of this crisis).

in other news, this morning the city asked for 600-1000 volunteers to come to one of the stadiums to be "deployed" to communities in need. 7000 showed up. SEVEN. THOUSAND. and they asked for SIX. HUNDRED. ISH. and they've been turning people away (from that particular gathering) because too many people showed up, but they'll be tons more help and clean up and stuff needed. my city is being ridiculously amazing during this madness, i'm just blown away!

[knackthatarticles-blog]

Beautiful short video that captures the sense of community in Calgary Video  - created by Bradley Stuckel