CALGARY—Worrying about what his grandkids might see when they look out the front window isn’t something Rick Kroeker expected when he moved to the top of Scotsman’s Hill five years ago. He and his wife live on Salisbury Avenue S.E., overlooking Calgary’s downtown, the Saddledome and the Stampede grounds; their house faces west. The front of their two-storey home sports large floor-to-ceiling windows that face the street, allowing their grandkids plenty of bright sunlight as they play in the main living room. But in May, the couple was treated to a view of a woman peeing on the street while crouched behind a long, yellow school bus that doubled as a party wagon that evening. In a photo he snapped on his cellphone, a group of men and women are seen milling around the west side of the bus while surveying Calgary’s downtown. “It’s really disappointing, because 99 per cent of what happens out there is wonderful — you get people coming to play with their kids, to take photos, wedding photos; I’ve seen people propose to each other on top of the hill,” he said. The lady-street-reliever in May isn’t an isolated incident, says Glenn Street. He also lives on top of the hill and first tweeted about the regularity of public urinators on his street on Sunday. “On weekends, you could probably see it happening three to four times a day. It’s very frequent. This one (on Sunday) was such a dramatic picture with them all lined up and the Saddledome behind.” The photo in the tweet shows a group of seven men lined up at the edge of the hill, facing the hockey arena, with their backs to the camera. They’re in standing positions that look as if they’re peeing. One man had dropped his underwear to his ankles. His next-door neighbour snapped the photo on Saturday evening; she doesn’t have social media and sent it to him to put on Twitter. Kroeker emphasized that he and other homeowners on the street know about the frequency of the urinators, because they do it when it’s still bright out, well before the sun sets. “It’s not like it’s happening at 11 p.m.,” he said. Street added that the issued flared up a number of years ago, but he couldn’t put his finger on when. “So the city put controls in that buses and limos weren’t allowed up here. And that was a result again of people being irresponsible.” It worked for a while, Street said. But limos and party buses are increasing how frequently they make stops on the hill — increases that have started to pick up again, he said. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... “It’s only the people who are coming off the party buses. You go out for a night of drinking, riding around a limo or party bus for an hour or so, and you stop to get out — what do you have to do? You’ve gotta go.” He said, “It’s about respect of the city. And some of the limo companies are totally irresponsible.” Read more about:<doc-sep>It’s a favourite stop for wedding parties, prom dates, party buses, and anyone looking to take photos with a gorgeous downtown Calgary backdrop. But some residents are highlighting concerns about misuse of the popular off-leash park by the various people who make limo stops at Scotsman’s Hill. And the gong show on Scotsman’s Hill continues. @nenshi Why doesn’t the City enforce its Bylaws? This happen regularly, limos aren’t supposed to be here. #yyc #pissedonscotsmanshill pic.twitter.com/4PGeht2GEj — Glenn Street (@GlennStreet) June 24, 2018 Glenn Street who lives along Salisbury Street S.E., posted a photo to Twitter Sunday with a group of gentlemen apparently urinating en masse, with Calgary’s Saddledome as a backdrop. Josie Casale, who lives in the next door, took the picture Saturday evening around 7:30 and sent it to Street. “It was just a bunch of guys partying it up,” said Casale. “One started. He pulled his pants down and everyone just lined up.” Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "One started. He pulled his pants down and everyone just lined up." Story continues below advertisement According to both Casale and Street, the problem isn’t new. Casale has lived in the neighbourhood since 1955 and says the problem has progressed in the last decade. “What happens is that they get in the mood once they’re in there drinking for an hour or two,” said Street. “They come up here to stop, and if you’ve been drinking all afternoon, guess what you need to do?” During the Calgary Stampede, the city installs port-a-potties along Scotsman’s Hill to combat the problem. They will now be in place in advance of the July long weekend. Area councillor Gian-Carlo Carra said in response to the tweet, “That is enraging.” “We’ve been working on Scotsman’s Hill for years and years and years,” said Carra, adding that there have been an escalating number of problems taking place. “What that tweet has effectively done is putting this into motion in a methodical way, to putting it into fast motion. So our commitment is to get out there, to identify who those people were and to put make sure that no one else does anything like that,” said Carra. Carra also said that the city will be initiating a enforcement blitz and taking a strategic look at “how to make Scotsman’s Hill work for all Calgarians.” Story continues below advertisement “We have been aware that the season for going up and viewing is getting longer and longer and we’re maybe not responding to it.” Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We have been aware that the season for going up and viewing is getting longer and longer and we're maybe not responding to it." Street said that during the Canada Day fireworks, as many as 10,000 people visit Scotsman’s Hill to watch the show. He said he and his neighbours enjoy sharing their view with visitors, but hope those who come will respect their neighbourhood. On Monday evening, the City of Calgary provided Global News with a statement on the matter. You can read the statement in its entirety below. “While the traffic bylaw would prohibit parking of large vehicles (buses) in this area, the signage leading up to Scotsman’s Hill is inadequate. Based on information gathered today while investigating this issue, the city is working on improving signage for Scotsman’s Hill so the parking restrictions can be properly enforced.”<doc-sep>Use a porta-potty or face a $300 fine. That's the message Calgary bylaw officers have for visitors to Scotsman's Hill. Bylaw enforcement spokesperson Damian Cole says officers will be keeping a sharp eye out for public urinators at the popular vantage point as Canada Day and the Stampede approach. "Please find a toilet rather than doing it on the hill, for sure. It looks terrible, and it's unhygienic," Cole said. Officers are increasing foot and bike patrols in the area, as well as drive-by visits, after a photo of a group of men peeing over the side of the hill sparked a heated discussion among Ramsay residents on social media. And the gong show on Scotsman’s Hill continues. @nenshi Why doesn’t the City enforce its Bylaws? This happen regularly, limos aren’t supposed to be here. #yyc #pissedonscotsmanshill pic.twitter.com/4PGeht2GEj —@GlennStreet Residents voiced concerns over what they described as inadequate bylaw enforcement to curb the issues of public urination and littering. Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra, who represents Ward 9, said the city is expediting its enforcement plans and will ensure porta-potties are in place by the July 1 long weekend. He also said the photo is being reviewed and there will be repercussions for those involved.<doc-sep>
For the latest developments, see: Bylaw officers step up patrols of Scotsman's Hill to curb public urination Scotsman's Hill is a draw for anyone looking to snap photos from one of Calgary's most beautiful vantage points, but those living along Salisbury Street S.E. say their view of the often rowdy partiers who visit can be less than pleasant. Glenn Street has lived by Scotsman's Hill for 30 years. On Sunday, he posted a photo to Twitter depicting a group of men urinating off the side of the hill, prompting community members to speak out. Street said people peeing on the hill and tossing their beer bottles have been issues for years, as the hill is a popular destination for graduation and wedding photos. The men depicted in the photo Street posted arrived in a limousine, he said. Street wants the city to act. "They have not been enforcing this issue, despite the many residents saying, 'hey, this is going on, you need to deal with it,'" he said. "It's just people not respecting the neighbourhood." And now there apparently children playing in the same spot. #yyc #pissedonscotsmanshill pic.twitter.com/DecY7yajFl —@GlennStreet The local council member is aware of the issue. "The fact that … it's one of the iconic views of the City of Calgary, and yet it's a quiet residential street, have been at odds for years," said Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra. Erin Joslin, vice-president external for the Ramsay Community Association, said the broken bottles, in particular, have her and other residents concerned. "Two dogs have needed vet care because of the broken glass left by people on the hill," she said. Joslin said that at peak times, like during the Stampede, porta-potties are set up and access to the hill is limited. But that doesn't help curb the problem year-round. "It's very easy. All they have to do is come up a couple Friday nights and Saturday nights and start writing tickets and it will go away," Street said. Carra, who represents Ward 9, said the city is expediting enforcement plans and will ensure porta-potties are installed by the July 1 long weekend. He also said the photo is being reviewed and there will be repercussions for those involved. "When you see a tweet like that … that is enraging and that is outrageous and I think that everybody is justifiably upset." Public urination carries a $300 fine under Calgary bylaws, and the fine for littering is $500.