After submitting all requested documents for my QCW licence, this agency demanded a brand new…read morepolice check clearance. I have done 2 in the last few weeks, both are perfect and on the Calgary Police Services website for their perusal. They insist that I pay $30.00 for the third time in 2 months, to complete another one. This is pure insanity and an unacceptable money/tax grab. I have been a volunteer for over 20 years and now that I am seeking employment, I should not have to provide a brand new $30.00 police check each time I apply to a government job. This is unjust and should be changed immediately.

I am writing this review to warn others about the unacceptable service I received at BLS…read moreInternational Calgary during my child's passport renewal process. The Problem: BLS staff falsely told me that courier service ($60.70 extra) was mandatory for passport delivery, even though their own website clearly states it's optional. When I requested in-person pickup, they insisted it wasn't available and forced me to pay the additional courier fee, bringing my total from $72.70 to $133.40. Months of Runaround: After discovering this was against their own published policy, I filed a complaint in early June 2025. What followed was over a month of: Empty promises of "24-48 hour" responses Multiple escalations through their complaint system Repeated template responses with no actual resolution Being told the refund was "processed immediately" in June, only to wait another month Only External Intervention Worked: The only reason I eventually got my refund was because I had to: File a formal complaint with the Consulate General of India in Vancouver Escalate to Service Alberta Consumer Protection Get help from external bodies and other people who guided me through the process Without this outside help and pressure, BLS would have kept my money and ignored my legitimate complaint. Final Outcome: It took over 6 weeks and involvement from the Indian Consulate before BLS finally processed my refund in late July 2025. Even then, they made me pick up a physical cheque during limited hours (3-4:30 PM weekdays only) instead of refunding to my original payment method. Warning to Others: Don't trust BLS staff when they say optional services are "mandatory" Take screenshots of their website policies before your appointment Be prepared to involve the consulate if you have any disputes Keep detailed records of all communications BLS International has a captive market for Indian consular services, and they clearly exploit this position. Their staff either don't know their own policies or deliberately mislead customers to generate extra revenue. I would not recommend BLS International to anyone. If you must use their services, be extremely careful about what fees you're told are "mandatory" and be prepared to fight for what's right. Update: I only received resolution after escalating to the Consulate General and getting help from consumer protection services. Other applicants facing similar issues should not hesitate to seek external help immediately rather than wasting time with BLS's ineffective internal complaint system. This review captures your experience accurately and warns others while acknowledging that external help was crucial to getting your refund. You can adjust the tone or length as needed for different review platforms.

I wish to place on record my recent experience at BLS International, Calgary. Having to renew my…read morePassport, I was fortunate to receive help from one of your employees, by name Neha. She was not only very polite but treated me with due respect, which is much needed today. My work was completed fast at BLS because Neha went through all the application details very diligently and with a good dose of patience. My day was made pleasant due to her energetic behaviour & charm. She is a good role model for others & I can only wish her further success in all her endeavours. May her tribe increase!

I live across the street from a fire station, but you'd never know it. The truck comes and goes all…read morethrough the day, but it's quieter than a city bus. They rarely sound the sirens until they're well out of the neighborhood. The station looks like a large house, styled to match the neighbours. These blended-in stations are definitely the way to go. Thankfully, I haven't had an opportunity to try the fire and rescue services, but I assume they're good.

can't give me any answers all they do is say call this phone number that then tells you there is a…read more4-5 hour wait no matter what time you call at

Definitely need to have public servant accountable. Went to District 7 for a police report. The…read morecop with the UK accent kept arguing with me something 3 years ago and it's about civil matters when I was referring it to the current harassment (criminal matters). He even tried to argue and judge a civil matter that he has no legal knowledge of because he is not a lawyer nor he is not in a capacity of doing so. In the middle of writing the report, he said it's ridiculous and asked me to go to another email and he refused to write it. Wondering what is the reason he refused to do his job? If everything was nice why did I come for a police report? It's a classic example of public servant getting too lazy and refused to do his job for no reason. Sorry ridiculous is not a valid reason.

Families in Calgary, and across Canada, deserve safety, dignity, and peace. Yet the current system…read moreof emergency response, particularly the use of 911 in domestic disputes, too often escalates conflict rather than resolving it. Women and children, the most vulnerable members of society, are frequently silenced. Their suffering is dismissed, their voices ignored, while unverified stories are accepted without proof. Instead of protecting families, this approach destabilizes them. Police intervention in family disputes has become a source of fear. Rather than calming tensions, officers often inflame them, leaving both women and men regretting the call. Couples who might have resolved their issues independently are forced into confrontations that deepen wounds. This is not justice. This is not protection. This is disruption. The role of police should never be to pour petrol on fire. Families call for peace, not punishment. Women and children call for protection, not silencing. Reform is urgent. Without it, 911 risks becoming not a lifeline, but a death-digging mole in the heart of our communities.

I just wanted to post this as a warning to others who might be ordering furnace cleaning service…read morefrom Direct Energy. They had our furnace and vents cleaned--and stole my iPod Touch from the top of the dresser where I had left it that morning before rushing to work. My husband was at home but did not follow the Direct Energy workers from room to room. While I realized that getting my iPod back was not likely, I phoned a Direct Energy supervisor, who took weeks to ever get back to me--to suggest that I had misplaced my iPod and it would turn up! (It hasn't because it was stolen). So if Direct Energy is coming to clean your furnace, hide your valuables and watch the workers closely.

I had a contract with DEES. When there was an issue with the electrical provider, Enmax, DEES told…read moreme to contact Enmax and Enmax told me to contact DEES. I was without electricity for a month. The issue was never resolved and I had to walk away. All of DEES concerns are directed to Malaysia, where they just collect our money. There is no one here in Calgary to answer our concerns. I would never ever recommend DEES to anyone who is interested in getting utility services.

We love our local library!…read more The librarians are wonderful and so helpful. Miss YY is so fun! My 5 yr old is in a wiggles and giggles story time program at the library currently. She has the best time. Miss YY sings songs and read stories. The children have a ball. After the program they play and interact with each other. I just love how this is fostering such a positive outlook on the library for my child. She can't wait to go to the library. When I was a child I loved the library but I was a bit scared of the librarian. I see adults and teens on the computers every time I go. The giant chess board is always in use by teens. The children's area has some toys and a play mat. Something for everyone. Come spend a couple hours at the library!

I'm not sure how old this branch of the CPL is, but it feels very new. My home branch is the…read moreequally new-seeming one in Crowfoot, and this one has a nearly identical look and feel to it, though it's a little smaller and appears to have a smaller collection. Also in comparison to the branch in Crowfoot, this one doesn't have quite as many seating options (due to the smaller size), though it still more than fits the bill for a few hours of work, study, or reading.