What's new with Excel.

Clean off the grill – it’s finally barbeque season in Calgary. Throughout the colder months, the kitchen is the heart of every home. But come summer, the backyard takes over and the grill is centre stage. Check out our barbeque guide – complete with a recipe from our in-house expert Perry Mah, Senior Estimator at Excel.

It’s finally gardening season in Calgary and we couldn’t be more thrilled! A great addition to every backyard is a small vegetable plot. Edible gardens are delicious, and a fun way to get your children involved in gardening. Calgary – and area – has a bit of a tricky climate for growing edibles, but it can be done. If you’re new to gardening, start with veggies that are easy to grow in Calgary.

Check out our monthly events blog to discover the top festivals and events happening in greater Calgary. Highlights this month include a family friendly street party, an ode to ale festival and the Stamps’ season kick-off bash. Read on for all of the details and to learn how you can take part in the fun!

Shop local at your neighbourhood farmers’ market, and enjoy all of the health benefits that come from eating field fresh fruits and veg. You’ll find year-round and seasonal markets in and around greater Calgary. Wander through the stalls, meet the people who grow your food and sample delicious gourmet grub and organic produce. Farmers’ markets are always a family friendly affair, so grab those canvass bags and shop local to help support Alberta’s producers.

Teach your kids about nutrition and the importance of eating healthy, homemade food. Having children help in the kitchen will foster a lifelong love for cooking, and provide them with an important life skill. Cooking also helps with fine motor skills and incorporates time management, science, reading and math. Here are some of our favourite ways to inspire your pint-sized chefs.

In celebration of Earth Day on April 22^nd, we’re sharing some of our favourite eco-friendly cleaning tips. It’s time to raid your pantry, and clean green this spring. All you’ll need is fresh water, vinegar, lemon, baking soda, eco-friendly dish soap, a few old dishcloths and a toothbrush.

Celebrate spring by hosting an Easter brunch for family and friends. From festive DIY décor to delicious dishes, we’ve got everything you need to throw a hopping good Easter bash.

Check out our monthly events blog to discover the top festivals and events happening in greater Calgary. Highlights this month include a California wine festival, a comic and entertainment spectacular and an interactive, hands-on learning experience focused on Alberta’s agriculture industry! Read on for all of the details and to learn how you can take part in the fun!

Spring is almost upon us (one can hope right!), and while waiting patiently for the season to arrive we might as well spend a little time cleaning our homes. To help get you started we’ve put together a deep cleaning checklist for the household items that are often missed during weekly and monthly maintenance cleans.

Greater Calgary is tops for year-round family fun. During winter, when it’s a bit too cold to play outside, families have a host of indoor kid-friendly gyms and activity centres to choose from. We polled our Excel staff and come up with our top spots for monkeying around with your little ones.

Check out our monthly events blog to discover the top festivals and events happening in greater Calgary. Highlights this month include a delicious celebration of the city’s hottest restaurants, and a spring home and garden extravaganza! Read on for all of the details and to learn how you can take part in the fun!

Greater Calgary takes immense pride in its burgeoning coffee culture. You’ll find cozy cafes throughout the city that roast their beans in-house and serve exceptional craft coffee prepared by expert baristas. While it was difficult to narrow down, we’ve come up with a list of our favourite spots for getting your buzz on.