Calgary Minute: Fines Threatened, Glenmore Landing, and Olympic Plaza Bricks

Calgary Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Calgary politics

This Week In Calgary:

• The Green Line Board will meet on Tuesday at 1:00 pm. No agenda is available for this meeting yet. On Wednesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a meeting of the Executive Committee. The agenda includes a presentation on the City’s 2024 Mid-Year Progress Update and the cancellation of prior year taxes for eligible non-profit facilities under construction. The Calgary Planning Commission will meet on Thursday at 1:00 pm. Several land use amendment applications are on the agenda. On Friday, at 9:30 am, there will be a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee. No agenda is available for this meeting yet.
  
  
• The City is threatening Calgarians with fines for not observing water restrictions. Despite a ban on outdoor watering and calls to reduce indoor use, water consumption has exceeded the City's target for four consecutive days. The City has received 278 reports of violations, and inspectors are issuing $3,000 fines to those who don't comply with the outdoor restriction. The restrictions are expected to last until late September as repairs continue.
  
  
• Calgary’s first municipal political party, A Better Calgary Party, is hosting a series of Ward Association Formation meetings. At these meetings, members will elect a President, Secretary, Treasurer, and several Members-At-Large. The party is selling memberships online, or at the door prior to each event. A full list of dates and venues is available online, and RSVPs are required.

Last Week In Calgary:

• It was announced that the redevelopment of Olympic Plaza will not include the 33,000 engraved bricks from the 1988 Winter Olympics due to the high cost and risk of damaging them during removal. The Calgary Municipal Land Corp. (CMLC) explored options but found that removing and reusing the bricks was impractical. Instead, Calgarians can attend six "Brick by Brick" events in September where CMLC officials will assist attendees in locating their engraved bricks, and a photographer will take commemorative photos. A digital model of the bricks is also available online for public viewing. The Plaza’s redesign will preserve other historical elements, like the skating rink, and is part of a larger $70 million project to revitalize the area, with construction starting in 2025 and expected to finish in 2028.
  
  
• Residents near Glenmore Landing said they are concerned that the redevelopment plans for the southwest Calgary shopping plaza have significantly expanded, potentially doubling the project's original scope with additional highrise buildings. The proposal has caused tension between residents and the developer, RioCan, leading to strained relations and legal challenges. The City is still reviewing the redevelopment application, which will go through further approval processes in the coming months.
  
  
• Johnny Gaudreau, a former Calgary Flames player, and his brother Matthew were tragically killed. Johnny Gaudreau is being remembered for his impressive hockey career and his commitment to philanthropy, including his work with KidSport Calgary, where $1,000 was donated for every goal he scored. Tributes for Gaudreau, who was also a husband and father of two, and his brother have flooded social media, honouring the pair’s contributions to hockey, family, and community. Our sincere condolences go out to the Gaudreau family.

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