Calgary Minute: Fish Creek, Housing Projects, and Water Restrictions Begin

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

This Week In Calgary:

• Council is in recess, and there are no meetings at City Hall this week. The next meeting takes place September 3rd, when the Green Line Board will meet.
  
  
• Today, we’re back to Stage 4 outdoor water restrictions due to repairs on the city’s water feeder mains. With the Bearspaw Treatment Plant's output drastically reduced, the City will limit water consumption to 450 million liters per day, significantly below the usual summer demand. Restrictions will include bans on outdoor watering, pool filling, and non-essential water uses until September 23rd. Residents are being asked to reduce indoor water use by 25% and to collect rainwater for outdoor needs. Non-potable water will be available for certain uses to help manage the reduced supply.
  
  
• Some residents of Riverbend are urging the City to reconsider or cancel a planned housing project now that the South Hill LRT station, which initially spurred the development, has been delayed indefinitely. The project's approval by Council sparked opposition, particularly from those affected by the loss of on-street parking and increased traffic due to planned road changes. Critics argue that without the LRT station, the redevelopment of the six-hectare site, intended for townhouses and apartment buildings, may be premature. City officials maintain that the project will proceed as it addresses housing needs and can integrate into the community even without immediate transit access. They are also exploring alternatives like enhanced bus rapid transit to support the area.

Last Week In Calgary:

• Mayor Jyoti Gondek attended the World Energy Cities Partnership (WECP) annual meeting in Norway, where she advocated for Calgary to host the conference in 2025. At the event, Gondek is representing Calgary as a key energy hub and discussing collaboration between local governments, industry, and educational institutions to advance various energy sources. At the meeting, Gondek was elected vice-president of the World Energy Cities Partnership (WECP). The decision on the 2025 conference location will be made in March, with Calgary last hosting the meeting in 2009.
  
  
• A major upgrade got underway for Fish Creek Provincial Park’s central corridor pathway, which will receive a $15 million renovation over the next four years. The project aims to widen the 19-kilometre trail from 2.5 meters to over 4 meters to better accommodate pedestrian and cycling traffic. Construction, which began with the removal of 900 hazardous trees, will occur in three phases, starting with the section from Mallard Point to Bow Bottom Trail, and continuing through 2028.
  
  
• The City of Calgary has awarded $1 million in grants to ten non-profits for affordable housing projects through The Home Program. This initiative, active since 2017, has funded over 100 projects. The current grants will support projects that focus on Indigenous, Black, and other marginalized communities. The organizations receiving funding include Calgary John Howard Society, Closer to Home, and others. The City expects these projects to benefit approximately 1,400 residents and to be completed by late 2026.

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