Calgary Minute: Grey Cup, Tree Funding, and Water Infrastructure Projects

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

This Week In Calgary:

• There are no meetings at City Hall today, as it is Remembrance Day. Calgarians can participate in various Remembrance Day events, including ceremonies at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, the Field of Crosses, and The Military Museums. The Calgary Highlanders will hold a parade at Central Memorial Park, while special events are also planned at the Hangar Flight Museum and Studio Bell. A full list of times and locations is available online.
  
  
• On Tuesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a Public Hearing Meeting of Council to address several land use amendments. The Intergovernmental Affairs Committee will meet on Wednesday at 9:30 am. The agenda includes a Regional Economic Development Update and updates from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Alberta Municipalities. The Community Development Committee meeting, originally scheduled for Wednesday at 1:00 pm, is cancelled. On Thursday, at 1:00 pm, the Calgary Planning Commission will meet to address land use amendments.
  
  
• Calgary will host the 2026 Grey Cup at McMahon Stadium on November 15th, 2026, marking the sixth time the event has been held in the city. The Grey Cup Festival will take place at Stampede Park, featuring concerts and the return of the Grey Cup Rodeo. Although McMahon Stadium is one of the CFL's oldest venues, the league is working to make it as accommodating as possible for the event. The province is contributing $4 million to the event, though funding will not go toward renovations of McMahon. Conversations regarding the stadium's future are still ongoing.

Last Week In Calgary:

• Councillors Sonya Sharp and Terry Wong have proposed pausing high-density development in Bowness and Montgomery while the City reviews the infrastructure in these neighbourhoods. The proposal comes after a major water main rupture in Montgomery earlier this year, and the Councillors are seeking an analysis of roads, pipes, and other infrastructure. Concerns were raised by some Councillors about potential legal challenges about halting development permits. Sharp referenced past precedence for similar pauses in development and emphasized the need for a comprehensive discussion on the impact of high-density development. Council will vote on the motion at its November meeting.
  
  
• The City outlined $1.5 billion in water infrastructure projects as part of its proposed 2025 budget, with plans to borrow over $1 billion to fund them. The projects aim to address infrastructure needs following the failure of a major water main earlier this year, and to keep pace with the city’s rapid population growth. Key initiatives include constructing a new water treatment plant, expanding the Bonnybrook Wastewater Treatment Plant, and upgrading other existing facilities. To support the funding, there is a proposal to raise utility rates in 2025 and 2026.
  
  
• Calgary has entered into a $61 million federal funding agreement that will allow the City to plant nearly 1 million trees over the next five years. This initiative is part of Canada's broader goal to plant 2 billion trees by 2030. The tree planting will increase Calgary’s urban tree canopy from 8.25% to 16% by 2060. While experts support the project, concerns have been raised about ensuring the trees' survival, given Calgary’s tough climate. The City is preparing systems like solar-powered watering tanks to maintain the new trees.

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