Calgary Minute: Grounded Planes, Fieldhouse Funding, and More Water Restrictions

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

This Week In Calgary:

• The Calgary Planning Commission will meet on Thursday at 1:00 pm. The agenda includes a few land use amendments.
  
  
• Residents of Marda Loop are concerned about the removal of mature trees along the main street as part of a City construction project. The City plans to replace the trees and increase the overall tree canopy, with a commitment to replanting over 100 trees, but residents are worried about the loss of the existing greenery. Experts say the tree removal is necessary for sidewalk expansion and utility work.
  
  
• The historic Stephenson building, originally built in 1911, is being dismantled to make way for Calgary's new event center. The building, which once served as a grocery store and post office in Victoria Park, is currently in storage and will be reassembled as part of the arena's north side, possibly functioning as a cafe. The decision to dismantle and integrate the building into the new arena was made to preserve its structural integrity as the building could not be lifted and moved.

Last Week In Calgary:

• Mayor Jyoti Gondek announced that 16 additional issues were identified in a recent test of over 10 kilometers of water pipes. Calgary will face new water restrictions starting August 26th while the issues are repaired. Residents have been told to conserve water indoors and avoid outdoor watering during the month-long repair period. Unlike the previous round of restrictions, businesses and public facilities like pools and arenas are expected to remain open. And, with the planned shutdown, there are no expected boil water advisories or need for water wagons. The repair work is expected to be completed by September 23rd, and the City will use between $20 and $25 million from its reserves to pay for the repairs.
  
  
• The Alberta government has announced a $350,000 grant to support national and international sporting events, including the 2024 Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships in Calgary. However, there is no confirmed support yet for Calgary's proposed $380 million multisport fieldhouse at Foothills Athletic Park. Minister of Tourism and Sport Joseph Schow indicated that while the Province acknowledges the importance of such facilities, it is still evaluating how to contribute in a fiscally responsible manner.
  
  
• WestJet grounded 16 planes, about 10% of its fleet, due to damage from the recent hailstorm. The airline canceled 84 flights on Wednesday, following 106 cancellations on Tuesday and 58 on Monday. The Calgary International Airport's domestic terminal also suffered damage, with parts remaining closed for repairs. Meanwhile, Air Canada reports that its Calgary operations have returned to normal, and they deployed larger planes to accommodate stranded passengers.

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