Calgary Minute: Issue 320

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

📅 This Week In Calgary: 📅

• There are no Council or Committee meetings this week, on account of Stampede Week! Speaking of which, the Calgary Stampede officially kicked off with the traditional ‘First Flip’ pancake breakfast on Stephen Avenue Thursday morning. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Mayor Jyoti Gondek led the early crowd through cheerful “Yahoos” as hundreds gathered downtown to mark the start of The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. This year's parade marshal was Canadian country-pop superstar Shania Twain, who fulfilled a longtime dream by leading the procession on horseback. The festival will continue through July 13th.
  
  
• Calgary’s skyline is set for a major transformation with the planned construction of two hotel-residential towers, which will become the tallest buildings in the city and among the tallest in Western Canada. The $1.2-billion project, led by Truman, Marriott International, and Calgary Municipal Land Corp., includes the 69-storey W Calgary and 62-storey JW Marriott Calgary, offering over 400 hotel rooms and 360 residential units near Stampede Park. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, pending City approval, with tower openings slated for 2029 and 2030. The towers will feature luxury amenities such as spas, rooftop bars, meeting spaces, and private entrances. This initiative is part of a broader $1.47-billion private investment, including a third hotel on Stampede grounds. Mayor Jyoti Gondek hailed the development as a sign of growing confidence in Calgary’s future and a solution to the city’s hotel room shortage.
  
  
• A coalition of 25 Stephen Avenue businesses is threatening legal action against the City of Calgary over construction scheduled to begin July 14th, immediately after the Stampede. Business owners argue the redevelopment will cause “irreparable” harm during peak tourist season and are calling for a short delay, clearer timelines, and better communication from the City. The construction includes utility upgrades and surface revitalization, with a goal of completion before Stampede 2026. While the City insists it has engaged businesses and is committed to minimizing disruptions, owners say the rushed timeline and lack of transparency are unacceptable. Some fear financial losses similar to those experienced in Marda Loop, where a separate construction project prompted a $75-million lawsuit. Business leaders stress that this could have been a strong recovery year post-COVID and warn that the project could derail it.
  
  
• Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen sent a letter to Mayor Jyoti Gondek raising concerns about the City’s continued expansion of bike lanes at the expense of vehicle lane capacity. He warned that shrinking road space for cars, especially with taxpayer dollars, risks worsening traffic flow and undermining the provincial road network. Gondek suggested a summer meeting to discuss transportation needs. The issue follows years of controversy over Calgary’s bike infrastructure, which began with a downtown cycle track pilot in 2015. Despite ongoing criticism, Council has steadily expanded the network, most recently approving $56 million in upgrades in 2023.
  
  
• Fluoride has officially been reintroduced into Calgary’s drinking water, nearly four years after 62% of voters supported the move in a 2021 plebiscite. The project cost $28.1 million in infrastructure upgrades, along with an additional $1 million annually for operations. Supporters say this will significantly improve dental health, especially for children and those without regular access to dental care. However, the move is being challenged in court by Safe Water Calgary, which argues the potential health risks outweigh the benefits and that alternative fluoride sources are sufficient. The group’s injunction will be heard on July 9th. Fluoridation had previously been discontinued in 2011 due to cost concerns. Calgary now joins other Alberta cities like Edmonton and Lethbridge in fluoridating their water, with the change also affecting surrounding communities that rely on Calgary's water supply.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Recent changes to Alberta’s municipal elections now require all voters to register before casting their ballots. 

The next municipal election takes place on October 20th, and you can register in advance by August 15th using the online voter registration system. 

(If you miss this deadline, you can still register and vote in person on election day.)

Click here to register now:

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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