Calgary Minute: Viscount Bennett, Glenmore Arena, and an ENMAX Dividend Proposal

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

This Week In Calgary:

• The Executive Committee will meet on Tuesday at 9:30 am. The Committee will be considering changes to borrowing bylaws and a loan to support the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC). This would authorize up to $25 million in new financing to fund strategic projects in the Rivers District, including wayfinding upgrades, park spaces, public art, and Reconciliation Bridge lighting. Councillors will also hear a verbal update on US tariffs and their impact on the City’s supply chain. In light of escalating Canada-US trade tensions, Councillors will discuss risks to procurement, inflationary pressures on infrastructure projects, and mitigation strategies such as sourcing alternatives and supplier collaboration.
  
  
• On Wednesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a Community Development Committee meeting. The agenda includes the 2024 Calgary Police Service Annual Report and the 2024 Calgary Fire Department Annual Report.
  
  
• Mayor Jyoti Gondek is proposing to redirect $20 million from the 2024 ENMAX dividend to upgrade aging community infrastructure like splash pads, wading pools, and recreation centres. The proposal comes as part of a broader motion to address the fact that 15% of City-managed assets are currently in poor or critical condition. An additional $2.85 million would support community association-led projects such as seating, lighting, murals, and gardens. Normally, any ENMAX surplus is allocated to the legacy parks fund, but Gondek’s motion would split the excess, still sending $23.15 million to the fund. This year’s $103-million dividend was notably higher than expected due to high fees, but this is not expected to repeated as the province has now stepped in to lower these fees. The motion will be reviewed for legal soundness before potentially heading to a full Council debate.

Last Week In Calgary:

• After a lengthy public hearing, City Council voted 9-5 to approve a redevelopment plan for the former Viscount Bennett High School site. The project, scaled down from an earlier proposal, will bring 1,200 to 1,500 housing units across eight buildings. Critics raised concerns about traffic, density, and lack of green space, while supporters called it a rare opportunity to add needed housing near transit. Councillor Courtney Walcott defended the plan, saying perfection is subjective and delays would mean building nothing at all.
  
  
• Construction has officially started on the $85.6-million Glenmore Twin Arena in southwest Calgary, set to replace the aging Stu Peppard Arena. The new facility will feature two rinks and more than double the current spectator capacity, aiming for completion by fall 2027. The project is part of Calgary’s broader GamePLAN strategy to increase recreational infrastructure to meet growing demand. While the arena will replace the existing one, discussions are ongoing about how to honour Stu Peppard’s legacy in the new space.
  
  
• The Calgary Public Library launched a $1-million fundraising campaign to combat rising book costs and growing demand. Due to a 20% price increase, the library can now buy only four books for every five it once could. Inflation, population growth, and a weak Canadian dollar have further strained the library’s buying power. The “Fifth Book” campaign aims to expand both print and digital collections and reduce long wait times, with more than 800,000 Calgarians now holding library cards.

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