LiveWire Calgary

buff.lySecond letter from minister addresses 'seriousness' of Coun. Johnston's Calgary budget leakA second letter from Alberta’s Municipal Affairs minister, directed to Ward 14 Coun. Landon Johnston, described his September budget document leak action as “unacceptable.” The letter, obtained by…

Minister's second letter in as many days calls Johnston's budget leak behaviour "unacceptable." #yyc #yyccc #calgary buff.ly/gBJvUlh

buff.lyAlberta referendum results

Results are starting to come in. Separation is getting the smackdown, but the others are somewhat 50/50. Check it out. #yyc #ableg buff.ly/YgbjMAr

buff.lySport Calgary's new amenity map makes finding venues easierLaunched on Oct. 13, the interactive map makes finding Calgary’s recreation centres a leisurely experience.

Having trouble finding a venue to participate in recreational activities? Sport Calgary has created an all-in-one site for Calgarians to use. #yyc #calgary buff.ly/A3y81E6

buff.lyWalcott: The end of local government — A brief history of the UCP in Calgary and EdmontonColumnist Courtney Walcott demonstrates a track record of the province stripping local government autonomy one decision at a time.

ICYMI this week: Columnist Courtney Walcott says there's a pattern of provincial input into local matters, particularly when Alberta cities take a path the UCP doesn't like. #yyc #calgary #yyccc buff.ly/iUh5CTK

buff.lyMotion declaring Calgary a vital part of a united Canada approved by city councilCalgary city council has endorsed a pro-unity motion put forward by Mayor Jeromy Farkas, citing economic impact as the driving force behind staying in Canada. The urgent notice of motion,…

ICYMI: After debate was closed on the matter, councillors voted in favour of declaring Calgary as a vital part of Alberta and Canada, in a pro-unity measure put forward by Mayor Jeromy Farkas. #yyc #calgary #yyccc buff.ly/Ae05H9N

buff.lyCFD sees 143 per cent increase in overdose first response calls over 2025The Calgary Firefighters Association is urging the different levels of government to come together on a solution, as overdose call response has spiked compared to 2025. On Tuesday, the association…

Calgary firefighters see massive spike in overdose calls; CPL says security costs at Central location have risen 90% since 2019. #yyc #calgary buff.ly/rCqtf2G

buff.lyNearly an hour delay in Calgary 911 priority response to Parker Wells disappearance: ReviewCalgary 911 procedures weren’t followed in the case of missing child Parker Wells earlier this summer, resulting in a delay in action around his disappearance, according to a City of Calgary internal…

22 Sept

Changes have already been made to address some of the gaps found by the City of Calgary's internal review into the handling of Parker Wells' disappearance. #yyc #calgary buff.ly/FtiCHrf

buff.lyPlatform Calgary's Top 10 startups — and what it means to the foundersTen of Calgary’s brightest technology startups were announced Monday, in advance of Platform Calgary’s Innovation Week launch party later this fall. The top 10 Most Promising Startups of 2026 cover a…

ICYMI: Platform Calgary named its top 10 Calgary startups in advance of its Innovation Week kickoff in November. #yyc #calgary #tech buff.ly/oxvyYU9

buff.lyCalgary projects a $130 million surplus by end of 2026 fiscal yearCalgary is predicting a bump to its current surplus, on the back of higher investment income, lower expenditures, and overall salary savings to close the fiscal year. Last week, during his State of…

Mayor Farkas said last week that Calgary's sporting a current $110 million surplus, and the city said it could grow to $130 million by year-end. #yyc #yyccc #calgary buff.ly/UfeqfCl

buff.lyBurn at ECCO Recycling site could last weeks, says Calgary fire chiefOfficials said the southeast landfill fire is contained but still far from gone amid air quality concerns.

It could take weeks to fully extinguish the landfill fire burning in southeast Calgary, according to Calgary's fire chief. #yyc #calgary buff.ly/Pt9pFFZ

buff.lyMayor wants special Alberta referendum meeting; other Calgary city councillors don'tIn a memo to colleagues, obtained by LWC, Ward 1 Coun. Kim Tyers laid out why she didn't want a special meeting of Calgary city council.

Mayor Farkas wants to call a potential special meeting to make a clear statement on Calgary endorsing Alberta remaining a part of Canada. Some councillors don't like the idea. #yyc #yyccc #calgary buff.ly/eukS2ur

livewirecalgary.com'Warning shot': Strong Calgary reaction after NDP byelection winCalgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas had some pointed words for the UCP after the NDP's upset in the Calgary-Shaw byelection on Monday.

15 Sept

"Look, if you run a conspiracy-theory-peddling separatist, you’re not going to be able to win in Calgary,” Farkas told reporters on Tuesday. #yyc #ableg #yyccc #calgary buff.ly/lroCX39

livewirecalgary.comMunicipal inspection sought into Calgary's closed-session activitiesCalgary city councillor Landon Johnston has sent a letter to the province asking for a municipal inspection into the current council’s use of in-camera sessions. It’s the latest salvo in the fallout…

10 Sept

Coun. Landon Johnston wants a provincial review of Calgary's in-camera activities since 2017. #yyc #calgary #yyccc buff.ly/dj0k2Ix

livewirecalgary.comMayor Farkas calls a special meeting to deal with Calgary budget leakA special meeting has been called by Calgary’s mayor in light of the recent disclosure of closed-door budget information to local media. Mayor Jeromy Farkas posted the meeting notice to Facebook with…

4 Sept

More today in the ongoing spat between Mayor Farkas and Coun. Johnston. #yyc #yyccc #calgary buff.ly/IATZoph

livewirecalgary.comWalcott: Fearless advice, loyal implementation. Public servants shouldn't be politicalThe administrative machinery at Edmonton city hall stepped in it this week on the issue of bike lanes. Instead of just putting their heads down and building those bike lanes, they got spooked by…

31 Aug

This week, columnist Courtney Walcott writes that Edmonton's city administration caved to provincial political pressure, instead of carrying out its council's direction. Will Calgary be next? #yyc #yyccc #yegcc #calgary buff.ly/rPnKhje

livewirecalgary.com'Calgary loves you': City remembers 11-year-old Parker with vigilParker Wells went missing on July 16, and a vigil was held Aug. 5 to remember him and the massive citywide effort to find him.

6 Aug

Calgarians gathered at Municipal Plaza to remember 11-year-old Parker Wells, whose two-week disappearance captivated citizens. #yyc #calgary buff.ly/NS0S9wb

livewirecalgary.comCity eyes easier path for modular classrooms, reuse of vacant school sitesVery soon, another line of red tape may be removed for schools. This time, it doesn’t come from either the school boards themselves or the provincial government. As part of the July 15 Infrastructure…

15 July

The City of Calgary wants to cut red tape that holds back the timeliness of modular construction at growing city schools. #yyc #calgary buff.ly/JIO2vYr

livewirecalgary.comHundreds of hungry goats return to Calgary's Nose Hill ParkFor the next couple of weeks, nearly 800 goats will be grazing the grounds of Nose Hill Park. Though the animals can sometimes be unpredictable, their task in the park is far from random. The City of…

14 July

This one's for the bleating hearts out there. #yyc #calgary buff.ly/Yz0pObe

livewirecalgary.comSheila Taylor named the Calgary Downtown Association's new executive directorNew Calgary Downtown Association (CDA) executive director Sheila Taylor began her first day on the job Monday, ready to continue the core’s evolution. Taylor, the former longtime executive director…

13 July

The Calgary Downtown Association has a new, but familiar face, set to lead it into the future. #yyc #calgary buff.ly/6u1eqnF

livewirecalgary.comProvince fast-tracks 16 Calgary school projectsWith help from a provincial cash boost, a school near you may be opening sooner than you thought. Alberta’s government has accelerated 16 Calgary school projects and 41 across the province, as part…

9 July

The faster they can get done, the less expensive they are likely to be, Minister Nicolaides said. #yyc #calgary buff.ly/9DixI4v

livewirecalgary.comUCalgary doc advises against taking Calgary Stampede footwear lightlyWhen listing staples of a visit to the Calgary Stampede, you can’t get far without mentioning cowboy boots. According to one UCalgary doctor, though, the local favourites may not be the ideal…

9 July

Are you paying attention to your Calgary Stampede footwear? A UCalgary doc thinks you should. #yyc #calgary buff.ly/GW38RQZ

livewirecalgary.comWalcott: The Calgary Stampede - A glimpse at ending food insecurityEvery year, the Calgary Stampede does something that, for most of the year, society pretends is impossible. Through volunteerism, charity, and corporate sponsorship, Calgary feeds all who want a meal…

6 July

Columnist Courtney Walcott said that given we can feed anyone who wants a meal for 10 days during the Calgary Stampede, surely it's possible to improve many Calgarians' food security for the other 355 days of the year. #yyc #calgary buff.ly/oVI8Q8D

livewirecalgary.comCountry Thunder cancels weekend Calgary festivalOn the hooves of the Cowboys Music Festival noise debacle, the Country Thunder Music Festival has announced that it is cancelling this weekend. The group behind the Country Thunder Alberta 2026 has…

24 June

The area councillor said he'd been working with the Confluence and city administration to avoid such an outcome. #yyc #calgary buff.ly/RsYJWdk

buff.lyUrgent notice of motion seeks to ease Stampede festival noise exemption rulesCouncillors will debate an urgent notice of motion Tuesday, aimed at softening the noise exemption permit rules the city said were first shared with summer music festivals five months ago. The Notice…

23 June

The motion, expected to come today, will ask for a time extension on louder music, plus a halving of the 5dBA reduction in the current noise exemption permits. #yyc #calgary

buff.lyCalgary mosquito numbers are low now, but could rise as the weather warmsCalgary mosquito populations are lower than usual this season, but that could change as the weather warms in July.

23 June

Warmer weather likely to stir up an otherwise subdued mosquito population, the city says. #yyc #calgary

livewirecalgary.comWalcott: Calgary Plan brings out the NIMBY responseThis week Calgary city council got a look at the Calgary Plan, which is a combined Municipal Development Plan and Transportation Plan for Calgary that will set the vision for city growth over the…

23 June

ICYMI: In his latest column, Courtney Walcott said the Calgary Plan stirred up a nagging planning trope from a couple of councillors. #yyc #calgary #yyccc buff.ly/o94p9He

livewirecalgary.comConcert time, noise level changes frustrate Cowboys Music Festival operatorsDecibel levels and music times for Stampede music festivals have been changed for this year, and one of the biggest venues said the changes were done without consultation. A June 17 memo sent out to…

18 June

A new concert cut-off time on weeknights, along with a reduction to allowable decibel and bass limits have chapped the operator of a popular Stampede-time music festival. #yyc #yyccc #calgary buff.ly/tCPF7cN

17 June

Who wants to go to the Calgary Surge game tonight against the Brampton Honey Badgers? It's Star Wars night (game time 7:30 p.m.) We've got 4 tickets to give away! Drop us a reply and we'll choose a winner by 1 p.m. today! (Let us know if you want two or four tickets). #yyc #calgary

livewirecalgary.com60,000+ parcels near LRT and BRT stations face downzoning, with no Calgary replacement plan in placeMore than 60,000 parcels within 600 metres of Calgary Transit LRT or Max BRT zones will be downzoned come Aug. 4, despite being where blanket rezoning opponents suggested greater density. The full…

13 June

Saturday morning coffee and a read: Come Aug. 4, 60,000+ parcels around LRT, BRT and MAX BRT Stations will be downzoned, despite transit zones being the widely suggested place to put more density. There is still no replacement plan. #yyc #calgary #yyccc buff.ly/QLBFhFm

livewirecalgary.comHow much time has Calgary city council spent behind closed doors?Calgary city council is preparing to audit its own closed-session habits. The data behind that decision tells a more complicated story than expected. According to data found in the City of Calgary’s…

12 June

This one might be only for the most serious city hall watchers, but something the general public might want to know. #yyc #calgary #yyccc buff.ly/Ka3WJWj

livewirecalgary.com58 units: Calgary's non-market housing pipeline nearly empties after record yearCalgary’s record-breaking year for non-market housing has given way to a near-standstill, with just 58 units under a development permit in the first quarter of 2026 — a fraction of the 3,000 the city…

11 June

After a banner year in 2025, Calgary's non-market home units under development slowed to a trickle in Q1 of 2026. There's one big barrier... #yyc #calgary buff.ly/ejruPw0

livewirecalgary.comFarkas pitches federal-only deal to put downtown Green Line undergroundCalgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas is floating a plan to split the Green Line into phases and pursue federal funding for a downtown underground tunnel — without the province at the table. Farkas made the…

11 June

The story continues: Mayor Farkas floats the idea of extending the Green Line further south, not going as far into downtown (with the current line), and then seeking a fed-only deal for an underground downtown line. #yyc #calgary #yyccc buff.ly/LyZbt8K

livewirecalgary.comCalgary pedestrian traffic incidents surge amid safety infrastructure gapsSafety infrastructure has recently been installed in developing communities over hot-spot intersections with high pedestrian incident rates.

10 June

Just as Calgary's Safer Mobility report comes to committee, data compiled by Sarah Palmer shows that Calgary traffic safety measures aren't being put where the bulk of pedestrian incidents are happening. #yyc #calgary buff.ly/5ABlUGX

livewirecalgary.comNo tunnel: Province open to adjustments on the downtown Calgary Green LineThe Government of Alberta is sticking to its guns on an elevated Green Line in downtown Calgary, though city council could once again look at alternative alignments. Members of Calgary’s Executive…

9 June

Mayor Farkas said that the current elevated option could literally crash into a proposed Calgary-to-Banff rail line. #yyc #yyccc #calgary buff.ly/wxaJL0g

buff.lyCalgary's free fare zone isn't the safety problem councillors say it is, data showsCalgary Transit’s own data tells a different story than city council has been hearing: When boardings are factored in, not a single downtown free fare zone station ranks among the city’s top 15 LRT…

3 June

When data tells a different story: Paid fare Calgary LRT stations top social disorder hotspots. buff.ly/yGzUj4z #yyc #calgary #yyccc

livewirecalgary.comCalgary police to roll out AI-powered officer-worn translating devicesStarting June 1, the Calgary police are modernizing their operations by rolling out officer-worn language-translating devices.

28 May

The modernized tech will allow Calgary police officers access to real-time translation of more than 60 languages. #yyc #calgary buff.ly/rOGzRLj

livewirecalgary.comCalgarians among strongest opponents of Alberta separation, survey findsCalgarians overwhelmingly reject the idea of Alberta’s separation from Canada, according to the results of a new survey. The results were part of a new survey done by Manitoba-based Probe Research…

13 May

The survey also shows that two-thirds of Alberta respondents believe that the separation discussion is hurtful to the provincial economy. #yyc #calgary buff.ly/MeoWpqt

livewirecalgary.comLack of consultation leaves Calgary Police Commission unable to endorse Calgary safety plan: MemoConfidential details of a memo divulged in a public meeting by a Calgary city councillor show that the Calgary Police Commission doesn’t yet endorse the city’s proposed safety and well-being…

6 May

Confidential memo, obtained by LWC, shows that the Calgary Police Commission can't yet endorse the Calgary safety and wellbeing strategy... but the memos contents were shared in open committee by Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean. #yyc #yyccc #calgary buff.ly/ndP8Wbz

livewirecalgary.comLynnview Ridge redux: Imperial Oil eyes refinery lands for future housingThe former Imperial Oil refinery lands in southeast Calgary are being eyed for redevelopment, and some residents say bring it on… with adequate remediation. LiveWire Calgary has learned that there…

2 May

SCOOP: Imperial Oil is shopping the old refinery lands for a potential residential development. The kicker... residents say it'll rejuvenate the neighbourhood as long as there's proper remediation. buff.ly/7PdmeaS

livewirecalgary.comDan McLean to run for the UCP nomination in Calgary-ShawDan McLean, the current Ward 13 councillor has made up his mind, and he's vying to replace outgoing Calgary-Shaw MLA Rebecca Schulz.

1 May

Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean confirms the rumours - he's running for the UCP nomination in Calgary-Shaw. #yyc #yyccc #calgary buff.ly/D083G8J

livewirecalgary.comTwo children found dead in a car in northwest CalgaryCalgary police said they found the two kids in the car shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday, with one person now in custody.

30 Apr

Calgary police homicide detectives are investigating after two kids were found dead in a car in a northwest neighbourhood. #yyc #calgary buff.ly/VtMcaOJ

livewirecalgary.comCalgary city council set for a showdown over... bottled waterBring the Dasani back. Or Evian. Or Our Compliments. The latest battleground for Calgary city council will be stocking the city council fridges with bottled water, with a Notice of Motion set for…

30 Apr

Next up on Calgary city council's critical to-do list - restocking the council fridges with bottled water. #yyc #calgary #yyccc buff.ly/NbKn81F

livewirecalgary.comCalgary spends $33K to tell city taxpayers about a provincial tax hikeThe City of Calgary has launched a $33,000 ad campaign to explain a property tax increase it didn’t impose. Earlier this year, Calgary city councillors heard, in detail, the impact of the most recent…

30 Apr

The City of Calgary has spent $33K on an ad campaign to tell you about the provincial property tax increase. Hear the radio ad here. #yyc #yyccc #calgary buff.ly/cQtJdVO

29 Apr

With a different Calgary city council in place, two councillors (with similar motions) are hoping for a different result. #yyc #calgary #yyccc buff.ly/Ej7fgJt

livewirecalgary.comCalgary approves water efficiency plan, with no amendmentsCalgary city councillors approved a new water efficiency strategy – fully intact – despite a push to have voluntary participation in an outdoor watering schedule. The item was presented at the April…

28 Apr

Calgary's water efficiency plan was approved, and there were no amendments to the documents, meaning mandatory outdoor watering schedules will be in effect. #yyc #yyccc #calgary buff.ly/nODZaid

livewirecalgary.com30-minute transfer window extension to cost $2M a yearExpansion of Calgary Transit’s transfer window to 120 minutes would result in a loss of at least $2 million annually in revenue, according to a city analysis of the plan. Despite this, city…

23 Apr

Some councillors say it's a small price to pay to potentially encourage more people to take Calgary Transit. #yyc #calgary #yyccc buff.ly/7q5IXRs

livewirecalgary.comCalgary to receive third HAF payment, final cash is conditionalMayor Farkas said lingering fears of withheld money have been quashed, though, there are conditions to get the remaining $65M in HAF cash.

22 Apr

Calgary's third Housing Accelerator Fund payment is in transit, pending conditions, with the fourth contingent on compliance, feds say. #yyc #yyccc #calgary buff.ly/rW2WQWm

18 Apr

Saturday morning coffee reader for you today. When can we expect a 'replace', and what might it look like? #yyc #calgary #yyccc buff.ly/yhc0d2A

buff.lyCalgary playground funding: 80% at risk without new investmentA new report warns 80% of Calgary playgrounds could close by 2036 without major funding.

14 Apr

Roughly 960 of Calgary's 1,172 existing playgrounds could be gone by 2036 without a serious capital cash infusion, according to a city admin report. #yyc #yyccc #calgary