Latest news with #Calgarians'
Calgary Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Legal challenge against blanket rezoning taken to Alberta Court of Appeal
Article content Roughly 70 per cent of speakers were against blanket rezoning, with opponents criticizing how densification of established communities would alter their neighbourhood's character, increase traffic and parking congestion, and strain civic infrastructure. Article content Critics also argued the move would stifle the opportunity for neighbourly input on land-use decisions, by removing the public hearing that would typically accompany a rezoning application. Article content Supporters of blanket rezoning argued it would help with Calgary's overall housing supply and affordability by easing and accelerating the approval of more attainable housing types in communities that were previously zoned for single-family detached homes. Article content Another benefit, proponents argued, is that densifying older neighbourhoods is a cheaper alternative to boost housing than continuing Calgary's urban sprawl. Article content Article content Miller disputed the affordability argument, adding blanket zoning has only served the development sector. Article content 'This whole upzoning was premised on the fact it would bring about affordable housing, and the anecdotal evidence is that it's not creating more affordable homes,' he said. 'It's simply allowing developers to profit significantly by speculating on the land.' Article content Council ultimately supported citywide R-CG zoning, albeit with a suite of amendments related to public feedback and privacy requirements, and listing rowhouses as a 'discretionary use' rather than a permitted use. Article content In June 2024, Calgarians for Thoughtful Growth and its then-300 members sought its initial judicial review by filing its legal challenge to the Court of King's Bench. Article content 'We sought a court review of the bylaw because we believe it exceeds the city's legal authority, was adopted through a process lacking fairness and impartiality and disregarded the overwhelming majority of public input received during the hearing process,' the group's release stated. Article content Article content Justice Michael Lema issued a 39-page ruling siding with the city in late January. He argued council and the city were within their legal right under the Municipal Government Act to implement blanket rezoning, and did so in a procedurally fair manner while providing sufficient notice to the public. Article content A city spokesperson said Thursday that the municipality does not typically comment on matters that are before the courts. Article content The city previously stated that blanket R-CG zoning 'supports increased housing supply and housing choices for Calgarians' by speeding up the redevelopment process and removing cost barriers and political uncertainty.
Calgary Herald
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Harry the Horse mascot celebrates 40 years with the Calgary Stampede
The Calgary Stampede's most well-known steed, Harry the Horse, is celebrating his 40th anniversary with the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. Article content Harry the Horse debuted as the official mascot of the Stampede on March 14, 1985, at the Rodeo Royal, after replacing Jim Dandy and his horse, Nellie. Article content Article content The original design and sketches of Harry were created by Wendy Issacs, a local artist and wife of the Stampede promotion committee chair at the time, James Issacs. Article content Article content Since his establishment four decades ago, Harry has secured a soft spot in Calgarians' hearts, said Bob Ell, current chair of the Stampede promotion committee. Article content Article content Harry serves at several events, including Stampede breakfasts, the Stampede Parade and several events outside of the 10 days of Stampede. Article content 'If it's a major event that the city or someone is sponsoring, then Harry is there,' Ell said. 'More recently, he's been at the Rotary International Convention and the Stampede Bowl.' Article content Although Harry can't speak — he is a horse, after all — he still delivers the message about the traditional western values associated with the Stampede wherever he makes an appearance. Article content 'He's representing the Stampede in that flavour, and just the desire for people to lean more about what we do in Alberta,' he said. Article content Throughout the course of the year, Harry attends between 60 to 80 events. Article content Article content Ell estimates that hundreds of thousands of Harry the Horse photos are taken every year. Article content Ell said Harry's 40th anniversary has been promoted on social media, alongside a celebration of the milestone at the Stampede Parade on Friday. Article content 'We run into so many people who have fond memories about Harry, and they still have photos of him from when they were kids,' Ell said. Article content Harry's fame and notoriety extends past the Stampede, and has gone international. Article content 'Harry has actually done a lot of work, even globally, by visiting countries like Australia, China and New Zealand,' he said. 'He's performed for around 40 million people, including things like prime ministers, dignitaries and even Muhammad Ali.' Article content Similarly to how Disney has Mickey Mouse, Ell said their mainstay figure is Harry the Horse. Article content 'Harry has become that for the Calgary Stampede, and it's just the way he portrays the hospitality — welcoming and so forth. So many kids have fond memories of Harry.'
Calgary Herald
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Dreeshen letter to Calgary mayor expresses 'concern' with city's approach to bike lanes
Article content The on-again, off-again debate over bike lanes in Calgary has shifted back into gear, after a provincial cabinet minister penned a letter to Mayor Jyoti Gondek last week suggesting the city should hit the brakes on installing more of the divisive infrastructure. Article content Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen's June 27 letter to Gondek expressed 'concern' with the city's approach to constructing bike lanes at the expense of building road capacity for motor vehicles. Article content Article content Article content 'As our urban populations continue to grow, we need to seriously consider on [sic] how to maintain adequate capacity for motor vehicle traffic flow for current and future traffic needs, not reducing capacity,' Dreeshen wrote to Gondek. Article content Article content 'We are concerned with the impact to our provincial road network and its connectivity to the municipal roads. We are also concerned with future bicycle lanes and other lane-removal initiatives where taxpayer dollars are used to shrink, rather than increase, road capacity for vehicles.' Article content Provincial roads in Calgary include Deerfoot Trail, the ring road (Stoney Trail/Tsuut'ina Trail and Highway 22X) and Highway 8 (Glenmore Trail). The letter follows recent social media posts from Dreeshen panning bike lanes, and a call in April for the City of Edmonton to cancel a $96-million project to install cycling tracks along 30 blocks of 132nd Avenue N. Article content Article content 'As our cities grow, we must expand road capacity, not shrink it,' Dreeshen's office said in a Friday statement. 'Our priority is keeping people and goods moving safely and efficiently.' Article content Gondek responded to Dreeshen with a letter of her own on Thursday, suggesting the two should meet this summer to discuss Calgarians' transportation needs. Article content Traffic flow remains 'one of the top concerns I hear from Calgarians,' Gondek wrote in the letter, which did not suggest either opposition or support toward bike lanes. Article content 'As the economic engine of the province and the fastest growing city in Canada, Calgary must find thoughtful ways to keep people moving – whether they're commuting to work, heading out for dinner, or shopping at local businesses,' she wrote. Article content 'Let's work together to explore practical solutions that balance the needs of all road users and support Alberta's continued growth and mobility.' Article content Bicycle lanes have been hotly debated in Calgary for years, with opponents arguing they are underutilized by cyclists, unsafe and increase traffic congestion by reducing the number of car-dedicated lanes. Article content The discussion ramped up in 2015, when the city removed street parking or vehicular lanes in the core to install 6.5 kilometres of protected cycle tracks. The downtown cycling lanes, which were separated from the vehicular roadways by a protective barrier, were installed along 12th Avenue, 8th Avenue and 9th Avenue, as well as 5th Street. Article content Although the network was initially a $5.5-million pilot project, city council voted to make the lanes permanent the following year. Article content Council's support of bike lanes has only amplified since then. In 2023, city council approved $56 million to improve Calgary's Pathway and Bikeway Network, 'aiming to offer year-round, healthy, safe, accessible and affordable travel options,' according to a city webpage. Article content Article content 'As part of the Calgary Transportation Plan, we're committed to expanding this network over 60 years by filling gaps, adding features, and supporting various activities such as walking, cycling, and scootering,' the webpage states. Article content 'With over 4,000 kilometres of pathways and bikeways mapped out for the future of travel in Calgary, these new enhancements and paths will foster vibrant, connected communities.' Article content Current projects include developing pathway and bikeway routes in Ward 9, including Marlborough Park, Albert Park Radisson Heights, Penbrooke Meadows, Forest Heights, Forest Lawn, Dover, Southview and Erin Woods; and in Ward 5, including Falconridge, Castleridge, Taradale, Saddle Ridge and Martindale.
Calgary Herald
22-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Residents' trust, optimism have rebounded after turbulent 2024 according to city survey
Article content Calgarians' trust in city hall has gone up considerably since last year, according to the latest citizen satisfaction survey. Article content Article content The city released its annual spring survey results Thursday, showing an upward trend in Calgarians' quality of life, their optimism about the future and their satisfaction with municipal services. Article content The yearly questionnaire was conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs from Feb. 27 to March 24, polling 2,500 Calgarians via telephone. Article content Article content At a news conference to present the results, Mayor Jyoti Gondek said a promising finding was a rebound in public trust in the city, which went up 14 points to 52 per cent, from a record low of 38 per cent a year ago. Article content Article content After a turbulent 2024 that saw Calgarians weather a summer-long water crisis following the rupture of the Bearspaw south feeder main, as well as other challenges, Gondek said the poll results are encouraging. Article content 'In a year of uncertainty — with a ruptured water feeder main, unaffordable housing, inflation and global instability — that rise in trust says something powerful,' she said. 'It tells me that Calgarians believed that we had a plan, it tells me that leadership matters and it tells me that people have seen the results.' Article content Other areas of improvement over last year's spring and fall polls include respondents' perception of their quality of life. According to the survey, 74 per cent of Calgarians rated their quality of life as 'good,' compared with 71 per cent last spring and 66 per cent in the fall. Article content Article content As well, 72 per cent of Calgarians said the city is a great place to make a life, up three points from the spring of 2024. Article content On public safety, 70 per cent of respondents believed the city is doing a 'good job' of addressing safety-related issues in Calgary. Article content The survey found that 61 per cent of respondents rate Calgary's economy as good — up 11 points from last fall — while satisfaction with how the city is being run rose to 63 per cent, up from 59 per cent last spring and 53 per cent in the fall. Article content 'With so many national and international concerns facing Calgarians, it's encouraging to see key indicators about local government improve,' the city's chief administrative officer, David Duckworth, said in a statement. 'The results indicate that the city is aligned and accountable to Calgarians on many of our priorities and investments. We will continue to listen and deliver the things that are important to the people in our city.'
Calgary Herald
22-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Residents' trust in city, optimism have rebounded after turbulent 2024
Article content Calgarians' trust in city hall has gone up considerably since last year, according to the city's latest citizen satisfaction survey. Article content Article content The city released its annual spring survey results Thursday, showing an upward trend in Calgarians' quality of life, their optimism about the future and their satisfaction with municipal services. Article content The yearly count was conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs from Feb. 27 to March 24, polling 2,500 Calgarians via telephone. Article content Article content At a news conference to present the results, Mayor Jyoti Gondek said a promising finding was a rebound in public trust in the city, which went up 14 points from a record low of 38 per cent a year ago to 52 per cent now. Article content Article content After a turbulent 2024 that saw Calgarians weather a summerlong water crisis following the rupture of the Bearspaw south feeder main, as well as other challenges, Gondek said the city's latest poll results are mostly encouraging. Article content 'In a year of uncertainty with a ruptured water feeder main, unaffordable housing, inflation and global instability, that rise in trust says something powerful,' she said. 'It tells me that Calgarians believed that we had a plan, it tells me that leadership matters, and it tells me that people have seen the results.' Article content Other areas of improvement over last year's spring and fall polls include respondents' perception of their quality of life. According to the survey, 74 per cent of Calgarians rated their quality of life as 'good,' compared to 71 per cent last spring and 66 per cent last fall. Article content Article content Relatedly, 72 per cent of Calgarians said the city is a great place to make a life, which is up three points from the spring of 2024. Article content Asked about public safety, 70 per cent of respondents believed the city is doing a 'good job' of addressing safety-related issues in Calgary. Article content The survey found that 61 per cent of respondents rate Calgary's economy as good – an 11-point uptick from last fall – while satisfaction with how the city is being run rose to 63 per cent, up from 59 per cent last spring and 53 per cent last fall. Article content 'With so many national and international concerns facing Calgarians, it's encouraging to see key indicators about local government improve,' said the city's chief administrative officer, David Duckworth, in a statement. 'The results indicate that the city is aligned and accountable to Calgarians on many of our priorities and investments. We will continue to listen and deliver the things that are important to the people in our city.'
