Latest news with #Ward9
CBC
10-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Gian-Carlo Carra will not seek fifth term this fall, after 15 years on city council
Social Sharing Ward 9 Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra says he will not seek re-election this fall, after 15 years on city council. Carra, who was first elected in 2010, said in a statement in his monthly newsletter Friday he made his decision with "wistfulness, but also clear conviction and fierce pride." An urban designer, Carra lists "transit, active modes, main streets, and industrial sector mobility improvements" as investments he's proud to have made during his time on council. He also points to his efforts as the chair of emergency management, working with the city and the province to improve flood resilience. His ward was among those hit hard by a major flood in 2013. Frustrated with politics Carra says he is "deeply frustrated" with a UCP government decision that he argues "wiped out" years of work building collaboration with neighbouring municipalities toward "long-term, sustainable growth." The UCP government last year decided it would stop providing funding for the Edmonton and Calgary growth management boards. Both those boards have since ceased operations. Carra reflects that he sees the referendum on the 2026 Winter Olympics as a "dividing line" between two political eras, and lists losing the Olympic bid as the greatest disappointment of his political career. In his statement to constituents, Carra also shared his concern with the current tenor of politics. He argues elected officials are increasingly focused on "playing internal political games rather than engaging in the demanding, often unglamorous work of real-world governance." The upcoming election Carra joins a number of sitting councillors not seeking re-election. That list includes Ward 14's Peter Demong, Ward 3's Jasmine Mian, Ward 4's Sean Chu, Ward 8's Courtney Walcott and Ward 12's Evan Spencer. Calgarians will go to the polls on Oct. 20.
Calgary Herald
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Gian-Carlo Carra not running for re-election after four terms on Calgary city council
Another of Calgary's veteran city councillors said he won't be seeking another term in office this fall. Article content Article content In his Ward 9 newsletter on Friday, Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra confirmed he won't run for re-election in this year's municipal vote, while also endorsing mayoral candidate Brian Thiessen and his Calgary Party. Article content 'It is with wistfulness, but also clear conviction and fierce pride, that I announce my decision not to seek a fifth term as Ward 9's city councillor this October,' he wrote. Article content Article content Carra was first elected in Ward 9, which includes several inner-city neighbourhoods that straddle both sides of Deerfoot Trail, in 2010. He is currently serving his fourth term, representing a diverse range of communities that include Inglewood, Bridgeland and Ogden on the west side of the freeway, and Radisson Heights, Dover and Forest Heights on the east side. Article content Article content He also touted his efforts to tackle historic injustices in the city, in areas such as systemic racism and gender equality. Article content Carra said championing the $180-million revitalization of International Avenue will be remembered as his favourite achievement as a councillor, while the failed bid for Calgary to host the 2026 Winter Olympics was his biggest disappointment. Article content Article content 'I entered council representing east Calgary communities that I think have done an oversized job in building the city we live in today but were significantly underinvested in. I think I've significantly reversed that trend,' he said. Article content But he lamented the current state of politics and took aim at all three levels of government for descending into 'anger, fear and division.' Article content 'I was elected in a beautiful moment in time alongside Naheed Nenshi,' Carra said. 'It was an age of politics in full sentences. Article content 'I think unfortunately, more and more politicians are stepping up to play a game of politics rather than govern.' Article content Article content Carra joins a growing list of councillors who have confirmed they won't run this October, including fellow veteran Peter Demong, and first-term colleagues Evan Spencer, Jasmine Mian and Courtney Walcott. Article content He said he agreed with Mian who announced, during a council meeting, her decision to step down due to growing political gamesmanship, particularly when it came to the province's interference in the Green Line project.
Calgary Herald
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
After four terms on council, Gian-Carlo Carra calling it a day
Article content Another of Calgary's veteran city councillors said he won't be seeking another term in office this fall. Article content Article content In his Ward 9 newsletter on Friday, Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra confirmed he won't run for re-election in this year's municipal vote, while also endorsing mayoral candidate Brian Thiessen and his Calgary Party. Article content 'It is with wistfulness, but also clear conviction and fierce pride, that I announce my decision not to seek a fifth term as Ward 9's city councillor this October,' he wrote. Article content Article content Carra was first elected in Ward 9, which includes several inner-city neighbourhoods that straddle both sides of Deerfoot Trail, in 2010. He is currently serving his fourth term, representing a diverse range of communities that include Inglewood, Bridgeland and Ogden on the west side of the freeway, and Radisson Heights, Dover and Forest Heights on the east side. Article content Article content He also touted his efforts to tackle historic injustices in the city, in areas such as systemic racism and gender equality. Article content Carra said championing the $180-million revitalization of International Avenue will be remembered as his favourite achievement as a councillor, while the failed bid for Calgary to host the 2026 Winter Olympics was his biggest disappointment. Article content Article content 'I entered council representing east Calgary communities that I think have done an oversized job in building the city we live in today but were significantly underinvested in. I think I've significantly reversed that trend,' he said. Article content But he lamented the current state of politics and took aim at all three levels of government for descending into 'anger, fear and division.' Article content 'I was elected in a beautiful moment in time alongside Naheed Nenshi,' Carra said. 'It was an age of politics in full sentences. Article content 'I think unfortunately, more and more politicians are stepping up to play a game of politics rather than govern.' Article content Article content Carra joins a growing list of councillors who have confirmed they won't run this October, including fellow veteran Peter Demong, and first-term colleagues Evan Spencer, Jasmine Mian and Courtney Walcott. Article content He said he agreed with Mian who announced, during a council meeting, her decision to step down due to growing political gamesmanship, particularly when it came to the province's interference in the Green Line project.
CTV News
10-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Ward 9 Councillor Gian-Carlo Carra announces he will not run in fall election
Calgary Councillor Gian-Carlo Carra announced Friday that he's stepping out of the political spotlight but not necessarily leaving the arena. In a newsletter to his Ward 9 constituents, Carra said he made the decision not to run for re-election 'with wistfulness, but also clear conviction and fierce pride.' When he was first elected in 2010, Carra said his mission was to transform how the city grows with great neighbourhoods. 'Over the past 15 years, we have settled the question of whether growth can pay for itself,' he said. 'We've learned that the best city-building happens through collaboration between public and private investment. 'I am fiercely proud of the historic investments made in Ward 9 over the course of my tenure – from transit, active modes, Main Streets, and industrial sector mobility improvements, to parks, playgrounds, recreation facilities, cultural institutions, non-market housing and other critical infrastructure. 'I would confidently put Ward 9's record of investment during my time in office alongside that of any councillor in Calgary's history.' In 2015, the Canadian Institute of Planners held a competition to identify its annual 'great places in Canada' competition and declared Inglewood, one of the areas Carra represented, to be Canada's Greatest Neighbourhood. 'A great neighbourhood to visit,' they said, 'but also, and perhaps most importantly, a great neighourhood to live.' In the newsletter, he said he will now work with the Calgary Party, one of the city's new municipal political parties, to help get its mayoral candidate, Brian Thiessen, elected.
