Calling all Creative Kids!  

What is your favourite thing in Ward 9?

Maybe you know of the best local place to eat, or a delicious neighbourhood treat? Do you have a cool nearby park or an epic playground? Perhaps you love your school or have a special place you or your family always visit? Whatever you love about Ward 9, we want to hear about it!

From our families to yours, with love and fellowship, we wish you peace, respite, rejuvenation, and all the best in 2025.

In lieu of mailing traditional holiday cards, we’ve opted to donate to several notable local charities. This season, our focus is on supporting four organizations doing deeply meaningful and important work to care for our 2SLGBTQIA+ neighbours.

Happy Holidays!

This year, close to 180,000 households with Wednesday cart collection will be affected by changes to the holiday pickup schedule. Residents that normally have cart collections days on Wednesdays should be aware of the following changes:

• Christmas Day: Collection moves from Wednesday, December 25 to Monday, December 23.

• New Year’s Day: Collection moves from Wednesday, January 1 to Monday, December 30.

The cold comes as no surprise to those who have lived in Calgary for any length of time. However, we do tend to go through an adjustment period where the outdoor wear gets rotated into the closet and our free-time plans adjust from picnics to playing in the snow. Resist the urge to hibernate by looking forward to these winter activities uniquely available during the colder months of the year.

Check out our list of top 10 must-do activities this winter season.

As the holiday season approaches, the 2024 Support Local Holiday campaign is in full swing, encouraging Calgarians to shop locally and support their community. Now in its sixth year, the campaign reaffirms The City’s commitment to fostering vibrant neighborhoods and thriving local businesses.

Calgary is home to over 51,000 small businesses, accounting for more than 95% of Calgary’s economic growth. In 2023 alone, business license applications increased by 14% year-over-year, demonstrating the strength and expansion of our local business community. When you shop locally, you’re not just making a purchase, you’re also creating jobs, fueling innovation, keeping money flowing in our local communities, and ensuring Calgary’s neighborhoods continue to be vibrant and unique.

During last week’s mid-cycle budget adjustments, Council voted to reconsider a prior motion to close the Inglewood Aquatic Centre later in December 2024 and to reinstate funding that will extend the operational life of the pool.

Our gratitude goes out to the passionate community members who rallied to advocate for this outcome. While this decision is a temporary stopgap to the eventual end-of-life closure of the pool, we are committed to continuing to enjoy this facility while we have it, and keeping it operational for as long as funding allocated for repairs allows or until the expansion of the MNP Sports Centre expansion is complete, anticipated in 2027.

Last week, Council concluded its deliberations and approved the adjustments to The City of Calgary's service plans and budgets.

City Administration’s recommended Mid-Cycle Adjustments met Council’s direction and addresses what matters most to Calgarians – infrastructure, public safety, transit, and housing.

As we’ve done in years past, Ward 9 will once again be supporting the Mayor’s Annual Food Drive. With economic pressures making it harder for many Calgarians to afford basic needs, The Calgary Food Bank continues to see record-breaking demand for food support.

This week is budget week at City Hall. Council is consider recommended adjustments to the 2023-2026 Service Plans and Budgets, focusing additional investments for 2025 to better align with Calgarians’ priorities.

Calgarians have shared that the priorities that matter most to them include:

• Infrastructure

• Housing

• Public Safety

• Transit.  

See what we’re investing in at calgary.ca/adjustments.

Join the Electric Vehicle Roadshow, hosted by Plug’n Drive in partnership with The City of Calgary. This event is a fantastic opportunity for Calgarians to learn about the benefits of electric vehicles (EVs) and discover how driving electric can support Calgary’s goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building healthier communities.

The City of Calgary has made arrangements to assist Calgarians and ensure the continuity of customer service and business operations during the disruption in postal service. 

The City is working with an external courier service and will maintain deliveries of critical material to Calgarians and businesses. 

As GreenLine design work resumes between 4 Street SE and Shepard, the project team will be hosting several community information sessions in late November to share the most recent designs plans for the southeast stations. This is an opportunity for Calgarians to ask questions, learn more, and get an updated look at the project’s progress.

The Calgary Humane Society is dedicated to promoting responsible pet ownership and ensuring that every pet can remain in the loving home where they belong. 

Understanding the challenges that low-income pet owners face, Wellness Clinics are designed to provide essential vaccination and spay/neuter services, making it easier for families to care for their beloved animal companions without financial strain.

As the weather turns cold and the we experience our first few days of snowfall, it's important to be aware of the resources available for our neighbours in need.

Entering its third year of operation, the Extreme Weather Response is a collaborative, coordinated strategy designed to address the needs of unhoused persons facing extreme weather conditions. The strategy works with existing emergency shelters, social service organizations, and City services to offer space and support to those most in need during the difficult winter months. 

The Salvation Army East Calgary Community Hub has partnered with Antyx Community Art Society to create a new mural on the wall at the Salvation Army East Campus.

Youth ages 12-18 are invited to participate in the brainstorming, design, and mural painting throughout the 10-week collaboration. These sessions focus on community, belonging and identity, while providing youth with opportunities to learn more about the process of large-scale mural painting.

At the October 29th, 2024 Regular Meeting of Council, Councillor Carra brought forward the following three notices of motion:

• Designated Historical Resource Property Tax Cancellation and Subclass (EC2024-1116)

• Trellis Society’s Renfrew Village Land Disposition (EC2024-1114)

• HMCS Calgary 30th Anniversary and Ongoing Calgary Salutes Support (EC2024-1117)

Learn more about each of these NoM’s by reading the full post.

The City of Calgary, in partnership with Public Services and Procurement Canada, is hosting the Calgary Buyers Expo and Information Session on November 14, 2024 at the Red and White Club - 1833 Crowchild Trail NW.

This free event is a valuable opportunity for suppliers to connect directly with The City and other provincial and federal government buyers, all in one place. Learn about what the government and other organizations purchase, the procurement process, and how to find and bid on opportunities.

Calgary is a city of opportunity and choice. As our city’s population approaches two million, The City of Calgary must prepare to support this growth. The City Building program will align and strengthen The City’s plans and tools to create a place where everyone can thrive.

Before, during and after a snowfall, The City works to keep our roadways, sidewalks, bikeways and pathways safe. Working together is how we keep Calgarians safe and mobile during and after a winter storm – thank you for doing your part and for your patience while we do ours.

On October 29th, Calgary City Council will be forced to participate in a political process initiated by the Alberta UCP Government, introduced into our meeting through a Notice of Motion by Councillor Dan McLean. This discussion arises from a suggestion made by UCP Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Dan Williams, as well as the Premiere, that Calgary City Council should determine whether Alberta Health Services’ supervised consumption site at the Sheldon Chumir Health Centre should continue operating.