This is the official website for Gian-Carlo Carra, City Councillor for Ward 9 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
In order to prepare for and accommodate the Green Line LRT and other City infrastructure projects, overhead transmission lines will need to be relocated along the 6th Street SE underpass.
Throughout December and January, ENMAX will be hosting four public drop-in open houses for the Victoria Park Transmission Line Relocation Project. The public is encouraged to attend to learn more and ask questions about the projects.
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With more people heading outside for winter activities, The City of Calgary wants to remind kids and their families to be safe while enjoying outdoor skating.
Many City of Calgary or community-designated outdoor skating rinks are open or will be opening soon, offering fun, free skating for all skill levels. Rinks maintained by The City are checked daily for ice thickness and quality, and surfaces are flooded as needed to make sure they’re safe for skating.
Prior to lacing up, it’s important to remember that not all ice surfaces are safe for skating. While your community storm pond may look inviting, recreational activities are not allowed on them.
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On January 1, 2023, The City of Calgary is introducing a new business licence for home-based child care providers to ensure minimum standards are in place to protect the health and safety of the youngest, and most vulnerable Calgarians.
Council unanimously approved the new business licence for home-based child care on September 14, 2022, after hearing from parents whose children were harmed in unregulated dayhomes.
Read MoreDuring the cold winter months, we need to be extra diligent about looking out for one another.
If you see someone that needs help, ask if you can call the DOAP Team to assist them: 403-998-7388. If you see someone in serious distress, call 911.
Calgary Emergency shelters are currently operating 24/7. Space remains available, with occupancy at 75-80%.
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Are you a new Canadian living in Calgary? Elections Calgary is looking for immigrant Calgarians to share their experience with voting in municipal elections.
Through online surveys, focus groups, and in-depth interviews to gather information, Elections Calgary is doing research into immigrant voter ideas, participation, and engagement in municipal elections. The perspectives uncovered will help to inform improvements for the next municipal election related to diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
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The Calgary Pop-Up Care Village (C-PUCV) is back for its second event on January 24, 2023. The festival is for anyone experiencing systemic vulnerabilities such as homelessness, addiction, mental health issues, poverty, or low-income.
To find out more, volunteer at the event, or inquire about sponsorship, visit the Calgary Popup Care Village Website.
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We received more than 200 emails and heard from 128 presenters during budget deliberations. 95% of citizens spoke to the need for continued or further investment in city services.
Here are a few stats:
Support Greater Investment in Public Transit (43.2%)
Focus on Established Area Redevelopment (39.4%)
Expand the 5A network/Invest in Active Modes (33.9%)
Align the budget with the Climate Strategy (26.1%)
Reinvestment of Police Budget into prevention (17.1%)
Expand Investment in Community Supports (15.8%)
IE: Affordable Housing, Mental Health & Addiction
Increase Investment in Arts + Culture (9.0%)
Every year, the Alexandra Centre Society provides Christmas Hampers to those who are experiencing food insecurity issues within our community.
Their goal this year is to raise $40,000 - funds and collect necessities all go to support our annual Christmas Hamper Program.
You can donate either monetary funds or in-kind items. See the donation link and wishlist for in-kind donations below.
Warm items for all ages (including toques, gloves, scarves & socks)
Gifts for children, teens, and seniors
Grocery store gift cards
Non-perishable food items
You can drop off items at the Alexandra Centre between December 5 to 13, 2022.
Like Food Banks across the country, The Calgary Food Bank has seen a significant increase in demand this past year. If you are able to help, please give generously.
From December 1st - 11th, we will be collecting donations for the Calgary Food Bank as part of the Mayor’s Annual Food Drive.
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The Bridgeland Elves have once again partnered up with the Forward Housing Association to make holiday hampers for Forward Housing residents. Over the past 10 years, the Bridgeland Elves have gathered donations and wrapped gifts for low-income seniors and families living in the community.
There are multiple ways you can get involved!
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Construction on 19 Avenue SE is now complete!
The project is part of our work to improve access and connectivity for people who walk, wheel, and drive along 19 Avenue S.E. and 28 Street S.E. These corridor improvement projects are a continuation of the East Central Complete Street Network Project.
Occasional short-term closures may be required for cleanup and deficiency work. Thank you for your patience and support over the past two years as we completed the East Central – Phase 2 improvements.
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In recognizing Métis Week (November 14-20, 2022), The City’s Indigenous Relations Office (IRO) is partnering with the Métis Nation Region 3 (MNAR3) to provide opportunities to celebrate the culture, history, and contributions of Métis people to Alberta and Canada.
Calgarians are invited to join the Métis Nation of Alberta Region 3 (MNAR3) and The City’s Indigenous Relations Office to celebrate the start of Métis Week with the raising of the Métis Flag outside of City Hall.
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What are the issues that matter most to you and your community? What investments should we be making as we move toward the city we aspire to become? What projects or services are worthy of or in need of more support? How do we build a better Calgary for everyone?
Come voice your feedback for Council on November 22nd!
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All are invited to attend The Engaging Vulnerable Persons Workshop hosted by Alpha House Society - Calgary.
Wednesday, November 16th, 7pm at the Bridgeland-Riverside Community Hall (917 Centre Ave NE)
The Engaging Vulnerable Persons Workshop breaks down common myths and misconceptions by providing an understanding of homelessness and its root causes. It offers skills and knowledge that provide individuals the comfort and confidence to not only co-exist with men and women in their community experiencing homelessness, but also interact with them meaningfully, using compassion, empathy, and crisis intervention techniques when necessary.
For more information, please email info@alphahousecalgary.com
Calgary Reads and The Little Red Reading House need our help to bring children the joy of reading this holiday season! Community agencies are sharing their many requests to help contribute to holiday hampers and they need books!
baby board books
children's chapter books
Smaller donations can be left on the porch at Little Red Reading House - 922 8 Ave SE.
Or feel free to email hello@littleredreading.house to arrange a drop-off time.
Little Red Reading House is hosting two Donation Day events at Shedpoint
Saturday, November 5th from 10 am - 1pm
Saturday, December 3rd from 10 am - 1pm
Swing by Bay 120 at 1212 34 Avenue SE, pop your trunk, and they will collect your book donations.
Through wholesale and vendor discounts, Calgary Reads is able to double your contribution to bring many more children the magic of reading this season!
It has become apparent that I must resign my position as one of the two Councillors appointed to serve on the Calgary Police Commission. I do so reluctantly but confident that Council’s choice to replace me shares my commitment to a historic transformation of policing centered in Anti-Racism and Truth and Reconciliation.
I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to serve on Calgary’s Police Commission alongside some of the most knowledgeable, compassionate, and hardworking citizen volunteers in our city. I have the utmost faith in the meaningful work my fellow Commissioners will continue to push forward, despite systemic issues that favor those that actively resist needed reform and transformation.
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I grew up in East Calgary in the 70s and 80s. Recollections of playground retellings of that horrendous joke came flooding back when I heard my colleague Dan McLean’s distinctive voice retelling it again in this day and age, on video. I’m relieved that my visceral response to hearing that joke again was one of horror, and that a shared sense of shock and shame and outrage was the predominant public reaction. But I also have to reflect that the dominant culture of my childhood was a mean-spirited indifference to any harm such so-called humor might cause. We knew then that that particular joke was particularly bad. Perhaps, as children, we can be forgiven for not fully understanding that such humor originated within and perpetuated systems of oppression.
Today we know better and we are compelled to unearth and speak the truth about the legacy of how these systems were so oppressive they were genocidal - in so doing, we will hopefully begin to undertake the long journey towards reconciliation. No one today can plausibly plead ignorance - especially people in positions of leadership, including Dan McLean. The idea that they might hear those words and only offer that they have no recollection of speaking them makes it worse. It is our duty as leaders to address such ignorance head on. I cannot imagine a motivation for engaging in such behavior, or to dismiss such behavior with the vacuous claim of not remembering a recorded event, that isn’t at the very least steeped in nostalgia for such mean-spiritedness.
Many have called for Dan McLean to apologize for what he said in that recording. And to be clear, I do not view his recent video as an apology. Apologies are an essential part of any journey towards reconciliation. But before anyone - and particularly a leader - can truly apologize, they must confront and share the truth of why they, or anyone, might engage in such behavior in the first place. I call on my colleague to take those steps on his journey towards offering a real apology.
The City of Calgary has heard concerns from Calgarians about the rapid pace that heritage assets are being replaced by new development in established communities. To help address this issue, we are exploring new ways to encourage property owners to keep identified heritage assets (sometimes called character homes) in your community. One of the tools we are developing to support this is the Heritage Incentives Area program.
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The City of Calgary is hosting our fourth annual Calgary Climate Symposium giving citizens an opportunity to continue the conversation on climate change. Calgarians, community leaders, entrepreneurs, prominent climate experts and City staff will gather virtually for a series of unique (and free) learning sessions from Oct. 24-28, 2022.
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Beginning November 1st, Green Cart pickup will shift to once every other week. This change will be in effect until March when we transition back to weekly pickups.
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