June Newsletter 2026

As we welcome June, along with longer, warmer days and the beginning of summer, I wanted to share a few helpful reminders and resources that may be useful for you or your family. Along with this beautiful weather comes more celebrations, check out the upcoming community events below to welcome in the summer with your friends, family and neighbours. 

Lawn Watering Schedule

Many of you have already been out in the garden, planting flowers, reseeding grass, and getting everything ready for the summer ahead. I’ve heard from a number of residents with questions about what is and isn’t allowed following the changes that took effect on April 29, 2026, under Calgary’s Water Efficiency Plan. I want to take a moment to clarify what this means for your yard and garden.

First, gardening can absolutely continue as usual. You can still water trees, shrubs, flowers, and garden beds at any time using a hose, watering can, or drip irrigation. These everyday gardening activities are not restricted.

The only change relates to the use of sprinklers and automatic irrigation systems for lawns and landscapes. These must now follow a simple schedule based on your house number. This approach helps reduce strain on our water system during peak demand times and avoids watering during the hottest parts of the day, when much of the water is lost to evaporation.

There are also practical exceptions in place. If you have newly planted sod, grass seed, or new landscaping, you can continue to use a sprinkler temporarily to help it establish. This ensures that new plants can grow successfully while still supporting overall water conservation efforts.

This plan has been developed over several years and is one part of a broader strategy to strengthen Calgary’s water resilience. Alongside improvements like leak detection and system upgrades, these small adjustments help ensure a reliable water supply for our growing city and for communities downstream that share the same river system.

You can find the full watering schedule, including the specific days and times for your address, here: ​Lawn and landscaping watering schedule​

2026 Property Taxes

On May 22, the City of Calgary mailed approximately 600,000 property tax bills. The payment deadline this year is Tuesday, June 30.

For many households, this bill can come with stress or uncertainty. A 7 per cent late payment penalty will be applied to any unpaid portion of property taxes starting July 1, and I want to help ensure that no one incurs a penalty simply because they were unaware of available options or supports.

There are several resources available to help make this more manageable:

​1. TIPP (Tax Instalment Payment Plan):​ This program allows you to spread your property tax payments over monthly instalments instead of paying a single lump sum in June. Payments are automatically withdrawn on the first day of each month.

Please note: If you enroll in TIPP shortly before the tax deadline, a penalty may initially appear on your account. This is removed once your agreement is finalized and your first payment is processed. If you enroll after the deadline, the penalty will still apply

​2. Property Tax Assistance Program:​ If you are a residential property owner experiencing financial hardship, you may be eligible for a credit that offsets the increase in your property taxes. This program is available regardless of age.

​3. Questions or support:​ If you have questions about your assessment, tax bill, or account, you can call 311 if you are in Calgary or book an in-person appointment at City Hall.

To learn more about how property taxes are calculated and what is driving changes this year, visit: ​Understanding your residential property tax changes 2026​

As always, my office is open if you have any questions or concerns. You can reach us at ward2@calgary.ca. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

- Jennifer

Want to receive regular updates right to your inbox? 

Join our Ward 2 Mailing list today!

Community Spotlight

Want to be a part of making your community stronger? Whether you live in Evanston, Kincora, Citadel, or Ranchlands, your local Community Association is an integral part of bringing neighbours together through annual events, programs, and local advocacy.

Visit our Community Hub to learn how to connect with your Community Association and sign up for your membership today. 

Town Hall, May 4th 2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for May's Ward 2 Town Hall. I appreciate those who took the time to come out, share their perspectives, and speak to the issues affecting their communities and our city.

Town halls are an opportunity to bring your questions, concerns, and ideas directly to your Councillor. These conversations help inform the work we do at City Hall and ensure that local priorities are reflected in decision-making.

We discussed a range of topics, including water, infrastructure, transit, growth, safety, and affordability. I value these conversations and the chance to listen and learn from residents across Ward 2.

The next Ward 2 Town Hall will take place on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at the Ranchlands Community Association. I hope to see you there.

Ward 2 Innovator Featured at Platform Calgary Showcase

Ward 2 is home to some of Calgary’s emerging innovators, and one local entrepreneur is set to take the stage at Platform Calgary’s upcoming Pre-Accelerator Showcase on June 10.

Imed Jouini, founder of Highway Innovation Inc., is part of the program’s inaugural cohort and will be presenting LifeBox, an all-in-one health monitoring device designed to support proactive, remote care. By combining real-time health data collection with connected care technology, LifeBox aims to bridge the gap between clinic and home, improving access and continuity of care.

The Platform Pre-Accelerator is a nine-week, in-person program supporting Calgary-based tech entrepreneurs who have moved beyond ideation and are gaining early traction. The showcase marks the culmination of the program, highlighting founders who are building solutions with real-world impact.

Learn more about Platform and its programs: Platform Calgary | Calgary's Home for Innovators

Canada Fiction Fest

Your Ward 2 neighbour and science fiction author, Jennifer Rahn, is joining 121 authors from across Canada for a first-of-its-kind virtual book festival. Jennifer will be celebrating her new book, The Identity Matrix, and speaking on two panels: Diversity in Fiction: Science Fiction Author Readings (June 21) and Seeing Ourselves and Each Other in Stories (June 27).

To support Jennifer and Canadian fiction, learn more at the Canada Fiction Fest website: ​Canada Fiction Fest​

June Community Calendar

Join our Ward 2 Mailing list