February Newsletter

Hello, Ward 6!

February has been a focused and productive month at City Hall and here in Ward 6. As always, smart spending, thoughtful growth, safe streets, and infrastructure reliability are top of mind.

Following the December 30 Bearspaw Feeder Main break, Council has remained engaged in strengthening oversight and advancing recommendations of the Independent Review Panel. Ensuring the long-term stability of critical infrastructure across the City of Calgary remains a top priority, particularly as planned reinforcements to the Bearspaw South Feeder Main move forward in March.

Beginning March 9, the City of Calgary announced that due to further repairs to the Bearspaw South Feeder Main, temporary water restrictions will be required during construction.

February has also brought continued dialogue around blanket rezoning and the upcoming March 23 Public Hearing. Residents will have the opportunity to speak directly to Council as decisions are considered that will shape the future of development across Calgary. Ward 6 voices continue to play an important role in that conversation.

I was pleased to advance two Notices of Motion during the Council meeting earlier this week. First, Councillor Andrew Yule (Ward 3) and I advanced a review of Calgary Transit’s Free Fare Zone. I encourage you to submit your perspectives to the survey at this link. Additionally, I passed a Notice of Motion to fund infrastructure renewal in the City of Calgary.

On the 26th of February, we hosted our Meet Your Councillor Town Hall event. Thank you to all who attended. We are looking forward to hosting more community engagement sessions in the near future. Stay tuned!

Thank you to everyone who has reached out, attended events, or shared feedback. Strong communities are built on participation, and your engagement makes a difference. 

At this month’s Regular Meeting of Council, Councillor Pantazopoulos advanced two Notices of Motion.

First, Councillor Pantazopoulos and Councillor Andrew Yule (Ward 3) co-sponsored a Notice of Motion, titled “Review and Reform of the Downtown Calgary Transit Free Fare Zone,” which directed Administration to conduct a detailed and thorough review of Calgary Transit’s Free Fare Zone.

This review is about gathering facts and hearing directly from Calgarians. The intent is to better understand how the Free Fare Zone impacts downtown vibrancy, accessibility, safety, mobility, and how any potential changes could affect residents, businesses, commuters, and visitors.

From now until March 8, Calgary Transit is inviting customers to complete a survey and share their feedback on the Free Fare Zone.

Councillor Pantazopoulos joined CBC's Eyeopener to discuss why this review matters and what we hope to learn. Listen to the segment at this link.

To participate in the survey, visit this link.

Second, Councillor Pantazopoulos advanced a Notice of Motion titled “Strengthen and Stabilize The City of Calgary’s Infrastructure Assets.”

Following the December 30 water main failure, it is essential for City Council to address Calgary’s growing infrastructure renewal challenges. As the city matures, more of our roads, water systems, transit, facilities, parks, and technology are reaching the age where maintenance, renewal, and repair are critical to public safety and service reliability.

Recent failures of the Bearspaw South Feeder Main highlighted the risks of deferring investment in aging, high-consequence infrastructure and the importance of system redundancy. These risks extend well beyond water utilities and reflect a city-wide issue affecting multiple asset classes.

Administration has already identified infrastructure renewal as a top corporate risk and reported on the significant funding gap needed to maintain and reduce risk across the city’s assets. Throughout early 2026, Council will receive detailed updates on asset condition, infrastructure needs, and capital prioritization, culminating in a proposed 10-year capital infrastructure plan.

This Notice of Motion directs Administration to return to Council by June 2026 with options for a stable, long-term infrastructure renewal funding mechanism, such as a dedicated levy or fee. The goal is to create predictable funding that supports ongoing maintenance, reduces the risk of major failures, and protects service levels as Calgary continues to grow and age. 

Blanket Rezoning - Next Steps

On December 15, 2025, City Council voted 13-2 to begin the process of repealing citywide (blanket) rezoning. Ward 6 Councillor John Pantazopoulos supported the motion. This decision directed Administration to prepare an amending bylaw that would restore affected parcels to their original Land Use Bylaw districts and designations as the existed prior to the third reading of Bylaw 21P2024 (Citywide Rezoning).

As part of Council’s direction, certain properties are exempt from the repeal. These exemptions apply to parcels that:

• Received approval of a development permit, subdivision, or building permit under the R‑CG, R‑G, or H‑GO land use districts prior to the effective date of the amending bylaw; or
• Were included in a submitted application (development permit, subdivision application, or building permit) prior to first reading of the amending bylaw; or
• Received approval of an applicant‑initiated land use redesignation by Council after August 6, 2024.

In practical terms, this means projects that entered the system under the citywide rezoning rules will continue to be reviewed and decided under the rules that were in place at the time they were submitted.

What’s New

Administration has now provided additional details about how the repeal will be implemented ahead of the Public Hearing scheduled for March 23, 2026.

Due to legal, procedural, and technical requirements, including notice periods, advertising deadlines, mapping timelines, and Council reporting processes, the first amending bylaw presented on March 23, 2026 will only include properties that qualify for exemption up to and including January 1, 2026.

This means that:

• Applications or exemptions approved by Council at Public Hearings in January, February, or March 2026 will not appear in the maps accompanying the March 23 Public Hearing.
• While these parcels may still meet the exemption criteria, they will be addressed later through an additional bylaw.

Under Council direction approved through EC2025‑0995, the overall implementation date for the repeal is August 4, 2026. To ensure all eligible parcels are properly captured, Administration will bring forward a second amending bylaw.

Second Amending Bylaw

Community Planning is leading this work and intends to present the second amending bylaw at the July 21, 2026 Public Hearing, which is the final hearing before the repeal takes effect. This second bylaw will “clean up” any parcels that were eligible for exemption but could not be included in the first bylaw due to timing constraints. It will require its own Public Hearing and three readings by Council.

Administration will also monitor land use applications approved by Council between April and July 2026 to ensure those approvals are not unintentionally reverted when the repeal comes into force on August 4, 2026.

Public Participation

The March 23, 2026 Public Hearing is an important opportunity for residents to speak for or against the proposed repeal bylaw. Following the hearing, Council will debate the bylaw, may propose amendments, and may seek legal or administrative clarification before voting.

If the first bylaw receives three readings, the repeal process will continue toward full implementation in August 2026, with the second bylaw ensuring Council’s original exemption direction is fully carried out.

Residents who wish to participate in the Public Hearing can find information on how to register and submit comments at this link.

Sarcee Trail / Bow Trail S.W. Interchange Update

The City of Calgary has completed the Sarcee Trail / Bow Trail S.W. Functional Planning Study, which looks at long-term transportation and mobility improvements in west Calgary. The study explored options to improve traffic flow and safety, enhance pedestrian and wheeling connections, protect access to Edworthy Park, and improve overall network connectivity for all users.

Following multiple phases of engagement, a recommended plan has now been developed and shared. The plan includes potential roadway, interchange, and pathway improvements along Sarcee Trail S.W. and Bow Trail S.W., with implementation expected to occur in phases if and when funding becomes available. The project will move next into detailed design, ahead of future budget considerations.

Residents can view the recommended plan, learn how public feedback shaped the outcome, and review next steps by visiting this link. 

Douglas Fir Trail Update

Construction is progressing as planned on stabilizing a critical section of slope above the Bow River Regional Pathway to improve long-term safety. This work began in September 2025 and is expected to be substantially complete by October 2026.

Earlier this year, The City secured funding for the detailed design of broader Douglas Fir Trail repairs, building on the assessment study completed in October 2025. This design work will help define a durable, long-term solution to support reopening the trail. Construction funding for these broader repairs will be pursued through the 2027-30 budget cycle.

The western portion of the Douglas Fir Trail, which was conditionally reopened in November 2025, was re-closed on February 18, 2026 after inspections identified unsafe trail conditions. Portions of the trail and the Bow River Regional Pathway remain closed to protect public and construction safety. The City continues to monitor slope conditions monthly and will share updates as the project progresses.

Stay connected and learn more at calgary.ca/douglasfirtrail.
Questions or concerns? Contact the project team at DouglasFirTrail@calgary.ca.

Bearspaw Feeder Main Update

Beginning March 9, we are starting planned reinforcements to support the stability of the current Bearspaw South Feeder Main.

Outdoor water restrictions and indoor water conservation will be required to complete the necessary work.

Learn more at this link.

February 26 Town Hall

Thank you to everyone who joined us last night at Rundle College.

It was great to see such a strong turnout and to have thoughtful, respectful conversations. These town halls are an important opportunity to listen, share updates, and hear directly from residents about what's working and where we need to do better. We are grateful to everyone who took the time to attend, ask questions, and engage in the discussion.

A sincere thank you as well to Rundle College and their incredible staff for welcoming us and helping make the evening possible.

Hosting regular town halls is part of our commitment to being present, accessible, and accountable. We look forward to hosting more in the future. If you couldn't make it this time, we hope to see you at the next one!

Visiting Glenmore Water Treatment and the Bonnybrook Wastewater Facility

Earlier this month, Council colleagues and Councillor Pantazopoulos had the opportunity to tour the Glenmore Water Treatment Plant and the Bonnybrook Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Seeing this infrastructure up close is a powerful reminder of the scale, complexity, and dedication required to keep Calgary running every single day. From the operators in the control rooms to the crews maintaining critical systems, the professionalism and pride in their work were evident throughout the visit.

We want to sincerely thank the staff and frontline workers who ensure clean drinking water reaches our homes and that wastewater is treated safely and responsibly. This is essential work, and it does not go unnoticed.

This visit is especially timely. Beginning March 9, the City will start planned reinforcements to support the stability of the current Bearspaw South Feeder Main. To safely complete this work, water restrictions will be put in place.

You can learn more about the upcoming reinforcements and what to expect at this link.

Deputy Mayor - Grey Cup Event

The Grey Cup is a celebration of community, sport, and the lasting impact football has across our city.

As Deputy Mayor, Councillor Pantazopoulos was proud to take part in this week's Grey Cup event and highlight a legacy investment that will support the next generation of athletes. In partnership with the Calgary Stampeders Foundation's 2026 Grey Cup Legacy Project, we are delivering three new flag football fields at Fonda Park to expand access to the game at the grassroots level.

Learn more at this link.

That is the power of the Grey Cup. It brings people together today and leaves something meaningful behind for tomorrow.

Distracted Travel Safety Campaign

Be safe. Stay alert. Pay attention before it's too late.

The risk of collision increases when your eyes and attention are taken off navigating your surroundings. While road safety is a shared responsibility, those operating vehicles have a heightened duty of care, simply because of the harm vehicles can cause, even when a pedestrian or cyclist has the right of way.

We need to work together to help all Calgarians move through the City more safely without placing blame on those most likely to be harmed in a collision.

Visit Calgary.ca/besafe for more info.

Youth Hiring Fair

Mark your calendars! The Youth Hiring Fair is on March 26, at the Big Four Building in Stampede Park from 1:30 to 6 p.m. Now’s the time to get prepared. Set yourself up for success and be ready to meet 80 employers who are hiring.

Interested in attending? Youth ages 15-24 are encouraged to visit the Youth Employment Centre before the event. Drop-in to meet with an employment counsellor for free Youth Hiring Fair preparation. They can be found at the Alberta Trade Centre (315 – 10^th Avenue S.E.). They are open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. No appointment needed. We can help you with:

a) Targeting your resume to available jobs.

b) Creating a pitch to introduce yourself.

c) Preparing for on-the-spot interviews and more.

Visit Calgary.ca/yechiring for ongoing announcements and advice on how to get prepared.

Being water wise starts at home

Calgarians have shown that when we work together, conserving water can make a real difference. That shared effort matters year-round, to protect our water supply and the two rivers that flow through our city.

Everyday choices at home help support a reliable water supply now and into the future. Small, simple habits, repeated across the city, add up. Fixing leaks as soon as you notice them prevents water from being wasted day after day and saves you money. Running full loads in your dishwasher and washing machine makes the most of each cycle. Being mindful about how long taps run or how much water we use for daily routines helps conserve water year-round.

These actions do not require major changes or extra cash. They are practical steps many of us already take, and they work best when we all do our part. Winter is a good time to practice these habits, since staying indoors more often can mean higher water use without realizing it.

Our actions today help protect Calgary’s water supply for current and future generations who will depend on it too. Calgarians have demonstrated that conservation is possible, effective and meaningful.

For practical tips and reminders to help you get started or stay on track, visit calgary.ca/indoorwaterwise.

Camp Courage

You have what it takes! Join Camp Courage Calgary

Camp Courage is a free, week-long camp, running from July 13 – July 19, for young women and gender-diverse youth aged 15–18 who are interested in exploring first responder careers.

Throughout the week, campers will step into the boots of police, paramedics, and firefighters as they learn what it takes to be a first responder through hands-on training and experiences. Campers will challenge themselves as they learn alongside first responders, connect with peers who share similar interests, and build confidence and problem-solving skills in an inclusive environment.

“The empowerment and encouragement these women gave me, I felt inspired and wowed every step of the way. Thank you so much for this life-changing event.” - Past Camper

Applications are open now until March 20. If you are ready to challenge yourself, explore what it’s like to be a first responder and discover what you’re capable of, Camp Courage is for you! https://campcourage.ca/apply/how-to-apply/

West Springs / Cougar Ridge Community Association:

Strathcona, Christie Park, Aspen Woods Community Association (SCA)

277 Strathcona Drive S.W.

Wildwood Community Association

4411 Spruce Drive S.W.

Every Monday, the Wildwood Community Association hosts a neighbourhood coffee. Join for coffee, tea, and treats while catching up with friends and meeting new ones!

Coach Hill / Patterson Heights Community Association

Pi Day Fundraiser with Pie Junkie

March 14 marks Pi Day! Since we're crazy about Pies, the CHPH Community Association is selling pies from Pie Junkie until March 3rd. Ready for pick up on March 9th - just in time for Pie Day!

A portion of the profits will go to the Community Association to help fund community events, such as the Annual Stampede Breakfast or Movie in the Park. 

Learn more at this link.