Myke's Priorities

Pedestrian Safety

Pedestrian safety has consistently been identified as a core priority within Ward 7, rooted in the belief that Calgary must be a people-first city where everyone can move safely and comfortably, whether walking, wheeling, or biking. 

Despite existing frameworks such as Calgary’s Safer Mobility Plan, the city has faced a ten-year high in pedestrian injuries and deaths, underscoring a gap between planning and real-world outcomes. 

This has led the Ward 7 office to emphasize that safety cannot rely on policy alone—it requires visible, physical changes to the built environment and stronger accountability mechanisms.

Design interventions are seen as the most effective and equitable approach to improving safety outcomes. These include features such as curb extensions, protected crossings, raised crosswalks, advanced walk signals, and traffic calming measures. These interventions aim to make safe behaviour the default, rather than relying on individual vigilance.

Enforcement remains a necessary complement, particularly around addressing dangerous driving behaviour. Ward 7 has worked closely with Calgary Police Service (CPS) and the Police Commission to better understand how enforcement is applied and how outcomes are measured. However, it has been acknowledged that enforcement alone cannot solve systemic risks embedded in road design.

A major gap is data transparency and quality. Without reliable and accessible data, it becomes difficult to prioritize investments or evaluate progress. Ward 7 has called for improved reporting, including reinstating publicly available collision data and refining how incidents are captured and analyzed. Emerging work on predictive analytics and AI-enabled safety monitoring reflects a shift toward proactive risk identification rather than reactive responses. 

Pedestrian safety is also closely tied to broader urban design principles. The Ward 7 Team emphasizes the importance of pedestrian-friendly streetscapes, continuous walking routes, and transit access, recognizing that nearly all transit trips begin and end on foot. This reinforces the need for integrated solutions across land use, transportation planning, and public realm design. 

Ultimately, pedestrian safety is not a niche issue. It's foundational for a city that's healthy, accessible, and doesn't discrimate based on the type of transportation people can afford. The goal is a system where no one—children, seniors, people with disabilities, or families—must feel unsafe navigating their own community. Achieving this requires sustained investment, clearer data, and a commitment to designing streets that prioritize people above all else.

Options for Affordable and Safe Transportation

Affordable and safe transportation is a central concern in Ward 7, particularly given its diverse population and its role as a major inner-city hub. Mobility - or how we get around our City - is directly linked to affordability, accessibility, and quality of life, with transportation options needing to reflect the realities of residents who rely on transit, cycling, or walking.

Discussions around the RouteAhead plan and related investments highlight the need for increased fleet size, including additional buses, to meet growing demand. The long lead times associated with acquiring transit vehicles underscore the importance of proactive planning and early investment decisions.

Beyond capacity, transportation must be both accessible and safe across all modes. This includes integrated planning for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. Safe mobility infrastructure—such as protected bike lanes and safe pedestrian connections—is essential, not optional. 

Affordability is another critical dimension. Transportation costs remain a barrier for many residents, particularly those in lower-income brackets. The low-income transit pass program is one way to reduce financial barriers to mobility. While councillors do not directly control pricing policies, Ward 7’s advocacy often centers on ensuring that transit remains a viable alternative to private vehicle use.

Ward 7’s inner-city context means that infrastructure must support a wide range of users, including individuals who use mobility aids or rely on wheeled devices such as scooters or bicycles. This reinforces the need for inclusive design standards that accommodate all users, rather than privileging one mode of transportation over another.

Transportation systems must provide seamless connections between communities, employment hubs, and key destinations such as downtown. Ensuring continuous, reliable routes—whether for transit, cycling, or walking—is essential to creating a system that people can depend on.

In summary, Ward 7’s approach to transportation emphasizes a balanced framework: safe infrastructure, expanded transit service, and affordability measures. Together, these elements support a more equitable and accessible transportation system that aligns with broader goals around sustainability and community wellbeing.

Downtown Vibrancy

Downtown vibrancy is a recurring theme we hear from Ward 7 residents, reflecting both the opportunities and challenges facing Calgary’s core. Vibrancy is not solely about economic activity, but about creating welcoming, safe, and engaging public spaces that serve residents, workers, and visitors alike. Community engagement is essential in shaping downtown spaces. The experience with demonstrates how decisions made without sufficient public input can lead to frustration and a sense of disconnection. In response, the Ward 7 office has prioritized proactive outreach, including town halls and targeted engagement with users such as residents, youth, and community groups.

Another important theme is the need to align long-term visions with funded, actionable projects. Community priorities should be integrated into existing capital projects wherever possible, ensuring that improvements are delivered in a timely and resource-efficient manner. 

Programming and activation also play a role in shaping vibrancy. Feedback from community engagement indicates a desire for parks and public spaces to support a mix of uses, including events, markets, and recreational activities. 

A vibrant downtown is one where people feel safe, engaged, and connected—where public spaces reflect the needs and values of the communities they serve.

Tree Canopy

The tree canopy is an important element of Ward 7’s environmental and community priorities, contributing to both neighbourhood character and long-term sustainability. Internal correspondence highlights that mature trees are often deeply valued by residents, seen as integral to the identity and livability of their communities.

Concerns about tree removal in redevelopment contexts illustrate a recurring tension between growth and preservation. Residents have consistently advocated for maintaining mature trees wherever possible, noting that successful examples exist where redevelopment has been achieved without sacrificing established canopy.

From a planning perspective, the tree canopy is also tied to broader environmental and public realm goals. Trees provide shade, improve air quality, and enhance the overall aesthetic of streets and parks. Feedback from engagement specifically highlights a desire for more greenery, including trees and vegetation, in public spaces, reinforcing their importance to quality of life. 

The role of policy in protecting the tree canopy is more limited at the ward level, as decisions related to development approvals are often handled through planning processes and regulatory frameworks. However, Ward 7’s role includes advocating for outcomes that balance development with environmental stewardship.

In summary, the tree canopy represents both a practical and symbolic asset. It supports environmental resilience while also contributing to the sense of place that defines Ward 7 communities. Protecting and expanding this canopy requires thoughtful planning, community engagement, and a willingness to prioritize long-term benefits alongside immediate development pressures.

Public Parks and Amenities

Public parks and amenities are central to community life in Ward 7, serving as spaces for recreation, connection, and cultural expression. These spaces must be accessible, well-maintained, and responsive to community needs.

The experience with Cowboys Park highlights the importance of balancing different uses within public spaces. Residents raised concerns about park closures, changes to physical infrastructure, and the impact of large-scale events. In response, the Ward 7 office has focused on ensuring that community voices are heard and that programming aligns with local expectations.

Community feedback also underscores the importance of greenery and amenities within parks. Requests for trees, shade structures, and improved landscaping reflect a broader desire for parks that are both functional and inviting. Accessibility is another key consideration, with residents emphasizing the need for inclusive design that accommodates users of all ages and abilities. 

Public parks are also seen as opportunities for programming and activation. Engagement materials suggest that residents value spaces that can support a variety of activities, from quiet recreation to organized events. However, this must be balanced with the need to manage impacts such as noise, crowding, and reduced access for everyday users.

Ultimately, Ward 7’s approach to parks and amenities is grounded in the idea that these spaces should serve the community first. This requires ongoing engagement, thoughtful design, and a commitment to maintaining access and quality over time.