Each day, thousands of City employees ensure the essential services Calgarians rely on are available.

Our community has experienced several disasters and emergencies over the years. Employees have stepped up in extreme conditions to maintain and restore critical:

• Infrastructure
• Utilities
• Transit service
• Roadways
• Pathways

This also includes making sure public parks and spaces were clean, accessible and safe. 

This webpage pays tribute to our operational frontline employees. We are proud to recognize their work and thank them for being there for our community, in the good times and the hard times.

In 2014, Calgary saw its largest September snowfall in more than a century. The storm damaged half of the trees across the city. Large branches and entire trees crashed down on sidewalks, streets and power lines. City parks with mature trees and large overhead canopies were temporarily closed for public safety.

City employees played a key role in response, clean up and repairs. Among the highlights:

• City streets, sidewalks, pathways and public parks were cleared of heavy snow and extensive tree debris.
• The snowstorm resulted in in the more than 100 traffic signals to be disconnected from power. All traffic light issues were resolved within the first 24 hours after the storm.
• More than 26 million kilograms of tree debris were brought to City Waste Management Facilities. That's enough to fill the football field at McMahon Stadium about 40 metres deep.
• 3 LRT stations had to have power restored and service resumed.
• Waste & Recycling Services teams mulched branches and debris so they could be used in Calgary parks.
• The City opened 32 leaf and pumpkin recycling depots two weeks earlier than usual to accommodate community tree debris.
• Task forces were formed – comprised of City employees, members of Canada Task Force 2, and Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development.
• Following the storm, the Parks Urban Forestry team worked in over 80 communities, including restorative pruning of 59,000 trees and assessing 69,000 trees.
• As part of the recovery efforts, Parks Urban Forestry created an online map that allowed Calgarians to track the timing and type of tree recovery work in their communities.
• In 2015, Parks Urban Forestry planted over 7,400 trees.
• A ReTree YYC community program was developed to empower communities to revitalize the urban canopy and to engage Calgarians in tree stewardship.