This is Calgary

Did you say... Green Line? Yes, there's news. A city committee has approved a surface route along 10th Avenue Southwest as the next section of Calgary's expanding LRT network, bringing the line to the edge of downtown.Jenny talks to two city councillors whose wards run parallel about why this route is better than the above-ground options, and why — even though the dream of building the Green Line to the north end of the city is still very much alive — rapid bus transit up Centre Street North is a good interim solution.This is Calgary is hosted by Jenny Howe, and produced by CBC Calgary.Thoughts? Story ideas? [email protected]

Calgary has a leak -- but this time, it's not a water main. It's a city councillor. Last week (Sept. 3), Ward 14’s Landon Johnston revealed he’d shared confidential preliminary budget documents with the media -- much to the frustration of Mayor Jeromy Farkas and other members of council. Why did Johnston do it? What are the impacts? What powers, if any, does city council have to prevent further leakage? And what does this fracas say about the functionality of our current city council? Jenny and Loren walk us through this developing story.

It's been two months since the province shut down Calgary's only supervised consumption site. What's happened since? Jenny talks to a former SCS staffer and an addiction medicine doctor about the impacts of the closure, and whether a recovery-based model of care including compassionate intervention could work.

There's a big conversation happening right now that feels kind of hard to tackle: separatism. And the pressure to discuss it is increasing as we get closer to the Alberta referendum on October 19. But why is it so hard to do? And how can or should you approach such a conversation, to reach across the political divide, from wherever you sit? This week, we find out with political scientist Jared Wesley.

Contemporary Calgary got a major funding injection over the summer, to expand at its location in the downtown west end. Jenny talks to CEO David Leinster about what the revitalization involves, why the city's biggest contemporary art gallery wants to stay put in a former planetarium, and how contemporary art fits in our city identity.

This week, Jenny is looking into what makes a great city street. Our friends over at This is Vancouver recently had a conversation with former Vancouver city planner Sandy James about the necessary ingredients, and a lot of those ideas could apply anywhere in North America, including here in Calgary.

Raccoons are still something of a novelty for most Calgarians. But they're becoming more common... and can get into mischief. First, we talk to a local guy who's been trying in vain for FIVE years to spot a raccoon here. Then we head to southeast Calgary, to find out whether a homeowner managed to get the raccoon out of his garage attic.

What's greasily delicious, free on your birthday, and packaged in a bright yellow box?Chicken on the Way, of course -- a Calgary fast food institution that's been around since 1958... and is STILL being run by the same family.In this fan-favourite episode from early April, Jenny talks COTW lore with owner Russ Dunn, learns to make corn fritters with manager Haley Andela, and hears why some hardcore customers have been getting takeout here for more than 50 years.See the place for yourself, with CBC Calgary's Chicken on the Way video tour on YouTube.

As part of the city's new Water Efficiency Plan, Calgary now has a watering schedule for lawns and gardens. But... what does it mean for you? This week, Loren talks to Rehana Rajabali, Manager of Natural Environment & Adaptation with the City of Calgary, about how the schedule was developed, why the city brought it into effect (even though there’s plenty of water around this year!), and why Monday is a day off for everyone.

Imagine if Calgary got rid of one of its most iconic landmarks. (OK, ok... besides the Saddledome.) Maybe the Calgary Tower? Because that's what's happening up in Edmonton. That city has unveiled a plan to decommission the High Level Bridge - a historic structure spanning the North Saskatchewan River that's been emblematic of YEG for more than a century. This week, Jenny take you there to hear what's happening, and what a local historian has to say about the plan.

How much do you know about the history of the Stampede Grounds? It's a trip! This week, Jenny talks to Calgary Stampede CEO Joel Cowley about how the grounds first took shape (hint: farming!) and evolved into a 200-plus-acre extravaganza of Western culture (and a lot more). Joel talks about some of his favourite historic spots on the site, the challenges of running such a major event in the middle of a big city... and, with the construction of Scotia Place arena, what's in store for the Stampede Grounds in the years to come.For further reading, visit Stampede Through the Years.

It's Canada Day - a celebration of our nationhood. But as parades, barbecues, and concerts take place in provinces and territories across the country... there's talk out west about separation - and that feeling is spreading. As Alberta gears up for a referendum on separation this fall, we head to Saskatchewan, where a similar, though much smaller movement is afloat. The Saskatchewan Prosperity Project wants that province to be an independent country. This week, Loren taps into what's happening there.

Call it a decibel showdown. Things came to a head this week over late-night concert noise during the upcoming Calgary Stampede. An urgent debate was held at City Hall, and even Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre weighed in. In this episode, Loren takes you through the twists and turns of this fast-moving story, and what downtown Calgary residents -- and Stampede revellers -- can expect at the Cowboys Tent this year.

Guess what Calgary finds itself right plunk in the middle of? Hail Alley - an area of central and southern Alberta that’s well known for producing hail storms. And some parts of the city are more prone to hail than others. This week, Loren talks to Calgarians who’ve experienced the damaging effects of hail on their homes and community, as well as an insurance expert on the financial impacts of hail damage - for everyone.

Corner stores have been slowly disappearing from Calgary neighbourhoods... but, thanks to changing community expectations, and an update to YYC development rules, there's potential for a comeback. This week, Loren chats with CBC Calgary journalist Helen Pike, who's been talking to retailers, developers, and the City of Calgary on what's happening.For more on the history and the future of corner stores in Calgary, check out Helen's YouTube story and CBC web story.

Calgary mayor Jeromy Farkas wants a police station downtown, citing concerns around public safety, and an absence of adequate public policing in the core. But it was less than nine years ago that the Calgary Police Service closed its downtown location: the Victoria Park police station on 11th Avenue Southeast. What happened? This week, Loren gets into some of the history with Evan Woolley, who was the city councillor for Ward 8 when Calgary’s downtown police station closed in late 2017.

Calgary has more than 40 kilometres of missing sidewalks! How did that happen? And what's the city doing to fix it? This week, Loren talks to Jen Malzer, City of Calgary Leader of Community Projects, about how they're working to add those missing links, and the challenges of retrofitting streets with sidewalks decades later. Plus, we visit spots with new sidewalks, to see what pedestrians think.

For Sale signs are popping up like tulips on residential properties all over the city. But – is it a buyer’s market? Or a seller’s market? Actually, BOTH. And talk of Alberta separating factors into the equation. This week, Loren talks to real estate agent Nadine Faule about what’s happening with Calgary's housing market – especially given the glut of condos up for grabs – and whether spring is still a good time to list.

For decades, Calgarians have been able to ride the C-Train free along a 10-block stretch of 7th Avenue downtown. That might be about to change. The city's infrastructure and planning committee just voted to eliminate the FFZ... and city council will debate and decide what to do later this month. Catch up with Loren on what's been happening, and hear some of the voices for and against eliminating the free fare zone.

Calgary has longed for a large multisport fieldhouse for nearly 20 years -- and the city has $109 million dollars earmarked for the project. So, what’s the hold up? In this week’s episode, host Loren McGinnis talks to Jason Zaran, chair of the Calgary Multisport Fieldhouse Society, about why Calgary needs the facility, and why they need the province to commit funding asap.

Yes, it really IS almost done! The Glenbow, Calgary's flagship art and history museum, has been undergoing a major transformation, and is set to reopen sometime in 2027. So - how's it looking? Jenny got to poke around inside with some curatorial staff.

The Calgary Drop-In Centre provides a place to sleep for hundreds of unhoused Calgarians every night. But the D.I. is now being pressured to leave the East Village, in part because of concerns about crime and social disorder in the downtown. This is Calgary producer Liz Withey joins Jenny to talk about what's happening with YYC's biggest emergency shelter.

Calgary city council just passed a motion 12-3 to repeal blanket rezoning. City councillors Andrew Yule (Ward 3) and Nathaniel Schmidt (Ward 8) were two of the councillors who voted against it. This is Calgary host Jenny finds out why they weren't in favour of the repeal, and hears some of their thoughts on what this means for housing in our growing city.

What makes Chicken on the Way such an institution in Calgary? This is Calgary host Jenny Howe wanted to find out more about the restaurant, which has been part of Calgary's food scene since 1958, and is still owned by the same family! In this episode, Jenny talks history with owner Russ Dunn, makes legendary corn fritters with manager Haley Andela, and hears why some customers have been eating here since the '70s.

Come "Inside The Classroom" with This is Calgary host Jenny Howe and CBC producer Elise Stolte.In January, Elise reached out to thousands of Alberta teachers to find out more about classroom complexity across the province, including here in Calgary. Through survey responses from 6,000 educators, she learned a lot about the challenges of being a teacher -- and a school kid. Listen to the takeaways, and hear from some Calgary teachers on what they face day-to-day.

The Alberta government has announced a date for closure of Calgary's only supervised drug consumption site in the Beltline. This week on This is Calgary, we'll hear from Alberta's Minister of Mental Health and Addiction, Rick Wilson, and Dr. Monty Ghosh, a Calgary physician who specializes in addiction medicine.

For the first time in decades, Calgary has municipal political parties represented at city hall. There are coucillors from three parties: The Calgary Party, A Better Calgary, and Communities First. And so far - they aren’t always voting on party lines. This week, host Jenny Howe talks to CBC Calgary municipal affairs reporter Brendan Coulter about why that is - and how Calgary compares to some other Canadian cities with local parties.

Calgary Transit has had a Free Fare Zone along 7th Avenue for decades. It started as an experiment in the late 70s, before we even had an LRT, and has become part of the city's downtown identity. But - should we keep it? The FFZ is currently being reviewed. This week, host Jenny Howe speaks with Sprawl founder Jeremy Klaszus about the history, benefits, and prospects of the Free Fare Zone.

The Alberta government just tabled the 2026 budget, with an anticipated deficit of $9.4 billion dollars. This Is Calgary host Jenny Howe sits down with Darren Krause, founder and editor of LiveWire Calgary, to hear all about what is (and isn’t!) in the budget for our city, and what city council has to say about it so far.

Two Ukrainians who immigrated to Calgary after the 2022 Russian invasion talk about their lives in our city, what they think about the ongoing war in Ukraine, and what it's like to feel torn between two homes. Captain Mykhailo Lomov is the senior ship captain of the S.S. Moyie paddlewheel boat at Heritage Park, and Snizhana Bora is the co-founder and director of ARTis Theatre, a Ukrainian theatre group.

Plus, the struggles of the Northern Hills Community Association. In Calgary, some community associations are making a play to revive their numbers, after volunteers and memberships have dwindled.

Most Calgarians remember the 1988 Olympics as a success for the city — and for what they got built. Hello new CTrain line, Saddledome and Olympic Oval! But when the city had the chance to host the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, Calgarians said no. In this episode, we explore why the No Calgary Olympics campaign prevailed and what it might take to become an Olympic city for a second time.

Tariffs, separatism and federal election speculation — this episode has it all! West of Centre podcast host Kathleen Petty joins This is Calgary to break down some of the big stories from the weekend's Conservative Party convention held right here in cowtown.Listen to our past episode on this city's tendency to vote blue, here.

The biggest night in Calgary varsity sports is here — the Crowchild Classic. This week, we set the stage for the matchup, look at how the event has evolved over the years, and hear from standout players on both the University of Calgary Dinos and the Mount Royal University Cougars hockey teams.

When it comes to Calgary's infrastructure, there’s a big gap between what needs to be done and the money needed to do it. In the wake of a second major water main break, we look at why municipalities across the country face similar issues, and we hear from former Ward 12 councillor Evan Spencer, who tried to raise alarms about this very issue while on council.

It’s easy to focus on what’s been torn down, but what about what’s been saved? This episode explores Calgary’s approach to preserving historic buildings through adaptive reuse. We also preview a new project that could transform two downtown heritage buildings, the historic Fire Hall No. 1 and the North-West Travellers Building.Curious what options exist for the downtown Hudson's Bay Building? Listen to that episode here.

An underground city pipe — that carries about 60 per cent of Calgary's drinking water — has had a second catastrophic break in two years. CBC reporter Brendan Coulter joins us to talk about what fixing it might take, and what that means for accessing water in the meantime.UPDATE: The highly anticipated report about the 2024 failure of the city's key water feeder main is out now, read CBC's coverage here.

Sixteenth Avenue is a major gateway road in this city, but the way it looks leaves a little something to be desired. We are replaying one of our favourite episodes from this year exploring why this roadway looks the way it does, it's unique history and if there's any hope for a better, more colourful future.This is Calgary will return with new episodes on January 7th, happy holidays!

In an era of e-books and online shopping, Calgary is embracing something unexpected: genre bookstores. From romance to horror, two new brick-and-mortar shops are proving that a niche can be powerful. Host Jenny Howe explores why these stores are opening now, the 'feral' appetites of their readers and what they tell us about the future of local bookstores.

Calgary is seeing a record rise in pedestrian deaths, raising tough questions about safety in a car-centric, sprawling city. We talk to the City of Calgary about how they’re responding — and to an urban planner with a vision for a more walkable, people-first future.

At city hall, there has been a marathon discussion by council over how it will spend Calgary's more than $8-billion annual budget. Yes, we'll talk about property taxes but also hear why the latest showdown between urban councillors and their suburban counterparts matters. CBC senior producer Josh Pagé joins us to make sense of it all.

At the west end of 17th Avenue SW lies one of Calgary's most notorious intersections — a corner where businesses struggle and vibrancy dulls. We explore the history of 14th Street and 17th Avenue’s persistent challenges, and meet the man who believes he can finally transform this troubled corner for good.

Two recall petitions are underway in Alberta — one targeting Calgary-Bow MLA Demetrios Nicolaides (who is also the minister of education and childcare), and another aimed at Airdrie-East MLA Angela Pitt. In this episode, we speak with organizers behind both efforts.

There's a struggle for stage space for Calgary’s independent theatre companies. Local venues are downsizing, undergoing transformation or closing altogether. In this episode, we talk to the person building a new downtown venue, The Erratics Indie Arts Club, as well as a local actress about why keeping Calgary’s theatre scene alive matters.

Ramsay is a small but distinct southeast Calgary neighbourhood — known for its heritage homes, murals and even a once-roaming turkey. But as the community evolves, some of that history is being lost. We talk to a longtime resident and a local business owner about how they’re keeping Ramsay’s original spirit alive amid all the change.

She broke barriers as Calgary’s first female mayor — and faced backlash in her term including a petition calling for her to step down. After Calgarians voted not to re-elect her, Jyoti Gondek joins This is Calgary host Jenny Howe for a conversation about leadership, loss, and lessons learned from four years at City Hall.

In a special Tuesday edition of the podcast, we’re zeroing in on the (unofficial) results of Calgary’s mayoral race — the winner, the numbers, and what it all means for the city’s future. Political scientist Duane Bratt joins us to break it down.

We’re still zoned in on the municipal election, and on this episode we hear from the front-runner mayoral candidates about what they plan to do about the wedge issue of blanket rezoning: repeal it, tweak it, or double down.

Just before municipal election season, a fiery debate broke out in council chambers over Calgary's Climate Emergency Declaration. We go back in time to explore what that says about Calgary's political future.

Safety is top of mind this election. From hiring more cops to creating more integrated social services, we get into what candidates are saying about the problem, what the stats say and what some solutions may be.