Over the past decade, outdated zoning rules concentrated the vast majority of redevelopment into established areas within inner-city neighbourhoods like those in Ward 7. This intense redevelopment pressure and population growth was not accompanied by corresponding investment in infrastructure and amenities.

We need to do a better job of implementing the policies surrounding redevelopment to ensure the results both tackle the housing affordability crisis and enhance our Ward 7 neighbourhoods.

To forge a better path forward, I believe we must return to the spirit that many of the Treaty 7 signatories thought they were entering into: an agreement rooted in mutual benefit and shared prosperity in this place.

We can only reach that future by digging deep into what this day is all about—allowing ourselves to sit with uncomfortable truths of the stories of Survivors and the systemic erasure of Indigenous nations across generations.

David Down dedicated his career to shaping Calgary’s urban future. As the City’s former Chief Urban Designer, he worked to guide growth, strengthen neighbourhoods, and support a more sustainable, livable Calgary. He’s also a long-time Ward 7 resident who knows the value and joy of living in the inner-city. It’s the great work of people like David that I want to support: those who work at the City to better our shared home every single day.

Lourdes is an absolute powerhouse and such a doer in our community. She’s the founder of Hive Developments, Leftovers Foundation, Fresh Routes, Knead Tech, and Soma Calgary — each one a testament to her vision for impact and innovation. She’s one of those people who sees problems as opportunities and applies her unique lens to social impact and innovation.

Neighbourhoods in Ward 7 and Ward 8 contribute the highest residential property taxes per capita in the city - more than double the lowest contributing wards. Citywide rezoning for housing is an opportunity to boost housing diversity and tax productivity outside of Ward 7, so that our inner city neighbourhoods do not have to shoulder the burden of infrastructure replacement in the “donut of decline”.

For years Erin has been an active advocate to build a better future for Calgary, including her run for Ward 7 councillor in 2021. Erin’s letter made me absolutely blush when I first read it, and I’m so lucky to have her helping me to get across the finish line this October.  Thank you Erin! 🥰

I'm proud to have been part of the advocacy efforts that helped raise Calgary’s fare-free transit age from 5 to 12 years. It was a win for equity, affordability, and access — and a rare moment where our city chose to help transit instead of cutting it. But that progress shouldn’t stop at age 12.

Calgary’s urban tree canopy is in trouble: we’re supposed to double Calgary’s tree canopy over the next 25 years, but recent data shows we’re going the wrong direction.

The planned bike network in Ward 7 is spread across many different City planning documents. We’ve collected them onto one map with their current conditions to begin the work of making these plans a reality.

The Green Line is the largest infrastructure project in Alberta’s history, and our downtown and public transportation system is too important to the success of our city to risk getting it wrong.