Mayor Proclaims September 9, 2015 as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II - Longest Reign

On September 9, 2015, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II reached the milestone of serving the longest reign in modern history of 63 years, surpassing her great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria. In honour of this occasion, Mayor Nenshi has proclaimed September 9, 2015 as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II - Longest Reign.

“On behalf of City Council and the citizens of Calgary, it is my privilege to acknowledge this historic day in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” said Mayor Nenshi.
Queen Elizabeth II was crowned at Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953. In 1953 a Canadian law gave her the title Queen of Canada. Her Majesty has made 22 official tours in Canada since her accession to the throne, more than any other Commonwealth country.

In 1959, on her first official visit to Calgary as the Queen of Canada, Her Majesty was greeted by a carpet of buffalo skins rather than the usual red carpet. Over 100,000 people attended the Stampede in hopes of seeing the Queen and as the royal motorcade approached the grandstand, the crowd sang Home on the Range. Five of the visits to Canada have included Calgary, most recently in 2005 during the Centennial celebration of Alberta and Saskatchewan.


In addition to being Queen of Canada, Her Majesty is also Head of the Commonwealth and the monarch of 16 members of the Commonwealth, known as Commonwealth realms. Canada was a founder member of the Commonwealth in 1931 when its independence was recognized under the State of Westminster. Nearly 30 percent of the world’s population (or two billion citizens) belong to the modern Commonwealth. It is the world’s oldest political association of sovereign states with members who cooperate within a framework of common values and goals.

A portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II can be found in The City’s Council Chamber. It serves as a reminder that Canada is a member of the Commonwealth.

The Queen of Canada continues to champion public and voluntary service to over 600 charities, of which 33 are in Canada (including the Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian Nurses Association). She also serves as Colonel-in-Chief, Captain General and Air Commodore-in-Chief of 13 military units across Canada; locally The Calgary Highlanders.

Celebrate Flag Day: The Canadian Flag turns 50!

February 15 marks 50 years since the first official Canadian flag was raised on Parliament Hill in 1965. Since then, the Canadian flag has been used in countless Canadian celebrations and occasions, both at home and abroad. In 1996, February 15 was proclaimed National Flag Day of Canada and has been observed every year since. In celebration of the anniversary of the Canadian Flag, Mayor Nenshi has proclaimed February 15, 2015 as “50th Anniversary of the National Flag Day”.

The Canadian Flag was the result of a search by the Government of Canada in 1964 to find a design that truly represented Canada. Thousands of designs were submitted by Canadians and reviewed by a committee who recommended the single maple leaf, with the red and white design to Parliament.



The winning flag was selected because of its simplicity, the use of Canada’s official national colours, and because Canadian troops and athletes were already using the maple leaf as an emblem on their uniforms when representing Canada abroad, marking it as a symbol of Canadian identity and pride.
The motion to adopt this design passed on December 15, 1964 and was officially proclaimed as our National Flag by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on January 28, 1965.

Citizens are encouraged to participate and celebrate the Canadian flag, a symbol of our identity and a source of pride. Suggestions for celebrations are available on www.canada.ca/flagday. You can also participate by sharing your own photo, video or story on social media using the hashtag #Flag50.

Human Rights Day

The UN General Assembly proclaimed Dec. 10 as Human Rights Day in 1950, to bring to the attention ‘of the peoples of the world’ the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948 as the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.

Human rights are inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, gender, national or ethnic origin, religion, language, or any other status. Nelson Mandela said "to deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity”.



At the individual level, while we are entitled our human rights, we should also respect the human rights of others. How have Canadians’ ideas of human rights evolved over time? Change begins when someone believes that they are being treated unfairly, and then decides to take action.

2014 Citizen Satisfaction Survey Results

The 2014 Citizen Satisfaction Survey results are in and perceptions about quality of life in Calgary remain strong.




Ninety one per cent of citizens are proud to be Calgarian. Satisfaction with City services remains high, with six City services seeing increases in satisfaction: land use planning; city operated roads and infrastructure; pathway systems; bylaw services; animal control; and community services (including community associations and not for profit groups).

“The data shows what most Calgarians already know: we live in a great city with a high quality of life. We are proud to live here and, for the most part, we get good value for our tax dollars. I’m proud that the Citizen Satisfaction survey has consistently shown this since I’ve had this role,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

Notable highlights include:

• 87 per cent of Calgarians indicate their quality of life in Calgary is good;
• 86 per cent of Calgarians rated The City’s quality of service as consistently high;
• Close to two-thirds of citizens said The City provides good value for their property tax dollars; and
• Infrastructure, traffic and roads remain at the top of the issue agenda, while Transit continues to hold second place.

“Good data makes for good decisions,” said Mayor Nenshi. “The results we get from the Citizen Satisfaction Survey help City Council as we make decisions about the new four-year budget and business plan so that we can continue to serve Calgarians well.”

The Citizen Satisfaction Survey is one way The City of Calgary can understand Calgarians’ needs and perceptions. The City is continually exploring new ways for citizens to engage with The City and provide feedback. Citizens’ View, The City’s new online panel, is another way for citizens to provide input into City programs and services on an ongoing basis. You have opinions. We want to hear them. Participate in online surveys and discussions by registering at citizensview.ca

View the full Citizen Satisfaction Survey on calgary.ca.

The City sells 66 acres of land to Home Depot

The City is pleased to announce that Home Depot Canada Inc. is the successful purchaser of 66 acres of city-owned land located on the Dufferin North Industrial Park, west of Stoney Trail and 68 Street S.E.

The Home Depot facility will contribute to Calgary’s strong economic growth through the creation of a wide variety of jobs plus the increased investment in other local support services needed to maintain operations.

As part of the City’s 2013-2022 Industrial Land Strategy five per cent of proceeds from gross industrial land sales will go to the Public Housing Reserve in support of affordable housing in Calgary.



Find more information at calgary.ca/OLSH

You have opinions. The City of Calgary wants to hear them.

We're looking for Calgarians to join Citizens’ View – The City’s new online research panel.

Citizens’ View is a timely and cost-effective tool that will make it easier for citizens to share their views about life in Calgary. Calgarians who join the panel will have the opportunity to participate in surveys and discussions on topics that matter to them and understand how their input is used.

“The magic of public service lies in our ability to deliver what citizens require now as well as preparing for what they will need in the future,” said Jeff Fielding, City Manager. “Citizens’ View will help The City gauge opinions about our programs and services. It will also provide us with valuable information essential to meeting the community’s long-term aspirations.”

Citizens’ View is a Transforming Government initiative that will complement The City’s existing research and engagement tools, making information sharing more transparent, accessible and interactive for citizens.

“Creating an even better Calgary takes all of us—not just government,” said Mayor Nenshi. “Citizens are the key to improving our communities and creating the best programs and services for our city. Calgarians are the experts in their lives and I encourage them to share their thoughts about life in Calgary by registering at citizensview.ca.”

Members can expect to participate in surveys approximately once or twice per month; join interactive, online discussions; and receive information and updates on upcoming City events and service improvements.

Calgarians 18 years and older can register at www.citizensview.ca.

Making things simpler with Cut Red Tape

Simple, innovative, flexible, outcome-focused and measurable. These are the guiding principles behind The City’s Cut Red Tape program aimed at removing unnecessary red tape for citizens and businesses.

Since the program began in 2010, there has been an estimated 90,000 hours in time saved. But the biggest impact has been the difference it has made for the people that use City services. Whether it’s a citizen looking for low-income assistance or a food truck operator needing a business permit, the program has helped cut down barriers and make it easier for people to interact with The City of Calgary.

These highlights are just the beginning of a larger trend within the organization to continually improve services and focus on results. Cutting red tape may have started off as a program, but is the way we will conduct business from now on.



Take a look at our Cut Red Tape video above, which was recently produced to highlight a few stories and successes of the Cut Red Tape Initiative. It was first shown to council in Jeff Fielding’s recent presentation where he indicated he would like to see the Cut Red Tape principles embedded into how we work.

Mayor Nenshi's Walk Challenge

On Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, Mayor Naheed Nenshi issued a challenge to encourage Calgary kids to walk (or bike or rollerblade or any form of active transportation) to school this year.

By walking to school, Calgary kids can help reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses in our environment, get additional exercise to stay fit and healthy, and do better in school. With more kids walking to school, we can also reduce the traffic congestion on streets around our schools.



“I know that a lot of families are very busy getting prepared for school and work every day,” said Mayor Nenshi. “But incorporating an additional 15 or 20 minutes into your routine can yield big benefits.”

Learn more about Mayor Nenshi’s Walk Challenge at www.Calgary.ca/WalkChallenge. Anyone taking up the challenge is encouraged to share their experience on Facebook, or Twitter (using #yycwalk).

Mayor Nenshi was joined in his announcement today by:

Tiffany Stones – A parent in Altadore who, with the help of other parents in the area, organized a Walking School Bus.

Lori Beattie - A parent in Elboya who helped her child and his friends set up a “bike gang” that bikes to school year-round.

Debbie Rheinstein – A teacher at Captain Nichola Goddard School who supported her students as they created the Green Commuting Hubs program as part of their 2014 Mayor’s Environment Expo project.

Green Commuting for Mayor’s Environment Expo

For the past two years, students at Captain Nicholla Goddard School have come up with a simple solution to decrease high traffic volume around their school.

For their Eco-leader project for the 2014 Mayor’s Environment Expo, grade 9 students identified a risk and turned it into an opportunity to reduce their school’s ecological footprint by creating the Green Commuting Hub program. This program built on the success of a project many of the students had worked on the previous year for the Mayor’s Expo.

Students, along with parents and teachers, were concerned about the high traffic in the areas surrounding the school. The streets were crowded with vehicles from parents dropping their children off at the school. Concerned for both the health and safety of the kids, a group of grade 9 students under the leadership of Debbie Rheinstein wanted to make a change for the better.

The Green Commuting Hub program is similar to a Walking School Bus. Students registered in a program were assigned a hub meeting point near their house and would walk to school each morning as a group.  Hub leaders were in charge of making the meeting spots visible and kept track of attendance. Each week, students recorded environmental progress and placed in a spreadsheet to tally green commuting trips  and kilometres traveled by participants and carbon offsets.

The Main goal of the program was to reduce the student’s carbon footprint, increase daily activity and improve the safety around the school by reducing the amount of traffic. In addition to the environment and health benefits of the program, the program taught students the importance of alternative transportation methods.

“Our initiative got students excited about green commuting, says teacher Debbie Rheinstein. “It helped students become involved in their community.  Students learned first-hand how they could reduce their impact on the environment and, at the same time, improved the health of our students.”

Students were really excited about the success of the program, having doubled participation from 2013 to 2014. After working with, and being supported by Calgary Police Services  and The City, they are planning to pass the torch to a new set of students for the 2014-2015 school year.

Census shows record growth for Calgary

Calgary’s population has reached 1,195,194; an increase of 3.33% or 38,508 residents from last year, resulting in record growth for the city.

"Accurate census information is essential in decision making and planning for The City’s future needs," said Mayor Naheed Nenshi.



2014 by the numbers:

Community Growth

Saddleridge leads the way in community growth, with a population increase of 2,373.  Seven other Calgary neighbourhoods saw notable migration increases including: Auburn Bay (2,242), Cranston (1,858), Skyview Ranch (1,759), Evanston (1,704), Panorama Hills (1,384), Aspen Woods (1,095) and Beltline (1,091).

Housing 

While housing starts are up, Calgary's vacancy rate continues to decline. Overall vacancy rate in the city is 2.01%, down from 2.59% in 2013.

For the second year in a row census takers used tablets to collect census information, saving nearly 50,000 sheets of paper.

For complete 2014 Civic Census results, please visit calgary.ca/census.

Mayor Nenshi: Moving forward following the one year anniversary of the 2013 flood

High water season in Calgary ends tomorrow. As Mayor Nenshi explains, throughout the past several months The City worked diligently to manage and prepare for short-term risk while simultaneously managing long-term risk.



We had a chance to reflect on the tough times and also celebrate how the community came together during the 2013 flood; however, our work is not done.

Individual preparedness and staying informed are important ways to stay safe. Stay connected with us via our social media channels, apps and website - make sure you know what's happening, so you know what to do.

Find more information at calgary.ca/floodinfo.

2013 Flood Commemoration Ceremony

This morning, The City of Calgary recognized and remembered the devastating flood of 2013 with a public commemoration at the Municipal Building.

The event reflected upon the impact of the flood on Calgarians and our city and honoured the community spirit and resiliency of our community.



It included a blessing from Leonard Basteen, Elder from the Piikani Nation and the Blackfoot Confederation; unveiling of the 2013 Flood Commemorative Display; a video message from The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister; and remarks from The Honourable Dave Hancock, Premier of Alberta, His Worship Naheed Nenshi, Mayor of Calgary, and Bruce Burrell, Director of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency and Calgary Fire Chief.

“Last year's floods exemplified the compassion, resilience, and strength of Albertans as they rallied to help each other in a time of need, “said Premier Dave Hanock. “There are countless stories of neighbours helping neighbours, first responders risking their lives to bring people to safety and thousands of volunteers helping with the clean-up. Albertans demonstrated the true strength of this province: the heart of its people.”

Mayor Nenshi unveiled a 2013 Flood Commemorative Display, which included a plaque and pair of bronzed boots that are permanently housed in the Municipal Building’s Atrium for public viewing. The unveiling also included the Children’s Flood Art Display, which is showcased in various locations around the city for one month, including the Wall of Windows at City Hall Station, the EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts, the Municipal Building’s Atrium and available online at Calgary.ca/floodart.

“Our city and citizens experienced a devastating flood that we will never forget, “said Mayor Nenshi. “We come together today to remember how the flood affected us in both tangible and intangible ways. But, more important, we recall the incredible resilience and community spirit shown by all Calgarians this time last year. With the help of the entire community and all orders of government, we were, and continue to be, stronger than ever.”

Tomorrow is Neighbour Day, an opportunity for Calgarians to celebrate community spirit. Visit The City of Calgary’s Neighbour Day Facebook event page to view events happening around Calgary and visit Calgary.ca/neighbourday for more information on what you can do. Calgarians are encouraged to share pictures on Twitter or Instagram using #yycNeighbourDay.

For more information on flood recovery, flood preparation and a look back at 2013, visit calgary.ca/floodinfo.

It's who we are, and it's what we do

Mayor Naheed Nenshi looks back on Calgary's 2013 flood event and describes the images that have stuck with him the most.

The City looks forward to commemorating the Calgary 2013 flood on June 20, 2014, and celebrating the community spirit during Neighbour Day on June 21, 2014.



Visit www.calgary.ca/floodinfo for more information.

Keeping the Circle Strong – Aboriginal Awareness Week

Citizens, their families and friends are invited to take part in the celebrations and events of Aboriginal Awareness Week Calgary (AAWC), June 15-21. It’s a week of understanding and awareness of Aboriginal cultures, traditions, contributions and achievements within Canadian society.

The weeklong activities culminate in National Aboriginal Awareness Day, Saturday, June 21.



“What you will really see in this week-long celebration is how proud our Aboriginal peoples are of their place in our community and their influence on our shared culture and traditions,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi. “Participating in even one event can open your eyes to how deeply we are all connected.”

The foundation for AAWC was set in the early 1990’s when a small group began organizing events and celebrations in and around Calgary, for the week leading up to national recognition day. The week in its current form has been happening since 2011.

The theme for 2014 – “Keeping the Circle Strong” – is a reflection of the pride that First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities take in their rich heritages, traditions, and cultures. The theme speaks to resiliency and inspiration from Elders and traditional teachings; in essence, it’s a prompt to continue walking in the footsteps of Aboriginal grandfathers and grandmothers.

Among the week’s highlights are the Opening Ceremonies June 16 including Mayor Nenshi, the festive Gala Event at Stampede Park, as well as the Family Day Pow Wow Festival at Shaw Millennium Park. People of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to attend events. Enhance your level of awareness and develop your understanding of the community in which you live…and have great fun! Find out about daily events across the city and get more information on the AAWC website.

Earlier this year, Mayor Nenshi attended the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Alberta National Event. In support of that nationwide effort towards healing for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples, the Mayor proclaimed March 27, 2014 to March 27, 2015 as the “Year of Reconciliation.”

“This is the first time since I’ve been Mayor that I have proclaimed a year – but this is important. And I know that all of my colleagues at The City of Calgary, as well as people in the community, will work hard to make this Year of Reconciliation more than just words. We’ll make it a year where we put our hands, our hearts, our minds and our souls to work in a true spirit of reconciliation, to provide opportunity for all.”

Taking action to protect land, air and water

In 1989, when the Mayor’s Environmental Expo was created, environmental education was in its infancy. The Expo helped educate a generation of citizens who are more eco-literate than the generation before them. To honour that, this year’s special 25th anniversary Expo theme is The Difference a Generation Makes.

Anna Murynka, Environmental Programs and Services student, has participated in several Expos, first as a young student and as a volunteer educator. Last summer, Anna worked for Waste and Recycling Services as a Summer Educator and will join The City in the Environmental Initiatives group this summer.

Her experience in the Expo as a student was not just fun, but planted the seeds for her future career. “Doing research and taking photos for the photography competition were initial inspirations for my decision to study Environmental Design.”

The Expo has grown, as has The City of Calgary’s own list of environmental ‘firsts’. Calgary was the first Canadian municipality to adopt a sustainable building policy and a wetland conservation plan. When it comes to reducing emissions, from 2002-2005 Calgary was the first city in North America to install flat lens streetlight fixtures, saving $1.7 million a year in reduced energy consumption. The City is also the largest municipal buyer of renewable electricity in Canada.

In addition to our curbside recycling through blue cart collection, other programs like the Leaf and Pumpkin Composting and the Christmas Tree recycling program allow millions of kilograms of compostable materials to be used in our parks and green spaces.

It is important to work together to protect our limited resources for future generations.  In 2003, The City set a 30-year plan to decrease water demand.  “We don’t want to take more water out of our rivers in 2033 than we did in 2003 – even with the population growth,” says Sylvia Trosch, Team Lead, Citizen Programs in Water.

The difference that twenty-five years has made to our environmental performance in Calgary can be seen in The City’s environmental programs and services, and in the young faces, who thanks to educational opportunities like the Mayor’s Environment Expo, will always grow up understanding the importance of protecting our environment.

Mayor Proclaims April 13-19 as Public Safety Telecommunications Week

Before the police, firefighters or paramedics arrive, The City of Calgary’s emergency communications officers (ECOs) are there.

Each year, Public Safety Communications (PSC) personnel evaluate and dispatch required resources for nearly one million 9-1-1 and non-emergency calls for the Calgary Police Service, Calgary Fire Department and Alberta Health Services.

As the ‘first’ of the first responders, ECOs serve as the critical link between citizens and the emergency help they require.

Mayor Nenshi's proclamation 

In honour of the important work these individuals do and in celebration of National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi has proclaimed April 13-19 as Public Safety Telecommunications Week.


Public Safety Communications was established in 2006, integrating emergency communications officers from the Calgary Police Service, Calgary Fire Department and Calgary Emergency Medical Services. The unique model sees more than 300 trained ECOs connecting citizens with The City’s nearly 3,500 firefighters, police officers and paramedics.

For more information on Public Safety Communications visit http://calgary.ca/911.