This is Calgary

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.

This is Calgary is hosted by Jenny Howe, and produced by CBC Calgary.

Thoughts? Story ideas? [email protected]

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.

This is Calgary is hosted by Jenny Howe, and produced by CBC Calgary.

Thoughts? Story ideas? [email protected]

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.