This is Calgary

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.