This is Calgary

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.

The provincial government has spoken, and so the city must listen. An election law overhaul means candidates can join a party and see how it fits. And already a poster campaign is ruffling feathers. We dive into that in the first of our election episodes.