Hey, neighbour!
As you might imagine, my council colleagues and I have been working hard to ensure that the Bearspaw Feeder Main break has been addressed over the past two months. We've worked at a record pace to ensure that changes are coming and that a crisis like this never happens again for Calgarians.
With the experts in place to now do the work, Council is returning its attention to the topic of citywide rezoning. We've selected the date of March 23 to be the start of the public hearings, and those hearings will ensure you get to have your say. That is why this week I want you to mark your calendars and also sign up for the public hearings through this form provided by the City Clerks.
You'll have the opportunity to speak for five minutes before City Council, which ensures that it's not just me that hears your voice (although I really do appreciate hearing from everyone in Ward 4). While you can submit a letter as part of this public hearing, speaking in Council Chambers is by far the best way to ensure that your voice is heard. And if there is any follow-up questions that we might have, this allows us to ask you directly, which we cannot do with a letter.
No matter your position on citywide rezoning, I look forward to hearing your voice in Council Chambers this March.
- Councillor DJ Kelly
Ward 4 staff engaged in meetings and visits to better understand community priorities and strengthen resident advocacy, including attending the Winston Heights–Mountview Community Association meeting, meeting with Calgary Alliance for the Common Good, Vibrant Communities Calgary, Calgary ACORN, and Trellis.
Cllr. Kelly met with several of the City’s business unit leaders over the past week to advance priorities for Ward 4, including meetings with Corporate Marketing and Communications, the City of Calgary Partnerships team, and the Calgary Emergency Management Agency.
Cllrs. Yule and Schmidt will be joined by Cllr. Kelly on a tour of rental properties in Northwest Calgary later this month to better understand the needs of neighbours who are also renters.
All of the agendas, live streams, and minutes for Calgary City Council meetings and committees can be found at www.calgary.ca/council/meetings/agenda-minutes.html.
On Feb. 10, Calgary City Council will be holding a Strategic Meeting of Council to help define the strategic priorities of the City of Calgary for the next four years. They will be discussing a set of proposed outcomes for the City, along with indicators that will show how the City is performing towards those goals.
On Feb. 11, the Infrastructure and Planning Committee will be hearing from City administration on the progress towards the Corporate Asset Management Plan, getting an introduction to new community growth applications, and receiving a report on the government funding risks associated with a full repeal of the Rezoning for Housing Bylaw. The committee will also be receiving a report from City administration towards strengthening the ability for the public to participate in the planning process for developments in Calgary.
Calgary Planning Commission meets on Feb. 12, however no items for Ward 4 are being discussed at that meeting.
Voting on the two new locations for flashing lights in Ward 4 closed on Thursday night, and there was a pair of locations that received a super majority of ballots cast. Those two new locations are 4 Street and 42 Avenue NW, and Charleswood Drive and 26 Street NW.
At the close of the vote the Ward 4 team informed the Director of the City's mobility unit of the two locations, and work has already begun to create a timeline for when those lights will be installed. But we know that that these are not the only locations that need safety improvements.
The Ward 4 team has been compiling a list of all of the locations that were suggested by neighbours, along with the reasons why they were suggested. We will be giving this list to the mobility department during an upcoming meeting with their leadership team. This data set is also helping Cllr. Kelly to create questions he wants to ask administration during the four-year budget cycle to see what we can do to improve the safety of all the roads in our communities.
The meeting date has been set for the Public Hearing of Council to hear from Calgarians their thoughts on the planned repeal of citywide rezoning. Under the Municipal Governance Act (MGA) every land use change that occurs in Calgary requires that City Council hears from members of the public and considers their input before a vote is cast.
On March 23 you will have your say, and Cllr. Kelly wants to hear from as many neighbours of Ward 4 as possible. Please take the time to sign up today for that meeting at https://forms.calgary.ca/content/forms/af/public/public/public-submission-to-city-clerks.html.
Each week we feature a short list of new and interesting activities in Ward 4. Email [email protected] with suggestions.
Beddington Heights Community Association Winter Carnival and Market
Join the Beddington Heights Community Association for their Winter Carnival and Market on Family Day (Feb. 16) from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Explore a variety of handmade goods from vendors, enjoy the spirit of community and family, and meet your Ward 4 Councillor DJ Kelly, who will have a booth during the market hours.
Thorncliffe Greenview Community Association Winterfest Family Dance
Join the TGCA for an evening of magic, dancing, and a great meal on Feb. 21 for the 2026 Winterfest Family Dance. Doors open at 4:30 p.m., Christopher Cool's magic show at 5 p.m., dinner is served from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., and dancing from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
For more details see the TGCA's website.