Cllr. Kelly looks at one of the fresh food options available for clients of the downtown Calgary Food Bank location on May 20, 2026. (Aryn Toombs / Ward 4)
Hey, neighbour!
I believe we are better when we work together. As a result, I strive to put partnership at the heart of everything I do for the neighbours of Ward 4. Whether that is connecting with community associations, business improvement areas, local non-profits, and our City of Calgary civic partners. This work is so important to me that, unlike other ward offices, I have a dedicated partnership lead to help grow and foster those relationships on behalf of Ward 4 neighbours.
This week, myself and our partnership lead, Rukhsaar, visited the downtown branch of the Calgary Food Bank, a nationally leading model for food bank delivery that acts and feels like a grocery store instead of a warehouse. This model is providing dignity and choice to clients, but I think more importantly it represents a model that can be expanded across Calgary to address our food insecurity issues. During that meeting, we discussed the desire of the Calgary Food Bank to grow their service delivery across Calgary, and what we as a Ward 4 office can do to help locate potential spaces for delivery and to cut red tape that is a barrier to expansion.
I also had the privilege to sit in committee this week to hear the annual reports of the City's civic partners. From organizations like Platform Calgary to Calgary Economic Development, the Parks Foundation, and even the Hangar Flight Museum, the message is clear to me that these partners are doing important work to make Calgary a place that is a great place to work, but also a great place to live for all Calgarians. Supporting these partners helps advance the priorities of council and Ward 4 neighbours in a cost-effective way.
Next week, I will be advocating on behalf of the Dalhousie Community Association before my council colleagues for their ambitious shovel-ready community hub and food garden project. This is another great example of how Calgary City Council can partner with neighbours to enable improvements that will enrich their lives. I look forward to my colleagues voting alongside me to approve funding for this project.
- Councillor DJ Kelly
📅 Date and venue change: Cllr. Kelly will be holding a town hall meeting for all Ward 4 neighbours on Wed., June 3, 2026 at the Highland Park Community Association. Please RSVP at djkelly.ca/townhall.
🏡The City of Calgary is looking for feedback from Ward 4 neighbours on the City's applicant outreach toolkit, which is designed to help deliver transparent communication from developers to nearby residents for single, semi-detached, townhouse, and rowhouse development. Engagement is open on Applicant Outreach Toolkit Update | Engage until May 29.
🌳Engagement on the City's urban forest strategic plan is ongoing, with interested Ward 4 neighbours able to sign up to participate in that engagement process at Urban Forest Strategic Plan | Engage. Pop-up events will also be held across Calgary starting on June 9.
Cllr. DJ Kelly speaks to the media about Civic Partners following the Community Development Committee meeting on May 21, 2026. (Aryn Toombs / Ward 4)
On Wednesday, Cllr. Kelly attended the opening launch of the downtown strategy sports and recreation spaces at Eau Claire Plaza, as well as the announcement for free FIFA World Cup watch parties. Cllr. Kelly and the Ward 4 team attended a meeting with the Calgary Food Bank on increasing food security in Calgary, followed by a meeting with the Alberta Motor Association to action traffic and pedestrian safety around school zones and residential streets in Ward 4. Cllr. Kelly met with Bold Workshop Architecture on their ideas improvements to the land use bylaw. Cllr. Kelly and Rukshaar Daya attended the Edgemont Community Association AGM in the evening.
On Thursday, Cllr. Kelly attended the luncheon for Civic Partners after their presentation of annual reports to the Community Development Committee. In the evening, Cllr. Kelly met with the Royal Canadian Legion and the Veterans Walkway committee on that project to represent the Calgarians who served in the Canadian Armed Forces throughout our history.
On Friday, Cllr. Kelly attended the Enmax Annual General Meeting, followed by a meeting with the German Canadian Club of Calgary on plans to hold an Octoberfest event in Greenview. The Ward 4 team attended the announcement of a new housing project from non-profit organization Fresh Start, which is headquarted in Ward 4, while the Councillor attended the Calgary Economic Development AGM.
Over the weekend Cllr. Kelly will be attending the HMCS Calgary Barnburner in Esquimalt, B.C., as part of his role as chair of Calgary Salutes.
Cllr. Kelly was quoted by LiveWire Calgary about his intention to vote to keep the free fare zone during the next meeting of council.
His participation in breaking ground for the Midfield affordable housing project being built by Rohit Homes by Calgary Housing was brought up again by a Calgary Herald article doing an update on that story.
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 May 26, council members will be meeting for a VERY busy Regular Meeting of Council to address 37 items of business. Cllr. Kelly will represent the Dalhousie Community Fund Application before council, to create a community hub and food forest at the community association. Cllr. Kelly's motion to increase the number of Local Area Plans will also be debated during the meeting. If passed, it will give more communities a voice in where development could happen in their neighbourhood.
Council will receive reports on the 2025 Status of Emergency Preparedness in Calgary, 2025 Annual Investment Report, the City's cybersecurity audit, and 2025 whistle blower program benchmark report, RouteAhead annual status report, and employee expenses continuing auditing project report. Council will also be receiving the Safer Together: A Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan for Calgary, the Home is Here housing strategy update.
After those reports, council be debating the fate of the Downtown Free Fare Zone via the Free Fare Zone Review report from administration. Members will also be discussing the 2026 Corporate Asset Management Plan and 10-year Capital Infrastructure Plan, review the Downtown Office Conversion Program, and discuss improvements for engagement with Calgarians.
The West View Growth Application and Belvedere Growth Application will be discussed by council.
Councillors will be debating the update to the Emergency Management Bylaw and Municipal Emergency Plan, the request for capital funding for the Nose Creek Sanitary Trunk, a motion to establish a Fire Protective Services Committee, a motion to strengthen support for community based organizations, a motion to re-do local area plans already completed, as well as a motion to look at creating a charitable partner program for community associations and a motion to advance a downtown police station, both of which Cllr. Kelly is co-sponsoring. Motions to rescind the climate emergency declaration, provide water bottles for councilors at taxpayer expense will also be debated.
A confidential item related to the update on the upcoming four-year budget will also be provided to councillors.
Calgary Planning Commission will be meeting on May 28, to discuss items in wards 5, 9, 12, and 13. No items in Ward 4 are being discussed.
New development permits that are in circulation for public comment for Ward 4. For all Ward 4 permits that are in circulation, or have been recently approved and are in advertising, see www.djkelly.ca/dp.
BRENTWOOD — #130 3830 BRENTWOOD RD NW (DP2026-01871) — Change of use: child care service (148 children); changes to site plan: child care service (outdoor play area) (DC)
BRENTWOOD — 5718R BRENNER CR NW (DP2026-02613) — Addition: single detached dwelling (main floor - front) (R-CG)
CAMBRIAN HEIGHTS — 933 32 AV NW (DP2025-07234) — New: townhouse (1 building), secondary suite (4 suites), accessory residential building (garage) (R-CG)
GREENVIEW INDUSTRIAL PARK — #106 3907 3A ST NE (DP2026-02841) — Change of use: instructional facility (I-R)
HIGHLAND PARK — 429 37 AV NW (DP2025-02163) — New: rowhouse building (2 buildings), townhouse (2 buildings), secondary suite (15 suites) (R-CG)
HIGHLAND PARK — 4008 2 ST NW (DP2026-01836) — New: townhouse (1 building), secondary suite (4 suites), accessory residential building (garage) (R-CG)
HIGHLAND PARK — 4018 CENTRE B ST NW (DP2026-02688) — Change of use: place of worship - small (with child care service - 53 children) (R-CG)
HIGHWOOD — 114 HOUNSLOW DR NW (DP2026-01300) — New: townhouse building (1 building), secondary suite (4 suites), accessory residential building (garage, shed) (R-CG)
HIGHWOOD — 932 40 AV NW (DP2026-01415) — New: townhouse (1 building), secondary suite (4 suites), accessory residential building (garage) (R-CG)
Each week we feature a short list of new and interesting activities in Ward 4 and from the City of Calgary. Email [email protected] with suggestions.
Shrek the Musical
Limited tickets remain for the hot in demand Shrek the Musical being staged by Storybook Theatre. Join Shrek and Fiona and a fairytale cast of misfits as they find the courage to battle a power-hungry monarch and to be themselves. The production runs from May 20 to June 21, at the Beddington Heights Art Centre.
Edible Gardening in Calgary
Learn to grow your own food, and feel more confident in planting and planning your garden with the second session of Growing in Calgary's Climate at the Dalhousie Community Association on June 11. For more details, see www.dalhousiecalgary.ca/gardening-calgary.