Ward 4 Cllr. DJ Kelly rides one of the CIty's new C-Trains on Tuesday, June 23. (Allison Leondhart / Ward 4)
Hey, neighbour!
This week taught me that every so often success in the role of councillor is measured not by the number of neighbours you helped in a week, or getting a notice of motion passed by a committee, or the number of comments you made to the media, or social media ‘likes’. Indeed, this week none of those last three things happened at all - nothing noteworthy happened at a committee and I made no media comments nor social media posts.
Sometimes success is quieter and can simply be measured by the things that didn’t happen. Or when something does happen, it is less bad than it could have been. This happens through conversations with colleagues, neighbours lobbying City Hall, and other levels of government.
This week was one of those weeks. So, while my colleagues were posting videos or making declarative statements, I took a different tact this week. Many, many conversations and behind the scenes work. As a result, I'm very happy with where we currently are with noise bylaw concerns. Council listened to neighbours, we listened to the needs of businesses, we listened to our Administration (including legal guidance), and we listened to other politicians - eventually arriving at compromises that I believe are reasonable for everyone.
And what is good governance if not doing exactly that?
- Cllr. DJ Kelly
Rain barrel rebates for $50 are still available for Calgarians. Keep your lawn watered this summer and save on your water bill by visiting calgary.ca/yardsmart. The City supports a rebate for up to 3 barrels!
With the new water efficiency bylaw in place, see whether or not you are on even or odd days of the week for sprinkler use at calgary.ca/whentowater.
Students from Brentwood, North Haven, and Thorncliffe will have the opportunity to participate in City Hall School during the 2026-27 school year. Cllr. Kelly will be visiting with and recognizing these students in council chambers in November, December, January, and March
Cllr. DJ Kelly reads to families on Neighbour Day in Brentwood on Saturday, June 20. (Rukshaar Daya / Ward 4)
On Monday, Cllr. Kelly and the Ward 4 team met with the University of Calgary Property Group to discuss the University Innovation Quarter which borders Ward 4. Cllr. Kelly and members of Calgary City Council held a joint council meeting with Tsuut'ina's council during the afternoon. The Ward 4 team met with the Calgary Police Service to discuss ongoing safety issues. In the evening, Cllr. Kelly attended the Huntington Hills Community Association AGM.
On Tuesday, Cllr. Kelly and the Ward 4 team attended the unveiling of the new C-Train cars for the Blue and Red Lines.
On Wednesday, after meeting with a Ward 4 neighbour, Cllr. Kelly and the Ward 4 team visited The City's Animal Services Centre to learn more about responsible pet ownership concerns (and, yes, to play with kittens and puppies). The Ward 4 team attended an open house put on by The City regarding training and career development for the staff of Council Members.
On Thursday, Cllr. Kelly met with the province's Minister for Public Safety to discuss safety ahead of the Calgary Stampede. Cllr. Kelly met with the CAO and CFO to discuss prioritization within and the process for the 2026-2030 budget. In the evening, Cllr. Kelly chaired the Calgary Salutes Coordinating Committee, which focused on recognizing the Canadian Armed Forces in Calgary.
On Friday, Cllr. Kelly and Partnership Lead Rukhsaar Daya met with the members of Brentwood, Triwood and Highland Park community association planning committees. They both also met with McMan Youth, Family and Community Services Association. In the afternoon Cllr. Kelly and the Ward 4team visited to the Werklund Centre to learn more about the transformation undergoing at that site.
Over the weekend, Cllr. Kelly was set to volunteer at the Highland Park and Cambrian Heights community cleanups, but at his staff's encouragement, he will instead be taking the weekend off to spend with is family as the kids' school year comes to an end.
Cllr. Kelly was included by the Calgary Citizen in their weekly news wrap-up, regarding his stance on asking money from the federal budget for Calgarians this year. He was also quoted by City News on the same topic.
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 Tuesday, June 30, Calgary City Council will be meeting for a Regular Meeting of Council. Administration is requesting deferrals on reports regarding Community Level Amenities, and on Open Drug use and Community Court. Council will be receiving the 2025 Civic Partner Annual Report, Event Centre infrastucture update, water loss update, 2 Billion Trees Program update, water utility quarterly transformation update, the quarterly City update, an update from Corporate Planning and Financial Services, a report on funding options for the municipal-provincial fiscal gap, safer mobility annual report, an update to the Fair Entry Program, and an update to the Civic Census program.
Administration will be delivering reports on recommendations following the repeal of Citywide Rezoning, and on bylaw amendments for Question Period. Council will also discuss the weapons on transit bylaw, truck routes bylaw updates. They will be debating notices of motion for an annual in-camera report, funding transfer from the Council Innovation Fund to the Council Community Fund, improving traffic safety, and an updated mandate for the Multisport Fieldhouse Committee.
Council will be discussing borrowing for the Nose Creek Sanitary Trunk, a notion of motion to leverage funding for non-profit housing, and receive an update from the CAO.
On Thursday, July 2, the Chief Administrative Officer Recruitment Committee will be meeting to discuss the next steps in hiring a new CAO.
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)
HIGHLAND PARK — 429 37 AV NW (DP2025-02163) — New: rowhouse building (2 buildings), townhouse (2 buildings), secondary suite (15 suites) (R-CG)
HIGHLAND PARK — 4004 CENTRE A ST NE (DP2025-04756) — New: multi-residential development (3 buildings), secondary suites (M-C1)
Each week we feature a short list of new and interesting activities in Ward 4 and from the City of Calgary. Email ward4@calgary.ca with suggestions.
HMCS Calgary Barn Burner
Join Cllr. Kelly and Calgary Salutes for the annual HMCS Calgary Barn Burner on July 2, which brings Calgarians together to recognize Calgary's military community and men and women serving on the HMCS Calgary in a fun, family-friendly evening of Stampede entertainment. For more details and tickets, please visit HMCS Calgary Barn Burner.