Hey, Neighbour! Ward 4 Newsletter - Issue 27 - July 26, 2026

The Thorncliffe-Greenview Community Association's sign asking people travelling along Centre Street N to search their properties for the missing child Parker. (Aryn Toombs / Ward 4)

Hey, neighbour. 

This past week has been a difficult one for many community members of Ward 4, with the search for the missing 11-year-old Parker continuing. For the past week the Calgary Police Service, RCMP, Search and Rescue, and community members have been diligently working to find Parker and return him safely to his parents. I want to personally say thank you to the Calgary Police Service which has been coordinating the search and working diligently to keep the public informed of any and all updates. Over 300 officers and search and rescue personnel have been involved in following up on over 400 tips from the public during the search. 

During the week myself and my council colleagues have been joining the search whenever we can. Hearing from the public this week during the public hearing to continue the work on repealing citywide rezoning has been important, but each of us feels strongly about finding Parker as soon as possible. I've changed the route for my regular evening walk in my neighbourhood into one that goes down alleyways and past areas that a child could be hidden from view from, and I'm glad that so many of my neighbours have done the same.  

I want to echo the calls by the Calgary Police Service to please check your own property on a daily basis. Look in your sheds, your garages, behind bushes, and anywhere that a child could possibly be hidden from view. I also want to encourage anyone with information on the whereabouts of Parker to call police at 403-266-1234. 

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This week during the public hearing I put forward two motions arising to close additional loopholes on properties retaining their R-CG zoning. The first motion ensures that development applications that are not followed through on will have their land use reverted to their 2024 zoning. It also puts a timeline of two years on those developments ensuring that these are real projects and not just placeholders for larger developments down the road.

The second motion was to ensure that we continue the work to return properties that have had their development permits rejected either by the planning authority or the Subdivision Development Appeal Board to their original zoning. We know that the vast majority of these cases will be covered by the end of this year through a second public hearing in Q4, but I felt it was important to ensure that we don’t allow any further loopholes to exist by continuing to periodically review developments in 2027 and 2028.

I am pleased that council agreed with me, and that they voted in favour of these motions. This will provide certainty to community that the repeal will be followed through on and will also provide clarity to those individuals with development permits currently in review.

- Councillor DJ Kelly 

Photos of Parker provided by the Calgary Police Service

The Ward 4 team is sharing this statement on behalf of Parker's family and the Calgary Police Service:

Parker is a loved son, brother and friend. Our family is heartbroken by his disappearance.

Since he went missing, our family has been living every parent's worst nightmare. Every hour that passes without knowing where he is or whether he is safe has been incredibly difficult for us.

We are asking everyone in the community to keep an eye out for Parker. Please check your neighbourhoods, parks, green spaces, yards, sheds, garages, hot tubs and other places where he may have found shelter.

Parker experiences the world in his own way. He may not respond when his name is called, and he can become frightened when approached by people he does not know.

If you see Parker, please do not approach him. Give him space and call police immediately with his location.

A single sighting, a piece of video footage, or one small detail could help bring him home safely. Our only wish right now is to know that he is safe and to bring him home.

The support from our community has been overwhelming. To everyone who has searched, shared his photo, provided information, or kept Parker in your thoughts, thank you. Knowing that so many people care and are looking for our son has given us strength during the most difficult time of our lives.

Parker is deeply loved, and he is missed immensely. We just want our son home.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact police by calling 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers through any of the following methods:

TALK: 1-800-222-8477
TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org
APP: P3 Tips

 Paving work is ongoing on 53 Street NW and John Laurie Blvd. from Sarcee Trail NW to Shaganappi Trail NW. Paving is set to begin on July 18 for 53 Street NW, and on July 23 for John Laurie Blvd.

Ward 4 Partnership Lead Rukhsaar Daya pets one of the goats currently doing work on Nose Hill, on July 23, 2026. (Aryn Toombs / Ward 4)

On Monday, Cllr. Kelly attended the Arts Commons Advisory Committee. During the lunch hour, the Ward 4 team attended a session on sidewalk and concrete levels of service from the mobility department to ask questions related to Ward 4. Cllr. Kelly and the Ward 4 team met with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce in the afternoon to discuss issues affecting Ward 4 businesses. 

On Tuesday, Cllr. Kelly sat in chambers for the start of the week long Public Hearing Meeting of Council. At the conclusion of the meeting, Cllr. Kelly joined the community search for Parker. 

On Wednesday, during the evening break of the Public Hearing Meeting of Council, Cllr. Kelly gave a tour of council chambers and did a Q&A on municipal politics with YMCA exchange students from Quebec. 

On Thursday, the Ward 4 team attended an information session at Nose Hill on the grazing program. The team followed that session by visiting community associations in Ward 4 to determine what additional supports were needed by the CA volunteers in their search for Parker. The Ward 4 team met with the Director of Mobility in the afternoon to discuss road quality in Ward 4, and the ongoing to work to repair roadways in Ward 4 communities. 

On Friday, Cllr. Kelly chaired the Public Hearing Meeting of Council as Deputy Mayor. Cllr. Kelly and the Ward 4 team held a community chat at Citizen Brewery in the afternoon.

📰 Cllr. Kelly was quoted by CBC Calgary on his opinion that Calgary City Council did not want to change the criteria for the repeal of citywide rezoning that was set in December of 2025, and that the City had to operate in good faith with homeowners and community members. 

📰 Cllr. Kelly was quoted by CBC Calgary, CTV Calgary, and Global News on his stance that the City needs to improve their ability to communicate estimated cost changes for projects, including phase two of the Werklund Centre Transformation. 

Cllr. DJ Kelly chairs the Public Meeting of Council on July 24, 2026. (Aryn Toombs / Ward 4)

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 July 28, Calgary City Council will be holding a Regular Meeting of Council. Calgary City Council will debate proposed changes to the 2027-2030 Office of the Councillors, and ward budget recommendations. Council will debate a Platform Calgary loan guarantee request, bylaws related to the creation of committees and subcommittees to comply with the Municipal Governance Act, Foxtail Barley bylaw amendment, delivering digital copies of tax notices bylaw, a review of tribunal fees, the creation of a lobbyist registry for the City of Calgary, infrastructure and community amenity conditions for Local Area Plans, and updating Council Chamber seating plans. 

Calgarians who have received the Order of Canada will be recognized in Council Chambers during the meeting. Funding recommendations for Family and Community Support Services and overviews of the Planning and Development Services and Community Services Department will be discussed. Council Community Fund requests for Meadowlark Park, Mount Pleasant, and Willow Ridge will be voted upon by members of council. 

Council members will be presented with a memorandum of understanding between the Bearspaw First Nation and the City of Caglary, and will receive intergovernmental affairs updates from Alberta Municipalities, City of Chestermere Intermunicipal Committee, Rocky View County Intermunicipal Committee. Fare integration for Calgary Transit and Airdrie Transit will be discussed, as well as confidential stormwater management initiative as part of the intergovernmental portion of the meeting. 

Amendments to the City Clerk Bylaw and Designation of Head of Local Public Body Bylaw will be debated by council, as will resignations and appointments to boards, commissions and committees. They will also receive reports from committees. 

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.

BEDDINGTON HEIGHTS — 56 BERKSHIRE RD NW (DP2026-02687) — New: backyard suite (R-CG)

BRENTWOOD — 1292 NORTHMOUNT DR NW (DP2026-01261) — New: rowhouse building (1 building), secondary suite (4 suites), accessory residential building (garage) (R-CG)

BRENTWOOD — 44 BRENNER PL NW (DP2026-02638) — New: accessory residential building (garage), backyard suite (above garage) (R-CG)

BRENTWOOD — 3711R BELL ST NW (DP2026-03089) — New: accessory residential building (garage), backyard suite (above garage) (R-CG)

BRENTWOOD — 3703 BROOKLYN CR NW (DP2026-04025) — New: multi-residential development (1 building), accessory residential building (garage) (R-CG)

COLLINGWOOD — 1939 CANBERRA RD NW (DP2026-04109) — New: contextual single detached dwelling, accessory residential building (garage) (R-CG)

DALHOUSIE — 5543 DALHART RD NW (DP2026-03138) — New: single detached dwelling (R-CG)

GREENVIEW INDUSTRIAL PARK — 4240 6 ST NE (DP2026-04187) — Change of use: restaurant: food service only (I-G)

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 CENTRE A ST NE (DP2026-02247) — New: multi-residential development (2 buildings) (M-C1)

HIGHWOOD — 516 40 AV NW (DP2026-00474) — New: townhouse building (1 building), secondary suite (4 suites), accessory residential building (garage) (M-CG d75)

NORTH HAVEN UPPER — 1215 57 AV NW (DP2026-03925) — New: rowhouse building (1 building), secondary suite (5 suites), accessory residential building (garage) (R-CG)