Hey, Neighbour! Ward 4 Newsletter Issue 37

Ward 4 Cllr. D.J. Kelly speaks to CBC Calgary's Brendan Coulter on the budget discussions during the week and upcoming items before City Council on Thursday, October 1, 2026. (Aryn Toombs / Ward 4)

Hey, neighbour!

On Tuesday, Calgary City Council heard from City administration and the Calgary Police Service as we finalize our approach to the upcoming four-year budget, and I’m pleased that the presentation from the City’s Chief Administrative Officer has been made public, so you can see the same information council is working from.

That presentation showed the challenge of meeting the demand for services by Calgarians while also working to keep their taxes low. I want you to know that this budget will set more than a tax rate. It will also set the service levels you receive from the City for the next four years. That means reliable water and transit, well-maintained roads and parks, safer streets, and new emergency response stations. Putting off that spending would mean slower growth in transit service, delays to expanding emergency response, slower progress on reducing collisions in high-risk areas, and more risk from aging streetlights, signs and pedestrian bridges. Those are the choices in front of council.

Now the work until November is to determine which of those items should go forward to debate or be cut from the list entirely in favour of keeping Calgary one of the most affordable cities in the country. I want to be clear that we don’t have a budget yet, and council has definitely not arrived at a final tax rate. That budget and that decision will come after debate begins on Monday, Nov. 23 in council chambers.

Until then, I want to continue to hear from you about what you think needs to be addressed in Ward 4, and what your priorities are for the upcoming four-year budget. As I have frequently said to my council colleagues, this may be the most important decision that council makes during this term in office, and I want to make sure I hear from you so I can bring your feedback with me into that debate.

That’s why this month’s budget town hall matters so much to me. I’ll be hosting it on Oct. 16 at the Triwood Community Association, and my special guest will be Mayor Jeromy Farkas, who will be there alongside me to answer questions and talk about what this budget means for Calgarians. I want to see you there, so please RSVP at djkelly.ca/townhall.

- Councillor D.J. Kelly

💬 Cllr. Kelly invited Ward 4 neighbours to his Oct. 16 town hall on budget priorities, with special guest Mayor Jeromy Farkas, at Triwood Community Association Hall on Facebookand Bluesky.

💬 Watch Cllr. Kelly's message from The Confluence on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation about acknowledging the truth of historical injustice against Indigenous peoples on Instagram and TikTok.

💬 Watch Cllr. Kelly explain why he is co-sponsoring a notice of motion by Mayor Jeromy Farkas to make more details from awarded City procurement contracts public on Instagram and YouTube.

♻️The items you can recycle have increased. Starting this week, Calgarians can put new items like chip bags, toothpaste tubes, foam packaging, and aerosols into blue bins for recycling. For more information see www.calgary.ca/waste/residential/recycle-more.html.

📣 Ward 4 neighbours are being asked by the City of Calgary for their feedback on 19 St NW and 20 Ave N mobility improvements. Feedback provided can influence decisions on crossing locations, landscaping and tree mitigation, parking management, design refinements, and access considerations. In person open houses will be held on Sept. 24, and Sept. 29, and feedback can be provided online until Oct. 8. For more details see 19 st N.W. / 20 Ave N. Mobility Improvements | Engage.

Cllr. Kelly speaks to members of the Kimamow Atoskanow Foundation at the inaugural Indigenous Pop-Up Care Village on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30, 2026. (Aryn Toombs / Ward 4)

On Monday, the Ward 4 team received an update from ENMAX on the proposed transmission line through Winston-Heights Mountview. In the afternoon, Cllr. Kelly met with the Calgary Festivals Coalition to discuss the emerging needs of festivals. Cllr. Kelly met with the Southern Alberta Land Trust Society on ground water protection and upstream initiatives that could benefit Calgarians.

On Tuesday, Cllr. Kelly attended the Strategic Meeting of Council to discuss their desired approach to the upcoming four-year budget and service cycle.

On Wednesday, Cllr. Kelly and the Ward 4 team attended the City of Calgary's Orange Shirt Day event at The Confluence Historic Site and Parkland, the inaugural Indigenous focused Pop-Up Care Village, and the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation talk and performance at the Dalhousie Community Association.

On Thursday, The Ward 4 team met with City administration to discuss asset management for Water Services and met with the Mobility business unit to forward suggestions for traffic safety improvements in Ward 4. Cllr. Kelly attended the Nominations Committee for Boards, Committees, and Commissions at the City of Calgary.

On Friday, Cllr. Kelly attended the Chief Administrative Officer Recruitment and Appointment Subcommittee meeting. In the afternoon Cllr. Kelly and the Ward 4 team met with the Homespace Society on a proposal for housing with intensive on-site supports to transition Calgarians experiencing chronic homelessness into housing, and then met with the Calgary Police Service and City administration for a very preliminary conversation regarding a potential permanent memorial to Parker.

Over the weekend, Cllr. Kelly intends to visit the Triwood Fall Market to visit with neighbours and support community groups in the Charleswood/Collingwood area.

📰 Cllr. Kelly was quoted by CBC Calgary, CityNews Calgary, and the Calgary Heraldregarding his motion, approved by council, to roll out leading pedestrian intervals at crossings across Calgary, giving people on foot a head start before drivers get a green light.

📰 Cllr. Kelly was quoted by the Calgary Herald on his stance that it was appropriate for council to take up Mayor Jeromy Farkas's motion supporting Alberta staying in Canada, because Calgarians need to know the very real consequences of a separation vote.

📰 Cllr. Kelly was quoted by RED FM describing the Green Line's confirmed street-level route through the Beltline as "not an ideal option by any means," and said he looks forward to discussing extending the line through downtown and farther north.

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 Monday, Oct. 5, members of the Executive Committee will be meeting to discuss Mayor Farkas's notice of motion on improving transparency in City procurement, which Cllr. Kelly is co-sponsoring with Cllr. Jamieson, Cllr. McLean, Cllr. Schmidt, Cllr. Clark, and Cllr. Pantazopoulos. Cllr. Kelly is also co-sponsoring Cllr. McLean's notice of motion on a loan guarantee for the National Music Centre, with Cllr. Pantazopoulos, Cllr. Yule, and Cllr. Clark.

Administration is requesting a deferral of the report on multi-year planning and budgeting policy amendments to July 2027. Other notices of motion include Cllr. Wyness's notice of motion on releasing Bearspaw South Feeder Main Independent Review Panel expenditures, Cllr. Tyers's notice of motion on councillor access to information and administrative response standards, Cllr. McLean's notices of motion on updating Calgary's e-mobility framework and on pausing select on-street bike lane projects pending provincial legislative direction, and Cllr. Johnston's notice of motion on underpass awareness.

Members of the committee will also hear an update on U.S. tariffs and their impact on the City's supply chain, waste and recycling rates for 2027-2030, and the water utility's rates, cost recovery, and service plan for 2027-2030. They will also receive department overviews from People, Innovation and Collaborative Services, from Law, Legislative Services and Security, and from Infrastructure Services, and an update from the CAO recruitment sub-committee.

Committee members will also receive briefings on centralizing public reporting on climate-related investments and expenditures, the Civic Census 2028 implementation, the 2026 long range financial plan performance measures and benchmarking report, the 2026 capital and operating budget continuity schedule, and updating the seating arrangements in Council Chambers.

On Tuesday, Oct. 6, Calgary City Council will be holding a Public Hearing Meeting of Council where council receive a report on partnerships for the Prairie Economic Gateway. Members of council will also hear land use amendments in wards 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9, including an outline plan, policy, and land use amendment in Keystone Hills, and a road closure in Bankview. Members of council will also hear land use item LOC2026-0013 for a requested change from R-C2 to M-C1 at 4015 Centre A Street NE in Highland Park.

On Thursday, Oct. 8, Audit Committee members will be meeting to receive an update on cybersecurity audits, and to review the City Auditor's Office Q3 report, the winter maintenance audit, and the contractor management auditing project for the mixed service delivery pilot. Members will also receive confidential updates from the External Auditor, the City Auditor, and the Audit Forum, and on the POSSE user access continuous auditing project. They will also receive a briefing on the Q2 2026 quarterly investment update.

On Thursday, Oct. 8, Calgary Planning Commission will be meeting to discuss items in wards 5, 6, 8, 9, and 11. No items from Ward 4 are scheduled to be discussed.

New development permits that are in circulation for public comment or are in advertising 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.

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

HUNTINGTON HILLS — 102 64 AV NE (DP2026-04794) — New: dwelling unit (new: dwelling unit (1 building) - discretionary) (C-COR2 f3.0h46) — Discretionary

THORNCLIFFE — 707R 64 AV NW (DP2026-05279) — New: backyard suite (R-C1) — Discretionary

BEDDINGTON HEIGHTS — 20 BEDDINGTON RD NE (DP2026-03847) — Relaxation: retaining wall - height (R-C1) — Permitted with a Relaxation · Approved on September 21, 2026

CHARLESWOOD — 2407 CHARLEBOIS DR NW (DP2026-04745) — New: accessory residential building (garage), backyard suite (attached) (R-C1) — Discretionary · Approved on September 21, 2026

GREENVIEW INDUSTRIAL PARK — 3920B EDMONTON TR NE (DP2026-04730) — Change of use: vehicle sales - major (C-COR3 f1.0h12) — Discretionary · Approved on September 21, 2026

HIGHWOOD — 467 NORTHMOUNT DR NW (DP2026-05024) — Temporary use: home occupation - class 2 (furniture manufacturing - 18 months) (R-C2) — Discretionary · Approved on September 16, 2026

HUNTINGTON HILLS — 7923 HUNTWICK HL NE (DP2026-04038) — Relaxation: single detached dwelling (existing) - building & eaves setback from side property line (R-C1) — Permitted with a Relaxation · Approved on September 21, 2026

WINSTON HEIGHTS/MOUNTVIEW — 520R 24 AV NE (DP2026-04641) — Temporary use: home occupation - class 2 (personal trainer - 3 years) (R-C2) — Discretionary · Approved on September 18, 2026

HIGHLAND PARK — 4008 CENTRE A ST NE (DP2026-02247) — New: multi-residential development (2 buildings) (M-C1) — Discretionary · SDAB hearing date to be confirmed, Room 1 · check the SDAB listing for the written submission deadline · reports and plans not yet posted

GREENVIEW INDUSTRIAL PARK — 513 MCKNIGHT BV NE (DP2026-02081) — Change of use: liquor store (C-COR2 f3.0h46) — Discretionary · SDAB decision September 23, 2026: Appeal Denied - Application Refused

🥧 Triwood Fall Market

The Triwood Community Association will be hosting their fall market on Sunday, October 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Check out great vendors, take in face painting for kids, crafts, a pumpkin scavenger hunt mini photoshoots, and drop off costumes the kids halloween costume swap taking place later in October.

🍻 German Canadian Club of Calgary Octoberfest

Take part in celebrating Oktoberfest with the German Canadian Club of Calgary and the Schlaraffia Rocky Mountania with a family friendly weekend of German culture, music, food, tradition, and a lot of fun. The event runs from 5 p.m. until late on October 23, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. on October 24, and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on October 25 at 218 37 Ave NE. For more details see calgarygermanclub.ca/pages/events. 

Henry, Pearl, Latte and Diaz are animals available to be adopted through the City of Calgary's Animal Services. (City of Calgary)

See https://www.calgary.ca/our-services/animal-services.html to learn more on how to adopt one of these animals. If this newsletter has prompted you to adopt an animal from Animal Services, send Cllr. Kelly an email at [email protected].

Henry — tan and black German Shepherd Dog mix, 1 year and 8 months, neutered male — reduced adoption fee

Pearl — brown tabby and white Domestic Shorthair, 7 months, spayed female

Latte — black Domestic Mediumhair, 4 months, spayed female — reduced adoption fee · waiting since August 6, 2026

Diaz — tan Boerboel, 5 years, neutered male — reduced adoption fee · waiting since August 10, 2026