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Last week, we asked how you chose your child's name—or how your parents chose yours. Most of you just loved the sound of it, pure and simple. Others found inspiration in literature, named children after favourite actors like Nicholas Cage when partners couldn't agree, or honoured grandmothers and other special people. One reader named Dale shared that being named after Dale Evans has led to a lifetime of people expecting her to be male. It's a reminder that names carry weight, shaping how we move through the world in ways big and small.

👀 In today's edition:

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☀️ Today: High 2C, Low -3C. See the 7-day forecast.

🚗 Driving today? Check the current traffic situation, and find the city’s traffic report and road closures.

⚠️ Here’s the current smoke forecast / check Calgary wildfire and fire restrictions and the Alberta Wildfire Dashboard.

QUICK POLL

Albertans will head to the polls on October 19 to vote on a provincial referendum addressing immigration policy and constitutional changes, following recommendations from the Alberta Next Panel.

The referendum includes nine questions split between non-constitutional and constitutional issues. Premier Danielle Smith said Alberta's future must be shaped by the people who live and work here and the referendum gives Albertans a direct say on matters affecting the economy, public services, and the province's future.

Reaction has been sharply divided. According to CBC, dozens gathered in freezing temperatures outside Alberta's legislature in Edmonton and at Calgary city hall over the weekend to protest the referendum and what they called separatist sentiment. Keith Weir, a retiree who attended the Edmonton rally, said the government is deteriorating what Canada provides. Marilyn Gaa from the Edmonton Raging Grannies said Smith is scapegoating immigrants to distract from the government's mismanagement of healthcare and education. NDP MLA David Shepherd said the referendum is dividing Albertans.

Meanwhile, callers to Smith's province-wide radio show expressed support, with one telling her she's "on the right track" and another saying new immigrants need to pay their own way.

The non-constitutional questions focus on immigration control and access to provincial services. Albertans will be asked whether they support the province taking increased control over immigration to decrease numbers to sustainable levels, prioritizing economic migration, and giving Albertans first priority on new jobs. Other questions ask whether non-permanent residents should be required to live in Alberta for 12 months before accessing social support programs, whether they should pay fees for healthcare and education, and whether proof of citizenship should be required to vote in provincial elections.

The constitutional questions ask whether Albertans support working with other provinces to amend the Constitution on several fronts: allowing provinces rather than the federal government to select judges for provincial courts, abolishing the unelected Senate, allowing provinces to opt out of federal programs in areas of provincial jurisdiction without losing funding, and giving priority to provincial laws over federal laws when they conflict in shared areas of jurisdiction.

Mickey Amery, minister of Justice and attorney general, said the referendum is a tangible way the government is prioritizing citizen needs and making Alberta stronger. The government says federal immigration policies over the past five years have put tremendous pressure on classrooms, emergency rooms, and social support systems.

🚗 Calgary city council debated whether there's a "war on cars" while discussing a Marda Loop development with 44 units but only 12 parking stalls, with councillors split on whether reduced parking serves a market or creates problems.

💧 Calgary water restrictions begin March 9 for approximately four weeks while crews reinforce nine deteriorated sections of the Bearspaw South feeder main, with outdoor water use banned and indoor conservation encouraged during repairs.

💔 Human remains discovered in Alberta in late 2025 have been identified as David-Alexandre Beliveau, who went missing from Calgary's Shaganappi neighbourhood in September 2021, with police investigating possible links to organized crime.

♿ A Calgary couple's vehicle was stolen weeks before their wedding, containing the groom's wheelchair that he relies on due to ALS and the bride's wedding dress, leaving them stuck at home.

🇲🇽 Calgarians in Puerto Vallarta are sheltering in place amid violence in Jalisco State following reports that Mexico's army killed a cartel leader, with Air Canada and WestJet cancelling or diverting dozens of flights.

💔 An Alberta man approved for medical assistance in dying died waiting for transfer from a Catholic hospital in Edmonton that prohibits the procedure, passing away six hours before his scheduled appointment.

🧑‍🍳 Cooking When Fatigued (Meals for Low Energy Days) March 11 - Learn strategies in the kitchen to support eating well, despite living with fatigue. (Free, INPERSON class led by AHS Registered Dietitian and Occupational Therapist)*

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A world-renowned shark researcher is coming to Calgary to share the untold stories of these ocean predators and the women who have spent decades studying them.

Jess Cramp: The Untold Story of Sharks takes place at the Jack Singer Concert Hall on Sunday, March 8 at 2 PM and Monday, March 9 at 7 PM. The presentation is part of Werklund Centre's National Geographic Live series, which has been bringing stunning visuals and expansive stories from National Geographic magazine to Calgary for 14 seasons.

Dr. Jess Cramp is a National Geographic Explorer who co-championed a grassroots campaign that created the Cook Islands Shark Sanctuary in 2012, protecting an area larger than 770,000 square miles. She also founded Sharks Pacific, a non-profit organization conducting research and advocacy throughout the Pacific Islands.

"Curiosity and connection are a big part of conservation," Cramp said. "Pick a shark in an ocean and see if you can figure out how that shark is connected to you. Think about the waterways near you—eventually they will flow to the sea."

She said her passion for sharks really started as a passion for the ocean, and sharks are an extension of that love.

Alex Sarian, president and CEO of Werklund Centre, said the series translates rigorous science into storytelling that moves people. "What makes the National Geographic Live series so powerful is its ability to translate rigorous science into storytelling that moves people—and when people are moved, change follows," he said.

🍴 The Blackfoot Diner: A Calgary institution serving the community for over 65 years, this classic diner opened in 1956 as the city's first truckstop and later became Calgary's first 24-hour restaurant, known for shepherd's pie and turkey dinners.

🍴 Peters' Drive-In: Founded by Gus Pieters in 1962, this Calgary landmark serves burgers, milkshakes made with real whipping cream and fresh fruit, and maintains the same menu it started with over 60 years ago, with no employees earning minimum wage and some making four times that amount.

Have a food or drink suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

🎟️ Coldest Night of the Year: A family-friendly fundraising walk supporting CUPS Calgary takes place on February 28 starting at 4 PM at Bowness Community Hall, with check-in at 4 PM, send-off at 5 PM, and a light meal served at 6 PM, benefiting Calgarians facing poverty, trauma, and homelessness.

🎟️ Patient Engagement in Cerebral Palsy Research Panel: The University of Calgary's Cerebral Palsy student group hosts a free public panel on February 25 from 5 to 6:30 PM at the Libin Theatre in the Health Sciences Building, featuring Dr. Dejana Nikitovic and Kristina McGuire discussing patient engagement in research, with hybrid attendance options and registration available online.

Have an event suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

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