Calgary Citizen Newsletter Tuesday April 1

Advertise | Sign Up

Good morning !

And Happy April Fools’ Day! According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, the jokesters’ day doesn’t have a clear origin — some say it may date as far back as 1564, when the then-French king declared that the new year would begin on January 1, not April 1. Anyone who continued using the April date was considered an “April fool.”

But not to worry, no April fools here 😉 

👀 In today's edition:

• Frustrated and unemployed youth

• New rules for short-term rentals

• A new home for Bluesfest this year

Get your story told! Promote your business, event, or restaurant in front of 34,000+ engaged locals! Contact our team today.

WORTH KNOWING

☀️ ⛅️ ⛈️ ❄️ Today: High 10C, 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

Calgary drinking water safe following wastewater leak

Mayor Jyoti Gondek took to the press conference podium on Saturday to assure Calgarians that their drinking water remained safe following the unintended leak of wastewater into the Bow River.

“I made the decision to hold this press conference today to provide you the transparency and the accountability that you expect,” said Gondek.

On Friday, crews identified a leak on the east bank of the river, across from the Bonnybrook Wastewater Treatment Plant by the Ogden Road bridge. Within three hours of discovering the issue, they were able to identify the pipe that was the source of the leak, shut valves leading to it, and divert wastewater flows to two other pipes in the area.

The city immediately notified Alberta Health Services, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, and communities downstream.

“This incident highlights the importance of having built-in system redundancies. Within hours of getting the test results, we shut down the impacted pipe,” said Doug Morgan, general manager of Operational Services for the City of Calgary.

According to officials, drinking water remains safe, no restrictions or advisories are in place, and the risk to the public is extremely low.

Need to know

💔 A nine-year-old-girl was killed in a car crash at the intersection of Highways 36 and 13 on Saturday. Two other children and an adult male remain in critical condition.

🏡 New rules for short-term rentals, including six amendments, come into effect today. Included in the changes is a revision to the definition of a short-term rental.

👨‍💻 Young people in Calgary voiced frustration with a stagnant job market at the city's annual youth hiring fair.

⛑️ A provincial investment of $17 million is set to bring eight new urgent care centres to cities across Alberta, including Airdrie and East Calgary.

⚡️ The federal government announced $8.3 million in funding for 13 clean technology projects in Alberta. Many of the projects are based in Calgary, including Calgary’s Energy Transition Centre and the Calgary Region Hydrogen Hub.

🎺 The Calgary International Blues Festival will be setting up shop at the Confluence this summer after losing its home of 14 years at Millennium Park.

💭 Premier Danielle Smith said that the province is looking at shuttering Calgary's only supervised consumption site, which opened in 2018.

📸 Photos of Calgary's Hudson's Bay store share the building’s history, including its beginning as a small wooden structure in 1884, the sandstone department store that followed in 1891, and the life that flowed through the area.

SPONSORED BY TINHORN CREEK

Tinhorn Creek Concert Series

Get ready for an unforgettable season at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards in Oliver. Their concert series is back, and it's bigger than ever with three amazing dates you won't want to miss! This is your chance to secure your spot for an amazing night of wine and music set against the beautiful backdrop of the South Okanagan.

Krystle Dos Santos - May 31 | 7pm

Krystle Dos Santos is a two-time Western Canadian Award-winning singer/songwriter, known for her powerful vocals and eclectic style.

Antonio Larosa - July 19 | 7pm

Antonio Larosa is a country-rock artist from Vancouver, BC, known for blending classic rock grit with country soul and modern elements.

Said The Whale - Sept 13 | 7:30pm

Said The Whale has been a staple of the Canadian music scene since 2007. Backed by a loyal fanbase and with a JUNO Award under their belt, the Vancouver band has built a reputation for heartfelt songs, massive hooks, and dynamic live shows.

VIP and General Admission Tickets available for purchase! Ticket Booking: Sunset Concert Series - Tinhorn Creek Vineyards

Strap on your shoes to help end homelessness

Last week, the Calgary Herald shared that rates of homelessness in the city rose in 2024 compared to the previous two years, with 3,121 people unhoused on Oct. 10 last year.

The report comes just as Inn from the Cold, a charity hoping to end homelessness in Calgary, launches its annual event challenging city residents to get outside to raise awareness and funds.

The event, Steps to End Homelessness, was founded in 2009 by community advocate Suzanne West, born out of her desire to change the world and her commitment to advocating for those less fortunate. It is now held in West’s memory and hosted by Inn from the Cold, with donations matched by Power of One Foundation — West’s charitable fund now operated by her family.

Steps to End Homelessness invites Calgarians to hit three step goals and fundraising targets to support families experiencing homelessness. Funds go towards post-natal care, move-in, and grocery packages for families.

Registration is open for the April 27 event at the McHugh Bluff Stairs on Memorial Drive. After the family-friendly challenge, stick around to celebrate with a post-event BBQ.

Where to eat and drink

🍴 Phil’s: This chain of family-owned and operated breakfast restaurants has been around since 1956. Phil’s offers signature dishes like eggs with bacon and ham, waffles, pancakes, and sandwiches, served by warm and welcoming staff.

🍴 The Porch: It’s in the name — Porch promises to bring West Coast vibes and transport visitors to a chill summer evening spent on a porch with friends. Open for brunch, lunch, happy hour, and dinner, this venue will take you back to summer, no matter the season.

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

Things to do

🎟️ Candlelight: Featuring Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and More: These concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations in Calgary.

🎟️ Calgary Cavalry Game: Grab your tickets to cheer on Cavalry FC in their home opener against Vancouver FC on April 18 at the ATCO Field at Spruce Meadows.

🎟️ Cooking When Fatigued April 8 - Learn strategies to be more successful in the kitchen and support eating well, despite living with fatigue. Free, in-person class hosted by an AHS Registered Dietitian and Occupational Therapist.*

*Sponsored Listing

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

That’s it!

Thanks for reading today. If you found something interesting, please forward this email to another Calgarian and tell them to sign up!

And before you go, we’d love to know…

We’ll see you back here on Tuesdays and Thursdays, same time, same place!