Calgary elects new mayor by razor-thin margin

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On Tuesday, we asked how safe you feel as pedestrians in Calgary. Your responses were mixed—some praised Calgary drivers for stopping at crosswalks, while others expressed fear about certain areas, especially downtown. Many of you noted that both drivers and pedestrians share blame, with vehicles moving too fast and pedestrians distracted by phones. The common thread? Most of you take extra precautions before crossing, a smart move given this year's 11 pedestrian deaths and over 300 collisions citywide.

👀 In today's edition:

• Calgary talent earns international recognition

• Health officials respond to animal disease outbreak

• Local athlete prepares for memorial endurance challenge

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Calgary elects new mayor by razor-thin margin

Former councillor Jeromy Farkas edged out Communities First leader Sonya Sharp by a razor-thin margin to become Calgary's next mayor, knocking out incumbent Jyoti Gondek in the city's first election with party names on the ballot. According to unofficial results from CBC News, Farkas received 91,066 votes while Sharp captured 90,480—fewer than 600 votes separating them. The gap is so narrow that Sharp can ask for a recount. Gondek, who made history as Calgary's first female mayor in 2021, came in third and became the first sitting mayor to lose re-election in over 40 years.

But the shakeup didn't stop at the mayor's office. CBC News reported that two-thirds of Calgary's council will be newcomers, making this the biggest wave of fresh faces at city hall since 1915. The new crew includes everyone from the heating contractor who tried to recall Gondek last year to a vintage furniture shop owner and an oil company CEO. Despite parties being allowed on the ballot for the first time, most winners—including Farkas—ran as independents. Only a handful of candidates from Communities First, The Calgary Party, and A Better Calgary managed to win seats.

The election itself was a bit of a mess, with low turnout and frustrated voters stuck in long lines thanks to hand-counted ballots after the province banned electronic tabulators. Longtime councillor Andre Chabot, now heading into his sixth term with more experience than everyone else combined, isn't sugarcoating what's ahead. "Initially it's going to be challenging, going through the learning curve," Chabot told CBC News. The new council gets sworn in October 29th, then immediately has to tackle the budget, property taxes, and whether to roll back the blanket rezoning policy that allows duplexes and townhouses in every neighbourhood.

Need to know

🚨 Airdrie RCMP arrested a 28-year-old man accused of engaging in an online relationship with a teenage girl in Germany and charged him with child luring and pornography offenses.

🎹 Calgary pianist Kevin Chen, 20, earned second place and a silver medal at the prestigious International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, adding to Canada's strong track record at the quinquennial event.

⚖️ A man with three dozen prior assault convictions received a life sentence after pleading guilty to fatally attacking retired navy veteran Brett Davidson in an unprovoked 2022 stabbing inside a Calgary apartment building.

🦆 Health officials are testing 17 people, including 10 children, following the discovery of avian flu in poultry at Butterfield Acres Petting Farm, leading the Calgary Zoo to relocate its birds indoors as a preventative measure.

🚔 Alberta's police oversight agency determined a Calgary tactical officer was justified in fatally shooting an armed suspect during a 2023 takedown at a Falconridge strip mall after the officer was struck by gunfire.

💰 Striking Alberta teachers are forgoing paycheques while their union covers health benefits instead of providing strike pay, as the province warns it will impose back-to-work legislation if classes remain cancelled past October 23rd.

🏃‍♀️ A Calgary woman is training to complete a 100-kilometre run to Ghost Lake while carrying her late mother's ashes, commemorating the anniversary of her mother's death after a two-decade battle with brain cancer.

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Kids discover Canada's diverse festivals in new Heritage Park exhibition

Heritage Park is getting ready to host a travelling exhibition that shows families how Canadians celebrate all year long. Kids Celebrate! opens November 8th and turns Gasoline Alley Museum into a hands-on adventure where kids can explore 12 different holidays and traditions—from Hanukkah and Chinese New Year to Eid-ul-Fitr and Diwali—and see how we all mark special moments differently.

The exhibition splits into four seasonal zones packed with activities for kids ages 5 to 12. Children can play traditional games, make crafts, build an igloo, decorate parade floats, and even plant trees. Whether it's winter's cosy festivals of light or summer's community parades, each zone brings the celebrations to life with colour, sound, and plenty of things to touch and try.

"Kids Celebrate! captures the heart of what makes Canada so special, our diversity, our stories and the ways we celebrate them," said Eirin Bernie from Heritage Park. The exhibition sticks around through February 28th, and the best part? It's included with your regular museum ticket or membership, making it an easy winter outing for families who want to learn about the traditions that bring us all together.

Where to eat and drink

🍴 Orijins: Experience Nikkei-inspired cuisine where vibrant Latin American flavors merge with refined Japanese cooking techniques in a fusion concept celebrating migration, resilience, and cultural creativity through each thoughtfully crafted dish.

🍴 Barcelona Tavern: Gather at this locally owned Spanish-inspired tavern for an adventure through diverse tapas, hand-tossed pizzas, seafood paella, and Alberta steaks, complemented by creative cocktails and a welcoming atmosphere where community forms over shared plates and good company.

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

Things to do

🎟️ Spotlight YSC - Youth Singers of Calgary 40th Anniversary: Celebrate four decades of performing arts education at this free community event featuring live performances from current members and alumni, interactive archive displays, family activities, and opportunities to explore the National Music Centre on October 26th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

🎟️ Field of Screams at Cobb's Adventure Park: Brave six nightmare-inducing haunted houses including Buried Alive, Mad House, and Aliens across 20 acres of terror, plus rides, activities, and refreshments at this outdoor Halloween event running through October 25th.

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