Advertise | Sign Up

Good morning {{ first name}}!

On Tuesday, we asked how you feel about Calgary Public Library's AI artist residency — and most of you were not impressed. The majority said it feels like a slap in the face to artists, with readers raising concerns about plagiarism, environmental costs, and whether AI-generated work can be considered art at all. One reader did push back, arguing that a single ten-week residency to explore AI isn't stopping anyone from making real art. The library says it's taking the feedback seriously.

👀 In today's edition:

Get your story told! Promote your business, event, or restaurant in front of 30,000+ engaged locals! Contact our team today.

🌨️ Today: High 4C, Low -6C. 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 is under Stage 4 outdoor water restrictions — and residents are being asked to cut back indoors too — as crews work through a four-week repair of the Bearspaw South Feeder Main, the critical pipeline that supplies water to Calgary and several neighbouring communities including Airdrie, Chestermere, Strathmore, and Tsuut'ina Nation.

Early signs are encouraging. As of Monday, Calgarians were already hitting the target, with daily water use coming in at 496 million litres — just under the 500 million litre daily goal the city needs to stay below while the feeder main is out of service.

Saving 25 litres per person per day is enough to make a real difference, and it doesn't take much — skip a toilet flush here, shorten your shower by a minute there, wait for a full load before running the dishwasher or washing machine.

On the construction side, excavation is now underway at sites along 16 Avenue N.W. near Sarcee Trail and at Point McKay Park. Once the pipe is fully exposed, crews will reinforce it with a steel cage and concrete casing across nine sections. Drivers on 16 Avenue N.W. near Sarcee Trail should expect lane reductions and slow-moving traffic for the duration of the work.

Residents in Bowness, Montgomery, and Parkdale can also visit the Community Resource Centre at the Bowness Community Association — open Monday through Thursday — for information, support, and help connecting to city services. For updates and water-saving tips, visit calgary.ca/savewater.

SPONSORED BY SUPPCO

Most people have no idea what supplements they're taking. Download SuppCo to organize your routine, audit your nutrients, and see your StackScore. Then you'll know if your stack is helping or just expensive.

Check Your Score

🌿 Calgary's parks department is asking city council for an additional $14 million annually to keep up with maintenance, after 311 complaints quadrupled over the past decade while funding grew by just 12 per cent. The ask would add roughly half a per cent to property taxes.

⚖️ A Calgary man found not criminally responsible for killing his mother in 2023 was actively experiencing psychosis at the time of the attack, a court heard — believing the woman in the condo was an imposter. He has since been diagnosed with schizophrenia and will be treated at a secure psychiatric facility.

💉 Alberta's measles outbreak is flaring up again, with 36 new cases reported over a single weekend. Doctors say the situation is not under control and are calling on the province to take stronger action on vaccination.

🚆 Alberta's transportation minister says a passenger rail master plan — including a proposed high-speed link between Calgary and Edmonton — could be made public within weeks.

🎭 Calgary's Vertigo Theatre is marking its 50th season with a world-first: a stage production based on the beloved CBC series Murdoch Mysteries, set to premiere in May 2027 alongside a full season of Hitchcock adaptations, Sherlock Holmes, and more.

🛒 A woman was taken to hospital in serious condition after being struck by a vehicle in the parking lot of a northeast Calgary Costco on Tuesday. The driver remained at the scene and an investigation is ongoing.

SPONSORED BY MATEINA YERBA MATE

Mateína’s new Zero Sugar line delivers smooth, organic energy from yerba mate — no crash, no weird ingredients. With clean caffeine and theobromine, it supports lasting focus and mental clarity. It’s plant-powered fuel that helps you stay sharp, alert, and energized — without the sugar. Try it out today.

Something genuinely new is coming to Calgary this weekend — and we mean that literally. Sumo Fest, Canada's first sumo wrestling and Japanese cultural festival, debuts March 13–14 at the Nutrien Western Event Centre at Stampede Park, with over 10,000 attendees expected across three performances.

Produced in partnership with the Calgary Japanese Community Association (CJCA) and Showpass, and supported by the City of Calgary, the event brings international sumo wrestlers to compete inside a traditionally inspired dohyō — the ceremonial ring used in the sport. It's a rare opportunity for Canadian audiences, given that professional sumo tournaments in Japan are notoriously difficult to access.

Beyond the matches, the event includes a Japanese-style market hall with food vendors, cultural exhibitions, and interactive experiences. Saturday's daytime show is designed with families in mind, while the Friday and Saturday evening performances lean into a higher-energy festival atmosphere.

A portion of proceeds will support the CJCA's Legacy Project — a planned 15,000-square-foot redevelopment of the Calgary Japanese Community Centre, envisioned as a modern cultural hub for future generations.

Tickets are available at sumofest.com — organizers are cautioning attendees to avoid third-party resellers, as those tickets may not be valid at the door.

🍴 Silver Dragon Restaurant: A Calgary Chinatown institution since 1966, Silver Dragon serves up authentic Cantonese and Szechuan cuisine with a menu of over 200 dishes — including daily dim sum, fresh seafood, duck, and lobster — in a warm dining room with private rooms available for groups and events.

🍴 Lil' Empire Burger: With four locations scattered across the city, Lil' Empire has quietly become one of Calgary's go-to spots for a no-fuss, quality burger — think Alberta beef, local ingredients, and the kind of meal that makes you wonder why you'd ever go to a drive-through instead.

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

🎟️ Festival d'Hiver Franco – Franco Winter Fest: Calgary's Francophone winter festival returns March 13–14 at The Confluence, celebrating Francophone cultures alongside the Métis Nation and First Nations with folk music, dance, maple taffy on snow, and family-friendly activities — all free admission.

🎟️ CFA Family Barn Dance: Head to the Bowness Community Association on Saturday, March 14 for a family barn dance featuring live music from the Bow Valley Fiddlers and Calgary Fiddlers — no experience needed, just show up ready to move. A catered dinner is available as an add-on.

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