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On Tuesday, we asked if you'd vote in October's referendum on immigration and constitutional reform. Over 86 per cent of you said yes—though your reasons varied wildly. Some are voting to oppose what they see as divisive politics, with one reader saying the premier is doing everything to divide Albertans. Others questioned the cost of the referendum itself, calling it a waste of taxpayer money that could go toward education or healthcare. Several said they'd prefer an election instead, while one permanent resident noted they can't vote at all. One thing's clear: this referendum has people fired up, for better or worse.

👀 In today's edition:

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🌥️ Today: High 10C, Low -8C. 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.

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Calgary Transit has upgraded how it tracks ridership, installing automated passenger counting technology on CTrains that provides daily data across the entire system.

The sensors, installed at each door, capture when people board and give Calgary Transit consistent information to make better decisions about scheduling and service planning. Around 70 per cent of the CTrain fleet now has the technology, which has been on buses since 2023, with coverage increasing as older trains are replaced.

Laura Hoskins, leader of performance and analytics, said having daily feedback on customer numbers across the entire system helps Calgary Transit adjust operations and plan for the future. The data also helps Council and The City be strategic about where to invest dollars to improve service and expand the network.

Hoskins said the technology will help Calgary Transit respond to seasonal changes, like summer events that attract more riders, by scheduling more or fewer trains depending on the time of year. The data can show trends over weeks, months, and years, helping deploy buses and trains that better reflect actual ridership.

Using the new methodology, 2025 ridership totalled 93.1 million trips, down slightly from 93.7 million in 2024. Calgary Transit attributed the decrease to the February extreme cold event, fall workforce shortages that required route cuts, and the October teacher strike.

Before automated counting, ridership was estimated through manual counts and periodic sampling, which relied on modelling and assumptions. The new approach provides more accurate data for year-to-year comparisons.

🏙️ Mayor Jeromy Farkas said Calgary needs to welcome immigrants rather than shun them, responding to Premier Danielle Smith's planned October referendum on limiting newcomer access to provincial services while acknowledging challenges around housing and social supports.

✈️ Calgarians returning from Puerto Vallarta described seeing burnt vehicles and smoke after cartel violence erupted over the weekend, though some said media coverage was overblown and they felt safe at their resorts throughout the unrest.

👮 Alberta plans to train roughly 600 sheriffs as police officers with six weeks of additional training and move 1,200 sheriff employees to the new Alberta Sheriffs Police Service Crown corporation, with legislation tabled Tuesday.

🚔 Two men were arrested after a Calgary police officer interrupted a violent kidnapping in Mission on February 17, with investigators believing the attack was targeted and connected to organized crime, leading to cocaine seizure and dozens of charges.

💎 Two men have been arrested and another remains at large following a January 8 robbery at Shimoon's Jewellers in Dalhousie, where thieves used hammers to smash cabinets and stole items causing an estimated $200,000 in damage and losses.

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Imagine writing a song on a guitar that's travelled the world, inspiring musicians in every city it visits. That's exactly what five Alberta songwriters got to do.

The National Music Centre, working with Write On!, selected Eden Taylor, Irene Poole, Sadie-Lee, Sonia Deleo, and Tori Vere for The Acoustic Guitar Project. Each artist spent one week with the same travelling acoustic guitar, writing an original song and recording it in NMC's studios. Along the way, they received mentorship from Write On! to develop their work.

Stephanie Hutchinson, NMC's director of programs, said the project gives artists something precious: time and space to connect with their songwriting. The guitar carries stories from everyone who's played it before, and now these five women and gender-diverse artists are adding their own voices to its legacy during Women's History Month.

You can hear the results at the King Eddy on Friday, March 6. Tickets are available at studiobell.ca/whats-on, with discounts for NMC members.

🍴 KinDee Street Kitchen: Authentic Lao and Thai cuisine is served at this northeast Calgary spot, featuring dishes like papaya salad, laab, khao piak sen chicken noodle soup, and crispy nam khao rice salad available Fridays and Saturdays.

🍴 Carino: Owner Toshi Karino and head chef Resham Giri blend Japanese and Italian cuisines at this Mission neighbourhood restaurant, open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday.

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

🎟️ The Taming of the Shrew: Full Circle Theatre presents a gender-flipped, romantasy reimagining of Shakespeare's comedy set in a High Fae Court, where a brooding faerie prince faces off against a bold human knight in a dangerous game of desire and power at Vertigo Studio Theatre from February 26 to March 5.

🎟️ Métis Beading Workshop: Métis artisan Janis Laboucane teaches beginners how to follow a traditional flower pattern at The Confluence on February 28 from 10 AM to 5 PM, with all materials supplied and the option to add a Spolumbo's lunch for $18, tickets $100 plus fees for ages 16 and up.

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

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