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On Tuesday, we asked what would most improve safety in Calgary's downtown — and you were clear. An overwhelming majority said the answer isn't one thing but all three: more police presence, more shelter and housing, and better addiction and mental health services.

Readers pointed to the need for treatment beds available immediately after detox, safer spaces for people experiencing homelessness during the day, and dealing with root causes rather than symptoms. One reader summed it up simply: "Not all ‘problem people’ downtown have the same problems, so all three may solve most of them."

👀 In today's edition:

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❄ Today: High -4C, Low -10C. 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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The Calgary Stampede and Calgary Municipal Land Corporation have pulled back the curtain on an updated master plan for Stampede Park — a 20-year vision that builds on nearly $2 billion in projects already completed or underway and sets the stage for the next chapter of Calgary's Culture and Entertainment District.

The original 2004 master plan has been fulfilled, with major projects like the BMO Centre expansion, Nutrien Western Event Centre, and the forthcoming Scotia Place now either complete or underway. The updated plan, developed over 18 months in collaboration with planning firm Populous and Calgary-based GGA, organizes the park into seven distinct zones, each with its own focus.

Highlights include a new purpose-built agriculture facility, a modernized multipurpose venue to replace The Big Four Building, a live events zone adjacent to Scotia Place, and expanded outdoor flex space for the midway and festival programming. The plan also calls for strengthened First Nations connections and storytelling opportunities, and a potential expansion or renovation to the grandstand and track.

The vision is designed to make Stampede Park a genuine year-round destination rather than a place that comes alive for 10 days in July. Funding strategies and phasing details will be shared as the plan develops.

🏕️ A proposed 74-tent glamping site near Quarry Lake in Canmore is drawing pushback from residents, with the town receiving about 400 letters raising concerns about fire risk, wildlife impacts, and added pressure on the lake.

🔨 A Calgary homeowner is out over $70,000 after a renovation gone wrong, with the city now investigating the contractor over safety concerns and possible permit violations. The project was meant to build an accessible suite for her disabled brother.

🏗️ Calgary's blanket rezoning policy is back before city council in a marathon public hearing, with 360 speakers registered and hearings expected to run all week.

🚨 An 18-year-old from Lloydminster has been charged with second-degree murder in the highway shooting that killed Birinder Singh earlier this month. RCMP say hate is being considered as a possible motive.

👮 A current Calgary city councillor, a former councillor, and former mayor Jyoti Gondek are reportedly involved in an RCMP corruption investigation. No charges have been laid.

🏒 A Calgary man faces 21 charges including child luring and extortion after allegedly targeting girls between the ages of seven and 15 on social media. He was an assistant coach with a girls' hockey team at the time of his arrest.

🏛️ A new Indigenous-designed gathering space called the BMO Lodge is coming to the Werklund Centre, backed by a $2 million investment from BMO, designed to be open to all Calgarians without requiring a ticket.

🌿 New from Mateína: A zero sugar, organic yerba mate that delivers clean energy — no crash, no weird ingredients. Just plant-powered fuel that works.*

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The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has a new resident. Yellé (pronounced yel-EE), a 20-year-old male polar bear, arrived from Quebec's Zoo Sauvage de Saint-Félicien on March 17 and is currently in quarantine as he settles into his new home.

Yellé was brought in as a companion for Siku, the zoo's 10-year-old resident male. Once quarantine is complete, the two will be introduced gradually — starting with scent exchanges, then visual contact through a barrier, and eventually sharing space — with each step guided by the zoo's animal care team based on the bears' behaviour and comfort.

Born in the Netherlands in 2005, Yellé has travelled a long way to get here. Guests can expect to see him exploring the Taylor Family Foundation Polar Bear Sanctuary in April.

The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has been an Arctic Ambassador Centre with Polar Bears International since 2023, using resident polar bears to raise awareness about the challenges the species faces as Arctic habitat continues to shrink. Both Yellé and Siku serve as ambassadors for their species, helping visitors connect with conservation efforts happening far beyond Calgary's city limits.

🍴 Korean Village Restaurant: Calgary's first Korean restaurant, family-owned and operating since 1991, Korean Village serves up classic dishes from bibimbap and cold noodles to simmering hotpot soups and Korean BBQ cooked at built-in table grills — with spacious party rooms available for larger groups.

🍴Cassis Bistro: A Beltline institution led by French chef Dominique Moussu, Cassis Bistro has won Avenue Magazine's Best French Restaurant award more times than most restaurants win anything, pairing classic French technique with the best of Alberta's local ingredients.

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

🎟️ Family Movie Trivia Showdown: Head to The Confluence on Sunday, March 29 for a family-friendly movie trivia competition covering everything from '90s classics to today's hits — with prizes including summer camp spots and a private theatre screening up for grabs. Teams of four to six are recommended, and tickets are $25 per team.

🎟️ Pressed Flower Frame Workshop: Cedar Art is hosting a relaxed, beginner-friendly pressed flower workshop on Sunday, March 29 at their space on 16 Street SW — where you'll design and arrange real dried flowers and foliage into a framed display piece to take home. No experience needed, all materials provided.

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

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