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On Tuesday, we asked about Alberta's $200 million modular classroom investment. Opinions were split. The majority called it a smart short-term fix, but several readers pointed out that more physical classroom space doesn’t mean much without teachers and support staff to fill it. One reader wondered whether modular construction could eventually become permanent — an interesting thought at that price tag.

Our main stories today are all about books 📚

👀 In today's edition:

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🌤️ Today: High 3C, Low -4C. 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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YMCA Calgary and Calgary Public Library have announced plans for a joint-use recreation and library facility in Calgary's West District, responding to rapid population growth in an area with a high concentration of young families.

The proposed facility would include:

Calgary developer Truman has already donated a site on Broadcast Avenue SW, and Calgary City Council has approved an initial $3 million for detailed design and planning. The project is aiming to be construction-ready in 2027, pending full capital funding from all three levels of government and philanthropic partners.

The facility is expected to serve more than 41,000 households within a 12-minute drive. By 2030, more than 3,000 homes are expected in West District alone, meaning a significant number of future residents will be within walking distance.

🏆 Nominations are now open for the 2026 Stars of Alberta Volunteer Awards, recognizing outstanding volunteers across youth, adult, senior, and Breaking Barriers categories. Nominations close June 30.

⚖️ The Alberta Teachers' Association's constitutional challenge to the Back to School Act has been pushed to July 2027, after the union requested a delay to await two Supreme Court rulings on similar notwithstanding clause questions.

🏍️ Calgary police are urging motorcyclists to take it slow after the city's first serious crash of the season on Monday. Gravel and debris remain a hazard, with speeding and loss of control the leading factors in motorcycle collisions.

🔥 A Calgary man is facing multiple charges including arson with disregard for human life after police seized a shotgun, fentanyl, and a hatchet from a stolen vehicle connected to a Bridlewood garage fire on April 1.

🏥 University of Calgary researchers are calling for a national database tracking physician sexual misconduct after a new study identified 208 physicians and 689 alleged victims over five years, citing major gaps in how cases are reported across Canada.

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The Calgary Reads Big Book Sale returns this spring, and before the shopping begins, organizers are looking for Calgarians to clear their shelves. Book donations are being accepted from April 24 to May 3 at the Calgary Curling Club, with four community drop-off events also happening on April 26 and 27. The sale itself opens May 8, with nearly 200,000 books expected across almost 200 tables.

Now in its 22nd year, the sale is organized by the Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown and raises money for early childhood literacy initiatives. Last year, it raised $544,000, with proceeds going to programs like the Calgary Public Library Foundation's My First Bookshelf and the University of Calgary's Book Bank, which distributed more than 36,000 books to children in 2025.

The literacy stakes are real. Organizers cite estimates that about 25 per cent of Alberta kindergarteners have minimal to emerging literacy skills, and only a quarter of children are reading at grade level by the end of Grade 3.

For shoppers, most books are priced between $2 and $4, with categories ranging from Canadian fiction and travel to graphic novels, true crime, and a dedicated table of books by Calgary authors. Appointments are required for the first three days of the sale; after that, it's open to everyone through May 17.

🍴 Kondattam Indian Kitchen & Bar: Named after the Tamil word for "celebration," Kondattam brings regional Indian cooking to downtown Calgary, spanning North Indian tandoori dishes to coconut-infused southern curries — all with a modern twist. A woman-owned, BIPOC-operated spot with a focus on locally sourced ingredients.

🍴 Kin Dee Street Kitchen: Kin Dee Street Kitchen serves authentic Lao and Thai street food, from papaya salad and chicken satay to khao piak sen, a comforting Lao chicken noodle soup made with house-made rice noodles. The nam khao rice salad is only available Fridays and Saturdays — plan accordingly.

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

🎟️ Patience at Morpheus Theatre: Gilbert and Sullivan's comic operetta Patience comes to Morpheus Theatre from April 24 to May 2, following a brooding poet whose artistic ways are entirely an act — until the simple milkmaid he actually loves gets wind of it. Directed by Winnifred Hume, with music direction by Aly Carrigan and choreography by Kylie Bullock.

🎟️ 15th Annual Steps to End Homelessness: On Sunday, April 26, hundreds of Calgarians will take on the McHugh Bluff stairs in Crescent Heights to raise money for families experiencing homelessness. The Power of One Foundation will match every dollar raised, and the event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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

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