Please click on the links below to link to the PDF of the City of Calgary document or visit www.calgary.ca/wardboundaries or http://engage.calgary.ca/wardboundaries.
If you have any questions regarding the information please email: wardboundaries@calgary.ca
Launch of online engagement forward boundaries
Calgary’s Returning Officer is looking for feedback from Calgarians on two proposed ward boundary scenarios beginning on Wednesday, February 19, 2020.
The purpose of the public engagement is to help inform the Returning Officer’s ward boundary independent recommendations to Council. There are multiple ways of providing feedback including in-person and online (see full list of opportunities below). If your organization would like to speak to Calgary’s returning officer directly, arrangements can be made.
KEY MESSAGES
- A ward boundary maintains equitable representation by Councillors across the city. To achieve equitable representation, each ward should have a similar population.
- As cities grow or people move to developing parts of the city, the deviation in population between wards will increase. In order to adjust for variances in population between wards, ward boundaries must change.
- The process to review and change ward boundaries is outlined in the Ward Boundary Determination and Review Policy.
- Wards 3, 7 and 12 have population deviations and Ward 5 has an elector count deviation inconsistent with the Ward Boundary Determination and Review Policy.
- The purpose of the public engagement is to engage Calgarians in a manner that will help inform the Returning Officer’s ward boundary recommendations to Council.
- Participants are invited to provide feedback on ward boundary scenarios to the Returning Officer.
- More information on this work can be found online at http://engage.calgary.ca/wardboundaries
Web Links and Online Engagement
A project page has been developed and any copy or text explaining this work can be found here:
Short URL: www.calgary.ca/wardboundaries or http://engage.calgary.ca/wardboundaries
Engagement Opportunities
Online engagement
Launches: February 19, 2020
Closes: March 19, 2020
Information has been posted, including an interactive map showing two possible boundary change scenarios on the engage portal. Citizens can submit feedback through the online portal directly.
http://engage.calgary.ca/wardboundaries
In-Person engagement
Monday February 24
Power Reception Hall – Municipal Building
800 Macleod Trail SE
Drop-In Open House
10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Tuesday February 25
Cranston Residents Association at Century Hall
11 Cranarch Road SE
Pop-Up Event
5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Wednesday February 26
Huntington Hills Community Association
520 78 Ave NW
Pop-Up Event
4:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Thursday February 27
Glenmore Aquatic Centre
5330 19 St SW
Pop-Up Event
5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Monday March 2
Remington YMCA / Quarry Park Library
108 Quarry Park Road SE
Pop-Up Event
5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Tuesday March 3
Vivo for Healthier Generations / Country Hills Library
11950 Country Village Link NE
Pop-Up Event
5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Wednesday March 4
North Mount Pleasant Arts Centre
523 27 Ave NW
Pop-Up Event
5:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Saturday March 7
Cold Garden Brewery
1100 11 St SE
Pop-up Event
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Tuesday March 10
Forest Lawn Library
4807 8 Ave SE
Pop-Up Event
4:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Wednesday March 11
Judith Umbach Library
6617 Centre St North
Pop-Up Event
4:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Frequently Asked QuestionsHow will the ward boundary review process stay neutral?
The engagement process follows Council’s Engage Policy (CS009/PFC2013-0235), which recognizes that decisions are improved by engaging citizens and other stakeholder groups where appropriate. The City Clerk’s office commits to conducting a transparent and inclusive engagement processes that is responsive and accountable.
How will citizens benefit from the changes to ward boundaries?
A ward boundary maintains equitable representation by Councillors across the city. To achieve equitable representation, each ward should have a similar population. As cities grow or people move to developing parts of the city, the deviation in population between wards will increase. In order to adjust for variances in population between wards, ward boundaries must change.
What’s wrong with the current boundaries?
In preparation for the next election, The City has reviewed population counts in all the wards and recommended that adjustments be made to better balance the population counts in each ward.
Which wards will be changed?
Wards 3, 7 and 12 have population deviations and Ward 5 has an elector count deviation inconsistent with the Ward Boundary Determination and Review Policy. However, in order to adjust the population counts, parts of other wards might be shifted, so additional wards may be impacted.
How do new boundaries get decided?
The Ward Boundary Determination and Review Policy directs The City to consider some criteria when developing scenarios for new ward boundaries. The criteria include things like total population, natural or physical boundaries, future growth, and community boundaries.
What does a ward boundary review do?
The City is conducting a Minor Review which includes creating new ward boundary scenarios that test out different ways the wards can be rebalanced. There will be public engagement on the drafted scenarios and then a final recommendation on new ward boundaries will be brought for Council consideration in the summer.
How will The City use my feedback?
The purpose of the public engagement is to engage Calgarians in a manner that will help inform the Returning Officer’s ward boundary recommendations to Council. Participants are invited to provide feedback on ward boundary scenarios to the Returning Officer.
Questions, comments and concerns may be directed to the project contact below.
Community members interested in having a conversation with the Returning Officer on this matter may contact the project lead below to coordinate.
wardboundaries@calgary.ca