This is Calgary

CBC

What Calgarians are talking about. Every Wednesday, we dive into one story, to keep you up to speed on the biggest issues affecting Alberta's biggest city. Hosted by Jenny Howe, and powered by CBC Calgary journalism.

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S4 · E15
Wednesday · 22 min
Water is about to get more expensive in Calgary. Here's why.
Effective today (Nov. 4, 2026), <a href="https://newsroom.calgary.ca/its-time-to-get-ready-water-restrictions-start-wednesday-nov-4/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">water restrictions</a> are back in effect for Calgary and area, as crews connect the new Bearspaw South feeder main into the city water system. But replacing that pipe is just one of many projects Calgary needs to do to update our ageing water infrastructure. This week, Jenny talks to <
S4 · E14
October 28 · 18 min
Aerosols, chip bags, and more: Calgary’s new recyclables
Calgary just <a href="https://www.calgary.ca/waste/residential/recycle-more.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">expanded its recycling program</a>... meaning all sorts of stuff that used to go to the landfill can now go in the blue cart. Jenny finds out more from Sharon Howland, program management leader with the city's waste and recycling services. PLUS, we put Jenny's recycling knowledge to the test with a blue cart QUIZ! Use the City of Calgary
S4 · E13
October 21 · 27 min
Inside Alberta's historic referendum vote
This week, Loren talks about the results and implications of the 2026 Alberta <a href="https://albertareferendum2026.ca/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">referendum</a> with Calgary pollster and political commentator <a href="https://www.planetjanet.ca/about" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Janet Brown</a> and professor of political science <a href="https://jaredwesley.ca/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jared Wesley</a>, who leads the University of Alberta's Co
S4 · E12
October 16 · 11 min
BONUS political panel: Carney's visit to Alberta
Prime Minister <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/livestory/forever-canadian-rally-carney-live-updates-9.7382776" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark Carney is in Calgary</a> ahead of Monday's historic referendum. Loren walks through the significance and implications with <a href="https://mbpolicy.com/team/shannon-phillips/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Shannon Phillips</a>, a former Alberta NDP cabinet minister and founding partner of Meredith, Boessenkoo
S4 · E11
October 14 · 22 min
Where does Alberta separatism come from?
The <a href="https://albertareferendum2026.ca/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Alberta referendum</a> is just a few days away. How did we get here? Jenny digs into the history of Alberta separatism with CBC referendum unit producer <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/author/pippa-reed-1.7513801" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pippa Reid</a>. This is Calgary is produced by CBC and hosted by Jenny Howe. Thoughts? Story
October 9 · 10 min
BONUS political panel: The 'other' nine
With a little over a week until Albertans cast their ballots in the provincial referendum, hear what our political panel thinks about the first nine questions being asked. Shannon Phillips is a former Alberta NDP cabinet minister and founding partner of Meredith, Boessenkool and Phillips Policy Advisors, and Ian Brodie is a senior advisor at New West Public Affairs who once served as chief of staff for Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
S4 · E9
October 7 · 19 min
Let's talk about those 10 referendum questions
Got questions about The Questions?! Us too. And the Alberta referendum is less than two weeks away! So we thought a convo about the <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/guide-to-the-10-questions-in-alberta-s-oct-19-referendum-9.7361550" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">10 referendum questions</a> -- including the challenges of understanding them -- was warranted. This week, Jenny sits down for a behind-the-scenes convo with <a href="https:
S4 · E8
October 2 · 11 min
BONUS political panel: Pacific Link
Canada has just designated the <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/west-coast-pipeline-national-interest-9.7365037" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pacific Link</a> pipeline to the west coast as its first project in the national interest. This week on our political panel, Loren walks through the significance and implications with <a href="https://mbpolicy.com/team/shannon-phillips/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Shannon Phillips</a>, a former Alberta NDP cabinet mi
S4 · E7
September 30 · 24 min
Can Stephen Avenue be saved?
Stephen Avenue, the outdoor pedestrian mall in the heart of Calgary’s downtown, has changed in recent years. Once bustling with shoppers and tourists, the area is quieter now, with a regular police presence to monitor for crime and social disorder. Call it... an Eighth Avenue Heartache. The city wants to bring back that atmosphere and foot traffic, so it's working <a href="https://www.calgary.ca/planning/projects/stephen-avenue.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">to revitalize Ste
S4 · E6
September 25 · 10 min
BONUS political panel: What a new poll says about support for Alberta separatism and the UCP government
This week in our politicial panel, we hear about the findings of a new CBC-commissioned poll regarding support for Alberta separating from Canada, as well as Premier Danielle Smith and the UCP government. The survey was commissioned by pollster Janet Brown.Loren talks to <a href="https://mbpolicy.com/team/shannon-phillips/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Shannon Phillips</a>, a former Alberta NDP cabinet minister and founding partner of Meredith, Boessenkool and Phillips Pol
S4 · E5
September 23 · 19 min
Why a massive landfill is still burning in SE Calgary
For weeks, a private landfill has been on fire in southeast Calgary, <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7347250" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">affecting air quality</a> in at least 19 neighbourhoods of the city. The Calgary Fire Department has the fire under control but says <a href="https://ca.news.yahoo.com/cbc-calgary-sept-22-headlines-165637799.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">it could take weeks or even months</a> to fully extinguish the blaze. The
S4 · E4
September 18 · 12 min
BONUS political panel: The Alberta NDP's surprise byelection win in Calgary-Shaw
In the first of our bonus political episodes, we hear analysis on the Alberta NDP's surprise win over the UCP in the Calgary-Shaw byelection. Loren talks to <a href="https://mbpolicy.com/team/shannon-phillips/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Shannon Phillips</a>, a former Alberta NDP cabinet minister and founding partner of Meredith, Boessenkool and Phillips Policy Advisors, and <a href="https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/ian-brodie" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ian Brodie</
S4 · E3
September 16 · 22 min
The Green Line will likely run along 10th Avenue SW. Two city councillors tell us why it's the best route.
Did you say... Green Line? Yes, there's news. A <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/green-line-lrt-downtown-route-councillors-9.7337222" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">city committee has approved</a> a surface route along 10th Avenue Southwest as the next section of Calgary's expanding LRT network, bringing the line to the edge of downtown.Jenny talks to two city councillors whose wards run parallel about why this route is better than the above-ground options, an
S4 · E2
September 9 · 15 min
The Landon Leak
Calgary has a leak -- but this time, it's not a water main. It's a city councillor. Last week (Sept. 3), Ward 14’s Landon Johnston revealed he’d <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/jeromy-farkas-landon-johnston-budget-leak-9.7331771" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">shared confidential preliminary budget documents</a> with the media -- much to the <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-farkas-johnston-council-leak-9.7333146" rel="noopener noreferrer" targ
S4 · E1
September 2 · 29 min
Was closing Calgary's SCS the right call? Two frontline workers weigh in.
It's been two months since the province shut down Calgary's only supervised consumption site. What's happened since? Jenny talks to a former SCS staffer and an addiction medicine doctor about the impacts of the closure, and whether a recovery-based model of care including compassionate intervention could work. This is Calgary is hosted by Jenny Howe, and produced by CBC Calgary. Thoughts? Story ideas? thisiscalgary@cbc.ca
S3 · E51
August 26 · 22 min
How to talk about Alberta separatism
There's a big conversation happening right now that feels kind of hard to tackle: separatism. And the pressure to discuss it is increasing as we get closer to <a href="https://albertareferendum2026.ca/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the Alberta referendum on October 19</a>. But why is it so hard to do? And how can or should you approach such a conversation, to reach across the political divide, from wherever you sit? This week, we find out with political scientist <a href="https:/
S3 · E50
August 19 · 16 min
Calgary's biggest contemporary art gallery is expanding in a Brutalist former planetarium - here's the plan
Contemporary Calgary got a <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/contemporary-calgary-art-gallery-planetarium-federal-investment-9.7258820" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">major funding injection</a> over the summer, to expand at its location in the downtown west end. Jenny talks to CEO David Leinster about what the revitalization involves, why <a href="https://www.contemporarycalgary.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the city's biggest contemporary art galle
S3 · E49
August 12 · 12 min
What makes a GREAT city street?
This week, Jenny is looking into what makes a great city street. Our friends over at This is Vancouver recently had a conversation with former Vancouver city planner Sandy James about the necessary ingredients, and a lot of those ideas could apply anywhere in North America, including here in Calgary.
S3 · E48
August 5 · 19 min
Into the Raccooniverse of Calgary
Raccoons are still something of a novelty for most Calgarians. But they're becoming <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/raccoon-observations-parks-calgary-9.6937091" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">more common</a>... and can get into mischief. First, we talk to a local guy who's been trying in vain for FIVE years to spot a raccoon here. Then we head to southeast Calgary, to find out whether a homeowner managed to get the raccoon out of his garage attic.
S3 · E47
July 29 · 20 min
Why this Calgary chicken joint still rules the roost
What's greasily delicious, free on your birthday, and packaged in a bright yellow box?<a href="https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7169038" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chicken on the Way</a>, of course -- a Calgary fast food institution that's been around since 1958... and is STILL being run by the same family.In this fan-favourite episode from early April, Jenny talks COTW lore with owner Russ Dunn, learns to make corn fritters with manager Haley Andela, and he

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