Calgary City Council voted to repeal blanket upzoning.

While amendments to the repeal left some matters unclear, it is a very significant and positive step forward—and it would not have happened without you.

This has been a long and, at times, difficult journey. From the beginning, this was a true grassroots effort—driven by ordinary Calgarians who cared deeply about their communities and who were prepared to do the work necessary to be heard. We are profoundly grateful for the support, commitment, and generosity of our volunteers, donors, community associations, and the many Calgarians who engaged in this process. We also extend our sincere thanks to Mayor Farkas and Councillors Tyers, Wyness, Kelly, Dhaliwal, Pantazopoulos, Clark, Chabot, Ward, Jamieson, McLean and Johnston, who took the time to listen to Calgarians and showed leadership in supporting repeal as a first step toward restoring a more thoughtful, community-responsive approach to growth.

Many of you will recall that the original adoption of blanket upzoning in 2024 in the face of significant opposition left a strong sense that the voices and submissions of a majority of Calgarians had not been meaningfully considered. What followed was an extraordinary response. Calgarians came together - organizing, researching, and advocating for a better approach.

Hundreds of Calgarians stepped forward to support a legal challenge. When the Court ultimately determined in January 2025 that the issue should be addressed through the democratic process, Calgarians accepted that direction and continued their efforts—this time through engagement, education, and participation in the municipal election.

Through Calgarians for Thoughtful Growth (CFTG), a dedicated group of volunteers established a platform to provide fact-based information, engage with candidates, and support informed decision-making. We interviewed candidates, prepared, and shared recommendations, conducted research, obtained independent legal advice, and provided detailed submissions to Council on key issues—including the Housing Accelerator Fund, the scope of repeal, the process for repeal and the continued strength of Calgary’s broader housing strategy.

Throughout this process, one message remained clear: Calgarians support growth and housing—but they want it done thoughtfully, transparently, and in a way that respects community context.

In the weeks leading up to the public hearing, you responded in remarkable numbers—through donations, written submissions, presentations, and community engagement. Your voices were heard. The message was consistent and compelling:

• Blanket upzoning was not achieving its stated goal of improving affordability;

• There are better, more targeted tools available to support housing and community planning; and

• The process itself needed to be restored to one that is fair, clear, and worthy of public trust

CFTG was proud to contribute to this effort through research, direct engagement with Council, and our submission at the March public hearing, as well as the “What We Heard” summary shared following the hearing on our website.

The repeal of blanket upzoning is, above all, a recognition of the efforts of engaged citizens. It reflects the work of people who asked questions, challenged assumptions, and took the time to understand and explain the issues. It is a reminder that thoughtful, informed, and respectful civic participation can make a difference.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to this effort—our volunteers, researchers, community leaders, donors, and supporters. This outcome would not have been possible without you.

While this marks an important milestone, it is not the end of the conversation. The work of shaping Calgary’s future—through thoughtful planning, meaningful engagement, and community-supported growth—continues.