There was a time back in the ‘80s when the City of Calgary’s Planning Department’s motto was “working together, to make a good city better.” Fast forward 40 years and it seems we are definitely not working together! There is no shared vision, just a lot of bickering and endless planning.

Perhaps this is normal for a city in the middle of an economic crisis, where half the citizens are looking back and half are looking forward, where half are pragmatic and half are progressive. In a city where the Zoomer Generation (under 40) is taking over from the Boomers as the city’s dominate voice and force.

We must find a way to embrace our differences that define us and not let them divide us.

Link: Chahal: Hate Must Not Be Permitted To Thrive In Calgary

I have seen more protest marches in Calgary over the past year, than in the previous 25+ years.

“Can Do” vs “Woe Is Us” Attitude Divide

One of the things that impressed me when I moved to Calgary in 1981 was how Calgary seemed like a City that got things done. There was an infectious “can do” attitude, very unlike my hometown of Hamilton where politicians and citizens seemed to only talk about past glories. The city seemed cursed with a “woe is us” attitude, blaming Toronto for its troubles.

Today, Calgary seems divided into those who still have a “can do” attitude and those who are caught in the “woe is us” outlook.

Link: City Squabbles With Province

Link: Bell slams Nenshi’s Green Line LRT Bellyaching

It seems today no matter what issue Calgary faces, we can’t find a solution, or even a middle ground and move on. The new “guidebook for great communities” is just the latest City Council initiative that has divided its citizens in a very antagonistic manner. Others include; secondary suites, Green Line, Olympic bid, mandatory public art, ring road, tax reform, 14th St BRT, arena, infill developments, bike lanes and residential road speed limits.

I realize we don’t want “group think!” It is important to have healthy, respectful debates where everyone can express their different perspectives, while at the same time being able to make informed decisions in a timely manner. And then move on - no hard feelings. We don’t seem to be able to do that.

In the almost 40 years I have lived in Calgary, never before have I seen the citizens and Council so divided. Decisions that should take months to make, take years e.g. residential speed limits, basement suites. Seems like every time Council has a difficult decision to make, some member suggests a plebiscite or delay the decision to allow it to be studied more. Don’t get me started on the decades-long Fluoride debate. That’s simply not good governance.

It is probably a good thing there are going to be major changes to Calgary’s City Council this fall. We need a fresh start.

Geographic Divide: East/West Urban/Suburban

The term “Deerfoot Divide” was coined by University of Calgary professor Harry Hiller in the ‘90s in reference to the fact most Calgarians worked on the east side of Deerfoot, but lived on the west side of it. Today, Calgary’s east side is becoming more and more important as a place not just to “work” but also to “live and play.” The addition of the Calgary International Airport, huge warehouse and distribution centers and now a Film/TV Production Hub has increased the importance of the east side as Calgary’s one of Calgary’s economic engines.

Today, those living east of the Deerfoot want more parks, more recreation and culture facilities that have traditionally been built in communities west of the Deerfoot. And rightly so.

And then there’s the divide between the inner city and the suburbs i.e. the older established communities vs the newer ones.

Inner-city residents raised concerns of the funding available for new recreation centers, new schools and overpasses being built in the suburbs, while their parks were full of dandelions, streets full of pot holes and recreation/community centres falling apart and closing.

At the same time, suburbanites questioned the multi-million dollar, fancy new Central library, Music Museum, designer pedestrian bridges and bike lanes in the City Centre that many of them will rarely use.

Link: Former Rail Line Tunnel To Bridge Deerfoot Divide

Generation Divide: Zoomers vs Boomers

Perhaps the most critical divide is generational – Zoomers (1981 to 1994) vs Boomers (1946 to 1964). Those under 40 are much more interested in building more bike lanes and transit than roads and overpasses. And, they are also much more against building new communities on the edge of the city, than the Boomers. Politically they see the performance of Calgary’s Mayor and Council differently.

A Leger poll (October 2020) found 62% of those aged 18 to 44 thought Council has done an excellent, very good or good job over the past three years, compared to 27% of those 55 to 64 years of age. Dr. David Finch, a professor at Mount Royal University says, “ I believe the 2026 Olympic plebiscite was a litmus test for the generation gap. The general feeling from my students post-Olympic Bid plebiscite was, "We got screwed by our parents.”

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The 2026 Olympic bid proposal was opposed by a 56% of voters and supported by 44%. While there was no plebiscite for other major issues – Green Line, new arena, West Ring Road and reducing speed limit on residential streets - there seemed to be almost as many Calgarians who are for, as against each of these issues.

Recently, the Zoomers got really upset when a “bunch of old guys” lobbied to delay the construction of the LRT Green Line, and were given an opportunity to address Council directly – something no other group got to do.

Calgary’s politicians and planners are constantly being lobbied by Zoomers to spend money creating a city the meets their needs, wants and aspirations, while the Boomers are urging them to stop spending as the city is headed for a financial crisis.

The generational divide has led to the formation of numerous Facebook advocacy groups like:

Link: Save Calgary (7,200+ Facebook likes)

Link: Common Sense Calgary (4,700+ Facebook likes)

Link: The Sprawl (2,000+ paid membership )

Link: Calgary Future (1,300+ Facebook likes)

Link: Calgarians for Great Communities (483+ Facebook likes)

Link: LRTontheGreen (391+ Facebook likes)

NIMYs vs YIMBs Divide

Even when it comes to inner city development, neighbours on the same street are often divided. There are always the “NIMBYS” (not in my backyard) or “BANANAS” (build absolutely nothing anywhere near anything) and the “YIMBS” (yes in my backyard). who welcome almost any new developments be they transitional or affordable housing, or cookie cutter new condo buildings - as long as they have upscale cafés, restaurants and shops along the sidewalk.

Link: Residents want shelter moved that has been operating since 1982

When it comes to sharing roads and sidewalk space, it seems like nobody has graduated from kindergarten. Cyclists and pedestrians constantly post on Twitter how they were almost hit by cars. And pedestrians walk in fear of cyclists and scooters on sidewalks and pathways whizzing by them without any notice. Many drivers are confused by all the new roadway infrastructure, that accompanies the new bike lanes, longing for the days when cars were “king of the road.”

We all have to learn to share the road, sidewalk and pathways.

Link: Road Ahead Panel Debates Driver, Cyclist, Pedestrian Issues

Calgary is even divided when it come to public art. (photo credit: Chris Toombes)

Economic / Ethnic Divide

When it comes to economic recovery – some think we need to support the oil & gas industries, while others think hi-tech start-ups are Calgary’s future. Still others think the city’s economy is doomed and there is nothing we can do about it.

While Calgarians used to embrace its multi-culturalism (or at least appeared to do so on the surface), it seems today as we are being fragmented into Blacks, Indigenous, People of Colour and European clans.

We must find a way to address racism in a way that embraces our differences, without dividing us.

Link: Braid: Overt Organized Racism is taking shape in Calgary

Even our identity as Cowtown, The Stampede City and Energy Capital of Canada is divisive as more and more Calgarians question the relevance of our ranching and oil & gas past, as we plan for the future.

Link: Tourism Caglary: Brand Evolution

For some, Calgary’s brand as the “Stampede City,” is in conflict with the city’s desire to become a global city. in my opinion, most cities would love to have an internationally recognized brand like the “Stampede.” What is needed is way to expand the “Stamepde” brand to make it more multi-dimensional. (photo credit: Chris Toombes)

Short Term vs Long Term Divide

I can’t help wondering if we aren’t victims of spending too much time on elaborate community engagement, visioning and long range planning and missing the immediate opportunities available to us.

The imagineCALGARY vision “Calgary: a great place to make a living, a great place to make a life,” was created in 2005 after a mega engagement process involving over 18,000 Calgarians.

It was supported by a 100-year long range urban sustainability plan adopted in 2007. Yes 100-years!

It was the basis for developing the Municipal Development Plan (adopted in 2009), a vision for how Calgary would grow and develop over the next 60 years.

Then in 2019 and 2020 the City a undertook a reviewed the Municipal Development and Calgary Transportation Plans to create something called the “Next 20 Project” to look at what was working and what should be accomplished over the next 20 years. The controversial “Guidebook for Creating Calgary Communities” was a five year process.

The layers of planning documents getter bigger every year.

Last Word

If Calgary is going to thrive again, we must find a way to work together and collaborate to address these issues quickly. And, perhaps it isn’t just Calgary that is evolving into a divided city, but most cities in Canada and Canada itself.