The rapid pace of Calgary’s expansion since the 50s raised questions from academics and concerned citizens, who described it as a perfect example of urban sprawl and deemed it unsustainable from the human, economic and environmental point of view. This podcast is a series in 3 episodes that aims at exploring this question, through interviews with experts to discuss the threats associated to this phenomenon from three different points of view: the threats towards Calgary inhabitants, the threats towards biodiversity and the threats towards the cultural heritage of Indigenous people. This podcast was created as part of the Canadian Wilderness Stewardship Program run by CPAWS.
On Tuesday July 25th, 2023, Calgary’s City Council will vote on amendments as part of bylaw IP2023-0559. These amendments will affect the [Municipal Development Plan](https://pub-calgary.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=245475) and several [Area Structure Plans](https://pub-calgary.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=245476), which is the framework used to approve the creation of new communities. Even though the current framework has a lot of shortcomings, the new one is just as bad. The proposed changes are based on the assumptions that the real estate industry needs more public funding, that the growth within the existing established area is not feasible and that new communities have no socio-environmental costs. As we saw in the three episodes of the series, none of this is true.
What can you do?
1) Contact Mayor Jyoti Gondek as well as the councillor for your ward and ask them not to vote the amendments, and on the contrary, implement a moratorium on new communities.
**E-mail addresses for Members of City Council**
[Mayor Jyoti Gondek](mailto:themayor@calgary.ca)
Ward 1: [Sonya Sharp](mailto:ward1@calgary.ca)
Ward 2: [Jennifer Wyness](mailto:Ward02@calgary.ca)
Ward 3: [Jasmine Mian](mailto:ward03@calgary.ca)
Ward 4: [Sean Chu](mailto:sean.chu@calgary.ca)
Ward 5: [Raj Dhaliwal](mailto:Ward05@calgary.ca)
Ward 6: [Richard Pootmans](mailto:Richard.Pootmans@calgary.ca)
Ward 7: [Terry Wong](mailto:ward7@calgary.ca)
Ward 8: [Courtney Walcott](mailto:Courtney.Walcott@calgary.ca)
Ward 9: [Gian-Carlo Carra](mailto:Gian-Carlo.Carra@calgary.ca)
Ward 10: [Andre Chabot](mailto:Ward10@calgary.ca)
Ward 11: [Kourtney Penner](mailto:Kourtney.Penner@calgary.ca)
Ward 12: [Evan Spencer](mailto:Ward12@calgary.ca)
Ward 13: [Dan McLean](mailto:Ward13@calgary.ca)
Ward 14: [Peter Demong ](mailto:peter.demong@calgary.ca)
[Find who your Councillor is](https://www.calgary.ca/council/findyourcouncillor.html)
2) Make a submission to all members of Council [on the website of the City of Calgary]( https://forms.calgary.ca/content/forms/af/public/public/public-submission-to-city-clerks.html) to expose your views on the issue
3) Speak at the July 25th public hearing, virtually or in person. You can also register [on the website of the City of Calgary]( https://forms.calgary.ca/content/forms/af/public/public/public-submission-to-city-clerks.html). The Calgary Climate Hub will participate, then can give you support and coach you if you are unsure about what to expect. You can contact them directly [by email]( mailto:SensibleGrowth@shaw.ca) and let them know that you wish to speak and that you would need their help.
*Calgary: A Sprawling Obsession* is a podcast created as part of the 2022-2023 edition of the Canadian Wilderness Stewardship Program, managed by the [Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society](https://cpaws.org/).
Music credits:
- Autumn forest, by [Olexy](https://pixabay.com/users/olexy-25300778/)
The picture used for the podcast cover is from [Kelly Hoffer](https://unsplash.com/@kellyhofer).
14 Apr 2023
Episode 3: Boxes surrounding the land
In this third and final episode, we will discuss with a member of the [Tsuut’ina nation](https://tsuutina.com/) to see how urban sprawl in Calgary affect their traditional activities, as well as how Indigenous people perceive the modifications to the land that are caused by the expansion of cities on their traditional territories. We will conclude this series with ideas from all our guests that could help to change the narrative surrounding urban sprawl.
*Calgary: A Sprawling Obsession* is a podcast created as part of the 2022-2023 edition of the [Canadian Wilderness Stewardship Program](https://cpaws.org/our-work/the-canadian-wilderness-stewardship-program/), managed by the [Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society](https://cpaws.org/).
Music credits:
- Skies Legacy, by Tristan Lohengrin - [www.tristanlohengrin.com](www.tristanlohengrin.com)
- Inspiring cinematic ambient, by [Aleksey Chistilin](https://pixabay.com/fr/users/lexin_music-28841948/)
- Remedy for Melancholy, by [Kai Engel](https://www.kai-engel.com/)
- Autumn forest, by [Olexy](https://pixabay.com/users/olexy-25300778/)
- Flat Lining (Instrumental), by [HoliznaRAPS](https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznaraps/)
- Man in the forest, by [Olexy](https://pixabay.com/users/olexy-25300778/)
- Unto the Coven (Gemini Sun) – [Plasticine Cowboy](https://plasticinecowboy.bandcamp.com/)
- Land Legs (New Amp Version), by [Andy G. Cohen](https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Andy_G_Cohen)
- Chill abstract intention, by [Yrii Semchyshyn](https://pixabay.com/fr/users/coma-media-24399569/)
- Happy love, by [Olexy](https://pixabay.com/users/olexy-25300778/)
- Bathed in Fine Dust, by [Andy G. Cohen](https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Andy_G_Cohen)
- The beat of Nature, by [Olexy](https://pixabay.com/users/olexy-25300778/)
The picture used for the podcast cover is from [Kelly Hoffer](https://unsplash.com/@kellyhofer).
31 Mar 2023
Episode 2: A square meter of ground
In this second episode, we will discuss with biologists and conservation advocates to describe the environment and ecosystems that are found within and around Calgary, and the benefits that we all gain from preserving them. We will also discuss some tools that could be used to implement strong conservation policies and properly integrate nature within the city.
*Calgary: A Sprawling Obsession* is a podcast created as part of the 2022-2023 edition of the [Canadian Wilderness Stewardship Program](https://cpaws.org/our-work/the-canadian-wilderness-stewardship-program/), managed by the [Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society](https://cpaws.org/).
Music credits:
- Skies Legacy, by Tristan Lohengrin - [www.tristanlohengrin.com](https://www.tristanlohengrin.com/)
- Inspiring cinematic ambient, by [Aleksey Chistilin](https://pixabay.com/fr/users/lexin_music-28841948/)
- Remedy for Melancholy, by [Kai Engel](https://www.kai-engel.com/)
- Autumn forest, by [Olexy](https://pixabay.com/users/olexy-25300778/)
- Flat Lining (Instrumental), by [HoliznaRAPS](https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznaraps/)
- Man in the forest, by [Olexy](https://pixabay.com/users/olexy-25300778/)
- Unto the Coven (Gemini Sun) – [Plasticine Cowboy](https://plasticinecowboy.bandcamp.com/)
- Land Legs (New Amp Version), by [Andy G. Cohen](https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Andy_G_Cohen)
- Chill abstract intention, by [Yrii Semchyshyn](https://pixabay.com/fr/users/coma-media-24399569/)
- Happy love, by [Olexy](https://pixabay.com/users/olexy-25300778/)
- Bathed in Fine Dust, by [Andy G. Cohen](https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Andy_G_Cohen)
- The beat of Nature, by [Olexy](https://pixabay.com/users/olexy-25300778/)
The picture used for the podcast cover is from [Kelly Hoffer](https://unsplash.com/@kellyhofer).
17 Mar 2023
Episode 1: Borrowing against the future
In this first episode, we will discuss with geographers and urbanists to describe the mechanisms within municipal policies and the market that encourage urban sprawl, and understand why this growth model has remained the easy solution in Calgary for the past few decades. We will also discuss the negative effects for Calgarians, from the urban planning, natural risk and economic point of view.
*Calgary: A Sprawling Obsession* is a podcast created as part of the 2022-2023 edition of the [Canadian Wilderness Stewardship Program](https://cpaws.org/our-work/the-canadian-wilderness-stewardship-program/), managed by the [Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society](https://cpaws.org/).
Connect with me on Mastodon at https://earthstream.social/@delaplaineproductions
Music credits:
- Skies Legacy, by Tristan Lohengrin - [www.tristanlohengrin.com](https://www.tristanlohengrin.com/)
- Inspiring cinematic ambient, by [Aleksey Chistilin](https://pixabay.com/fr/users/lexin_music-28841948/)
- Remedy for Melancholy, by [Kai Engel](https://www.kai-engel.com/)
- Autumn forest, by [Olexy](https://pixabay.com/users/olexy-25300778/)
- Flat Lining (Instrumental), by [HoliznaRAPS](https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznaraps/)
- Man in the forest, by [Olexy](https://pixabay.com/users/olexy-25300778/)
- Unto the Coven (Gemini Sun) – [Plasticine Cowboy](https://plasticinecowboy.bandcamp.com/)
- Land Legs (New Amp Version), by [Andy G. Cohen](https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Andy_G_Cohen)
- Chill abstract intention, by [Yrii Semchyshyn](https://pixabay.com/fr/users/coma-media-24399569/)
- Happy love, by [Olexy](https://pixabay.com/users/olexy-25300778/)
- Bathed in Fine Dust, by [Andy G. Cohen](https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Andy_G_Cohen)
- The beat of Nature, by [Olexy](https://pixabay.com/users/olexy-25300778/)
The picture used for the podcast cover is from [Kelly Hoffer](https://unsplash.com/@kellyhofer).
7 Feb 2023
Teaser
Calgary: A Sprawling Obsession is a podcast that aims at creating a discussion around urban sprawl in Calgary and its effect on biodiversity and people. Stay tuned for the release of the first episode on March 17th, 2023!
The music is *Skies Legacy* by Tristan Lohengrin ([www.tristanlohengrin.com](https://www.tristanlohengrin.com/))
The picture used for the podcast cover is from [Kelly Hofer](https://unsplash.com/fr/photos/knzWhQ5plcg).
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Contact Calgary: A Sprawling Obsession
Guest appearances
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