Our Safety Open House is on Monday!

Hello Ward 8,

With summer on the horizon, Calgary is starting to look and feel different from even a month ago. I can tell because I’m starting each morning with non-stop sneezing thanks to seasonal allergies.

The change in seasons also brings a change in our activities and priorities leading into the summer months. We know issues like social disorder, traffic safety, construction, and changes to water usage are on everyone’s mind. Our office is hard at work addressing some of these things, but hearing from you always directs our efforts to what is most affecting people in our Ward.

On a lighter note, community events are also getting into full swing. All kinds of clean-ups are happening most weekends along with Neighbour Day and before we know it, Stampede. The Ward 8 team is prioritizing attendance at these events and if something important to you is coming up, we want to hear about it. We are also happy to do more than talk and are happy to lend our time volunteering if a few extra hands would make things run more smoothly.

Finally, we are hosting an open house on public safety at the Parkhill Community Association, joined by representatives from all the emergency services teams we work with regularly – Police, Peace Officers, and Bylaw. Even if you can’t attend, we are actively helping residents and business owners across the Ward with the issues they’re facing and can do the same for you.

I’m off to blow my nose for the third time in as many minutes so enjoy the change in weather and we all look forward to seeing you out and about in Ward 8.

All the best,

Nathaniel Schmidt

Ward 8 Calgary City Councillor

May 25 Ward 8 Date with Nate: Safety Open House

Join Councillor Schmidt and the Ward 8 team for our first Safety Open House - a drop‑in event focused on community safety in Ward 8. Learn more about issues like social disorder, crime, and neighbourhood safety, and how they impact residents, businesses, and public spaces.

Guests will include:

Calgary Police Service, Calgary Fire Dept, Transit Public Safety, Calgary Parking, Community Safety, Vehicle For Higher, Traffic Safety, Peace Officers (Bylaw Services)

Event info:

Date: Monday May 25, 2026
Time: 6 to 8 pm, with setup available at 5:15 pm
Location: Parkhill Community Association (4013 Stanley Park Rd SW)

Although drop-ins are welcome, due to space constraints, we request you sign up in advance as priority will be given to those that have signed up.

Visit our website for more information.

June 2 Calgary Police Service: Public Safety and Crime Prevention

Our office will be joining Calgary Police for their Public Safety and Crim Prevention event at the Sunalta Community Hub on June 2 from 7 to 8:30 pm. Other guests include the Alpha House, Calgary Bylaw, and Calgary Transit. More information will be available on CPS's socials closer to the event.

Vision Zero Speed reductions in Ward 8

A city-wide review of collector roadways currently posted at 50 km/h has been initiated. Through this review, a number of locations in Ward 8 have been identified for a speed limit reduction to 40 km/h. The anticipated timeline for implementation of these changes will be between May and August 2026.

Free Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off

Many everyday products can be toxic or dangerous if they’re mistakenly placed in your blue, green or black cart. Improper disposal can create risks in your home, start fires, endanger waste collection workers and harm the environment.

The good news is that disposing of these items the right way is free, easy and safe.

1. Find a drop-off location near you at calgary.ca/hhw. If you’re unsure whether an item is hazardous, you can check this site for a list of acceptable items.

2. Prepare your items: Keep products in their original containers, sealed and labeled; keep items upright; don’t mix chemicals; place everything in a sturdy box or bin.

3. Drop it off: Follow onsite instructions and place items in the designated bins.

To dispose of other garbage, you can check out local community cleanup. Anyone is allowed to attend across the city, but you can check out the ones closest to you in Ward 8 on our website here: 2026 Community Clean-up

Reminder: Calgary's Water Efficiency Plan

Calgary is now on a permanent lawn and landscape watering schedule which helps:

- spread water use more evenly across the week

- reduce stress during peak demand periods

- optimizes how existing water infrastructure is used

Know your watering days:

Even street address (ending in 0,2,4,6,8) is Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday

Odd street address (ending in 1,3,5,7,9) is Wednesday, Friday, Sunday

Calgary Flood Season Runs Now Until mid-July

Mid-May through mid-July are the two months each year when river floods are most likely to occur. The City's annual flood preparations are complete, and they're now on duty 24/7 to monitor river conditions, weather forecasts and the melting mountain snowpack.

Although there’s been above average snowfall in our mountains this winter, this is not a significant cause of concern from a flood perspective. Snowmelt typically accounts for less than 20 per cent of the river flow during a flood event but there are many factors that contribute to river flooding events, by far the most significant is when there is heavy rainfall upstream of Calgary. High mountain snowpack is actually a good indicator that the Bow and Elbow Rivers will maintain strong flow this spring and summer, which is good news for Calgary’s water supply.

Additionally, as Calgary heads into flood season, the city is more resilient than ever. While last year saw the completion of the Springbank Reservoir, providing additional protection along the Elbow River, this year marks yet another key milestone in Calgary’s flood resilience journey.

The communities of Sunnyside and Hillhurst are now protected from a 1-in-100 flood, thanks to the functional completion of the long-awaited Sunnyside Flood Barrier. The 2.4 km barrier includes a combination of permanent concrete and metal flood walls, with additional temporary barriers to close gaps across roadways and pathways during flood response. For the latest information, visit www.calgary.ca/sunnysidebarrier.

The City also reminds Calgarians that flooding can’t be entirely prevented so it’s important to take a few steps to be ready, and always exercise caution around riverbanks in the spring, as the fast-moving water can cause erosion and destabilization. If your property could be at risk of flooding, here are a few steps you can take to be ready for flood season:

Understand. Use our online interactive flood maps to know your home and community’s risk.
Prepare. Take steps to reduce flood damage, keep your loved ones safe and be prepared if you need to evacuate quickly.
Stay informed. River conditions can change quickly and with little warning. Visit calgary.ca/floodinfo for a quick snapshot of daily river conditions, sign up for alerts to stay informed and pay attention to any boating advisories issued by The City.

Free E-scooter and E-bike Trips at Select Calgary Transit Stations

Calgarians now have an affordable way to connect to transit with free 10-minute e-scooter and e-bike trips available at select Calgary Transit stations. Bird Canada and Neuron will fund the service under new five-year permits.

The program is giving Calgarians another option to get to and from transit stations with e-scooters and e-bikes at the following LRT stations:

Bird Canada:

Heritage
Southland
45th Street
Crowfoot

Neuron:

Barlow/Max Bell
Franklin
Rundle
Saddletowne

To access the 10-minute free trip, customers need to use the company’s app to start and stop their ride. After the free 10 minutes, regular fees apply. Learn more at Shared Micromobility (e-Bikes and e-Scooters) program.