Calgary City Council

The Calgary City Council is the legislative governing body that represents the citizens of Calgary. The Council consists of two offices; Office of the Mayor and Office of the Alderman. The Office of the Mayor represents the mayor of Calgary, Dave Bronconnier, the 35th mayor of Calgary. The Office of the Alderman consists of 14 Aldermen (or councillors), each of whom represent the 14 wards of Calgary.

Elections

The mayor of Calgary is elected through a city-wide vote by all eligible voters. The mayor represents the interests of the city as a whole.

The aldermen are elected by the constituents of each ward. The aldermen represent the interests of their respective wards.

The mayor and aldermen hold the office for 3 year terms.

Governing System

Calgary's City Council is a council-policy committee system. The Council establishes its policies for governing the city based on information provided by four standing policy committees:

1. Operations and environment,
2. Finance,
3. Transportation, and
4. Community services.

These committees meet once every month at City Hall and are composed of aldermen and are responsible for approving and recommending policies to City Council. The general public is invited to the committee meeting to make presentations. Any decisions that come out of these meetings need final approval from the Council as a whole.

There are also a number of civic committees, boards, and authorities that help to create policies in specialized areas, such as parking, the preservation of heritage sites and buildings, and planning and development matters. These civic committees, board and authorities consist of citizens and one or more alderman.

City Council meets three Mondays every month in the Council Chambers at the Calgary Municipal Building. Two meetings are regular Council meetings, where issues from the four policy committees are discussed. The third meeting is a public hearing, where planning matters are generally discussed. Citizens do not address Council during the two regular meetings, however the public hearings are designed for the citizens to speak directly with their elected aldermen regarding specific issues.

History

Mayor

From 1823 to 1923, mayoralty elections were held annually. A plebiscite held in 1923 increased the term in office for the mayor from one to two years. In 1968, the Municipal Act increased the term in office by one year, for a total of three years.

Aldermen

From 1884 to 1886, four councillors were selected from the town. In 1894, Calgary was divided into three wards, increasing the number of councilors to six. Three Aldermen represented each ward. In 1906, a fourth ward was created, bringing the total number of Aldermen to 12.

From 1914 to 1960, Aldermen were elected from across the city for two-year terms, dismantling the ward system.

A plebiscite in 1960 re-established the ward system in the city. Six wards were established, each represented by two Aldermen. In 1976 the number of wards expanded to 14 (current number) with one Alderman representing each ward. The term of office for Mayor and Alderman is three years.

Wards, Communities and Aldermen

Ward 1

Communities:Bowness, Canada Olympic Park, Crestmont, Greenwood Village/Green Briar, Montgomery, Rocky Ridge/Royal Oak, Scenic Acres, Silver Springs, Tuscany, University of Calgary, University Heights, Valley Ridge, Varsity

Alderman: Dale Hodges

Terms in Office:

• 1983-2001
• 2001-2004
• 2004-2007

Ward 2

Communities: Arbour Lake, Citadel, Dalhousie, Edgemont, Hamptons, Hawkwood, Kincora, Ranchlands, Sherwood, Symons Valley.

Alderman: Gord Lowe

Terms in Office:

• 2001-2004
• 2004-2007

Ward 3

Communities: Belfast, Castleridge, Country Hills, Coventry Hills, Evanston, Falconridge, Harvest Hills, Martindale, Mayland Heights, Panorama Hills, Saddle Ridge, Symons Valley, Taradale, Vista Heights.

Alderman: Helen Larocque

Terms in Office:

• 2004-Present

Ward 4

Communities: Beddington Heights, Cambrian Heights, Greenview, Hidden Valley, Highland Park, Highwood, Huntington Hills, MacEwan, North Haven, Nose Hill Park, Queen's Park Village, Rosemont, Sandstone Valley, Thorncliffe.

Alderman: Bob Hawkesworth

Terms in Office:

• 1980-1986
• 1993-2001
• 2001-2004
• 2004-2007

Ward 5

Communities: Coral Springs, Monterey Park, Parkridge Estates, Pineridge, Rundle, Sunridge/Horizon Industrial Park, Temple, Whitehorn

Alderman: Ray Jones

Terms in Office:

• 1993-2001
• 2001-2004
• 2004-2007

Ward 6

Communities:Aspen Woods, Christie Park, Coach Hill, Cougar Ridge, Discovery Ridge, East Springbank, Glamorgan, Glenbrook, Glendale, Glendale Meadows, New Discovery, Patterson, Prominence Point, Richmond, Richmond Hill/Park, Rosscarrock, Signal Hill, Springbank Hill, Spruce Cliff, Strathcona Park, Westgate, Westhills, Westsprings, Wildwood.

Alderman: Criag Burrows

Term in Office:

• 2001-2004
• 2004-2007

Ward 7

Communities: Banff Trail, Brentwood, Briar Hill, Capitol Hill, Charleswood, Chinatown, Collingwood, Crescent Heights, Downtown (North), East Village, Eau Claire, Hillhurst, Hillhurst West, Hounsfield Heights, Kensington, Mount Pleasant, Parkdale, Point McKay, Rosedale, St. Andrews Heights, Sunnyside, West Hillhurst

Alderman: Druh Farrell

Terms in Office:

• 2001-2004
• 2004-2007

Ward 8

Communities: Bankview, Beltline Communities of Connaught & Victoria Park, Cliff Bungalow, Downtown West, Elbow Park, Killarney/Glengarry, Mission, Mount Royal, Richmond-Knob Hill, Rutland Park, Scarboro, Shaganappi, South Calgary, Sunalta.

Alderman:Madeleine King

Terms in Office:

• 2001-2004
• 2004-2007

Ward 9

Communities:Alyth/Bonnybrook Industrial Park, Bridgeland, Burns Industrial Park, Dover, Dover Glen, Eastfield Industrial Park, Erin Woods, Erlton, Fairview, Fairview Industrial Park, Foothills Industrial, Forest Lawn, Glendeer Business Park, Golden Triangle, Great Plains Industrial Park, Highfield Industrial Park, Inglewood, Lynnwood, Lynnwood Ridge, Manchester, Millican, Mills Estates, Ogden, Ogden Shops, Ramsay, Renfrew, Riverside, South Foothills, Shepard Industrial Park, Southview, Starfield Industrial Park, Tuxedo Park, Valleyfield Industrial Park, West Dover, Wigmore Industrial Park, Winston Heights/Mountview.

Alderman: Joe Ceci

Terms in Office:

• 1995-1998
• 1998-2001
• 2001-2004
• 2004-2007

Ward 10

Communities:Abbeydale, Albert Park/Radisson Heights, Applewood, Forest Heights, Forest Lawn, Marlborough, Marlborough Park, Penbrooke Meadows, Red Carpet/Mountview.

Alderman: Andre Chabot

Terms in Office:

• 2005-2007

Ward 11

Communities:Altadore, Bayview, Bel-Aire, Braeside, Britannia, Cedarbrae, Chinook Park, Currie Barracks, Eagle Ridge, Elbow Park, Elboya, Garrison Woods, Heritage Park, Kelvin Grove, Kingsland, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Mayfair, Meadowlark Park, Mount Royal College, North Glenmore Park, Oakridge, Palliser, Parkhill/Stanley Park, Pumphill, Rideau Park, Riverdale Park, Roxboro, Windsor Park.

Alderman: Barry Erskine

Terms in Office:

• 1992-2001
• 2001-2004
• 2004-2007

Ward 12

Communities:Acadia, Auburn Bay, Copperfield, Cranston, Douglasdale Estates, Douglas Glen, Haysboro, Maple Ridge, McKenzie Lake, McKenzie Towne, Riverbend, Seton, Willow Park

Alderman: Ric McIver

Terms in Office:

• 2001-2004
• 2004-2007

Ward 13

Communities:Bridlewood, Canyon Meadows, Evergreen Estates, Millrise, Shannon Park, Shawnee, Shawnee Slopes, Shawnessy, Somerset, Somerside, Southwood, Woodbine, Woodlands.

Alderman: Diane Colley-Urquhart

Terms in Office:

• 2000-2001
• 2001-2004
• 2004-2007

Ward 14

Communities:Bonavista Downs, Chaparral, Deer Ridge, Deer Run, Diamond Cove, Lake Bonavista, Midnapore, Parkland, Queensland, Sundance.

Alderman:Linda Fox-Mellway

Terms in Office:

• 1995-1998
• 1998-2001
• 2001-2004
• 2004-2007

See also

List of mayors of Calgary, Alberta

References

• City of Calgary