We are in a housing crisis. When the average Calgarian can’t afford to rent–let alone buy–the average home, it’s clear something’s broken. Renters are even more vulnerable when rents rise faster than wages, and vacancies are few and far between. Many are one rent increase or lease expiry away from being forced out of their communities—or the city entirely. For students, this is an even more acute situation because of the extra costs of education and the need to focus on schooling.

We are the only campaign that has introduced a platform for renters and think it is important to ensure students have housing so they can worry about grades, not where they can sleep. As mayor, I will work to protect renters and ensure that we all have a path to stable and affordable housing:

• Launch a Calgary Renters’ Support Office to provide legal information, mediation, and support.
• Advocate to the province for improved rental protections, including clear rules around ‘renovictions’ and reasonable notice standards, and advocacy for the expansion of rent-geared-to-income housing, where rent is based on a tenant’s ability to pay.
• Support the creation of a Non-Market Housing Acquisition Fund to preserve at-risk rental buildings.
• Champion a Housing First strategy prioritizing permanent housing with wraparound supports.
• Establish a Renters’ Advisory Council ensuring that tenant voices help shape municipal housing policy, for example, to begin exploration of a Maximum Heat Bylaw.

You can see more of my housing platform at jeromy.ca

Students have a right to be housed with dignity, and the City of Calgary must be an active partner in ensuring that this housing gets delivered.

All of these add taxes in what is a provincial domain.

I will commit to exploring more purpose-built student housing in Calgary. We need balanced and affordable housing options, and that includes making sure students have safe and practical places to live. Every student deserves housing that reflects their reality, and I want to reduce barriers that make it harder to deliver that kind of housing. I will advocate to ensure the City’s housing needs assessment properly accounts for students. If we want a fair and accurate picture of housing in Calgary, students’ needs must be included.

I am open to exploring a landlord licensing system with the Government of Alberta, as well, provided it improves safety and accountability for renters without creating unnecessary red tape that drives up costs.

Calgary is facing a housing crisis, and students are feeling it too. We need to plan for purpose-built student housing as part of the city's broader housing strategy — including options for students with families. Housing must be tied to reliable infrastructure like transit so students can live affordably and access campuses with ease.

At City Hall, we'll advocate to ensure student needs are recognized in the City's Housing Needs Assessment and explore tools like landlord licensing to protect renters. Students should be able to focus on their studies, not whether they can afford rent or find a safe place to live.

I have experienced the frustration firsthand of advocating my community and government officials being unwilling to pay attention to these concerns. This is what inspired me to run for City Council in Ward 11 in 2017.

I believe that a part of the Mayor’s role is to use their platform to bring orders of government and stakeholders together. When the Mayor of Calgary calls a meeting, the Government of Alberta has to pay attention. If we are really focused on building a city where students can get an education and build a life, we have to foster collaboration and bring everyone to the table.

I have been able to build these relationships and foster agreements during my career, including as the CEO of Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation when we worked with ranchers, environmentalists, the province and others to save the park from being flooded by finding another, better solution that worked well for every party.

My platform includes many ideas for collaboration and support for post-secondary institutions as they are both an essential part of building a vibrant and well-informed city, and drivers of economic opportunity and innovation.

You can see more at jeromy.ca/platform

Post-secondary institutions provide opportunity for students to advance their careers. It is critical to have joint advocacy in advancing the need for greater investment in post-secondaries.

Create more Charlie Kirks. Fire leftist professors. Delete useless degrees.

Post-secondary institutions are essential to Calgary’s economy and future. We want to bring people to Calgary and keep them here, and that starts and ends with great post-secondary options for everyone.

I will collaborate directly with our post-secondary institutions to strengthen opportunities for students, connect them to local jobs, internships, and ensure our city grows in alignment with their needs.

Post-secondary institutions are central to Calgary's economy, culture, and growth. As elected leaders, we'll work with the University where appropriate to support funding from the federal and provincial governments and also working directly with campuses to strengthen partnerships.

When students succeed, Calgary succeeds — from innovation and research to entrepreneurship and workforce readiness.

I am releasing my youth-focused platform in the coming days, which includes youth employment initiatives to:

• Pilot Youth Entrepreneurship Zones—designated spaces in city-owned facilities such as libraries and recreation centres where young people can pilot pop-up businesses, tech ideas, or art studios with mentorship and small grants.
• Commit to summer student hiring through a “First Job with the City” hiring stream for 16–24 year olds. Paid summer jobs in parks, recreation, and administration will give thousands of youth their first work experience while filling seasonal labour gaps.
• Sponsor a Youth Fellowship in the Mayor’s Office for post-secondary students to complete a research or policy project at City Hall and gain practical civic experience while shaping real solutions for Calgary.

I understand the immense importance of building employment opportunities for young people. Youth engagement is much more than a “box to check.”

It’s a two-way conversation where young people are full partners in shaping Calgary’s future. Our city’s long-term prosperity depends on creating pathways for youth to thrive—in school, in work, in public life, and in their neighbourhoods.

Youth employment is the foundation for our economy. We need to ensure that barriers to employment are identified and removed.

In addition, initiatives like the Council-funded Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund are able to support youth in gaining employment by providing grants to organizations like The Knowledge Society.

There is a huge misuse of current employment especially under DEI.

I see Calgary’s high youth unemployment rate as an urgent concern. I will work to create the conditions for businesses to grow and hire, and I will prioritize solutions that connect students with meaningful work and skill-building opportunities.

I will explore expanding municipal work and volunteer opportunities for students. Calgary should be a city where young Calgarians can contribute, learn, and grow into community leadership.

Youth unemployment remains a serious challenge. Too many students struggle to find that first job or meaningful career experience.

The City can help lead by example — expanding municipal volunteering, mentorship, apprenticeship, and work-integrated learning opportunities. Entry-level roles should also provide training and pathways for advancement.

Supporting students into the workforce isn't just short-term help — it's an investment in Calgary's long-term prosperity.

I have experienced food insecurity at several points in my life and will champion initiatives to de-stigmatize this and highlight the huge challenges students and youth face in Calgary.

Student food insecurity spiked by 40% last year, which puts a huge strain on young Calgarians who are trying to learn and build opportunities for the future.

In my platform, I have pledged to:

• Provide stable, multi-year funding to social sector organisations to address the acute need for many services.
• Further drive youth employment and mentorship opportunities.
• Ensure the voices of young Calgarians are a key part of conversations around food insecurity.
• Champion City plans like the Food Resilience Plan.

It’s important to have confidential access to food available for students.

Projects like the free pantry allow for students and youth to access food anonymously. We must also remove the stigma by talking about the issue and stressing the need to create more food security.

Opposite inflationary spending. Shrinkage of currency the problem.

Affordability is one of the biggest challenges we face today, and practical steps are needed to ensure vulnerable residents, including students, are supported.

I will work to reduce the stigma that students and young people may feel when they seek help for food insecurity. No one should feel shame in asking for help, and I believe the City has a role in building awareness and making programs more accessible.

Food security is a growing concern across Calgary, and students are among those hardest hit. We will build on the City's Food Resilience Plan, making sure it reflects student realities. That means reducing stigma, ensuring supports are accessible and dignified, and connecting food programs to broader affordability measures — housing, transit, and other supports. No student should have to choose between eating and studying.

I have committed to extend the Low-Income Transit Pass program for ten years. This is an essential step to tackle poverty reduction and address the needs of many young people right now.

I have also committed to complete Phase 1 of the Green Line and advance conversations with community, industry, and province on future phases.

Additionally, I support strengthening the Bus Rapid Transit route that serves the north leg of the Green Line to get people moving now while they are waiting for light rail to get to them.

You can read my full 25-point plan on mobility here: jeromy.ca/policy-brief/moving-forward/

The U-pass system has been in place for a long time and may need an overhaul.

Ensuring that students are able to access low income transit passes in lieu of U-pass may be a better solution.

Use buses.

I support the completion of the Green Line. Calgary must deliver transit projects responsibly, on time, on budget, and with reliable service that people can count on.

I worked hard to ensure the Green Line made it from the Event Centre to the south, and will continue to work hard on the downtown and north leg.

I will commit to exploring ways to make sure our transit system reliably serves all post-secondary campuses.

Transit should work for the people who rely on it most, and students need safe and dependable access to every part of our city.

Whether the U-Pass, low-income pass, or otherwise, there are options for students to access transit.

A reliable, affordable, and safe transit system is essential for students.

We support the full completion of the Green Line, with a focus on delivering the north leg, and expanding MAX and BRT routes to serve all campuses.

We'll also push for immediate improvements in frequency, safety features like lighting and CCTVs, and better connections to growing communities.

Students deserve transit that respects their time, safety, and budgets.

Students face unique housing challenges from affordability and lease stability to safety and proximity to school, and I strongly support more purpose-built and diverse student housing options as part of a broader mixed housing ecosystem. As someone who worked for over a decade at the University of Calgary’s CJSW and who has lived in the neighbouring community of Banff Trail for 15 years, I’ve seen firsthand the pressures students face living on and around campus.

We must stop treating students as a homogenous group of single renters and instead plan for the diverse needs of families, graduate students, and international students, as well as the varied ways students with modern lives and interests want to live while attending school. That means expanding student housing not just on campuses but in the surrounding communities that end up providing a lot of market housing due to proximity, and we should be seizing on opportunities like office-to-housing conversions that can help to meet the growing needs of Bow Valley College and the expanding downtown satellite campuses.

I will also advocate for student housing to be explicitly included in the City’s Housing Needs Assessment, and I support implementing a thoughtful landlord licensing system to improve quality standards and protect renters, especially in neighbourhoods with high student populations where the turnover can be high and we often see issues around overcrowding and other problematic conditions.

Spurring construction of more purpose-built student housing will require pulling a few different levers. Students need more market and nonmarket housing, and they need it closer to their campus. Calgary must begin by legalizing increased density and housing supply, by C-Train stations and post-secondary campuses. While there appears to be consensus on the benefits of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), our city has failed to enact it. If elected, I will push for city-initiated rezoning of areas around post-secondary campuses and C-Train stations. It’s better for students’ quality of life, affordability, our climate, and our city’s finances.

Calgary lacks a history of student housing development. The result is difficulty finding developers who wish to take on a student housing project. If elected, I will seek to direct City Administration to create a developers’ guide on student housing, in consultation with students’ associations, post-secondary institutions, and subject matter experts. I would further use my office to advocate that new developments around C-Train stations include dedicated student housing or otherwise deeply affordable housing units that are accessible to students. This would include prioritizing mixed-model nonprofit housing organizations and Calgary Housing Company (CHC) developments during the application process, both of which would supply units suitable for student families.

CHC’s housing stock is inadequate, and many of its units have fallen into disrepair. This impedes CHC as a significant housing option to students and other vulnerable Calgarians. A cornerstone of my campaign is ending costly urban sprawl. Urban sprawl drains Calgary’s financial resources with new, inefficient infrastructure and inadequate tax bases. If elected, I will continue supporting gentle density in neighbourhoods, raising the tax base, and enabling Calgary to fund more construction of CHC housing.

Downtown student housing is a core part of Calgary’s Downtown Revitalization Strategy, and it is something I support. However, as ward councillor, I would work collaboratively with students’ associations and City Administration to put the $25 million downtown student housing funding to work, including by increasing procurement efforts. If elected, I will also direct City Administration to study the creation of a broader Student Housing Incentive Program, of similar function to the Downtown Post-Secondary Institution Incentive Program, to support and incentivize nonmarket housing construction that reserves units for students. This measure will include leveraging provincial and federal dollars to ensure the burden does not solely rest on the city and post-secondary institutions.

I endeavour to bring data-driven decision-making to my office, if elected. If elected, I will invest in Calgary’s Open Data Program and direct City Administration to supplement an improved Housing Needs Assessment with a Post-Secondary Student Housing Survey, akin to Edmonton’s, to gain a deeper understanding of students’ current needs.

I support the implementation of a landlord licensing scheme, a rental registry, anti-renoviction bylaws, and a maximum heat bylaw. In August, I spoke at a rally with ACORN Calgary, where I committed to introducing a Notice of Motion to initiate the creation of landlord licensing and a landlord registry. Council has made no movement on landlord licensing, despite its being a part of Calgary’s new Housing Strategy.

Overall, I encourage you to read my full housing platform at Davidfor7 - Housing, in which I include measures to reduce the friction between builders and residents. Not only are these measures reasonable in that they uphold existing bylaw and reduce safety concerns for current and future neighbours, but they are necessary to reduce opposition to building the new housing that we need.

Calgary is facing a housing crisis, and students are feeling it too. We need to plan for purpose-built student housing as part of the city's broader housing strategy - including options for students with families. Housing must be tied to reliable infrastructure like transit so students can live affordably and access campuses with ease. At City Hall, we'll advocate to ensure student needs are recognized in the City's Housing Needs Assessment and explore tools like landlord licensing to protect renters. Students should be able to focus on their studies, not whether they can afford rent or find a safe place to live.

While post-secondary support is largely a provincial responsibility, cities like Calgary still need to advocate for the needs of their people. For me, that means adding post-secondary advocacy to a list that already includes related issues like the Green Line, housing affordability and rent control, and youth employment. Post-secondaries are critical drivers of Calgary’s cultural and economic vitality. Institutions like the University of Calgary, Bow Valley College, SAIT, and MRU bring research, innovation, and energy to our city. I will press the province for stronger support while ensuring the City continues to partner with campuses, whether through downtown expansion opportunities or integrating students into city projects. My own experience leading CJSW and working at the Calgary Public Library has shown me how post-secondary communities strengthen Calgary as a whole.

I proudly support increasing post-secondary students’ presence in our downtown. This is something called for by nearly every stakeholder, and it is something I hope to accelerate if elected.

As a University of Calgary sessional instructor and researcher, I have personally experienced the province’s financial and ideological attacks against post-secondary institutions. I have also experienced the lack of political support for students, faculty, and other staff when university leadership or the province fail us.

While post-secondary funding, student jobs, and provincial interference in university governance fall within provincial jurisdiction, I believe that the Ward 7 city councillor should act as an advocate to support their post-secondary constituents wherever possible.

Therefore, if elected, I will:

● Use my office as a watchdog against provincial overreach in our police force against student protesters.

● Reverse the lackluster communication between the Ward 7 councillor’s office and students’ association leadership by committing to quarterly and as-needed meetings with students’ associations.

● Collaborate with students’ associations to pressure the province into restoring the Summer Temporary Employment Program (STEP), including by utilizing my connection to Alberta Municipalities, if the newly announced Alberta Youth Employment Incentive proves inadequate.

● Explore increases to the Downtown Post-Secondary Incentive Program.

● Conduct a safety audit around the SAPL campus and future post-secondary sites.

● Invest in improved lighting, more direct transit routes, and other safety measures for the SAPL campus and future post-secondary sites.

● Encourage more research and job opportunities by streamlining the ability for community associations, city business units, and community organizations to formally partner with faculty and students to tackle local issues.

● Use my office to support and supplement public messaging from students’ associations and post-secondary institutions about the need for increased provincial funding.

Youth unemployment remains a serious challenge. Too many students struggle to find that first job or meaningful career experience. The City can help lead by example — expanding municipal volunteering, mentorship, apprenticeship, and work-integrated learning opportunities. Entry-level roles should also provide training and pathways for advancement. Supporting students into the workforce isn't just short-term help - it's an investment in Calgary's long-term prosperity.

Students bring creativity, energy, and commitment to Calgary. I support reserving more spaces for them in municipal projects, from city-building initiatives to arts and cultural programming, both as paid and volunteer opportunities. At CJSW, I saw firsthand the value of youth employment programs like the Summer Temporary Employment Program (STEP) and Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ). These programs usually doubled our small non-profit staff over the summer while giving students extremely valuable opportunities to bridge their education into the workforce. Young people attending our schools are one of the biggest on-ramps of talent and vibrancy to our city, and we should be working harder to retain this talent after graduation. My platform also calls for activating vacant City buildings with youth-led programming, creating spaces for students to lead, connect, and gain experience. Addressing youth unemployment is essential not just for students but for Calgary’s long-term cultural and economic strength.

If elected, I will push for significant expansions to our city services to meet the demands of our rapidly growing inner-city communities. In doing so, I commit to directing City Administration to reserve work and volunteer opportunities in these expanded services and new facilities. Whether I am championing the Foothills Multisport Fieldhouse and Athletic Park redevelopment or directing City Administration to study an issue, I will advocate for the consideration of including student jobs.

Therefore, if elected, I will:

• Collaborate with students’ associations to pressure the province into restoring the Summer Temporary Employment Program (STEP), including by utilizing my connection to Alberta Municipalities, if the newly announced Alberta Youth Employment Incentive is inadequate.
• Create more co-op, apprentice, and volunteer opportunities by connecting Calgary’s Civic Partner organizations with post-secondary institutions’ co-op, apprenticeship, and volunteer offices.
• Encourage more research and job opportunities by streamlining the ability for community associations, city business units, and community organizations to formally partner with faculty and students to tackle local issues.
• Continue summer hiring programs and encourage City Administration to identify new youth employment opportunities when jobs are created due to increased investment in public services.
• Provide resource guides for nonprofits, festivals, Civic Partners, and arts organizations on how best to advertise volunteer opportunities to students.
• Explore increases to the Downtown Post-Secondary Incentive Program.
• Conduct a safety audit around the SAPL campus and future post-secondary sites.
• Invest in improved lighting, more direct transit routes, and other safety measures for the SAPL campus and future post-secondary sites.

Youth unemployment remains a serious challenge. Too many students struggle to find that first job or meaningful career experience. The City can help lead by example — expanding municipal volunteering, mentorship, apprenticeship, and work-integrated learning opportunities. Entry-level roles should also provide training and pathways for advancement. Supporting students into the workforce isn't just short-term help - it's an investment in Calgary's long-term prosperity.

Food insecurity is rising across Calgary, and students are especially impacted. I will continue to support and expand the City’s Food Resilience Plan and partner with student associations to ensure students know what resources are available without shame or stigma. No student or Calgarian should have to choose between rent and groceries, which is why my platform includes strengthening nonprofit and community-led initiatives that provide essential services like food security.

Beyond immediate supports, I believe in long-term solutions such as promoting urban agriculture and low-cost improvements like community gardens and urban orchards, which provide fresh food close to where people live and study while building stronger neighbourhood connections.

Knowing that you’re not alone helps reduce stigma, particularly with food insecurity. If elected, I will work with Vibrant Communities Calgary (VCC) and to include post-secondary student demographics when surveying Calgarians about food insecurity. I would also use my office to raise awareness about major poverty indicators, including food insecurity, for students and other vulnerable populations in Ward 7. If elected, my office would seek to ease municipal permitting restrictions for community fridges and pantries. I believe we require more ‘no-questions-asked’ supports to combat stigma.

Mobility is a challenge for students, particularly those living where transit connections are few. Too many students take long walks through the dead of winter to retrieve groceries. My platform includes measures to create more corner stores to introduce a walkable option, and my office would seek increased transit frequency and direct routes between large student populations and grocery stores. I support the work being done by the city’s team behind the Food Resilience Plan and look forward to collaborating with them to establish concrete metrics for Ward 7, if elected.

Food security is a growing concern across Calgary, and students are among those hardest hit. We will build on the City's Food Resilience Plan, making sure it reflects student realities. That means reducing stigma, ensuring supports are accessible and dignified, and connecting food programs to broader affordability measures - housing, transit, and other supports. No student should have to choose between eating and studying.

Reliable, affordable transit is critical for students, and it benefits the entire city when students can get where they need to go safely and on time. I have already committed to fare-free transit for all youth 18 and under, restoring four-car CTrains, and improving reliability and frequency system-wide so that students aren’t left waiting at overcrowded stops or missing classes and shifts. I strongly support completing the Green Line the right way, fully through downtown and into north-central Calgary, while continuing to explore expansions that connect more communities.

Just as important is ensuring post-secondary campuses like MRU and Foothills have dependable transit connections, including exploring direct or shuttle options where service is currently lacking. My priorities also include completing missing pathway connections, making active transportation safer and more accessible, and ensuring transit and mobility planning is inclusive of children, seniors, and people with disabilities. Students should never be left behind at the bus stop, and they should feel that transit is a safe, reliable, and sustainable choice during their studies and beyond.

Rather than undermining municipal negotiations with the province regarding the Green Line, as our current Ward 7 councillor has done, I will bring a more outspoken, public, and activist approach to the issue. I commit to working with stakeholder groups to increase political pressure on the province to secure a commitment for the north leg of the Green Line, as well as an underground alignment.

I will push to finally fund the Route Ahead plan to ensure 10-minute service for C-Train, MAX bus lines and BRTs. I will couple this with transit-friendly infrastructure, such as bus stop carve-outs, to keep buses from getting stuck in traffic. I will push to move beyond the Route Ahead plan and invest more heavily in additional transit connections, increased frequency, and more direct routes (including shuttles where needed). We also require 24-hour C-Train service to support night life and our night shift workers.

Improved safety on transit requires more eyes on the platform and addressing the homelessness crisis at its core. I support increased lighting, heating/cooling centres so unhoused Calgarians don’t need to use transit as refuge, restoring kiosks and small businesses to C-Train stations, and more. Fundamentally, we require a housing first approach, and I encourage you to read this part of my platform on my website.

I will work with the Ward 8 councillor to add bus service to MRU and secure a greater supply of buses to prevent overloading.

Calgary has posted a $220 million surplus. We can afford to heavily invest in transit.

As a freshwater and climate scientist, I share students’ concerns about climate change. I encourage the CSA team to consider reading my answers to the Calgary Environment Roundtable questionnaire to see my further thoughts.

A reliable, affordable, and safe transit system is essential for students. We support the full completion of the Green Line, with a focus on delivering the north leg, and expanding MAX and BRT routes to serve all campuses. We'll also push for immediate improvements in frequency, safety features like lighting and CCTVs, and better connections to growing communities. Students deserve transit that respects their time, safety, and budgets.

If elected, I will advocate for a housing system that provides housing options for all diverse groups in our city. Students are an important group in our society, and you are pointing out very important challenges you are facing. We need to work with developers, city official planners, and feedback from the community to find housing solutions that provide a decent style of living, including creating regulations to provide good life conditions for renters.

One concept that I love is University District. It is a concept with an integral vision that provides similar street landscape, ordered densification, housing inventory, retail spaces, parking in streets, and underground parking, park areas, event space, and other amenities. We need to develop this type of concept around the city, so people can enjoy their neighbourhoods.

The most direct approach to housing affordability is an increase to our housing stock - non-market, market, and student focused alike. I recall a prolonged and, eventually victorious advocacy drive by Calgary students regarding secondary suites that recognized this very issue. By increasing the availability of housing, students stand to benefit. That requires a multi-pronged approach. Our zoning system needs to be torn down and simplified, allowing for responsible densification that adds to the housing stock while meeting the diverse needs of the market. That means housing that can address the requirements of students, individuals, and family units across two or more generations. In simple terms, students are served when the entire city is served - and my plan sees to it.

As for a landlord licensing or public disclosure/review system, there are certainly examples of it that have been brought to my attention. New York, I know, provides public tools that allow tenants to search their landlord’s records on publicly-disclosed housing violations and legal actions. I’m yet to be delivered a Calgary-specific brief on a licensing system - but as I like to say, I’m not in the practice of impeding good public policy. If we explore the idea and it seems like a good policy, I’ll get behind it.

On introducing more purpose-built student housing: I support exploring additional student housing options, particularly where they make sense near campuses and transit. Ward 8 has some of the city’s strongest post-secondary institutions, and students deserve to feel part of thriving neighbourhoods. My approach is to push for growth that provides a range of housing options, and this includes housing for students.

Areas around our post-secondary institutions are growing and changing. Currie Barracks adjacent to Mount Royal in Ward 8 is a perfect example. That neighbourhood is quickly adding amenities, housing, and more services. I believe there is an opportunity here to work with Mount Royal to share plans and strategies for upcoming development to ensure that student housing is included in this growth. Working together to bring in more of this type of development in this area will also justify improvements to transit service and other amenities based on population growth.

Westbrook C-Train station is another key opportunity for student housing in Ward 8. The city took possession of this land from the former developer in late 2024 and we received $7 million as a result of the arrangement. This is once again public land which gives the City more control over how it is developed. I see the opportunity for a mix of housing options - including non-market housing, purpose-built rentals, and market housing. Westbrook is a prime location for students because of its proximity to services and rapid transit routes connected to most of Calgary’s post-secondary institutions.

On meeting the diverse needs of students: I believe housing policy must reflect the diversity of our city. That includes students with families, graduate students, and international students. I will advocate for a mix of housing options that serve different needs. One important missing piece that comes to mind is rentals with three or more bedrooms that support students who have families. There is a lack of this housing type throughout Calgary and its inclusion in neighbourhoods close to post-secondary institutions would be beneficial for students, but also other families who would benefit from this form of housing. Locating it near post-secondary institutions adds additional benefits as those within Ward 8 are close to services, amenities, and public spaces which helps make life more affordable and more enriching by eliminating the cost and time of additional travel.

On the housing needs assessment: I think it’s important that students are recognized as a distinct demographic in housing discussions. Students face unique pressures: high rents, low vacancy, and often no family support. That should be part of the data Council relies on. The Housing Strategy addresses some of these needs but I think specific focus on our student population is needed because we all benefit when we enable young adults to afford to live, study, work, and remain in Calgary.

This is why I fully support the 98 actions in the Housing Strategy. Together, they create a pipeline of improved affordability that provides diverse housing options for people at all stages of life. Along with providing housing for students, we also need affordable housing options for graduates in the early stages of their careers. The average annual income required for rent or ownership in Calgary is growing beyond the means of many young adults and this must change.

I moved to Calgary in 2008 following my undergraduate degree in Lethbridge and at 22. I had limited financial resources and did not grow up in Calgary. Access to affordable rent kept me in this city, which I have called home for nearly 20 years. We must address these gaps in housing so more young adults have the same opportunity to live in and contribute to our city.

On landlord licensing: I support exploring options that ensure safe, livable rental housing for everyone. My priority is accountability and safety while avoiding unnecessary costs that risk being passed on to the renter and increasing costs that are already too high for many students. Advocating for these changes requires careful strategy and collaboration because the province controls many of the rules related to the landlord-tenant relationship. There are some approaches I think would work best.

The first and most important is finding opportunities for partnerships with other municipalities in Alberta such as Edmonton, Lethbridge, Red Deer, and Medicine Hat. A landlord licensing system would be most effective if implemented across the province because so many landlords manage properties in multiple municipalities. It also allows for the sharing of resources and systems.

This leads to the second approach, which is consultation with the province. The rules around tenancy in Alberta are in need of an update to better address new challenges being faced by renters and gaps that exist in the current rules. The City can be a leader in this process and encourage the province to work together to create a system that makes life better for renters. The third approach is identifying areas of need that are within the City’s capacity to change. This could include issues such as temperature standards for apartment units and noise control. These are both public health issues and municipalities have the ability to create bylaws in this area.

We are experiencing more extreme weather and renters are most vulnerable to its effects. Many rental units have substandard systems to provide comfortable temperatures and renters are facing increased health risks as a result. Higher standards means healthier people and we need to start exploring solutions now before the problem becomes worse. Many rental units are built in high traffic areas and Calgary is seeing more problems around vehicles modified to produce disruptive and harmful noise levels. The City is currently undertaking a pilot program to enforce noise standards but it does not have the scope to make a significant impact. I want to see this program expanded and more research done to see how other cities around the world have found solutions. There is no public benefit to allowing this to continue, and there is strong public support for this initiative.

We need to work in collaboration with provincial and federal partners so we can allocate more resources to educational institutions so they can create modern programs that are aligned with the current educational needs in a new digital economy. We need to support post secondary institutions to create new programs based on futuristic careers with a practical approach where students can be graduated with skills that the market is demanding.

I won’t keep you waiting on this one. I support public education, and I support strong connections between our publicly-funded PSIs and the communities in which they educate. One of my campaign co-chairs is a former vice chair of the CSA, my personal assistant a former chair of it. I’m certain they’d not sign on if I felt differently.

I believe the City should view post-secondaries as key partners. We’ve already seen success with the City’s support of UCalgary’s new downtown campus. I want to see more of these win-win partnerships that bring students, businesses, and communities together. Again, Mount Royal is a key opportunity in this process. The surrounding development in Currie Barracks will attract young families and a mix of housing types, and collaborating with Mount Royal to continue this vision with the inclusion of services that benefit students will make a stronger Calgary for everyone.

I will use my voice as a councillor to press the province on the importance of investing in Calgary’s post-secondaries. These institutions drive innovation and create jobs, and they are anchors for Calgary’s long-term success. We can be a leader through showing by example. This includes prioritizing development around post-secondary institutions that makes life more affordable for students and makes Calgary a city where people seek out their post-secondary education. Showing the provincial and federal governments that we are doing the hard work to attract students gives us credibility and creates the foundation for greater supports from both levels of government.

We need to provide opportunities for new generations. I will propose the creation of a mentorship program for new graduates so they can have the opportunity to be working with City of Calgary employees. New graduates can learn practical skills and gain experience. City staff can have some valuable support from youth and energetic people.

Look, this is an urgent problem. I refer in my policies to the rise of youth unemployment from 13.8% to 17% year-over-year, and it’s a guiding light for myself and the group of young volunteers that make up my team.

Let’s talk about municipal work opportunities. To help youth enter the workforce, gain valuable experience, mentorship, training, and enter careers in public service, I want the city to fund, to start, 2500 new youth summer jobs with the City of Calgary and partner organizations providing valued services to the community. These entry level roles would be distributed across various sectors such as parks and recreation, community services, conservation, and culture.

There’s more work to be done in economic development to create jobs and a clear path from graduation to employment there, but I digress.

Young people need opportunities to contribute and gain experience. While the City can’t solve everything, it can do better at opening doors for students to get involved in civic projects and seasonal employment. We must maintain funding for City programming directed towards students and recent graduates including the summer jobs, internships, co-ops, and entry-level positions.

I am committed to exploring [municipal work and volunteering opportunities]. Students bring energy, skills, and creativity. I’ve seen it in our community associations and local initiatives. We need to make it easier for them to plug into city-building work.

I believe the City also has a strong role as an enabler through partnering with community organizations that provide youth employment opportunities. By providing space, funding, and communication in collaboration with these organizations and post-secondary institutions, we can create a pipeline for students to find work without having to leave our city. This approach provides diverse options for students to find volunteering and work that match their training and skillsets while also strengthening the organizations doing important work who choose to participate.

We can also enable entrepreneurs through other programming such as pilot programs for start-up businesses on city-owned land such as C-Train stations. By removing barriers for rent and providing space for young people to pilot business ideas, we can create opportunities for young people to enter the business world.

Students need all the support of our society to be concentrated in their studies. I will be in favour of supporting any initiative that provides support for hard working students.

Food security is a massive concern, and more needs to be done. I’ve always approached social supports from a place of stigma reduction and elimination - there is simply no need to feel shame or embarrassment over asking for the help you need. This is the beating heart of equity - understanding that individuals need different things and allowing us, as a society, to freely meet those needs. As the beneficiary of social supports myself, and as a longtime advocate for Canadians with disabilities, I count this as a central tenet of my worldview.

I support the City’s ongoing efforts on food resilience. I will advocate for making sure students are included when we talk about food security and that the programs we fund meet the needs of those most in need of help. We must focus on the types of initiatives that produce measurable outcomes and real benefits and it must be more than awareness and education.

I will work with partners – campus groups, non-profits, and community associations – to ensure resources are accessible and stigma-free. Through my work providing legal services for low-income individuals, I see how barriers to entry create more problems than they solve. Services must be easily accessible and allow students to comfortably and confidentially receive the help they need. Partnering with post-secondary institutions to assist in providing communication, space, and points of contact if they’ve identified a need in their student body is an approach I believe would work best.

The Green Line must be completed, and also the train from the airport to downtown. I am in favour of creating more transportation lines including BRT buses from remote communities to downtown that can travel long distances with few stops. Reliable transportation with reduced waiting times is critical to be more productive in our society.

I supported the completion of the Green Line when it was first proposed in 1841 (haha), and I support it now. I’ll keep this answer brief - transit allows for the easy movement of goods and people through a city. Anyone who wants to get in the way of that is a dolt. That’s why I want to expand the free fare zone, introduce a circle line around our inner city core, and invest in deeper and robust transit systems writ large. It wouldn’t hurt to get students in the room on UPass contract renewals, either, would it?

The Green Line is vital infrastructure, and I support its full build-out to bring affordable transportation options to all areas of Calgary. The funding from both levels of government appears to be secured but more work is needed to find the best solution for the downtown alignment. In the meantime, knowing that the south leg is being constructed, we need to start working now to plan future transit routes and biking/walking corridors that connect adjacent communities to this new resource safely and efficiently.

I’ve heard from Mount Royal University students in Ward 8 that current service is often overcrowded and unreliable. I will push for service improvements so that students can rely on rapid transit bus lines to get to class, work, and community activities. As with the Green Line, connectivity within communities is a key factor to making this work. Rapid transit bus routes that service Mount Royal from other neighbourhoods in the city must be accessible by frequent service on feeder transit routes and walking/biking corridors. This also connects to our strategies for where student housing options are built and why we have identified more student housing in the vicinity of Mount Royal and Currie Barracks and Westbrook C-Train station as key opportunities within Ward 8.

Thank you for sending over the survey. I appreciate the opportunity to review the issues important to the Calgary Student Alliance.

However, I believe many of the questions fall under provincial jurisdiction and funding. Without the full context of the province's current initiatives to address these complex issues, I don't feel it would be appropriate to provide simple yes or no answers.

Should I be successful in the upcoming election, I would be pleased [to] discuss student concerns in more detail and explore how the City of Calgary can effectively contribute to addressing them.

I’ve heard from many students who are really feeling the pressure of Calgary’s housing market. If we want to attract students and build vibrant post-secondary communities, housing has to be part of that conversation. As councillor, I’ll listen to students’ experiences, identify the gaps, and explore how the City can support safer, purpose-built housing including options for those with families. Housing also needs to be planned alongside reliable infrastructure like transit, so students can get where they need to go. At the end of the day, students should be able to focus on their studies and research, not stress about their living situation. I’ll be an advocate for making that possible at City Hall.

As a University of Calgary alum and someone who’s been involved in Calgary’s start-up community, I know how important our post-secondary institutions are to the success of the city. If elected, I want to advocate for students and highlight the valuable contributions you make to our economy and culture. I’ll also explore ways the City and our campuses can work more closely together because when students thrive, it benefits not just you, but the entire city.

I share the concerns many Ward 2 residents have about youth unemployment. It’s often hard for students to find that first job where they can apply their education and build new skills. I believe the City has a role to play as a leader in career development. If elected as councillor, I would explore opportunities like volunteering, mentorship, apprenticeships, work-integrated learning programs, and job rotation within City departments — and ensure entry-level roles come with real training. That way, we’re not just supporting students in the short term, we’re helping to build a stronger workforce for Calgary’s future.

Through my volunteer work at Elizabeth House, I’ve seen firsthand how important it is that food supports are not only available, but also accessible and dignified. Students face many of the same challenges, often compounded by housing and other cost-of-living pressures. As councillor, I want to keep listening to students, reduce the stigma around asking for help, and explore how the City’s Food Resilience Plan can better reflect real student needs. I also believe food security shouldn’t exist in isolation. It has to connect with other supports — like housing, transit, and affordability programs so students aren’t left piecing things together on their own. Coordinated supports can make the difference between struggling through school and having the stability to succeed.

As someone who lives in Ward 2, I share one of the biggest frustrations I hear from residents, the lack of reliable transit. Too many students are forced to rely on cars, constant drop-offs, or even ride-shares like Uber just to get around. Long commutes eat into study time and research, and many students are also balancing jobs on top of school. Ward 2 is one of the most underserved areas in Calgary for transit, and that has a direct impact on students trying to get to campus or to work, and overall affordability.

As councillor, I believe we need immediate improvements in the north. This means more frequent buses on busy routes, new stops to improve accessibility, better service to growing communities, and expanded bus routes including MAX and BRT to connect students to schools, amenities, and downtown. In addition, we must complete the Green Line to the north. The delays have gone on far too long, and north Calgary students deserve the same access to efficient, reliable transit as the rest of the city.

Transit is also about safety. Students should feel comfortable riding late at night or early in the morning, which means better lighting, more peace officers, and safety features like help buttons and CCTVs.

Students deserve safe, affordable, and accessible housing. I’ll work with developers, institutions, and community groups to ensure housing reflects the realities of student life—including family needs, affordability, and proximity to transit and campuses. Licensing landlords is a smart step toward accountability and renter protection.

Calgary is facing a housing crisis, and students are feeling it too. We need to plan for purpose-built student housing as part of the city's broader housing strategy — including options for students with families. Housing must be tied to reliable infrastructure like transit so students can live affordably and access campuses with ease. At City Hall, we'll advocate to ensure student needs are recognized in the City's Housing Needs Assessment and explore tools like landlord licensing to protect renters. Students should be able to focus on their studies, not whether they can afford rent or find a safe place to live.

Regarding the landlord licensing system, I will commit to the exploration and discussion of this with City Administration and the Provincial Government, but at this current time I do not have a strong opinion on whether it should exist or the best way to regulate it.

Post-secondaries are engines of innovation and inclusion. I’ll champion increased funding, mental health supports, and infrastructure investment. Collaboration with institutions will help align city planning with student needs—from housing to transit to job creation.

Post-secondary institutions are central to Calgary's economy, culture, and growth. As elected leaders, we'll work with the University where appropriate to support funding from the federal and provincial governments and also working directly with campuses to strengthen partnerships. When students succeed, Calgary succeeds — from innovation and research to entrepreneurship and workforce readiness.

I intend to listen to and meet with students that I represent and officials from the post-secondary institutions across Calgary as needed throughout the term. I suspect the Ward 7 Councillor will champion this role, but I intend to support from my seat as well.

Youth unemployment is not just an economic issue—it’s a community one. I’ll push for paid internships, mentorship programs, and student-friendly hiring practices within City departments. Volunteering should be a gateway to leadership, not a dead end.

Youth unemployment remains a serious challenge. Too many students struggle to find that first job or meaningful career experience. The City can help lead by example — expanding municipal volunteering, mentorship, apprenticeship, and work-integrated learning opportunities. Entry-level roles should also provide training and pathways for advancement. Supporting students into the workforce isn't just short-term help — it's an investment in Calgary's long-term prosperity.

I am incredibly supportive of the new initiatives by Cllr Dhaliwal to bring student work opportunities to City Hall. After having several students volunteer on my campaign, I would love to continue to hear from them and increase their representation in municipal government.

No student should have to choose between textbooks and groceries. I’ll support campus food banks, community gardens, and culturally appropriate food access. We must normalize seeking help and build systems that meet students with dignity.

Food security is a growing concern across Calgary, and students are among those hardest hit.

We will build on the City's Food Resilience Plan, making sure it reflects student realities. That means:

• Reducing stigma.
• Ensuring supports are accessible and dignified.
• Connecting food programs to broader affordability measures — housing, transit, and other supports.

No student should have to choose between eating and studying.

Reliable transit is essential for student success. I’ll advocate for better frequency, safety, and connectivity—especially in underserved areas like the northeast. The Green Line must be completed with students in mind, linking campuses, housing, and job hubs.

A reliable, affordable, and safe transit system is essential for students.

We support the full completion of the Green Line, with a focus on delivering the north leg, and expanding MAX and BRT routes to serve all campuses.

We'll also push for immediate improvements in frequency, safety features like lighting and CCTVs, and better connections to growing communities.

Students deserve transit that respects their time, safety, and budgets.

As the Ward 3 Councillor, my primary focus for transit would be the MAX BRT in the North. We have the highest ridership, so we need to prioritize the expansion of bus service and dedicated transit lanes in order to meet demand in the short-term.

Our seniors and students are two groups largely impacted by lack of reliable service in the North.

The Green Line is an incredible capital project that Calgary needs, but it will not be reaching the areas that need it most for many decades at this rate.

Calgary is facing a housing crisis, and students are feeling it too. We need to plan for purpose-built student housing as part of the city's broader housing strategy - including options for students with families. Housing must be tied to reliable infrastructure like transit so students can live affordably and access campuses with ease. At City Hall, we'll advocate to ensure student needs are recognized in the City's Housing Needs Assessment and explore tools like landlord licensing to protect renters. Students should be able to focus on their studies, not whether they can afford rent or find a safe place to live.

I am a yes for all of your questions except for [landlord licensing]. To this one, I am not a yes or no, as it requires further study on the impacts on the rental market and more engagement with both renters and landlords.

Post-secondary institutions are central to Calgary's economy, culture, and growth. As elected leaders, we'll work with the University where appropriate to support funding from the federal and provincial governments and also working directly with campuses to strengthen partnerships. When students succeed, Calgary succeeds - from innovation and research to entrepreneurship and workforce readiness.

Youth unemployment remains a serious challenge. Too many students struggle to find that first job or meaningful career experience. The City can help lead by example — expanding municipal volunteering, mentorship, apprenticeship, and work-integrated learning opportunities. Entry-level roles should also provide training and pathways for advancement. Supporting students into the workforce isn't just short-term help - it's an investment in Calgary's long-term prosperity.

Food security is a growing concern across Calgary, and students are among those hardest hit. We will build on the City's Food Resilience Plan, making sure it reflects student realities. That means reducing stigma, ensuring supports are accessible and dignified, and connecting food programs to broader affordability measures - housing, transit, and other supports. No student should have to choose between eating and studying.

A reliable, affordable, and safe transit system is essential for students. We support the full completion of the Green Line, with a focus on delivering the north leg, and expanding MAX and BRT routes to serve all campuses. We'll also push for immediate improvements in frequency, safety features like lighting and CCTVs, and better connections to growing communities. Students deserve transit that respects their time, safety, and budgets.

Calgary is facing a housing crisis, and students are feeling it too. We need to plan for purpose-built student housing as part of the city's broader housing strategy - including options for students with families. Housing must be tied to reliable infrastructure like transit so students can live affordably and access campuses with ease. At City Hall, we'll advocate to ensure student needs are recognized in the City's Housing Needs Assessment and explore tools like landlord licensing to protect renters. Students should be able to focus on their studies, not whether they can afford rent or find a safe place to live.

Post-secondary institutions are central to Calgary's economy, culture, and growth. As elected leaders, we'll work with the University where appropriate to support funding from the federal and provincial governments and also working directly with campuses to strengthen partnerships. When students succeed, Calgary succeeds - from innovation and research to entrepreneurship and workforce readiness.

Youth unemployment remains a serious challenge. Too many students struggle to find that first job or meaningful career experience. The City can help lead by example — expanding municipal volunteering, mentorship, apprenticeship, and work-integrated learning opportunities. Entry-level roles should also provide training and pathways for advancement. Supporting students into the workforce isn't just short-term help - it's an investment in Calgary's long-term prosperity.

Food security is a growing concern across Calgary, and students are among those hardest hit. We will build on the City's Food Resilience Plan, making sure it reflects student realities. That means reducing stigma, ensuring supports are accessible and dignified, and connecting food programs to broader affordability measures - housing, transit, and other supports. No student should have to choose between eating and studying.

A reliable, affordable, and safe transit system is essential for students. We support the full completion of the Green Line, with a focus on delivering the north leg, and expanding MAX and BRT routes to serve all campuses. We'll also push for immediate improvements in frequency, safety features like lighting and CCTVs, and better connections to growing communities. Students deserve transit that respects their time, safety, and budgets.

On landlord licensing: The City has a very limited role here.

On housing: More affordable housing is part of my platform. For example, I support:

• Speeding up approvals and working with nonprofits, faith groups, and developers to expand the housing supply.
• Advocating for stronger provincial and federal commitments to housing.
• Encouraging transit-oriented, mixed-use, and mixed-income developments to create vibrant, inclusive communities.
• Encouraging the conversion of underutilized downtown office towers into affordable student residences (aligning with Calgary’s Downtown Development Incentive Program).
• Exploring adaptive reuse of motels, hotels, or older apartment complexes near transit corridors.
• Working with Calgary Economic Development, post-secondary institutions, and student associations to better understand the type of current and future student housing requirements.
• Encouraging public-private partnerships where developers and schools share the costs and benefits of new projects.
• Integrating student housing into broader neighbourhood planning so students can easily access groceries, recreation, transit, and employment.
• Supporting student housing options that meet the needs of international students, Indigenous students, students with families, and those with accessibility needs.
• Promoting housing models that include community-building features (shared kitchens, study lounges, childcare options).

As a renter and someone who was a student in the not-too-distant past, ensuring that the next generation of Calgarians has adequate housing is important to me. Calgary is facing a housing crisis, and students are feeling it too.

We need to plan for purpose-built student housing as part of the city’s broader housing strategy — including options for students with families. Housing must be tied to reliable infrastructure like transit so students can live affordably and access campuses with ease.

At City Hall, I’ll advocate to ensure student needs are recognized in the City’s Housing Needs Assessment and explore tools like landlord licensing to protect renters. Students should be able to focus on their studies, not whether they can afford rent or find a safe place to live.

Post-secondary institutions are vital to Calgary. They prepare Calgary’s next generation of leaders and provide local businesses with the talent they need to grow. They also fuel innovation and entrepreneurship, create research partnerships, and bring cultural vibrancy to our city.

Most importantly, they give young people a reason to stay, so they can build their career, raise a family, and make Calgary their long-term home.

Ambrose University is right here in my ward, which creates a unique opportunity to build strong partnerships. As Councillor, I am committed to meeting with their leadership early in my term to explore meaningful ways we can work together, supporting students, strengthening our community, and contributing to a stronger Calgary.

I am one of the few candidates running in this election with established relationships across provincial and federal governments. This experience means that when issues require advocacy or collaboration beyond City Hall, I can pick up the phone, open doors, and get Calgary’s voice heard. That puts me in a unique position to deliver results for our community, including Calgary’s post-secondary students.

Calgary’s post-secondary institutions are central to our economy, culture, and growth. As an elected leader, I’ll work with the University where appropriate to support funding from the federal and provincial governments and also work directly with campuses to strengthen partnerships.

When students succeed, Calgary succeeds — from innovation and research to entrepreneurship and workforce readiness.

Economic growth is an important part of my platform. A strong economy means good jobs, thriving businesses, and opportunities for every Calgarian. As Calgary continues to grow, our priority is to recruit and retain the best talent, so that the next generation of leaders, today’s students, can help shape the future of our city.

The City of Calgary is one of the largest employers in our city, with over 10,000 people working in an amazing variety of roles, from frontline services to specialized technical careers. This means real opportunities to build a career right here at home for students and recent graduates.

The City could help lower youth unemployment by exploring a variety of practical, cost-efficient ways. For example:

• Working with post-secondary institutions to advertise volunteer opportunities at the City
• Encouraging departments to consider practicum placements, co-op programs, internships, and apprenticeships
• Advocating with the provincial and federal government to support cost-sharing programs to incentivize hiring post-secondary students
• Collaborating on real-life applied research projects that address city challenges (housing, transportation, art/design in public places, civic engagement, etc.)
• Inviting student associations and faculty experts to provide input on city policies
• Offering more summer student positions across diverse fields, not just admin roles
• Expanding programs like Startup Calgary and connecting youth with innovation hubs, incubators, and local investors.
• Working with Calgary Economic Development to promote programs like TalentED, Work Integrated Learning and other workforce strategies.
• Collaborating with universities, colleges, and trade schools to align training with Calgary’s emerging industries (tech, clean energy, film, creative industries, construction).
• Supporting Calgary’s Downtown Post-Secondary Institution Incentive Program
• Including student voices on advisory councils or task forces
• Hosting job fairs and networking events led by the City and industry.

When I’m out doorknocking, I often hear from young people struggling to find good work. Youth unemployment remains a serious challenge. Too many students struggle to find that first job or meaningful career experience.

The City can help lead by example — expanding municipal volunteering, mentorship, apprenticeship, and work-integrated learning opportunities. Entry-level roles should also provide training and pathways for advancement. Supporting students into the workforce isn’t just short-term help — it’s an investment in Calgary’s long-term prosperity.

Food security is a critical issue, but I don’t believe the City of Calgary should be the primary leader here. The provincial and federal governments have the responsibility and resources to fund school nutrition programs, support farmers, and strengthen social safety nets.

Local non-profits like the Calgary Food Bank and the Leftovers Foundation are on the front lines every day, while our farmers, grocers, and community groups are best positioned to grow, supply, and distribute food.

The City’s role should be to support these efforts—by making land available for community gardens, reducing red tape for local food initiatives, and ensuring we’re prepared in times of crisis. By letting the right partners lead, we can build a stronger, more resilient food system for everyone.

Food security is a growing concern across Calgary, and students are among those hardest hit. I will build on the City’s Food Resilience Plan, making sure it reflects student realities.

That means reducing stigma, ensuring supports are accessible and dignified, and connecting food programs to broader affordability measures — housing, transit, and other supports. No student should have to choose between eating and studying.

Focusing on essentials, or core services is part of my platform. Taxpayer dollars must be used wisely, with priority given to the services people rely on every day: roads, transit, infrastructure, community safety, and first responders.

Access to reliable, affordable transit is essential for Calgary’s post-secondary students. I believe the City can do more to connect our campuses through express bus routes, on-demand shuttles, and stronger links between LRT stations and student neighbourhoods.

By investing in smarter, student-focused transit, we can reduce costs, cut commute times, and make Calgary a more attractive city to study, work, and stay after graduation.

I support:

• Expanding and improving public transit, with safer roads and more frequent service through the Primary Transit Network – Route Ahead plan.
• Supporting on-demand micro transit and ride-hailing options that link neighbourhoods to main transit routes.
• Ensuring barrier-free sidewalks and stations so seniors, families, and people with disabilities can travel easily.
• Advocating for key projects such as a pedestrian overpass at 17 Ave/Sirocco Station and future Blue Line expansion to 85 St. and beyond.
• Improving traffic flow by synchronizing lights, adding smart sensors at intersections, and reducing delays at C-Train crossings (starting with 17 Ave/Sarcee Trail).
• Keeping parking affordable for families, students, workers, and shoppers while supporting vibrant downtown and local businesses.
• Improving lighting, shelters, and security features to make commuting safer, especially for students travelling late at night.
• Improving the UPass program with more flexibility (e.g., opt-in summer options, semester-based passes for part-time students).
• Introducing low-income student transit subsidies for those not covered by UPass (like continuing ed, apprenticeships, or international language students).
• Exploring dedicated express bus routes connecting major post-secondary campuses (U of C, SAIT, MRU, Ambrose, Bow Valley College) with key residential hubs.

In Ward 6 and across the city, a reliable, affordable, and safe transit system is essential for many people to get around. We at the Calgary Party support the full completion of the Green Line, with a focus on delivering the north leg, and expanding MAX and BRT routes to serve all campuses - including an extension of the Max Teal line in Ward 6 connecting West Calgary with MRU.

We’ll also push for immediate improvements in frequency, safety features like lighting and CCTVs, and better connections to growing communities. Students deserve transit that respects their time, safety, and budgets.

Committing to higher education is a huge step in life. Finding a place to live safely and securely through the process should not be the problem it has become. Students have been calling out for more support in this regard for as long as I've been participating in local politics. I would be honoured to advocate for these longstanding requests and for the young, engaged voices of this city.

Calgary is facing a housing crisis, and students are feeling it too. We need to plan for purpose-built student housing as part of the city's broader housing strategy - including options for students with families. Housing must be tied to reliable infrastructure like transit so students can live affordably and access campuses with ease. At City Hall, we'll advocate to ensure student needs are recognized in the City's Housing Needs Assessment and explore tools like landlord licensing to protect renters. Students should be able to focus on their studies, not whether they can afford rent or find a safe place to live.

We need a more effective City Council. My hope, with all these seats turning over, is that we can build a more unified council that will be more capable in its dealing with the province. The quality of our post-secondary institutions plays a part in telling the world what kind of city we are. As it stands, Calgary's post secondaries have set a tone of strength and innovation against the landscape of Canada.

Post-secondary institutions are central to Calgary's economy, culture, and growth. As elected leaders, we'll work with the University where appropriate to support funding from the federal and provincial governments and also working directly with campuses to strengthen partnerships. When students succeed, Calgary succeeds - from innovation and research to entrepreneurship and workforce readiness.

Civic participation is an important part of life in a democracy. Making sure the pathways are kept clear so new generations can make their way to chambers of civic power and influence is integral to the health of our society. Young people are often not reflected in policy at all levels of government. I believe there is an underlying belief that young people "have time to figure it out". This thinking is out of sync with the real, economic disparity young people are currently facing. While I do not have every answer regarding what I can do about it - I count on my awareness of the issue to help guide me through the process.

Youth unemployment remains a serious challenge. Too many students struggle to find that first job or meaningful career experience. The City can help lead by example — expanding municipal volunteering, mentorship, apprenticeship, and work-integrated learning opportunities. Entry-level roles should also provide training and pathways for advancement. Supporting students into the workforce isn't just short-term help - it's an investment in Calgary's long-term prosperity.

Food security is a real and often under-reported concern in Calgary. In discussions with The Alex, and the Alex Kitchen program leads, something like 25% of Calgarians struggle with food insecurity on a regular basis. We do have some wonderful urban farming programs operating in Ward 9 and I'd like to make sure to do everything we can to support them in this work.

Food security is a growing concern across Calgary, and students are among those hardest hit. We will build on the City's Food Resilience Plan, making sure it reflects student realities. That means reducing stigma, ensuring supports are accessible and dignified, and connecting food programs to broader affordability measures - housing, transit, and other supports. No student should have to choose between eating and studying.

It is time for this generation's wants and needs to be coherently reflected back to them in the decision making and investments made in this city. Public transportation is an integral part of any urban centre and Calgary is behind in many ways in this regard. We must build the Green Line. We must provide service to central north Calgary. As our population grows we must review all facets of life and make sure our current strategies around road safety, transportation, pathways (everything) are reflective of the way in which we live now and want to live tomorrow. That is the difference between a reactive and proactive leadership strategy.

A reliable, affordable, and safe transit system is essential for students. We support the full completion of the Green Line, with a focus on delivering the north leg, and expanding MAX and BRT routes to serve all campuses. We'll also push for immediate improvements in frequency, safety features like lighting and CCTVs, and better connections to growing communities. Students deserve transit that respects their time, safety, and budgets.

Thank you for reaching out and for the work you do to represent the voices of post-secondary students in our city. As a candidate for Ward 9 councillor, I strongly believe students are a vital part of Calgary’s future, and your concerns deserve to be heard.

My priorities for supporting students include:

• Affordable Tuition & Student Success: Tuition should be affordable, with subsidies available for those dedicated to completing their studies. This prevents students from being overburdened with debt, allowing them to graduate, begin their careers, and build their lives without the heavy weight of student loans. Graduates are the foundation of our workforce and bring skills, expertise, and innovation that benefit businesses, communities, and governance. Supporting their success is an investment in Calgary’s future.
• Affordable Housing: Supporting more accessible housing options so students can focus on their education without being overburdened by rent.
• Transit & Accessibility: Strengthening transit service to make it safer, more reliable, and affordable, ensuring students can access school, work, and community life with ease.
• Jobs & Cost of Living: Encouraging local businesses and city initiatives that create fair employment opportunities for students and help ease the rising cost of living.
• Community & Safety: Building inclusive, safe communities where young people feel welcome and supported.
• Community Outpost: Establishing a local outpost where the needs of the community can be shared, and information on projects can be communicated in real time, ensuring Ward 9 residents students included are always informed and engaged.

Like many of you, I am seeking a better life and future for our community one where we don’t have to worry about where our city is headed. Together, we can build a stronger, more affordable, and more inclusive Calgary for students and all residents.

Calgary is facing a housing crisis, and students are feeling it too. We need to plan for purpose-built student housing as part of the city's broader housing strategy - including options for students with families. Housing must be tied to reliable infrastructure like transit so students can live affordably and access campuses with ease. At City Hall, we'll advocate to ensure student needs are recognized in the City's Housing Needs Assessment and explore tools like landlord licensing to protect renters. Students should be able to focus on their studies, not whether they can afford rent or find a safe place to live.

Post-secondary institutions are central to Calgary's economy, culture, and growth. As elected leaders, we'll work with the University where appropriate to support funding from the federal and provincial governments and also working directly with campuses to strengthen partnerships. When students succeed, Calgary succeeds - from innovation and research to entrepreneurship and workforce readiness.

Youth unemployment remains a serious challenge. Too many students struggle to find that first job or meaningful career experience. The City can help lead by example — expanding municipal volunteering, mentorship, apprenticeship, and work-integrated learning opportunities. Entry-level roles should also provide training and pathways for advancement. Supporting students into the workforce isn't just short-term help - it's an investment in Calgary's long-term prosperity.

Food security is a growing concern across Calgary, and students are among those hardest hit. We will build on the City's Food Resilience Plan, making sure it reflects student realities. That means reducing stigma, ensuring supports are accessible and dignified, and connecting food programs to broader affordability measures - housing, transit, and other supports. No student should have to choose between eating and studying.

A reliable, affordable, and safe transit system is essential for students. We support the full completion of the Green Line, with a focus on delivering the north leg, and expanding MAX and BRT routes to serve all campuses. We'll also push for immediate improvements in frequency, safety features like lighting and CCTVs, and better connections to growing communities. Students deserve transit that respects their time, safety, and budgets.

We also need to meet the needs of students with physical and sensory disabilities.

As a renter myself, I'm highly aware of the needs and struggles we face. Our universities are surrounded by opportunities to build housing for students - as are our transit stations that lead there. It's critical that as we explore these options and opportunities, we do so in a way that allows for more housing to be built, not simply more bureaucracy to get in the way.

Our universities are where our future starts!

I believe the city can explore the creation of more youth roles through recreation, parks, and other skill building roles that create long term jobs. We could explore skill building programs in conjunction with both post-secondary and primary schools.

There are many groups and individuals who cite this as one of their top concerns. I will continue to be advocate for opportunities to work and learn.

I'm not very familiar with the City's Food Resilience Plan but look forward to learning and ensuring that everyone who lives here is able to afford a full, happy, and healthy life.

Having grown up in SE Calgary, I've long awaited for the Green Line and now I'll be able to work on getting the project done! I'm also a daily transit user - not just for commuting, but also for social events, errands, and anything else. I'll be a voice on Council ensuring that Calgarians can get from anywhere to anywhere in the city via transit.

I have more to learn about the housing needs of our students, and am excited to hear the ideas you have to help improve the current situation.

I believe there are a lot of ways we as a City and our post-secondary institutions can work together to build a stronger Calgary and these collaborations have been overlooked.

I love volunteering and am excited to hear more about your ideas on how we can expand these opportunities in particular for students.

I was unaware of the stigma young people are facing with food insecurity. I will engage in conversations about this in the future to make sure others are also aware so we can work to do better as a society.

Living and volunteering in McKenzie Towne for a decade has led me to Green Line advocacy for a very long time now. Transit to Ward 12 is not great, especially accessing our post-secondary campuses. I have had small wins throughout the years, but more work needs to be done and I’d like to be here to do it.

Calgary is facing a housing crisis, and students are feeling it too. We need to plan for purpose-built student housing as part of the city's broader housing strategy - including options for students with families. Housing must be tied to reliable infrastructure like transit so students can live affordably and access campuses with ease. At City Hall, we'll advocate to ensure student needs are recognized in the City's Housing Needs Assessment and explore tools like landlord licensing to protect renters. Students should be able to focus on their studies, not whether they can afford rent or find a safe place to live.

Post-secondary institutions are central to Calgary's economy, culture, and growth. As elected leaders, we'll work with the University where appropriate to support funding from the federal and provincial governments and also working directly with campuses to strengthen partnerships. When students succeed, Calgary succeeds - from innovation and research to entrepreneurship and workforce readiness.

Youth unemployment remains a serious challenge. Too many students struggle to find that first job or meaningful career experience. The City can help lead by example — expanding municipal volunteering, mentorship, apprenticeship, and work-integrated learning opportunities. Entry-level roles should also provide training and pathways for advancement. Supporting students into the workforce isn't just short-term help - it's an investment in Calgary's long-term prosperity.

Food security is a growing concern across Calgary, and students are among those hardest hit. We will build on the City's Food Resilience Plan, making sure it reflects student realities. That means reducing stigma, ensuring supports are accessible and dignified, and connecting food programs to broader affordability measures - housing, transit, and other supports. No student should have to choose between eating and studying.

A reliable, affordable, and safe transit system is essential for students. We support the full completion of the Green Line, with a focus on delivering the north leg, and expanding MAX and BRT routes to serve all campuses. We'll also push for immediate improvements in frequency, safety features like lighting and CCTVs, and better connections to growing communities. Students deserve transit that respects their time, safety, and budgets.

Calgary needs more affordable student housing near transit and post-secondary institutions. Purpose-built student housing reduces pressure on the wider rental market and ensures students can focus on studies instead of housing insecurity.

Students with dependents often face unique challenges. Partnerships with developers should include family-friendly and accessible housing options. Student needs must be formally recognized in housing strategies. This will ensure data-driven advocacy and funding support.

Licensing ensures accountability, reduces exploitative practices, and improves rental conditions for vulnerable groups, including students.

A model I’d support (accountability without bloat): Rather than a blanket, one-size licence, I’d back a lightweight Rental Registry + Safety Standards with teeth:
Free (or nominal-fee) registration for every long-term rental; upload contact info and a self-certified safety checklist (heat, smoke/CO, egress, pests, electrical).
Risk-based inspections: priority for buildings/owners with complaint history, serious violations, or non-registration; random audits for everyone else.
Graduated penalties: fix-by dates; then fines; then licence suspension for repeat or life-safety breaches.
Good-actor incentives: faster permit/service lanes and reduced inspection frequency for clean records.
One window: integrate with 311 so renters can track a complaint, and publish an open registry showing compliance status.
Sunset & review: 2-year pilot with a public report on costs, compliance, and any rent impacts before expanding.

Calgary is facing a housing crisis, and students are feeling it too. We need to plan for purpose-built student housing as part of the city's broader housing strategy - including options for students with families. Housing must be tied to reliable infrastructure like transit so students can live affordably and access campuses with ease. At City Hall, we'll advocate to ensure student needs are recognized in the City's Housing Needs Assessment and explore tools like landlord licensing to protect renters. Students should be able to focus on their studies, not whether they can afford rent or find a safe place to live.

Provincial funding is key for keeping tuition stable and ensuring students have access to affordable education. Strong partnerships with local post-secondary institutions improve economic development, research, and student engagement with city-building.

Post-secondary institutions are central to Calgary's economy, culture, and growth. As elected leaders, we'll work with the University where appropriate to support funding from the federal and provincial governments and also working directly with campuses to strengthen partnerships. When students succeed, Calgary succeeds - from innovation and research to entrepreneurship and workforce readiness.

Expanding entry-level city jobs, apprenticeships, and volunteer pathways will provide students valuable experience and improve retention in Calgary’s workforce. Volunteer and internship opportunities should be tied to City projects and community associations, giving students skills while benefiting communities.

I would look to incorporate city jobs that require specific needs for the city at that time. Government work should not be a job bank. We need government to run efficiently and to get out of the way so private companies can grow and become landing positions for students in and out of college. I run a small HVAC company in Calgary and can first hand tell you that the government has got to encourage more people to get into the trades. We have a tsunami of qualified tradespeople retiring in the next 10 years and it will be all hands on deck to just maintain the amount of work we are currently handling.

Youth unemployment remains a serious challenge. Too many students struggle to find that first job or meaningful career experience. The City can help lead by example — expanding municipal volunteering, mentorship, apprenticeship, and work-integrated learning opportunities. Entry-level roles should also provide training and pathways for advancement. Supporting students into the workforce isn't just short-term help - it's an investment in Calgary's long-term prosperity.

Food insecurity affects many students. Supporting community food banks, urban agriculture, and affordable food programs is essential. Programs must be communicated in a respectful and inclusive way so students feel comfortable accessing food supports.

The government can be there to ensure people do not go hungry or homeless. But we must look at the food insecurity as to not how many more people we can help but how many less people need help. We must get to the root of why people are seeking food banks at a higher rate and raise the lower and lower middle class out of this death circle.

Food security is a growing concern across Calgary, and students are among those hardest hit. We will build on the City's Food Resilience Plan, making sure it reflects student realities. That means reducing stigma, ensuring supports are accessible and dignified, and connecting food programs to broader affordability measures - housing, transit, and other supports. No student should have to choose between eating and studying.

The Green Line will benefit students traveling from south Calgary to downtown and post-secondary campuses. It must be delivered in a fiscally responsible way. Transit routes should be aligned with campus schedules and areas where students live. Safety on transit must also be prioritized.

This is one of my top priorities that doesn’t necessarily affect Ward 14 like it does other parts of Calgary. We need ticket barriers, more peace and police officers. Once people are safe and comfortable riding transit again we can expand the Green Line and the airport line. This should be a 4 year project and not a 20 year project. We need to eliminate the fair entry program and put that money into lowering the cost for all transit users but offering free or $1 a day transit to 18 and under, secondary school students and senior citizens. A bit of that is a pipe dream but it mirrors some of the best transit programs in the world.

A reliable, affordable, and safe transit system is essential for students. We support the full completion of the Green Line, with a focus on delivering the north leg, and expanding MAX and BRT routes to serve all campuses. We'll also push for immediate improvements in frequency, safety features like lighting and CCTVs, and better connections to growing communities. Students deserve transit that respects their time, safety, and budgets.