Calgarians' input needed on effectiveness of 14-ward system

Calgarians are invited to share their thoughts on what effective representation at the municipal level means to them. This public engagement is part of a larger review being conducted by the Ward Boundary Commission as directed by Calgary City Council in June 2023.

This review won’t change the number of wards or Councillors in Calgary, and it is not about individual members of Council. The purpose is to understand how Calgarians want to be represented by Council, what that could look like in the future, as well as looking at the role of Council and the effectiveness of the systems they work within. Your feedback will be used to inform recommendations made to City Council by the Commission. 

To ensure the voices of Calgary’s diverse population are heard, starting today, the commission is inviting residents to provide feedback through a brief online survey on calgary.ca/heard. For this engagement, we are focusing specifically on the activities performed by Councillors (e.g. legislative duties, resolving local issues, communicating with constituents, advocating to other orders of government), as well as the systems Calgarians use to communicate with their Councillors (e.g. 311, email, social media, public hearings, meetings and events).

We will also be popping up at locations across the city through March and April 2024, offering further opportunities for Calgarians to find out more about the Commission’s work and provide input.

Input from this public engagement will be analyzed alongside input from Members of Council, City Administration and related research and data on effective representation at the municipal level. The analysis will help to inform recommendations with the aim of implementing changes that will enhance the effectiveness and responsiveness of the city’s governance. The commission will present the recommendations to City Council in September 2024.

For more information and the chance to have your say, visit calgary.ca/heard.