This is Calgary

In the first of our bonus political episodes, we hear analysis on the Alberta NDP's surprise win over the UCP in the Calgary-Shaw byelection. Loren talks to Shannon Phillips , a former Alberta NDP cabinet minister and founding partner of Meredith, Boessenkool and Phillips Policy Advisors, and Ian Brodie , a senior advisor at New West Public Affairs who once served as chief of staff for Prime Minister Stephen Harper. This is Calgary will drop these extra episodes every Friday through the Alberta referendum vote on October 19th, to keep you up to speed. You'll still get a fresh episode with Jenny every Wednesday, too. Thoughts? Story ideas? thisiscalgary@cbc.ca

Did you say... Green Line? Yes, there's news. A city committee has approved a surface route along 10th Avenue Southwest as the next section of Calgary's expanding LRT network, bringing the line to the edge of downtown. Jenny talks to two city councillors whose wards run parallel about why this route is better than the above-ground options, and why — even though the dream of building the Green Line to the north end of the city is still very much alive — rapid bus transit up Centre Street North is a good interim solution. This is Calgary is hosted by Jenny Howe, and produced by CBC Calgary. Thoughts? Story ideas? thisiscalgary@cbc.ca

Calgary has a leak -- but this time, it's not a water main. It's a city councillor. Last week (Sept. 3), Ward 14’s Landon Johnston revealed he’d shared confidential preliminary budget documents with the media -- much to the frustration of Mayor Jeromy Farkas and other members of council. Why did Johnston do it? What are the impacts? What powers, if any, does city council have to prevent further leakage? And what does this fracas say about the functionality of our current city council? Jenny and Loren walk us through this developing story. This is Calgary is hosted by Jenny Howe, and produced by CBC Calgary. Thoughts? Story ideas? thisiscalgary@cbc.ca

It's been two months since the province shut down Calgary's only supervised consumption site. What's happened since? Jenny talks to a former SCS staffer and an addiction medicine doctor about the impacts of the closure, and whether a recovery-based model of care including compassionate intervention could work. This is Calgary is hosted by Jenny Howe, and produced by CBC Calgary. Thoughts? Story ideas? thisiscalgary@cbc.ca

There's a big conversation happening right now that feels kind of hard to tackle: separatism. And the pressure to discuss it is increasing as we get closer to the Alberta referendum on October 19 . But why is it so hard to do? And how can or should you approach such a conversation, to reach across the political divide, from wherever you sit? This week, we find out with political scientist Jared Wesley .

Contemporary Calgary got a major funding injection over the summer, to expand at its location in the downtown west end. Jenny talks to CEO David Leinster about what the revitalization involves, why the city's biggest contemporary art galler y wants to stay put in a former planetarium, and how contemporary art fits in our city identity.

This week, Jenny is looking into what makes a great city street. Our friends over at This is Vancouver recently had a conversation with former Vancouver city planner Sandy James about the necessary ingredients, and a lot of those ideas could apply anywhere in North America, including here in Calgary.

Raccoons are still something of a novelty for most Calgarians. But they're becoming more common ... and can get into mischief. First, we talk to a local guy who's been trying in vain for FIVE years to spot a raccoon here. Then we head to southeast Calgary, to find out whether a homeowner managed to get the raccoon out of his garage attic.

What's greasily delicious, free on your birthday, and packaged in a bright yellow box? Chicken on the Way , of course -- a Calgary fast food institution that's been around since 1958... and is STILL being run by the same family. In this fan-favourite episode from early April, Jenny talks COTW lore with owner Russ Dunn, learns to make corn fritters with manager Haley Andela, and hears why some hardcore customers have been getting takeout here for more than 50 years. See the place for yourself, with CBC Calgary's Chicken on the Way video tour on YouTube.

As part of the city's new Water Efficiency Plan , Calgary now has a watering schedule for lawns and gardens. But... what does it mean for you? This week, Loren talks to Rehana Rajabali, Manager of Natural Environment & Adaptation with the City of Calgary, about how the schedule was developed, why the city brought it into effect (even though there’s plenty of water around this year!), and why Monday is a day off for everyone.

Imagine if Calgary got rid of one of its most iconic landmarks. (OK, ok... besides the Saddledome.) Maybe the Calgary Tower? Because that's what's happening up in Edmonton. That city has unveiled a plan to decommission the High Level Bridge - a historic structure spanning the North Saskatchewan River that's been emblematic of YEG for more than a century. This week, Jenny take you there to hear what's happening, and what a local historian has to say about the plan.

How much do you know about the history of the Stampede Grounds? It's a trip! This week, Jenny talks to Calgary Stampede CEO Joel Cowley about how the grounds first took shape (hint: farming!) and evolved into a 200-plus-acre extravaganza of Western culture (and a lot more). Joel talks about some of his favourite historic spots on the site, the challenges of running such a major event in the middle of a big city... and, with the construction of Scotia Place arena, what's in store for the Stampede Grounds in the years to come. For further reading, visit Stampede Through the Years .

It's Canada Day - a celebration of our nationhood. But as parades, barbecues, and concerts take place in provinces and territories across the country... there's talk out west about separation - and that feeling is spreading. As Alberta gears up for a referendum on separation this fall, we head to Saskatchewan, where a similar, though much smaller movement is afloat. The Saskatchewan Prosperity Project wants that province to be an independent country. This week, Loren taps into what's happening there.

Call it a decibel showdown. Things came to a head this week over late-night concert noise during the upcoming Calgary Stampede . An urgent debate was held at City Hall, and even Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre weighed in. In this episode, Loren takes you through the twists and turns of this fast-moving story, and what downtown Calgary residents -- and Stampede revellers -- can expect at the Cowboys Tent this year.

Guess what Calgary finds itself right plunk in the middle of? Hail Alley - an area of central and southern Alberta that’s well known for producing hail storms. And some parts of the city are more prone to hail than others. This week, Loren talks to Calgarians who’ve experienced the damaging effects of hail on their homes and community, as well as an insurance expert on the financial impacts of hail damage - for everyone.

Corner stores have been slowly disappearing from Calgary neighbourhoods... but, thanks to changing community expectations, and an update to YYC development rules, there's potential for a comeback. This week, Loren chats with CBC Calgary journalist Helen Pike, who's been talking to retailers, developers, and the City of Calgary on what's happening. For more on the history and the future of corner stores in Calgary, check out Helen's YouTube story and CBC web story .

Calgary mayor Jeromy Farkas wants a police station downtown, citing concerns around public safety, and an absence of adequate public policing in the core. But it was less than nine years ago that the Calgary Police Service closed its downtown location: the Victoria Park police station on 11th Avenue Southeast. What happened? This week, Loren gets into some of the history with Evan Woolley, who was the city councillor for Ward 8 when Calgary’s downtown police station closed in late 2017.

Calgary has more than 40 kilometres of missing sidewalks! How did that happen? And what's the city doing to fix it? This week, Loren talks to Jen Malzer, City of Calgary Leader of Community Projects, about how they're working to add those missing links, and the challenges of retrofitting streets with sidewalks decades later. Plus, we visit spots with new sidewalks, to see what pedestrians think.

For Sale signs are popping up like tulips on residential properties all over the city. But – is it a buyer’s market? Or a seller’s market? Actually, BOTH. And talk of Alberta separating factors into the equation. This week, Loren talks to real estate agent Nadine Faule about what’s happening with Calgary's housing market – especially given the glut of condos up for grabs – and whether spring is still a good time to list.

For decades, Calgarians have been able to ride the C-Train free along a 10-block stretch of 7th Avenue downtown. That might be about to change. The city's infrastructure and planning committee just voted to eliminate the FFZ... and city council will debate and decide what to do later this month. Catch up with Loren on what's been happening, and hear some of the voices for and against eliminating the free fare zone.