The deferral did not dampen the spirits of a group of citizens gathered outside city hall to show support for the strategy.

Organized by the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good, the peaceful demonstration featured citizens wearing green scarves and arm bands.

Angela McIntyre, director of the Calgary Climate Hub, said the delay will be worth it if it helps Calgarians understand the cost is not just coming from municipal coffers.

“It’s coming through partnerships of provincial funding, federal funding, private citizens, community groups. So this discourse going around that it’s only going to come out of Calgarians’ pockets is wrong,” said McIntyre.

• City council punts climate strategy debate to early July (Calgary Herald, Calgary Sun)