September 13th, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Calgary, AB - Please join us for a gathering of Calgarians on Thursday, September 14th at noon in front of council chambers. 

Members of this rally will be gathering for noon and entering into chambers at 1:00 PM.

• This rally is in partnership with More Neighbours Calgary, Calgary’s Future, ACORN, the Calgary Climate Hub, Calgary Student Alliance and the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good.
• Photo/Video Opportunity: Students will be arriving via two buses at noon, and there will be an availability to take photos and video materials. They will be arriving in front of city hall.
• There will be an opportunity for photos at 12:20 PM of the rally, with speeches by an assortment of representatives, including the mayor.

 

“The reality of Calgary having a housing crisis is that every day, Calgarians are waking up in crisis mode. For students right now, this reality is evident in the lack of housing available to us, and forces us to consider if there will be housing available when we graduate and want to build permanent lives here. Calgary’s future should not have to suffer a brain drain for being unwilling to commit to the meaningful and direct action it has a chance to take now.”

Mateusz Salmassi
University of Calgary Students’ Union
M: 403-604-8541
EMAIL: [email protected]

 

"Calgary’s housing crisis is upon us and every minute City Council chooses to delay action another Calgarian is made vulnerable and another one of our neighbours is put at risk of homelessness. Hundreds of Calgarians will be at City Hall tomorrow to tell council that anything short of immediate action is unconscionable, I hope they have the courage and compassion to listen to them and act."

Becky Best-Bertwistle
Calgary’s Future
M: (780) 243 2432
EMAIL: [email protected]

 

"In times of crisis, we expect our City Council to take bold actions. Council must pass these recommendations, start implementing them, and remain nimble enough to manage any unforeseen issues as they arise."

Elizabeth McLennan, Spokesperson
Calgary Alliance for the Common Good
M: (403) 860-0562 (m)
EMAIL: [email protected]

 

“No solution to the housing crisis is serious without focusing on building more homes. Yes, that means townhomes. Yes, that means apartments. Yes, that means affordable housing. Yes, that means market rate housing. Council has a chance to become national leaders on addressing this crisis by simply making it legal to build more homes.”

Kathryn Davies
More Neighbours Calgary
M: 403-831-5860
EMAIL: [email protected]

 

“We know that building more housing in established areas, and especially the inner city, is not only vital to maintaining Calgary’s affordability advantage, but also an essential part of Calgary’s path to net zero by 2050. Allowing more duplexes and rowhouses in the city, as recommended by the Housing Strategy, is a win-win for affordability and climate action.”

Rob Tremblay, Co-Chair
Calgary Climate Hub
M: (403) 903-6234
EMAIL: [email protected] 

 

“When we listened to our communities it is clear that the growing chasm between the rising cost of housing and wages that are not keeping up is impacting people from all walks of life. Parents and Grandparents are worried about their children’s ability to build a life. Organizations are worried about staff that can’t afford rent. Newcomers are working multiple jobs and are worried when they can’t be home for their kids. City council needs to take bold action. Start by passing all of the recommendations, so we can begin the work of addressing this critical issue.”

Ryan Andersen, Lead Organizer
Calgary Alliance for the Common Good
M: 403-993-7123
EMAIL: [email protected]

 

 

Media Contacts:

Mateusz Salmassi
University of Calgary Students’ Union
M: 403-604-8541
EMAIL: [email protected]

Becky Best-Bertwistle, Organizer
Calgary’s Future
M: 780 243 2432
EMAIL: [email protected]

Kathryn Davies
More Neighbours Calgary
M: 403-831-5860
EMAIL: [email protected] 

Rob Tremblay, Co-Chair
Calgary Climate Hub
M: (403) 903-6234
EMAIL: [email protected] 

Elizabeth McLennan, Spokesperson
Calgary Alliance for the Common Good
M: (403) 860-0562
EMAIL: [email protected]

Ryan Andersen, Lead Organizer
Calgary Alliance for the Common Good
M: 403-993-7123
EMAIL: [email protected]

 

About Calgary’s Future

Calgary’s Future is dedicated to creating a Calgary that works for everyone. We engage everyday Calgarians, workers, municipal politicians, and community organizations to take action and help make Calgary a thriving, accessible, and sustainable city to live in.

Learn more: https://www.calgarysfuture.ca

 

About More Neighbours Calgary

Calgary's pro-housing movement, More Neighbours Calgary is a grassroots group of community-minded Calgarians. We are a grassroots group of individuals who are watching the housing crises of Toronto and Vancouver arrive here at our doorstep and are fed up with the lack of bold, concrete action from city hall to address the issue.

Learn More: https://www.moreneighbourscalgary.ca/ 

 

About the Calgary Climate Hub

The Calgary Climate Hub is a volunteer-led, non-profit organization that unites a diverse group of Calgarians committed to working together to support meaningful local action on climate change. We represent a variety of communities, industries, cultures and causes. We believe that a broad and diverse range of Calgarians and organizations need to be engaged on the climate crisis to develop impactful solutions that fit our unique political and economic circumstances.

Learn More: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/ 

 

About the Calgary Student Alliance

The Calgary Student Alliance represents over 90,000 post-secondary students attending university, college or polytechnic institutions. The CSA is a regular advocate on issues important to students in our community. Members include the University of Calgary Graduate Association, the University of Lethbridge Student Association, the SAITSA, Bow Valley College Students Association, the Alberta University of the Arts Students’ Association, and the University of Calgary Students’ Union.

Learn More:  https://www.instagram.com/calgarystudentalliance/ 

 

About ACORN

ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) Canada is a multi-issue, membership-based community union of low- and moderate-income people. We believe that social and economic justice can best be achieved by building community power for change.

Learn More: https://acorncanada.org/locations/alberta-acorn/ 

 

About the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good:

The Calgary Alliance for the Common Good is a non-partisan and non-profit alliance of congregations, unions, school and community groups in Calgary representing more than 35,000 people. These organizations came together to form the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good in order to organize the power of our communities to shape a just and compassionate city.

Learn more: https://www.calgarycommongood.org/about_us

 

 

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