Calgary City Council approved the Resilient Calgary strategy on June 17, 2019.
The strategy provides a vision to make Calgary a more resilient city for future generations. Resilient Calgary also identifies strategies and actions that the City of Calgary and community can take to help prepare for future stresses and shocks.
The week that strategy was released also marks the sixth year since the 2013 flood. Since then, the City of Calgary has taken on many programs and projects such as community education initiatives and riverbank stabilization that will help to reduce damage from future floods. The work reflected in the Resilient Calgary strategy will ensure that Calgary can withstand the future stresses and shocks that the community will face.
“The Resilient Calgary strategy harnesses and celebrates the Calgarian spirit and the unparalleled can-do attitude that we have witnessed time and again,” said Brad Stevens, deputy city manager and chief resilience officer at the City of Calgary.
The launch of the strategy marks an important milestone for the community, according to the City of Calgary. It involved two years of research, with more than 15,000 touch points of engagement and stakeholder interaction.
These resilience-building activities have included the Agenda-Setting Workshop and Downtown Economic Summit in 2017, focus groups, workshops, open houses, online engagement, and stakeholder interviews.
This document looks at Calgary holistically with one shared theme, four pillars, 13 outcomes, 29 actions, and 39 success measures that support a vision of resilience for Calgary.
The shared theme and pillars are:
- Shared Theme – A Future-Focused Calgary: All pillars use a future focused lens when advancing resilience outcomes and actions.
- Pillar 1 – The Future of Calgary’s Economy: All community members are encouraged and able to participate in a diverse and strong economy.
- Pillar 2 – Inclusive Futures: Institutions have trusted and informed relationships with Calgary’s equity-seeking communities.
- Pillar 3 – The Future of Calgary’s Natural Infrastructure: Natural Infrastructure assets are identified, protected, tracked, managed, and used to inform investment and planning decisions.
- Pillar 4 – Future Ready Infrastructure: Calgarians are supported through strategic investment in future focused and resilient infrastructure.
The Resilient Calgary team will develop an implementation plan by Q4 of 2019. It will build on the spirit of collaboration and cooperation. The implementation plan will involve community members, organizations, and stakeholders.
To read the complete strategy, visit calgary.ca/resilientcalgary
