Ward 7 Community Ideation Sessions

On behalf of Councillor Atkinson, the Ward 7 Team is excited to work with you over the next few years to do the best work we can for our 22 unique communities in the heart of Calgary.

Right now, we're excited to share plans about our community ideation sessions starting in early May. We are hosting community ideation sessions at eight Ward 7 Community Associations to help gather community input on ways you want to see your communities shaped over the next four years. We are going to gather feedback with topic bulletin boards, area maps, and dot charts to understand the desires of community members in key regions of the Ward.

What Is It? 

The Community Ideation Sessions are interactive, in‑person gatherings where residents can share what matters most to them in their neighbourhoods. Participants will be invited to contribute through topic bulletin boards, neighbourhood maps, dot‑voting charts, and sticky-notes galore, creating a democratic and accessible way for everyone to be heard. 

The sessions will be held across eight regions of Ward 7, ensuring voices from diverse communities are reflected in future planning and decision‑making.

Who Is It For? 

These sessions are open to all Ward 7 residents, including: 

• Long‑time community members and newcomers 

• Youth, families, seniors, and local business owners 

• Anyone who lives, works, or volunteers in Ward 7 

No prior experience or preparation is needed—just a willingness to share your perspective. 

Why Should Residents Attend? 

Community input plays a vital role in shaping advocacy, priorities, and investments at City Hall. By attending a Community Ideation Session, residents have a direct opportunity to: 

• Connect with neighbours and strengthen community relationships 

• Share ideas about what they want to see more of (or less of) in their community 

• Identify local challenges and opportunities 

• Influence priorities that will help guide Ward 7’s work over the next four years 

Residents are encouraged to drop in, participate, and add their voice to the conversation. Every dot placed, note written, and map marked helps shape a more inclusive and responsive future for Ward 7. The feedback gathered will help ensure Ward 7’s future reflects the real experiences, needs, and aspirations of the people who live there.

We are finalizing details on a few of these sessions, but if you express your interest through an RSVP or via email to us we will update you as soon as we know more details. Please follow the event links for more information and to express your interest.

We’re looking forward to seeing you at these sessions! On behalf of the whole Ward 7 Team, we thank you for your attention to what’s going on in your community.

2nd / 7th ave cycle track is now open in sunnyside

We are excited to share that the 2nd Ave cycle track in Sunnyside is open! 

We got over a dozen emails when the 2nd Ave / 7th Ave cycle track looked nearly completed but pathway barriers remained. What we heard was a majority of people were excited and supportive of the dedicated bike lanes, but despite being essentially complete, they remained blocked by barriers. 

This was due to a delay in the sign making process. Permanent road markings also did not get painted before winter hit.

From The City's perspective, they wanted to guarantee safety, so the barriers remained as they were concerned the laneway uses were unclear. 

Our goal was clear: Open the wheeling lane.

People wanted the bike lanes open, and The City wanted to ensure that they would be safe and properly marked when they opened. We started with a walkthrough visit, led by the project manager. We were joined by some of the Hillhurst Sunnyside Mobility Committee as well. 

By connecting at the walkthrough in-person, we were able to hear each other's perspectives in a constructive way. We appreciate The City's Mobility Unit for their work and for walking us through the project. They explained the setbacks while meeting highly engaged community members through HSCA's mobility committee. They were able to speed up the process for us - and keep it safe - by installing some temporary signage and road markings.  

Wheeling lane on January 7, 2026

Wheeling lane on January 29th, 2026

We hope that this demonstrates that the Ward 7 office is here for your questions and concerns! You can make a difference when you engage in local issues by emailing us about how you experience your own community. We get a lot of emails, but we reply to every single one. 

Make your Ward 7 office work for you!

Email us at ward7@calgary.ca or join our newsletter to see what we do next!