Calgary Ward 8 Councillor Courtney Walcott has joined fellow councillors Evan Spencer and Jennifer Mian in not running for election in October.
In an op-ed piece in Livewire Calgary on Thursday, Walcott wrote, “When I first stepped into the world of municipal politics, I did so with a purpose. I wasn’t drawn to the title or the office, I was drawn to the possibility of change.”
“What kind of city do you want to live in?” That was the question I asked during my campaign, and it remains the question that has guided my work. I believed then, as I do now, that a city thrives when all its people have a place to call home. That belief drove me to run, and it fueled my work every single day.”
“In my first year, we laid a foundation with the Housing and Affordability Task Force. It was never That foundation became Home is Here: The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy, a bold, innovative plan that has since set a new standard for how cities approach housing security.”
“And so, with the work I set out to do now in place, I have made the decision not to seek re-election.”
“With each major challenge, there was resistance, whether from those reluctant to face the realities of our changing city and society or those holding onto a memory of Calgary rather than embracing the possibilities ahead.”
“That is why we built Calgary’s first Anti-Racism Strategy, passed bylaws to strengthen protections for public spaces from physically dangerous demonstrations, developed the City of Calgary’s Climate Strategy, and furthered a Downtown Strategy that focuses on people, and not corporations.”
“We are living in an era where misinformation has blurred the lines between fact and fiction, making it more challenging than ever for Calgarians to discern truth from political theatre,” wrote Walcott. “In times like these, leadership must be grounded in service to those who need it most, the homeless, the sick, and those struggling to make ends meet. "
"These are the people for whom policy should be written, for whom resources should be prioritized, and for whom we should be fighting.”
“Yet, every day, I watch my colleagues cater to those who already have security, already have wealth, and already have a voice that carries weight.”
“Resentment and anger hold a special type of currency at City Hall. It is a reality that is difficult to accept and even harder to change. But change is what I came here to do. I know I can continue that work beyond the walls of City Hall, in a space where integrity is not a liability and where progress is not sacrificed for the sake of perception.”
“I may be leaving City Hall, but my work for Calgary isn’t done. it’s just evolving.”