THOMAS: Calgary a mecca of deep-rooted racism and discrimination, says new report

After spending $4.6 million last spring for a new slogan for Calgary, money that would have been better spent repairing potholes or major water main breaks, Calgary Economic and Development and Tourism Calgary unveiled this gem, Blue Sky City. CED and Tourism Calgary tried to sell it as recognizing the city as the sunniest in all of Canada, for whatever that’s worth. At the time, officials said the new slogan and logo sent the message ‘looking to the future,’ noting they were a nice departure from previous slogans, such as Heart of the New West, Be Part of the Energy or Stampede City and would allow Calgary to grow beyond singular themes. Turns out it could have been a precursor to The Calgary Plan, a 156-page document that forms Calgary’s Municipal Development Plan for the future. Blue Sky can be defined as "an idea that is fanciful; impractical; having dubious value, and; not financially sound." The Calgary Plan is all those things and about the only thing it doesn’t suggest is changing the name of the City of Calgary to the City of Wokery. One of the opening paragraphs reads, “The Calgary Plan enhances the connections that make this city great, ensuring that Calgary continues to grow as a beacon of innovation, diversity, prosperity and unity. Together, we are shaping a city where everyone feels at home, has a home and is part of a bright, sustainable future.” So far, so good. And then, “By embracing this growth and actively supporting anti-racism, equity, diversity, inclusion and a strong sense of belonging for all individuals in the city's communities, Calgary strengthens its social, environmental and economic resilience, especially during times of rapid change.” And city planners in the past were basically bad people says the document, “The Calgary Plan strives for equitable, anti-racist and inclusive outcomes for all Calgarians. Achieving this requires acknowledging and addressing the deep-rooted racism and different forms of discrimination embedded in planning systems, programs, services and policies.” “Actively identifying, challenging and removing these barriers ensures that the design and building of the city supports racial equity and justice, diversity, inclusion and reconciliation, providing all Calgarians with the opportunity to experience a safe, affordable and livable city.” The Calgary Plan includes chapters detailing how to deal with climate change, how to turn downtown into a tax cash cow again and a host of other blue sky ideas. To suggest planners purposely discriminated against any of the people or groups mentioned in The Calgary Plan by erecting barriers is ridiculous, if not total BS. My experience with city planners, which goes back more than 25 years, is they are the virtue signallers, embracing diversity, equity and inclusion long before it became a fashionable fad. A number of years ago, I was invited to speak at a conference in Canmore of planners from cities and towns from all over Alberta. I opened by saying, “It is my impression the people in this room, while making plans for new communities, roads and such, are more concerned with making an impression, or having control, on how people live their lives. If you agree, put up your hands.” There were about 75 people in the room. They all put up their hands. Over time, I wondered occasionally where all these planners may have gone. My guess now is some ended up in the marketing departments of Bud Light and Jaguar and some are working in the Calgary Municipal Building. The Calgary Plan will go before council sometime in December. Council needs to vote this down and replace it with common sense.