How The UCP Is Rejigging Calgary’s Next Election


Will municipal parties strengthen local democracy or undermine it? We speak with some of the candidates and parties that will be on the ballot—and dig into how the 2025 election will be different.

The Politics of Property Taxes


City hall's decision to close Inglewood's swimming pool left many Calgarians scratching their heads. We dig into why city council cut inner-city pools in the first place after oil prices crashed a decade ago.

2024 Funding Drive Episode


A live episode of Sprawlcast hosted by Jeremy and Lauz (host of Rock Bottom on Tuesdays at 12pm on CJSW), celebrating the 2024 Funding Drive and The Sounds of Radiotown.

The Tycoons Reshaping Calgary-Area Transit


When it comes to rail projects in Alberta, the Green Line is one piece of a larger puzzle. We dig into who's been setting the agenda when it comes to these projects—and to what extent they are complementary or competing with each other as Calgary city hall's Green Line plans collapse.

The Downsizing of the Green Line


A week after the groundbreaking for the new Flames arena, city hall cut the Green Line nearly in half. We dig into the Green Line's delay-plagued history—and how one city megaproject has affected the other.

The Fragility of Calgary's Water Supply


Where does our water come from—and how is climate change altering that water source? We zoom out from the feeder main that broke in June, following a drop of water from the Rocky Mountains and glaciers west of Calgary, into the pipes beneath our feet, and out the taps in our homes.

The Real Costs of Calgary's New BMO Centre


City hall went big—and is feeling the pinch. We dig into what it really cost to build a new convention centre building and what it means for the city's finances.

Bill 20 and Danielle Smith's municipal 'power grab'


It's not unusual for Alberta governments to tinker with municipal election laws. But Bill 20 is far more than the usual tinkering. We dig into the evolution of municipal elections in Alberta and look at what Bill 20 means for local democracy in Calgary—and beyond.

The Rumble Over Rezoning


Should neighbourhoods set their own direction? Should city hall impose it from the top down? Or is there a role for both? We go to Inglewood, Calgary's oldest neighbourhood, in search of answers.

The Nuances of NIMBYism


As the debate about blanket rezoning heats up in Calgary, we dig into the Sprawlcast vault for a deep-dive on NIMBYism.

Undermined: Canmore's Futile Attempt To Curb Sprawl


Canmore town council nixed plans for two developments that would cut into critical wildlife habitat and nearly double the town's population. Then a court order forced the town to backtrack. We dig into what happened—and what it means for the Bow Valley's future.


This episode is Part 2 in a Sprawlcast series. Read a full transcript of this episode on The Sprawl's website.

This episode is a collaboration with The Narwhal, an independent news outlet that dives deep to tell stories about the natural world in Canada. Drew Anderson contributed research and reporting.