Good morning, beautiful people of Calgary!
We asked if we should start hosting live events, and 75% of you voted yes. We will make sure the snack situation is handled. To the 25% of you who voted to stay home and read this in your pajamas: we are looking at you. We respect your dedication to comfort.
In today's Calgary Scoop, we are covering the return of free yard trees, the blanket rezoning repeal, high-altitude goose drama, a classic suburban price check, and a full rundown of local events and live music.
Let’s get to it.
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Free trees are back. The City is bringing back the Branching Out program for 2026. This means you can get a free tree for your yard. Registration opens by city quadrant throughout April. The northwest opened on April 7. The northeast opens today, April 14. The southeast opens on April 21, and the southwest on April 28. The online form goes live at 10 a.m. on your specific day at calgary.ca/branchingout. The inventory goes fast. Claim yours before your neighbors take them all. Get the details
The blanket rezoning repeal. City council approved the repeal of the blanket rezoning land-use bylaw. This rolls back the rules that allowed rowhouses and townhomes to be built on standard single-family lots across the city. We are returning to the old system. If you want to build multi-residential housing in a single-family neighborhood, you have to apply for a specific land-use redesignation. This means more public hearings and individual council approvals for developers. Read the city update
High-altitude goose drama. A pair of Canada geese has been nesting on the exact same high-rise balcony planter since 2021. Now, a local resident is locked in a standoff with her condo board to prevent the removal of their eggs. The building management wants the nest gone for good. The resident is arguing for coexistence with her long-term avian neighbors. It is the exact kind of bizarre spring drama we expect around here. Read the standoff details
Tech hub status and big money moving. Calgary is gaining serious recognition as a major tech hub. Recent corporate buyouts show things are moving behind the scenes. GFL Environmental is scooping up Secure Waste Infrastructure in a $6.4 billion deal that shakes up the industrial sector. At the same time, local safety tech company Blackline Safety is also being sold off. There is a lot of capital shifting around the city right now. Read about the tech boom | Read the GFL deal | Read the Blackline sale
A new kind of park is coming. Canada’s first public dementia-inclusive park is projected to open in Calgary this fall. The design goes way beyond standard pathways. It focuses on clear sightlines and sensory-friendly spaces to reduce anxiety. The project is a collaboration with Parks Foundation Calgary and local community groups. Read about the project
Good vibes and studio time. A family-run recording and post-production studio is handing out grants to marginalized artists in the city. They are offering free studio time and engineering resources to help locals get their music recorded professionally. Studio time is notoriously expensive. This removes a huge barrier for emerging talent. We love seeing the local music community taking care of its own. Learn about the grants
This is Cash.
He is a six-year-old Great Pyrenees mix who weighs in at 97 pounds. Cash is the definition of a gentle giant. He takes a minute to warm up, especially around men, but once he decides you are his person, he becomes your permanent shadow. At home, he lives for chin scratches and demands endless belly rubs. On walks, he is a perfect gentleman on a leash.
He enjoys calm strolls by the pond and ignores the usual neighborhood chaos of bikes and scooters. Because he gets stressed when left alone, he needs a home where people are around often. He has serious potential as an office dog. He also loves the snow and would not mind having another calm dog around the house.
Since he is a big guy who likes his peace, a home with older kids is recommended. He is currently living with a temporary family, so you cannot meet him as a drop-in at the shelter.
How to adopt: Fill out the online request form through the Calgary Humane Society to schedule a meeting. See his profile
Half of you nailed the numbers last week! The correct answer was $2,449,000, which exactly 50% of you guessed right. As promised, we are sharing the locations so you can check your mental maps. That historic property is located in Upper Mount Royal: 1927 12 Street SW.
This week, we are looking at a classic single-family suburban home.
Take a good look at the photos for this week and cast your vote. Bonus points if you can guess the specific neighborhood (just hit reply and shoot us an email with your guess).
Tuesday, April 14
Flames vs. Colorado Avalanche | Home game at the Dome. Puck drop 7:00 p.m. Get tickets
UCalgary Strong Festival | End-of-term celebration on the main campus with live music, dancing, games, photo booths, and free food. 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Details
FunnyFest Comedy Competition — Virtual Show | Tonight's show is online via Zoom. 50 comedians competing over 10 nights. Get tickets
Wednesday, April 15
Dumpling Fest Calgary | Self-guided evening food tour across multiple Calgary restaurants. 5:00–9:00 p.m. Tickets required in advance. Get tickets
Aggie Days School Days | Agriculture education event at the Nutrien Western Event Centre. Cow milking, sheep shearing, interactive exhibits. 9:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Runs through Thursday. Details
FunnyFest Comedy Competition | Live show at Offside Pub, 2820 Centre Street North. 7:00 p.m. Get tickets
Theatre Calgary: A Doll's House | Ibsen's classic adaptation at Max Bell Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Get tickets
Thursday, April 16
Calgary Underground Film Festival Opens | 23rd edition at Globe Cinema. Opening night film is HOKUM, a supernatural horror starring Adam Scott. Runs through April 26. Get tickets
Flames vs. Los Angeles Kings — Fan Appreciation Night | Last home game of the regular season. Puck drop 7:00 p.m. Get tickets
Lee Brice — Sunriser Tour, Night One | Country show at Grey Eagle Event Centre. Show 7:30 p.m. Get tickets
The Wailers — 50 Years of Positive Vibrations | With special guests OK Vybe at The Palace Theatre. 8:00 p.m. Get tickets
Theatre Calgary: A Doll's House | Max Bell Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Get tickets
FunnyFest Comedy Competition | Live show at the Canadian BrewHouse University District. 8:00 p.m. Get tickets
Heritage Park Ghost Tours | Evening history walks every Thursday through April 22. 7:00 p.m. Details
Friday, April 17
Vivaldi's Four Seasons | Calgary Phil with violinist Timothy Chooi conducting and playing. Jack Singer Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m. Details
Lee Brice — Sunriser Tour, Night Two | Grey Eagle Event Centre, 7:30 p.m. Get tickets
Theatre Calgary: A Doll's House | Max Bell Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Get tickets
FunnyFest Semi-Final | 12 competitors battle it out at the DoubleTree by Hilton Calgary North Ballroom. 8:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. Get tickets
CUFF Day 2 | Films continue at Globe Cinema. Schedule
Saturday, April 18
Aggie Days — Family Days | Free admission. Animal exhibits, live demos, Clock, Stock & Barrel competition. 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. at Nutrien Western Event Centre. Details
Calgary Roughnecks Rodeo Night | Roughnecks vs. Colorado Mammoth at the Dome. 7:00 p.m. Get tickets
Calgary Opera: The Barber of Seville, Night One | Rossini's comedy at the Jubilee Auditorium. Doors 6:00 p.m., show 7:30 p.m. Get tickets
Theatre Calgary: A Doll's House | Max Bell Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Get tickets
Dwayne Gretzky | Live covers band at The Palace Theatre. 8:00 p.m. Get tickets
FunnyFest Championship Final | The competition wraps at the DoubleTree by Hilton Calgary North Ballroom. 6:00 p.m. Get tickets
Butterfield Acres Spring Babies Festival | Farm animals and family activities. Running weekends through April 19. Details
Sunday, April 19
Aggie Days — Family Days, Last Day | Free admission. 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. at Nutrien Western Event Centre. Details
Calgary Opera: The Barber of Seville — Matinee | Doors 12:30 p.m., show 2:00 p.m. at the Jubilee. Get tickets
Theatre Calgary: A Doll's House — Matinee | Max Bell Theatre. 2:00 p.m. Get tickets
Safari Brunch at the Wilder Institute | Weekly Sunday buffet with a chocolate fountain and omelette station. Runs through November. Reserve a table
CUFF Day 4 | Films continue at Globe Cinema. Schedule
Monday, April 20
CUFF Day 5 | Films continue at Globe Cinema through April 26. Schedule
Want your event to be featured? Hit reply and send us the details. If it's cool, we'll share it with Calgary.
Tom Phillips & The DTs | The Blues Can | Tue, 8 p.m. Info
Punk Rock Bingo | Ship & Anchor | Tue, 7 p.m. Info
Write On Artist Showcase | Gravity Espresso | Wed, 6:30 p.m. Info
Shameful Hussies | The Blues Can | Wed, 8 p.m. Info
Open Mic | Ironwood Stage & Grill | Wed, 7 p.m. Info
Forbidden Dimension w/ Caveman and the Banshee & Iron Tusk | Dickens Pub | Wed, 8 p.m. Info
Steve Pineo | The Blues Can | Thu, 5 p.m. Info
Esra Cash | Gravity Espresso | Thu, 6:30 p.m. Info
Said The Whale | Commonwealth Bar | Thu, 6:30 p.m. Info
The Lovebullies | The Blues Can | Thu, 8 p.m. Info
Lycanthro w/ The Astral Prophets & Red Cain | Dickens Pub | Thu, 8 p.m. Info
Sammy Volkov — Album Release | King Eddy | Thu, 7:30 p.m. Info
Rossy | Commonwealth Bar/UNDRGRD | Thu–Fri, 9 p.m. Info
Kanine | Commonwealth Bar | Thu–Fri, 9 p.m. Info
Sydney Zadravec | The Blues Can | Fri, 5 p.m. Info
Bridgette Yarwood Duo/Band | Gravity Espresso | Fri, 6:30 p.m. Info
Vicki Peterson & John Cowsill | Ironwood Stage & Grill | Fri & Sun, 8 p.m. / 2 p.m. Info
Du-Rite Aces | The Blues Can | Fri & Sat, 9 p.m. Info
Castle w/ Hazzerd & Denimachine | The Palomino | Fri, 8 p.m. Info
Happy Hour w/ The Wine Soaked Preachers | King Eddy | Fri, 4:30 p.m. Info
Dueling Piano Kings | King Eddy | Fri, 8:30 p.m. Info
Bushbaby | Commonwealth Bar/UNDRGRD | Fri–Sat, 9 p.m. Info
Acoustic Afternoons w/ Melyssa Lee | King Eddy | Sat, 11:30 a.m. Info
Saturday Afternoon Jam w/ Mike Clark | The Blues Can | Sat, 3 p.m. Info
Open Stage Jam | Ship & Anchor | Sat, 2 p.m. Info
Tom Phillips & The DTs | Ironwood Stage & Grill | Sat, 2 p.m. Info
Dempsey Bolton — Album Release w/ Hip Hip Thursday & Ella Jean | The Palomino | Sat, 8 p.m. Info
Secondhand Dreamcar | Ironwood Stage & Grill | Sat, 8 p.m. Info
Julia Vos | King Eddy | Sat, 8:30 p.m. Info
Modern Rap Showcase | Commonwealth Bar | Sat, 9 p.m. Info
REPLAY (Y2K Party) | Commonwealth Bar | Sat, 9 p.m. Info
HNTR | Commonwealth Bar/UNDRGRD | Sat, 9 p.m. Info
Poison Arrow (retro/new wave DJ night) | Dickens Pub | Sat, 9 p.m. Info
Songsmith Sundays w/ Carter Felker | King Eddy | Sun, 11:30 a.m. Info
Sunday Afternoon Open Jam | The Blues Can | Sun, 3 p.m. Info
Sunday Night Blues Jam w/ Brother Ray Lemelin | The Blues Can | Sun, 8 p.m. Info
St. Francis | Ironwood Stage & Grill | Mon, 7 p.m. Info
Have a great week.
P.S. Forward this to someone who has over 100 unread text messages right now.