Sprawlcast

Sep 28 2024 84 ep. 36 mins 269
Sprawlcast Podcast artwork

Calgary’s in-depth municipal podcast. A show for curious Calgarians who want more than the daily news grind.

  News  Society & Culture
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The Tycoons Reshaping Calgary-Area Transit

Sep 28 2024 34 mins  
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 Calgary's Green Line

Aug 09 2024 34 mins  
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

Jul 13 2024 33 mins  
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

Jun 08 2024 35 mins  
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'

May 18 2024 25 mins  
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 in Calgary

Apr 13 2024 33 mins  
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

Mar 23 2024 32 mins  
As the debate about blanket rezoning heats up in Calgary, we dig into the Sprawlcast vault for a deep-dive on NIMBYism. Full transcript on our website at sprawlcalgary.com.

Undermined: Canmore's Struggle To Curb Sprawl

Feb 17 2024 61 mins  
As the Bow Valley gets filled with development, a critical wildlife corridor is being threatened. We dig into Canmore's effort to resist two new housing projects that are expected to nearly double the town's population. This episode is Part 2 in a Sprawlcast series about Three Sisters Mountain Village, and is a collaboration with The Narwhal. Drew Anderson contributed research and

Undermined: The Long Fight Over Canmore's Future

Feb 03 2024 53 mins  
Coal mining drove Canmore's economy for nearly a century. But as the Canmore Mines struggled in the 1970s, speculators saw a new business opportunity in what was then called the Canmore Corridor: tourism. This episode is Part 1 in a Sprawlcast series about Three Sisters Mountain Village, and is a collaboration with The Narwhal. Drew Anderson contributed research and reporting.

Jeromy Farkas, Jyoti Gondek & Calgary’s Upside Down Politics

Nov 18 2023 44 mins  
Two years ago, progressives were rooting for Jyoti Gondek to defeat Jeromy Farkas in the race for mayor. But numerous Calgarians who voted for Mayor Gondek have found themselves in agreement with Farkas more recently—and disappointed by the mayor on files like the arena deal. We speak with both Farkas and Gondek, looking at what's changed since the last election and what's taking