Aryn Toombs
@aryn.bsky.social
Journalist by way of words, photos, and data at LiveWire Calgary.
Reposted by Aryn Toombs
It would have meant the addition of roughly 25 items each month to public hearing meeting agendas. #yyc #calgary #yyccc
buff.ly/x3iRl6F
buff.ly/x3iRl6F
Hundreds of land-use hearings avoided through citywide rezoning - LiveWire Calgary
Calgary city council avoided hundreds of land-use redesignation hearings since citywide rezoning was approved, items that would have potentially added cost and time to both the city and developers.…
livewirecalgary.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:30 PM
It would have meant the addition of roughly 25 items each month to public hearing meeting agendas. #yyc #calgary #yyccc
buff.ly/x3iRl6F
buff.ly/x3iRl6F
Reposted by Aryn Toombs
Aryn’s contribution to the growth of LWC have been immeasurable over the past four years. The commitment to visual stories, data and reaching communities untouched by other media speaks volumes about him as a professional. We wish him the best moving forward!
- Darren Krause, Editor
- Darren Krause, Editor
Some news on the news: today is my second last day with @livewirecalgary.bsky.social, as I am about to step into a new role with Coun. DJ Kelly’s office at city hall come Monday.
It’s been an honour to share your stories over the past 4 years.
It’s been an honour to share your stories over the past 4 years.
November 21, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Aryn’s contribution to the growth of LWC have been immeasurable over the past four years. The commitment to visual stories, data and reaching communities untouched by other media speaks volumes about him as a professional. We wish him the best moving forward!
- Darren Krause, Editor
- Darren Krause, Editor
Some news on the news: today is my second last day with @livewirecalgary.bsky.social, as I am about to step into a new role with Coun. DJ Kelly’s office at city hall come Monday.
It’s been an honour to share your stories over the past 4 years.
It’s been an honour to share your stories over the past 4 years.
November 21, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Some news on the news: today is my second last day with @livewirecalgary.bsky.social, as I am about to step into a new role with Coun. DJ Kelly’s office at city hall come Monday.
It’s been an honour to share your stories over the past 4 years.
It’s been an honour to share your stories over the past 4 years.
Reposted by Aryn Toombs
Alberta wasted more than $100M in lab privatization effort: Auditor general report edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...
Alberta wasted more than $100M in lab privatization effort: Auditor general report
dynalifey
edmontonjournal.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Alberta wasted more than $100M in lab privatization effort: Auditor general report edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...
Reposted by Aryn Toombs
Alberta government eyes legal changes to let physicians work publicly and privately
Public health defenders say it’ll weaken an already weak health system.
NDP says call an election over it — Premier Smith says no.
Also from me today:
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/alb...
Public health defenders say it’ll weaken an already weak health system.
NDP says call an election over it — Premier Smith says no.
Also from me today:
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/alb...
Alberta government eyes legal changes to let physicians work publicly and privately
EDMONTON - The Alberta cabinet minister in charge of primary care says legislation is coming — but won't provide details — amid reports the province plans to let doctors work
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca
November 19, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Alberta government eyes legal changes to let physicians work publicly and privately
Public health defenders say it’ll weaken an already weak health system.
NDP says call an election over it — Premier Smith says no.
Also from me today:
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/alb...
Public health defenders say it’ll weaken an already weak health system.
NDP says call an election over it — Premier Smith says no.
Also from me today:
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/alb...
@naheednenshi.bsky.social, leader of the Alberta NDP, condemns the government's use of the notwithstanding clause in Bill 9.
November 18, 2025 at 11:48 PM
@naheednenshi.bsky.social, leader of the Alberta NDP, condemns the government's use of the notwithstanding clause in Bill 9.
Alberta, in another release, confirms that sport orgs wanting provincial funding must adhere to disallowing transgender athletes from competing under the Fairness in Sport Act.
This would also include major international competitions that would receive GOA funding to be held in Alberta.
This would also include major international competitions that would receive GOA funding to be held in Alberta.
November 18, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Alberta, in another release, confirms that sport orgs wanting provincial funding must adhere to disallowing transgender athletes from competing under the Fairness in Sport Act.
This would also include major international competitions that would receive GOA funding to be held in Alberta.
This would also include major international competitions that would receive GOA funding to be held in Alberta.
NEW: Alberta's government has opted to use the notwithstanding clause to strip the Charter rights in sections 7 through 15 of transgender children, doctors, teachers, and sporting organizations as part of Bill 9.
November 18, 2025 at 10:00 PM
NEW: Alberta's government has opted to use the notwithstanding clause to strip the Charter rights in sections 7 through 15 of transgender children, doctors, teachers, and sporting organizations as part of Bill 9.
Having lived in the Bow Valley and worked in BNP, there is a fair bit of irony about Albertas voting for the new "strong and free" plate with a photo of Moraine Lake given its a mecca for Australian workers and also people who wished they lived in B.C.
November 18, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Having lived in the Bow Valley and worked in BNP, there is a fair bit of irony about Albertas voting for the new "strong and free" plate with a photo of Moraine Lake given its a mecca for Australian workers and also people who wished they lived in B.C.
Reposted by Aryn Toombs
Flag-raising ban fails to get added to Calgary city council agenda as an urgent item. #yyc #calgary #yyccc
buff.ly/DijV86d
buff.ly/DijV86d
Flag raising ban flops as urgent item at Calgary city council - LiveWire Calgary
Calgary’s new city council exercised its authority to determine whether an item was an urgent matter by denying a proposed flag-raising Notice of Motion. Last week, Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas said…
livewirecalgary.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Flag-raising ban fails to get added to Calgary city council agenda as an urgent item. #yyc #calgary #yyccc
buff.ly/DijV86d
buff.ly/DijV86d
Geopolitics aside, there is a public misconception that a country's flag raised at Calgary City Hall replaces one of the Canadian national, provincial, or Indigenous flags.
They do not. Courtesy request flags are flown on a separate 1pole at city hall.
livewirecalgary.com/2025/11/13/u...
They do not. Courtesy request flags are flown on a separate 1pole at city hall.
livewirecalgary.com/2025/11/13/u...
Urgent motion coming to Calgary city council to eliminate the flying of foreign national flags on city flagpole - LiveWire Calgary
Flags representing different foreign nations may soon no longer fly on the courtesy pole out front of Calgary’s municipal building, with the intention of avoiding the flap that can go along with it. M...
livewirecalgary.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Geopolitics aside, there is a public misconception that a country's flag raised at Calgary City Hall replaces one of the Canadian national, provincial, or Indigenous flags.
They do not. Courtesy request flags are flown on a separate 1pole at city hall.
livewirecalgary.com/2025/11/13/u...
They do not. Courtesy request flags are flown on a separate 1pole at city hall.
livewirecalgary.com/2025/11/13/u...
Calgary's new mayor @jeromyyyc.bsky.social signs on with the conservative and right wing sides of council for a motion to repeal up-zoning in Calgary.
livewirecalgary.com/2025/11/13/m...
livewirecalgary.com/2025/11/13/m...
Motion for repeal of citywide rezoning coming to Calgary's Executive Committee - LiveWire Calgary
The wheels are in motion on a potential repeal of Calgary’s controversial citywide rezoning, after six councillors and the mayor sign on to a Notice of Motion coming next week. The Notice of Motion fo...
livewirecalgary.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Calgary's new mayor @jeromyyyc.bsky.social signs on with the conservative and right wing sides of council for a motion to repeal up-zoning in Calgary.
livewirecalgary.com/2025/11/13/m...
livewirecalgary.com/2025/11/13/m...
Reposted by Aryn Toombs
Calgary's living wage rises $2 to $26.50 for 2025. See where that stacks up against other Alberta municipalities in our latest on the increase.
buff.ly/AmQXBpA
buff.ly/AmQXBpA
Calgary's living wage rises to $26.50 per hour - LiveWire Calgary
The latest living wage calculations by Vibrant Communities Calgary (VCC) have seen the required hourly wage rise to $26.50 for 2025, up $2 from 2024. That calculation, which is done annually by VCC,…
livewirecalgary.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Calgary's living wage rises $2 to $26.50 for 2025. See where that stacks up against other Alberta municipalities in our latest on the increase.
buff.ly/AmQXBpA
buff.ly/AmQXBpA
Due to the spread of measles in Canada, the Region of the Americas is no longer considered to be free from endemic measles transmission.
Since March 2025, there have been 1,956 reported cases of measles in Alberta with the majority being between 5-17 years of age.
www.paho.org/en/news/10-1...
Since March 2025, there have been 1,956 reported cases of measles in Alberta with the majority being between 5-17 years of age.
www.paho.org/en/news/10-1...
PAHO calls for regional action as the Americas lose measles elimination status
Washington, D.C., 10 November 2025 (PAHO) –The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) announced today that the Region of the Americas has lost its verification as free from endemic measles transmissi...
www.paho.org
November 10, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Due to the spread of measles in Canada, the Region of the Americas is no longer considered to be free from endemic measles transmission.
Since March 2025, there have been 1,956 reported cases of measles in Alberta with the majority being between 5-17 years of age.
www.paho.org/en/news/10-1...
Since March 2025, there have been 1,956 reported cases of measles in Alberta with the majority being between 5-17 years of age.
www.paho.org/en/news/10-1...
With the government promising a new cabinet to examine classroom sizes and complexity and apparently also data come January of 2026, I think all of us data wonks are eagerly awaiting to see whether this is the actual raw classroom size data we saw up until 2019, or an aggregate report.
November 7, 2025 at 8:15 PM
With the government promising a new cabinet to examine classroom sizes and complexity and apparently also data come January of 2026, I think all of us data wonks are eagerly awaiting to see whether this is the actual raw classroom size data we saw up until 2019, or an aggregate report.
Reposted by Aryn Toombs
It's early days, according to the City of Calgary, but the province is sending a positive signal in helping secure future water resources. #yyc #calgary
buff.ly/kRwtG1K
buff.ly/kRwtG1K
Alberta Water Act changes open up the potential for large-scale water reuse in Calgary - LiveWire Calgary
New provincial direction on municipalities’ use of water could mean a deluge of new possibilities in its reuse, adding sustainability to Calgary’s water supply. On Oct. 30, the Government of Alberta…
livewirecalgary.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:58 PM
It's early days, according to the City of Calgary, but the province is sending a positive signal in helping secure future water resources. #yyc #calgary
buff.ly/kRwtG1K
buff.ly/kRwtG1K
"Arresting is connecting."
Calgary Police launch Operation Order in downtown Calgary, which saw officers gather enmasse to address what CPS Chief McLellan said was a sharp rise in violence and social disorder.
Unhoused people disagreed with the tactic.
livewirecalgary.com/2025/11/05/o...
Calgary Police launch Operation Order in downtown Calgary, which saw officers gather enmasse to address what CPS Chief McLellan said was a sharp rise in violence and social disorder.
Unhoused people disagreed with the tactic.
livewirecalgary.com/2025/11/05/o...
'Operation Order' leads to downtown sweep by Calgary Police Service - LiveWire Calgary
Calgary Police Service officers gathered en masse in the downtown on Nov. 5, for what the start of what the service is calling Operation Order, to crack down on crime and social disorder. Dozens of of...
livewirecalgary.com
November 5, 2025 at 10:44 PM
"Arresting is connecting."
Calgary Police launch Operation Order in downtown Calgary, which saw officers gather enmasse to address what CPS Chief McLellan said was a sharp rise in violence and social disorder.
Unhoused people disagreed with the tactic.
livewirecalgary.com/2025/11/05/o...
Calgary Police launch Operation Order in downtown Calgary, which saw officers gather enmasse to address what CPS Chief McLellan said was a sharp rise in violence and social disorder.
Unhoused people disagreed with the tactic.
livewirecalgary.com/2025/11/05/o...
10,812 AUPE nursing care members have voted to strike, with 219 against for a 98% vote towards labour action.
Breakdown of percentages below:
Breakdown of percentages below:
November 5, 2025 at 7:21 PM
10,812 AUPE nursing care members have voted to strike, with 219 against for a 98% vote towards labour action.
Breakdown of percentages below:
Breakdown of percentages below:
Four of the province's criminal defence associations have condemned the Alberta Government's use of the notwithstanding clause.
livewirecalgary.com/2025/11/05/c...
livewirecalgary.com/2025/11/05/c...
Calgary lawyers decry province's use of the notwithstanding clause - LiveWire Calgary
Calgary lawyers have been divided on whether or not the teachers strike should have happened and what the solution would be—but the one thing they all agreed upon was that the use of the notwithstandi...
livewirecalgary.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Four of the province's criminal defence associations have condemned the Alberta Government's use of the notwithstanding clause.
livewirecalgary.com/2025/11/05/c...
livewirecalgary.com/2025/11/05/c...
Reposted by Aryn Toombs
Residents near a proposed rowhouse in Parkdale are concerned the property owner is seeking a Direct Control R-CG land use as a workaround on the site's restrictive covenant. #yyc #calgary
buff.ly/9zWT9ar
buff.ly/9zWT9ar
Residents concerned Direct Control R-CG meant to sidestep restrictive covenant - LiveWire Calgary
Residents in the northwest community of Parkdale worry that an upcoming land-use redesignation in their neighbourhood is designed to deliberately override a restrictive covenant on the site. The…
livewirecalgary.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Residents near a proposed rowhouse in Parkdale are concerned the property owner is seeking a Direct Control R-CG land use as a workaround on the site's restrictive covenant. #yyc #calgary
buff.ly/9zWT9ar
buff.ly/9zWT9ar
Reposted by Aryn Toombs
Not sure how to do this but dear councillors and new mayor the University is here to help you. We have an existing agreement to help you research anything you need evidence for. I mean not just me. Anyone. It’s called the Urban Alliance agreement
Good morning from Calgary city hall!
City council is meeting for the first time (picking up the meeting recessed at the swearing in)
The organizational meeting will determine who will make up the various boards and committees.
City council is meeting for the first time (picking up the meeting recessed at the swearing in)
The organizational meeting will determine who will make up the various boards and committees.
November 3, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Not sure how to do this but dear councillors and new mayor the University is here to help you. We have an existing agreement to help you research anything you need evidence for. I mean not just me. Anyone. It’s called the Urban Alliance agreement
Reposted by Aryn Toombs
Two fires that are believed to have been the result of celebratory fireworks caused roughly $130,000 in damage, according to the Ward 5 city councillor. #yyc #calgary
buff.ly/pjHCw3I
buff.ly/pjHCw3I
Councillor urges more action on illegal fireworks during cultural celebrations - LiveWire Calgary
The recently re-elected councillor for Ward 5 wants to know what the City of Calgary can do to deal with illegal celebrations, particularly around the celebration of Diwali. During Question Period at…
livewirecalgary.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Two fires that are believed to have been the result of celebratory fireworks caused roughly $130,000 in damage, according to the Ward 5 city councillor. #yyc #calgary
buff.ly/pjHCw3I
buff.ly/pjHCw3I
I haven't done a big data story in a while, so this one was a fun one.
Everything you ever wanted to know, and probably more about where Calgarians supported the mayoral candidates during the elections at the polls.
And yes, clickbait aside, the results WILL surprise you.
Everything you ever wanted to know, and probably more about where Calgarians supported the mayoral candidates during the elections at the polls.
And yes, clickbait aside, the results WILL surprise you.
Data lens: Where Calgary mayoral candidates received their support - LiveWire Calgary
With the recounts complete, and official results from Calgary’s election now available poll-by-poll, Calgarians are getting their first look at where and where not the candidates received their suppor...
livewirecalgary.com
November 1, 2025 at 4:35 PM
I haven't done a big data story in a while, so this one was a fun one.
Everything you ever wanted to know, and probably more about where Calgarians supported the mayoral candidates during the elections at the polls.
And yes, clickbait aside, the results WILL surprise you.
Everything you ever wanted to know, and probably more about where Calgarians supported the mayoral candidates during the elections at the polls.
And yes, clickbait aside, the results WILL surprise you.
Today is the first time in the past four years where I haven't done a portrait of Calgary's mayor dressing up for Halloween before meeting with school kids at the City Hall classroom.
My favourite from the series, with then Mayor Gondek dressing up as the queen bee.
My favourite from the series, with then Mayor Gondek dressing up as the queen bee.
October 31, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Today is the first time in the past four years where I haven't done a portrait of Calgary's mayor dressing up for Halloween before meeting with school kids at the City Hall classroom.
My favourite from the series, with then Mayor Gondek dressing up as the queen bee.
My favourite from the series, with then Mayor Gondek dressing up as the queen bee.