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Aryn Toombs

@aryn.bsky.social
3.5K followers 1.5K following 530 posts

Sometimes I write, sometimes I take photos, and sometimes I use R to parse large data sets in the millions of entries.

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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
That's a wrap for the Calgary Stampede for another year. And while it means the past week of non-stop events and visits the grounds has ended, I will miss the lights of the fireworks and the midway.
Fireworks over the Calgary Stampede grounds and midway on July 11, 2026. (Aryn Toombs)
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
The free fare zone debate has been kicked down the road to 2027, but for the time being the pro crowd (basically everyone who actually weighed in on the topic to save the free fare zone) has won the day.
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
With the supposed end of the Iran conflct/war, gas prices are higher than ever in Calgary. Latest chart:
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Update for the Calgary regular fuel prices pre-and-post Iran conflict/war.
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
Education property taxes are in the news, so here are some charts. Calgary now provides ~35% of the provincial share of property taxes collected for education. Across the board, Albertans have seen 3 years of big increases to their taxes after a period of flat and even declining tax collection.
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
Today a fixture of Calgary's Chinatown closed with the owners retiring. Something More closed with a final delicious $5 meal special for customers.
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
A chart of the trend in regular gasoline prices in Calgary. With the 2026 Iran conflict/war, we are now 11 cents higher per litre than the peak price in 2024. I'll let the economists weigh in, but this is likely bad for affordability beyond just raw transportation costs.
A chart of regular gasoline prices from 2024 through to March 26, 2026.
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
A quarter of charts that show market absorption of new homes of different build forms for Calgary at price points.
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
The level of the Glenmore Reservoir is now at 87.5% (20566.59 cubic decametres).
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
In order for Calgary's water supply to be sustainable until the Bearspaw feeder main comes back online, total daily Megalitre usage needs to be below 485 ML. Right now the Glenmore Reservoir volume is dropping daily because consumption outstrips the very small inflow.
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
Some data regarding the water levels of Calgary's only current source of water: the Glemore Reservoir has dropped by almost 5% in total capacity over the past five days, going from 94.8% to 89.9% since January 3.
Water levels in percentage of the Glenmore Reservoir. The level has dropped from 94.8% to 89.9% since January 3.
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
@naheednenshi.bsky.social, leader of the Alberta NDP, condemns the government's use of the notwithstanding clause in Bill 9.
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
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.
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
Changes to the Education Act:
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
Changes to the Health Professions Act affects these sections regarding the medical treatment of transgender children.
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
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.
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
10,812 AUPE nursing care members have voted to strike, with 219 against for a 98% vote towards labour action. Breakdown of percentages below:
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
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.
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Alberta NDP leader @naheednenshi.bsky.social on the use of the notwithstanding clause against fundamental Charter rights in Bill 2.

“The UCP already had all the necessary tools to end this strike without taking such shocking steps. Instead, they picked a fight with teachers and chose the most unconstitutional and antidemocratic path possible to force them back to work. 

“Alberta’s New Democrats are outraged by the dangerous precedent set today by this government, and all Albertans should be too. Rather than engaging in good-faith negotiations, the UCP introduced back-to-work legislation that directly attacks teachers and their
 union. This bill imposes punitive fines, enforces an already rejected contract that fails to address worsening classroom conditions, and—most egregiously—invokes the notwithstanding clause against workers.  

“Albertans need to be paying attention: their Charter-protected rights are under attack by the UCP. This government has defended Québec’s right to use the notwithstanding clause to attack religious minorities. It does not matter whether you are a worker, a
 teacher, or student, our democratic rights have been weakened by the actions taken by the UCP this week. Who is next in the UCP’s line of fire? 

“Alberta’s New Democrats unequivocally condemn the actions of the UCP. We continue to stand up for the rights and freedoms of Albertans and will continue to fight back against this government’s blatant disregard for democracy.”
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Section 15: Equality Before and Under the Law and Equal Protection and Benefit of the Law
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Section 14: Interpreters for the Courts
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Section 13: Self-crimination
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Section 12: Treatment or Punishment
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Section 11: Proceedings in Criminal and Penal Matters
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Section 10: Arrest or Detention
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Section 9: Detention or Imprisonment
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Section 8: Search or Seizure
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Section 7: Life, Liberty and Security of Person
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Section 2: Fundamental Freedoms for All Canadians
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
The Alberta Government is ordering the public service back into offices starting in 2026, ending the hybrid work from home model that was introduced during the pandemic.
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
Relevant section from the freedom of association paragraphs from the Government of Canada's Justice Department Charterpedia.
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
In response to the province's ask for teachers to go back to work without a deal but with the promise of future mediation, shadow minister for education Amanda Chapman was blunt: "I think it's time for the UCP to cut the crap." Full response below.
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
Thus far, a total of 10.7% of the electorate in Calgary has turned out to the advance polls. And in a change of pace for an advance polling period that has been less utilized than 2021, today set the record for Day 6 voting with 22,144 people casting their ballots.
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
To date some 54,622 Calgarians have cast their ballots at advance polls. On Oct. 9, 14,500 ballots were cast. This remains higher than in 2013 and 2017, but lower than 2017.
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Over 40,100 Calgarians have gone to the polls during advance voting over the past three days. It remains well below 2021's municipal election which saw advance polls used because of the pandemic, but ahead of both 2013 and 2021.
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
Day of advance voting in Calgary saw 14,442 advance ballots cast. Lower than 2021, but higher than 2017. Cumulative vote count for the seven days of advance voting for 2013, 2017, 2021, and to date for 2025 below.
Cumulative advance voting counts for 2013, 2017, 2021, and 2025 (up to Day 1 of voting for 2025).
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
Day one of advance voting in the Calgary municipal election, and I’m happy to report I did my civic duty by casting my ballot. This year on the vote bus, which has returned from a pandemic hiatus to provide a mobile advance poll for all Calgarians.
Elections Calgary Vote Bus
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
Tired of boring political debates that just regurgitate sound bites? Well, coming soon is something different. Four Mayoral and Ward 7 candidates will have their knowledge of Calgary tested on Sept. 22 and 23. Save the Date!
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
Measles cases in Alberta on 2025-08-07: • Total cases: 1,713 (+19) • North cases: 568 (+13) • Central cases: 112 (+4) • South cases: 959 (+1) • Calgary cases: 51 (+1)
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
Measles cases in Alberta on 2025-08-05: • Total cases: 1,691 (+35) • North cases: 552 (+18) • South cases: 958 (+13) • Edmonton cases: 23 (+4)
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
Measles cases in Alberta on 2025-07-28: • Total cases: 1,574 (+36) • North cases: 496 (+17) • South cases: 905 (+14) • Calgary cases: 49 (+5)
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
Measles cases in Alberta on 2025-07-21: • Total cases: 1,454 (+47) • South cases: 844 (+22) • North cases: 443 (+22) • Edmonton cases: 16 (+2) • Calgary cases: 43 (+1)
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
The Alberta NDP has issued a statement, calling on Premier Smith and the UCP to condemn the targeted intimidation campaign against @carrietait.bsky.social.
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
Key point from the report, was that the province sought to take a decision making role over the fire, despite not having the jurisdictional responsibility. The province's inquiries created political challenges and disrupted the work of incident commanders during the fire.
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
It's already been an above average day for news releases and statements from the province for a Friday, with everything from health care changes, trade corridors, the beauty of Alberta's Parks Day, heritage fund savings, museums, fraud, and of course blaming the media for the Jasper report.
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
Interim Acute Care Alberta CEO Dr. Chris Eagle is set to leave the brand new organization before the end of the year. The province has said they will appoint a new permanent CEO if found, otherwise another interim CEO will be appointed after Oct. 10.
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
Measles cases in Alberta on 2025-07-16: • Total cases: 1,340 (+17) • South cases: 795 (+13) • North cases: 390 (+4)
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
Huge finish for the Calgary Surge, with a game winning dunk by George Brown III at the Saddledome for their first ever Calgary Stampede game.
Calgary Surge's Greg Brown III makes the game winning dunk to 107 points vs Montreal Alliance's 91 at the Saddledome in Calgary for Surge 2 Stampede on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 08/07/2025
A story in two photos, separated by time. Whether they are separated by intent remains to be seen.
Federal agents shut down children's play area in Los Angeles.Juergen Stroop (third from left), SS commander who crushed the Warsaw ghetto uprising. Warsaw, Poland, between April 19 and May 16, 1943. THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM
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Aryn Toombs @aryn.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
Measles cases in Alberta on 2025-07-07: • Total cases: 1,217 (+27) • North cases: 322 (+17) • South cases: 753 (+8) • Edmonton cases: 12 (+2)
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