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The Sprawl

@sprawlcalgary.bsky.social

15K followers 37 following 192 posts

Slow news for curious Calgarians. Subscribe to Sprawlcast, Calgary’s in-depth municipal podcast, wherever you listen to podcasts! sprawlcalgary.com

Posts Replies Media

Reposted by The Sprawl

Jeremy Klaszus @klaszus.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Today at Two Pillars Brewery! Sprawl meetup from 2 - 4pm. Drop by anytime. @calgaryhester.bsky.social will be there signing prints!

sprawlcalgary.com

Print Canada’s flag by hand on the Pop-Up Press | The Sprawl

A piece of local—and national—history.

The Sprawl @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Come celebrate The Sprawl's 9th anniversary! Join us Sat, Sept 26, at Two Pillars Brewery, anytime from 2 to 4pm. Will have the Pop-Up Press there with @calgaryhester.bsky.social's new print of the Canadian flag—and Sam will be there in person to sign prints!

Cartoonist Sam Hester holding a letterpress print of the Canadian flag

A letterpress print of George Stanley's original 1964 sketch of the Canadian flag

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Karen Lord 🇨🇦 (Jochumsen) @karenjlord.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Become a member! You will not be disappointed! Here’s what the Alberta Magazine Awards judges had to say: “Its stories are thoroughly researched, expertly written, and thoughtfully edited, providing readers with meaningful context and insightful journalism on the issues affecting Calgary today.”

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Man about cowtown @manaboutcowtown.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Happy for Jeremy and all associated with The Sprawl! In addition to being a much needed journalistic voice in Calgary he is a former classmate of mine and I think he does what he does out of caring for the world as a whole. And we need those types right now. Support The Sprawl if you can.

The Sprawl @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

The Sprawl is now 9! 🎂 And on Thursday night we were named Alberta Magazine of the Year. To celebrate we are aiming to get 90 new members by the end of Sept!

sprawlcalgary.com

The Sprawl wins 5 Alberta Magazine Awards | The Sprawl

Celebrating our 9th anniversary with gratitude.

The Sprawl @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Today we published a tribute to beloved Calgary historian Harry Sanders. “He always had a story about the people that made the place.”

sprawlcalgary.com

Remembering the life and work of Harry Sanders | The Sprawl

He made Calgary history come alive.

The Sprawl @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Reflections on a new season for The Sprawl in a time of AI slop and scattered attention.

sprawlcalgary.com

A new season: Finding the signal in the noise | The Sprawl

The value of sustained attention.

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Tiny Beaches @tinybeaches.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

If you live in Calgary you should listen to this latest podcast by @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social and when you're done you should sign up to subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

The Sprawl @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

In July, Rogers yanked two longstanding Calgary radio stations off the air: 660 News and 960 The Fan. What happens when local stations go silent? We look at what Calgary is losing—and what could be next.

sprawlcalgary.com

The life and death of local radio in Calgary | The Sprawl

What happens after stations go silent?

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🇨🇦Peislandergirl (she/her) @peislandergirl.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

We love the @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social mobile printing press! I’ve been making a collection 🙌

Sprawl mobile printing press.

Print you can print yourself from the Sprawl printing press.

The Sprawl @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

"There's a big public hearing on blanket rezoning happening at Calgary city hall this week..." Again! Here's what we're up to this week. #yyccc

sprawlcalgary.com

A summer update from Calgary city hall | The Sprawl

And a pop-up at the Calgary Folk Music Festival.

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Sam Hester @calgaryhester.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Did you know? The Canada flag was designed by a Calgarian! You can read my new comic about George Stanley at @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social, along with @klaszus.bsky.social's deep dive into this little-known historical story. Happy Canada Day! www.sprawlcalgary.com/canadian-fla...

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Heather Campbell @thatheatherc.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

I love this piece, thanks @klaszus.bsky.social & @calgaryhester.bsky.social! I'm going to bet Dr. George Stanley attended St. Stephen's Anglican Church on 14 Ave SW (by Connaught School, Calgary Collegiate & his former home). Tories at prayer, Anglicans are called. Checking the plaques on Sunday.

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Susan Tyrrell @susantyrrell.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Happy Canada Day! A great article from the @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social. We owe a lot to this Calgary-born gentleman who designed our beautiful and universally recognized flag. www.sprawlcalgary.com/canadian-fla...

sprawlcalgary.com

How a Calgarian created Canada’s flag | The Sprawl

George Stanley proposed ‘a simple red and white’ design.

The Sprawl @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Happy Canada Day! Today we bring you the story of how a Calgarian, George Stanley, designed the Canadian flag—and how his design was picked. Shenanigans! Political intrigue! Read all about it in The Sprawl!

sprawlcalgary.com

How a Calgarian created Canada’s flag | The Sprawl

George Stanley proposed ‘a simple red and white’ design.

The Sprawl @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

NEW IN THE SPRAWL! The story of how a born-and-raised Calgarian, George Stanley, designed the Canadian flag—at a time when it looked like the nation might break apart. Giddyup folks. We dug deep for this one. Enjoy!

sprawlcalgary.com

The forgotten Calgary roots of the Canadian flag | The Sprawl

How an Albertan created a new national symbol.

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Jeremy Klaszus @klaszus.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Doing a fundraising blitz for @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social. Sign up as a monthly member for $12/mo and I'll mail you a copy of my book! You're welcome to sign up for less than that too, we'll send you some cool transit stickers. SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM! sprawlcalgary.fundjournalism.org/donate/

Jeremy Klaszus holding a copy of his book The Hollowing of the Calgary Herald

The Sprawl @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Good news! The Sprawl is nominated for 7 Alberta Magazine Awards. For our municipal election coverage, our tree canopy coverage (ha!) and our Pop-Up Press. www.sprawlcalgary.com/alberta-maga...

sprawlcalgary.com

The Sprawl nominated for 7 Alberta Magazine Awards | The Sprawl

Plus—get the book version of a hit Sprawlcast!

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Alanna dB @whoalansi.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

HUGE bike bus turnout this morning for our Year-end Coffee & Conversation and Bike Bus at KGS. I'm still trying to get a final count, but it was close to 100! WAY TO GO, #yycbike & thank you to @mykeatkinson.bsky.social @jeromyyyc.bsky.social and @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social for joining us!

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Sam Hester @calgaryhester.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Putting a new Curious Calgary zine into my neighbourhood zine box! This one is about the @ucalgary.bsky.social arch, which did not start life as an arch! Take a look at the comic at @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social to learn the arch's origin story.

An old newspaper box now has colourful zines in it.

A pile of red and yellow folded paper zines about the UCagary arch.

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Maija @maijasauna.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

It is perhaps for the best that the Rainbow Bridge for pedestrians and presumably their pets was retired in the 80s but I also had no idea it is what is now the U of C arch! Thanks @klaszus.bsky.social for another great @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social CTrain story!

sprawlcalgary.com

A CTrain milestone—and a repurposed pedestrian bridge | The Sprawl

How the University of Calgary got its arch.

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Canadian Journalism Foundation @cjf-fjc.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

CJF Dr. Eric Jackman Award (Small) Finalist Spotlight: The @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social was shortlisted for “Calgary 2025 Election Edition”. The team livestreamed candidate forums, organized debates, built an online candidate tracker w/ independently-written bios & created printed election guides. /1

A collage featuring a photo of the CJF Awards ceremony, a black-and-white photo of Calgary's historic city hall clock tower against a green-tinted modern glass building, and text that says “The Sprawl 2026 CJF Dr. Eric Jackman Award for Excellence in Journalism (Small) Finalist.”

The Sprawl @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

"Drawing the city, or places in the city, just made me love it more somehow." A Q&A with Calgary cartoonist and author Teresa Wong, who has created a new piece of artwork specifically for The Sprawl's Pop-Up Press. Join us on June 14!

sprawlcalgary.com

In Calgary's Chinatown, Teresa Wong revisits a family history | The Sprawl

Come print with us on June 14!

The Sprawl @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

In the 1940s, Calgary’s streetcar equipment languished while auto companies lobbied city hall to scrap it and replace streetcars with motor buses. #yyccc

sprawlcalgary.com

The story behind Bowness Park and its streetcar | The Sprawl

'It was the ultimate leveller—a club where no one was excluded.'

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Sam Hester @calgaryhester.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Hey, #yyc's Refinery Park is in the news! www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO3w... I learned about Refinery Park when I wrote a comic strip about it for @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social in 2024. You can read the comic here: www.sprawlcalgary.com/calgary-zine...

Imperial makes plan for vacant land 25 years after refinery contamination scare

YouTube video by CBC News Alberta

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Thiago Araujo @thdaraujo.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

the CTrain free fare zone is one of the nicest things we have in Calgary. The numbers from the recent survey are pretty clear: people use it, they like it, and they want it to be expanded. City Hall should just listen to what people want.📣

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Heather Campbell @thatheatherc.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

I love that @calgarytransit.com reads @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social! Subscribe, too! That tells me CT have the capability & capacity to produce a better evaluation & report on the free fare zone than they did. To omit the environmental impact of eliminating the free fare zone was shoddy analysis. 2/

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Heather K 🍁🇨🇦💪 @loveflowers33.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Perhaps they should find a way to actually make it safer, not just improve the perception of safety? 🙄 Removing the free fare zone will impact downtown businesses. Shopping downtown at lunch? Take the train. Meeting someone at the other end of downtown for lunch? Take the train.

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Almoonir Dewji @almoonir.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Very insightful. Funniest para: “I am glad to hear they are reading The Sprawl over at Calgary Transit—but make sure to support our journalism! This ain't some journalistic free fare zone! But I digress.” 🤣

The Sprawl @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Calgary Transit is coming out strong against the CTrain free fare zone to improve "overall perceptions of safety on transit"—but is obscuring why we got it in the first place. We dug into it. #yyccc

sprawlcalgary.com

On the CTrain free fare zone, Calgary city hall is having a memory failure | The Sprawl

It’s not a half-century ‘pilot project.’

The Sprawl @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

A weekend of walks! Yesterday we led Calgarians on a trip into Calgary's transit history. Take a look.

sprawlcalgary.com

A weekend of Jane's Walks in Calgary | The Sprawl

We took a trip into Calgary's transit past.

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Charles Prepolec @sherlockeditor.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Great interview piece in The Sprawl that includes former Calgarian Don Stewart, owner of MacLeod’s Books in Vancouver, who once upon a time worked at Hillhurst Book Store as well as David Sidjak, owner of Sigla Books, who used to work with Tom Williams.

The Sprawl @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Some good news! The Sprawl has been shortlisted for the Canadian Journalism Foundation's excellence in journalism prize, the Eric Jackman Award, for our 2025 municipal election coverage.

sprawlcalgary.com

Some good news about The Sprawl—and a few library letters | The Sprawl

A grab bag of April miscellany.

The Sprawl @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

"I think people are actually really hungry for analog, ad-free forms of reading." These 4 booksellers all grew up in Calgary. We talked to them to find out more about where they came from—and what bookstores mean to a city today.

sprawlcalgary.com

The paper chase: How 4 Calgarians made their cities better with bookstores | The Sprawl

A trip into Western Canadian book culture.

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Jeremy Klaszus @klaszus.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

This would have been my local library branch. Walkable and bikeable. And while I am sad about its disappearance, I had fun digging into this bit of local Calgary history! #yycbike #yyccc

sprawlcalgary.com

The missing Calgary Public Library branch in Crescent Heights | The Sprawl

It was more than ‘a mere book repository.’

The Sprawl @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

This week, the Alberta government announced that charter schools will have access to reserve and municipal land in new communities, the same as public and separate (i.e. Catholic) school boards do. #ableg #yyccc

sprawlcalgary.com

UCP to make public land available to charter schools with Bill 28 | The Sprawl

Developers will also pay less in off-site levies.

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Tiny Beaches @tinybeaches.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

I just finished this Sprawlcast episode and it was awesome! If you live in Calgary, it’s a must listen-to episode. Oh and help fund The Sprawl! I do and it’s well worth it. 😀 #Calgary #yyccc #yyc

The Sprawl @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

New Sprawlcast! As Calgary tries to catch up on infrastructure, city councillors look to tap the brakes on sprawl after decades of costly outer growth. Listen and/or read! #yyccc

sprawlcalgary.com

Paying for it: Calgary suburban developers face new scrutiny from councillors | The Sprawl

After decades of sprawl, the costs are staggering.

The Sprawl @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

Amid all the debate about Calgary's CTrain free fare zone, one question has remained murky. Not many cities offer free LRT downtown. Why do we? The Sprawl dug into it... #yyccc

sprawlcalgary.com

The forgotten story behind Calgary's CTrain free fare zone | The Sprawl

Why do we have it in the first place?

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Brett Bergie 🏳️‍⚧️ @brettbergie.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

When we support @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social, we support journalism that - is meticulously researched, connects dots over time, - uncovers stubborn assumptions or oft-used playbooks, - seeks out perspectives that are unique or underrepresented, and - fosters a deeper understanding of ourselves.

The Sprawl @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

One Calgary councillor’s surprising protest against ‘special treatment’ for wealthy neighbourhoods #yyccc

sprawlcalgary.com

One Calgary councillor's protest against 'special treatment' for wealthy neighbourhoods | The Sprawl

Why Chabot opposes a little-known tax bylaw.

The Sprawl @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

In the 1910s, when Charles Daniels was denied his seat at the Grand Theatre in Calgary, Alberta feared a "dark tide" of immigrants flooding its borders. "The rhetoric of today resembles the rhetoric of those years," says Cheryl Foggo. #ableg

sprawlcalgary.com

Charles Daniels’s stand against racism: How Alberta history is repeating itself | The Sprawl

In 1911, province feared ‘dark tide’ of Black immigration.

The Sprawl @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

Here's a fun bit of local Calgary history! A ski jump off the Stampede grandstand that would launch skiers "like from a catapult." The Sprawl has the story. www.sprawlcalgary.com/calgary-vict...

sprawlcalgary.com

Calgary's original winter games: The dizzying Stampede ski jump | The Sprawl

Look up—look waaaay up.

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Sam Hester @calgaryhester.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Leaving some @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social Olympic zines in Parkdale today!

A little free library full of books and some folded paper zines.

The Sprawl @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

In 2018, Jeromy Farkas called the Olympics “the ultimate politician vanity project.” Not anymore! In the new Sprawlcast, we speak with Mayor Farkas about how his position has changed and why he's thinking about the possibility of a 2038 bid (with caveats). Listen and/or read! #yyccc

sprawlcalgary.com

Should Calgary press play on a future Olympic bid? | The Sprawl

After opposing 2026, Farkas considers 2038.

The Sprawl @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

"These Olympics could have been here in Calgary!" Yes, they could have been. But there are good reasons why they weren't. The Sprawl revisits how Calgary's 2026 bid effort collapsed. #yyccc

sprawlcalgary.com

Why Calgary said no to the 2026 Olympics | The Sprawl

Late promises and little trust.

The Sprawl @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

New edition of The Sprawl kicks off today! We're going to look at how hosting the Olympics—and not hosting 2026—has shaped Calgary. But we're also planning some fun in-person pop-ups. Stay tuned for more details on Analog Week!

sprawlcalgary.com

What Calgary's Olympic past can show us about our future | The Sprawl

In fractured times, we can come together.

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Jeremy Klaszus @klaszus.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

A bleak day in the news biz. Support local journalism, folks. @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social and @livewirecalgary.bsky.social are out here working hard for Calgarians. It's easy to take local journalism for granted but I urge you: please don't.

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Heather Campbell @thatheatherc.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

In 1914, Charles Daniels, a Black CPR employee, was denied his rightful seat at The GRAND Theatre (then the Sherman Grand). His refusal to accept injustice led to one of Alberta’s earliest documented human rights cases. Here's the @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social: www.sprawlcalgary.com/calgarys-unk...

sprawlcalgary.com

Calgary's unknown civil rights champion | The Sprawl

Charles Daniels refused to give up his seat.

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Vanessasaurus 🇨🇦 @vanessasaurus.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

Always great reporting from The Sprawl and with the scathing report on the priorities of council/city admin the last 20 years, the name has never felt more on the nose.