
Forest Lawn has a rich history dating back to 1910 when homesteaders located in the area. The district was part of the real estate speculation of 1910-1912, and suffered a depression with the start of World War I. In 1935 the village of Forest Lawn was formed and in 1953, it was incorporated as a town in 1961, Forest Lawn was annexed by the City of Calgary. This long history has resulted in area homes displaying a diverse range of building styles.
Located just 6 km east of downtown, Forest Lawn is close to the Bow River, the Western Irrigation District Canal, a regional park, and major roadways, as well as the 17th Avenue commercial district, known as International Avenue.
The City of Calgary has proudly selected Onward Homes as the official housing developer for the Franklin Station Area Improvements. This project will introduce 350 new homes to the area, half of which will be affordable housing, supporting sustainable growth and improved transit access for the surrounding community.
The Salvation Army East Calgary Community Hub has a new youth program called The Bunker. They wll be hosting a variety of events geared towards kids ages 13-17 in East Calgary throughout the summer. Check out some of their offerings below, or visit their events calendar for more info on these and other community-focused programming.
As part of The City’s commitment to protect the public and environment, joint training sessions for Calgary Fire and Water Services are scheduled The training will focus on responding to substance spills or releases into waterbodies, ranging from daily routine cleanups all the way to large incidents requiring activation of Water Services’ emergency operations or The City of Calgary Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).
As the wire service provider for Calgary, ENMAX Power maintains and operates the system of wires and infrastructure that delivers electricity to our city’s homes and businesses. ENMAX Power crews work 24/7 to ensure safe and reliable power throughout Calgary.
Below are the anticipated projects scheduled over the coming months in Ward 9. It is important to note that this list does not capture inspections, routine maintenance, or emergency work.
Just North of Ward 9 sits Big Marlborough Park. The City of Calgary has plans to improve park amenities at and create a space that can be enjoyed by Calgarians of all ages.
The project is in the preliminary master plan phase and will focus on conceptualizing and designing park enhancements.
The School Councils of Valley View School, Ian Bazalgette School, West Dover School, Erin Woods School and Niitsitapi Learning Centre, invite residents of Greater Forest Lawn to join the Community Resource Fair to learn more about and get connected with organizations and services available in East Calgary.
Thursday, February 27, 2025 | 5:30 - 7:30pm
Valley View School Gym - 4105 26 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2B 1E5
This event highlights essential resources available to families, including job training programs, recreational activities, mental health supports, language and education opportunities, and more! This event is also designed to specifically cater to newcomer families, with the intention of identifying their unique needs and helping them establish connections the community.
The Alex Community Food Center (CFC) is a welcoming space for people to come together to grow, cook, share, and advocate for good food for all. They provide Calgarians with dignified access to high-quality food, while providing all-ages opportunities to learn cooking and gardening skills in ways that expand tastebuds and help us make healthier food choices. Community members come together and take action on issues that matter to them, while creating an interconnected network of friends and neighbours.
As we embrace the winter months and prepare for spring, The Alex CFC has an exciting lineup of programs and events designed to bring the community together, share delicious food, and teach valuable new skills. Be sure to check them out and stop by for a visit soon!
From our families to yours, with love and fellowship, we wish you peace, respite, rejuvenation, and all the best in 2025.
In lieu of mailing traditional holiday cards, we’ve opted to donate to several notable local charities. This season, our focus is on supporting four organizations doing deeply meaningful and important work to care for our 2SLGBTQIA+ neighbours.
Happy Holidays!
The Salvation Army East Calgary Community Hub is hosting a variety of events for youth this November. Check out some of their offerings below, or visit their events calendar for more info on these and other family-focused programming.
Join us to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bob Bahan Aquatic & Fitness Centre.
Bob Bahan is turning 50, and we’re celebrating with a week-long event from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, 2024. Whether you’ve been a supporter for years or are joining for the first time — stop by for free classes, swimming, and food; stay for the community spirit; and leave with great memories and prizes. 4812 14 Avenue SE.
In order to facilitate construction in the area, the Government of Alberta is temporarily closing the Southview off-leash area on Provincial Land on the Western Headworks canal (near the 17th Avenue SE bus rapid transit bridge.) The closure is expeted to begin sometime in November and last for about a year.
The closure of this area is to enable to removal of large volumes of silt/sediment material from the canal. This will be an active construction area with heavy equipment hauling material, which requires additional space for equipment turnaround and maneuvering, staging of equipment and materials, and storage.
Through a partnership between Alpha House, Distress Centre, Calgary Police Service, and City of Calgary, District 4 (which includes most Ward 9 communities east of Deerfoot Trail) now has a call diversion program available to residents seeking assistance for non-emergency social disorder concerns.
Call 2-1-1 and the Alpha House HELP team will be deployed when EMS or CPS response is not required. HELP aims to be onsite within 20 minutes, and works to divert socially complex, high need individuals from law enforcement response and unnecessary healthcare use at the street level.
Parks Foundation is thrilled to celebrate the opening of Forest Lawn Park with the community on September 19, 2024.
From 4-6pm please join for a short formal program from 4:15-4:45, followed by outdoor games and activation of the park including a basketball game with the MRU Cougars Women's Basketball team.
The Pink Door Pizza Food Truck will be onsite, with a free meal provided to the first 75 guests.
In order to accommodate CTrain maintenance work. Beginning Saturday, July 27 at the start of service until Sunday, July 28 at the end of service, there will be no Blue Line CTrain service between City Hall/Bow Valley College and Marlborough Stations. There will be various replacement shuttles to help support the closure.
Elliston Village is actively developing. The project’s developers, Lansdowne, are proposing a change in height and density to Phases 5 and 6 of their comprehensive residential development that will feature townhomes, apartments, and community amenity spaces. A Land Use Amendment (LUA) will be submitted to The City of Calgary.
There are no shortage of unique and exciting events happening throughout the summer at the Twin Views Communal Garden in Dover. From live music and art markets, to educational workshops and opportunities to get to know some of your neighbours. Follow along on the Twin Views Garden Facebook for the most up to date event postings.
Please be advised that Elliston Park will be temporarily closed to the public on Saturday, July 20 and Sunday, July 21, 2024 in order to host the 2024 Cold Garden Limber Disc Golf Open.
There will be a temporary 18-hole disc gold course installed at the park. For the safety of park user and tournament participants, public access will be closed over the weekend.
The City of Calgary is delivering new routes and local improvements to Calgary's Pathway and Bikeway Network to enhance healthy, safe, and accessible travel options in Calgary.
We're developing dedicated pathway and bikeway routes in Ward 9 (Penbrooke Meadows, Forest Heights, Forest Lawn, Dover, Erin Woods, and Eastfield) aligning with Calgary's established Pathway and Bikeway Network. The proposed routes currently serve residential, recreation, shopping, education, and work destination. When the routes are improved, they will provide safe, healthy, and affordable travel choices for people of all ages and all abilities.
This year’s HMCS Barn Burner was a wild success!
Councillors Kourtney Penner and Gian-Carlo Carra along with the Friends of HMCS Calgary Committee welcomed nearly 600 friends, family, community organizations. and service members to this year’s event! All to help raise funds for the Foothills Burn Treatment Centre and The Veterans Food Bank of Calgary on behalf of HMCS Calgary, our city’s namesake Navy ship.
Councillors Kourtney Penner and Gian-Carlo Carra along with the Friends of HMCS Calgary Committee are delighted to invite you to this year’s HMCS Calgary Barn Burner!
Dust off your best western attire and kick off Stampede with the Commanding Officer and members of the HMCS Calgary crew, our city’s namesake Navy ship.
There will be good food, good drink, good music, and most of all good people! This event is family-friendly (kids under 12 are free!) with proceeds going to support two soon-to-be-announced local charities.
Our office is seeking proposals from Indigenous artists with a connection to Treaty 7 land interested in partnering to design and create an illustrated map about water. This map will highlight water resources, infrastructure, and landmarks, while sharing stories and raising awareness about water conservation, management, history, and the importance of water in Ward 9 and through Calgary.
After a 15-day Public Hearing, City Council has voted to approve citywide rezoning to allow for the construction of a variety low-density homes across Calgary.
In response to feedback from Calgarians, amendments have been introduced to address concerns regarding community engagement during the development permit phase, modified parking requirements, and adjustments to secondary suite allowances for row houses.
The Greater Forest Lawn Communities Local Area Plan is currently in its final phase: REALIZE. The project is ready to be presented and brought forward to the community and Council for review and decision.
The GFL LAP sets the vision for the evolution of the area over the next 30 years including direction on future development and investment that residents, landowners, builders/developers, City Planners, and Councillors can commonly refer to as new development and investment ideas are proposed.
Join the Forest Lawn Community Association for a day of action on Sunday, May 7th from 9am - 2pm.
Help keep the community clean and beautiful - If you have unwanted items or waste, save yourself a trip to the landfill and bring your items to the Forest Lawn Community Hall hall so they can be disposed of properly.
The community association is in need of volunteers to help make this clean up run smoothly. If you are able to help, please call (403) 826-0731 or check out the community Facebook page.
One of the best days of the year is just around the corner! Neighbour Day is Calgary’s celebration of community connection. Held each year on the third Saturday in June, Neighbour Day is a step toward creating welcoming and inclusive communities where neighbours connect and belong every day of the year.
Neighbour Day 2024 will include two kick-off events on May 4 to help raise awareness of Neighbour Day and invite Calgarians to start planning their own Neighbour Day block party or community event for June 15.
Jane’s Walk 2024 is back and taking place May 3rd through 5th. Calgarians of all ages are invited to participate in free walking tours throughout a variety of communities and areas of interest in the city!
A global event inspired by and in honour of Jane Jacobs, an urbanist and activist who championed a fresh, community-based approach to city building. Jane believed that in order to properly observe how people, through their actions and interactions, create communities with a strong sense of belonging, we need to get out and walk the city.
In order to facilitate urgent electrical repairs, Bob Bahan Aquatic & Fitness Centre will need to temporarily close.
Beginning April 14, 2024, service will be reduced to only swimming lessons and swim clubs in preparation for the repairs, followed by a full facility closure on May 6, 2024. We anticipate the facility will be closed for approximately three to four months.
Repairs at Bob Bahan Aquatic & Fitness Centre are extensive, and while we anticipate the reopening of the facility by the fall of 2024, timelines may shift as more information is gathered during the repairs.
The Greater Forest Lawn Local Area Plan project team will be hosting the next Community Conversation Series on Thursday, February 22 and Wednesday, March 13. This is an opportunity to meet with the project team to discuss plans, learn where we are in the planning process, and have your questions answered.
Location: Forest Lawn Library (4807 Eighth Ave SE) - Basement Community Room
Dates: February 22, 2024 and March 13, 2024
Calgary is in a housing crisis. We need more homes. The citywide rezoning proposed in Home is Here: The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy will help.
How will rezoning help?
This change will help increase the supply of housing to better meet demand by reducing the costs and timelines for permit approvals. This means more housing is able to be built faster. It also allows for greater housing variety, options, and price points to suit more Calgarians needs.
If you’re renting or buying, rezoning increases the number and types of homes available in all communities, making homes more affordable. If you own property, you’ll have more options to meet your future needs.
Join The Alex for their Artisan Fair and Market on December 9th from 1pm - 4pm. Share good food and holiday crafts and be part of the festivities in Forest Lawn.
The Alex Community Food Centre - 4920 17 Ave SE
Interested in being a vendor? Contact Joanna at jtschudy@thealex.ca or (403) 863-3953.
Please Note: Due to pending Canada Post strike action set to begin on May 23, 2025, the City of Calgary mailroom will be unable to provide Canada Post delivery starting May 21, 2025, until the situation is resolved.
This means we will be unable to send mail during this time, including orders for Ward 9 Map and Pedestrian Access Cards for the Zoo.
Other City of Calgary services that rely on mail may also be affected. Online payments remain available for many services such as parking tickets, animal licences, tax payments, and home permits. However, if you have pending payments or rely on mail delivery for other City services, please visit the City of Calgary website for more information on how this action may imapact you.
Neighbour Day is Calgary’s annual celebration of community spirit, connection, and belonging. It’s a reminder that building welcoming, inclusive neighbourhoods starts with small acts, like a friendly conversation or lending a helping hand. When neighbours connect, communities grow stronger and everyone benefits.
Join the celebration by hosting a block party, BBQ, or neighbourhood gathering on June 21!
The City of Calgary has proudly selected Onward as the official housing developer for the Franklin Station Area Improvements. This project will introduce 350 new homes to the area, half of which will be affordable housing, supporting sustainable growth and improved transit access for the surrounding community.
Looking for fun, FREE activities for children, youth, and families this summer? These safe, supervised programs are great for making new friends and learning new activities.
Visit calgary.ca/FREE to learn more about scheduling, locations, and programs being offered in your community.
Big changes are underway at the Calgary Zoo’s Exploration Asia area as the as they undertake exciting renovations to create larger, more dynamic habitats, and inspire even stronger connections between people and wildlife.
As part of this work, the seasonal West Gate, typically open from the spring through the fall, will remain closed for this season. It is expected the West Gate won’t reopen until at later in 2028/2029 season.
During this time, all access to the Zoo will need to be through the main North Gate.
TThe City of Calgary Mobility business unit is making investments in safe and accessible mobility infrastructure for Calgarians.
Below are some of the projects planned or already underway in Ward 9 for 2025. All programs include environmental and accessibility considerations during the review and selection process.
To learn more about all mobility projects planned through0ut Calgary, please visit calgary.ca/mobilityprograms
We understand that construction can be disruptive for residents and businesses and thank you for your patience during these projects. The City’s aim is to minimize impacts where ever possible. Our office will continue to share information and updates on projects scheduled in Ward 9
A new chapter in Calgary’s relationship with the Blackfoot Confederacy has officially begun.
The City of Calgary and the Nations of the Blackfoot Confederacy have signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding on Communication and Cooperation (MOU), solidifying a renewed partnership grounded in trust, respect, reciprocity, and honesty. This is the first formal agreement of its kind between the City and the Blackfoot Confederacy, and it marks a meaningful step toward deeper collaboration.
It is with wistfulness, but also clear conviction and fierce pride, that I announce my decision not to seek a fifth term as Ward 9’s City Councillor this October. While this may not come as a surprise, I have some reflections I’d like to share.
Building on the success of Calgary’s Extreme Weather Response (EWR) program, a partnership between Calgary Homeless Foundation, The City of Calgary, Calgary Police Service, and United Way of Calgary and Area has led to the creation of two new year-round Day Spaces to support individuals at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
Establised in 2003, the Ward Community Event Fund (WCEF) was created to support community groups, non-profits, and local organizations hosting events or launching initiatives that strengthen and connect our neighbourhoods.
On April 29, 2025, Council approved an additional $280,000 in funding for the WCEF for 2025 and 2026. A total of $20,000 is now available to each ward to support events and initiatives in each year.