City funds Community Hub project

Summary#

Calgary City Council approved a one-time $300,000 Council Community Fund grant to the Dalhousie Community Association for its Community Hub Project at its Dallyn Road NW site. The stated goal is to add shared outdoor amenities for Dalhousie and nearby communities.

  • The project plans a community garden, food forest, accessible walking trail, seating area, composting area and other amenities.
  • The association must cover ongoing maintenance and future replacement costs.
  • City staff must report back to the Executive Committee within 12 months after the project is complete.

What it means for you#

  • Dalhousie and nearby residents: The project plans to add places to garden, gather and take part in educational programs and events. The grant is to the association, not a direct payment to residents.
  • Dalhousie Community Association: It receives the one-time $300,000 grant and is responsible for ongoing maintenance and future replacement.
  • City staff: They must report to the Executive Committee within 12 months of project completion. Council approved the item on the consent agenda, 15 to 0.

Money#

Council approved $300,000 from the Council Community Fund; the full project cost is not stated in the supplied material.

  • The association plans to cover the rest through other grants and its own funds; the amounts are not given.
  • City staff estimate water for the garden beds and food forest will cost about $200 a year. The association or other sources will fund ongoing costs.

What is unclear#

  • The project’s completion date and the contents of the staff report-back are not specified.
  • The total project budget and the amounts expected from other funding sources are not stated.

Case for#

  • City staff say the garden, food forest and gathering space would add accessible outdoor amenities and support food-security education and programs.
  • The association’s engagement through surveys, events and other channels had an “overwhelmingly positive” response, according to City staff.

Case against#

  • A possible trade-off is that the association must fund maintenance and future replacement, while the report does not give their expected costs.
  • The association plans to rely on other grants and its own funds for the rest of the project, but the report does not state how much of that funding is confirmed.

Votes

Calgary City Council, item 7.19 (Council Community Fund Application – Dalhousie Community Association, EC2026-0280): That the Consent Agenda be adopted as follows: 7.19 Council Community Fund Application – Dalhousie Community Association, EC2026-0280

For (100%)

Executive Committee, item 7.3 (Council Community Fund Application – Dalhousie Community Association, EC2026-0280): That with respect to Report EC2026-0280, the following be approved: That the Executive Committee recommend that Council: - Approve the Council Community Fund application for the Dalhousie Community Association’s Community Hub Project as a one-time funding request in the amount of $300,000; and - Direct Administration to report back to the Executive Committee within 12 months of project completion.

For (100%)