I’m Myke Atkinson, Independent Ward 7 Candidate: Ask Me Anything

[MykeAtkinson]

Hey Friends, Myke Atkinson here, and I’m running to be the next councillor for Ward 7 this year. I was invited to do another AMA here on Calgary Puck after doing one on reddit a few weeks back. Sorry it took me so long to get this going - Google has brought me to CP many times when looking for things around Calgary but I just made an account for this AMA.

I’ll be answering questions posted here from today through end of day tomorrow Thursday, October 16th. Highly likely that I'll just do answers in a single burst, so apologies for the inbetween silence while I'm doing all the other things in this final week of the campaign.

Here's my bio copied from my reddit AMA:

I’ve lived in this ward for over 20 years. I started out renting near Lions Park while studying at the University of Calgary, and today my wife and I are raising our three daughters in our 1956 Banff Trail bungalow with our dog Popcorn.

Most of my career has been spent applying my business degree at local non-profits. Managing CJSW 90.9 FM, I worked with hundreds of volunteers to modernize Calgary’s community radio station and strengthen its role as a cultural hub. More recently, I was a Service Design Lead at the Calgary Public Library, where I helped create programs around technology, creativity, and civic engagement. One of my proudest projects was the Plan My Vote tool, which helped more than 10,000 Calgarians prepare for election day. I have also worked on local advocacy efforts that improved affordability and transit access, including helping win free transit for kids under 12.

I’m running because Ward 7 is the heart of Calgary. It is home to our hospitals, universities, downtown, cultural spaces, and 22 unique neighbourhoods that people are proud to call home. But I have also seen challenges here, like recreation spaces closing, trees being cut down without replacement, and redevelopment that often feels out of step with the community.

My priorities are about making Calgary safer, more affordable, and more sustainable. That means reinvesting in our inner-city communities and green spaces, making transit reliable and free for all youth, tackling housing affordability while strengthening neighbourhoods, bringing life back to downtown, and protecting our urban tree canopy.

I am running as an independent because I believe City Hall should put neighbourhood voices first, not political party agendas, and I hope to bring strong progressive and local leadership to Ward 7. If you want want to learn more about me or my priorities, please visit mykeatkinson.ca

[FlamingHomer]

In the last provincial election, who did you vote for, for Premier?

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by MykeAtkinson

Google has brought me to CP many times when looking for things around Calgary

dude...

[Torture]

Talk to me about bike lanes Myke! How do we get more built and what are your thoughts on 20th Ave NW?

[CroFlames]

I don't live in Ward 7, but what are your plans for the drug abuse problem in the ward and in the city?

I understand no big city is without this problem, but as Calgary continues to expand, I fear we are heading for a Vancouver-style Hastings street.

[troutman]

I can attest Myke was a great leader and manager at CJSW.

https://cjsw.com/program/2025-munici...tion-coverage/

I like Myke!

How do you feel about Cowboys taking over Shaw Millennium Park?

Do the Stampeders need a new stadium, with contributions from the City?

Should Calgary seek future Winter Olympics?

[PaperBagger'14]

Do you have any opinions of the candidates in ward 12? Bonus points if you use humorous gifs in your answer

[Cowboy89]

What in your mind are the core responsibilities of the municipality of Calgary and in what order of priority?

[Muta]

Myke! Feel like ditching Ward 7 and running in Ward 6 instead? I'd vote for ya!

[Yeah_Baby]

Hi Myke,

With Huberdeau set to return from injury should Honzak or Grindin be sent down?

[Robbob]

Since Ward 7 is highly impacted by it, what are your thoughts on the proposed green line? What alignment would you choose and what do you believe is the best option for a future Calgary.

[TheIronMaiden]

Myke,

What's your opinions on the Edmonton Oilers?

[Blaster86]

I will not vote for you.

[Parallex]

1: Will you support and vote (should it come up in a motion) in favor of maintaining R-CG as the default zoning? If no, how would you mitigate the continuation of sprawl amid the increasing population? and how would you replace the federal housing funding that is contingent on zoning reform?

2: In my opinion CPS has always suffered from a lack of suitable/stringent civilian oversight with the Commission seemingly (at least publically) serving to mostly just rubber-stamp the decisions of the uniformed brass. If you are elected would you stand for being one of council's representatives on the Commission? If 'yes' will you commit to providing stringent (and public) oversight and if 'no' would you commit to voting for someone who will? I distinctly remember a previous Commission telling the Police to do something... the police refused on the grounds that it needed to do member consultation first, continued to do nothing, and then had a tantrum when they were told to do it again... this is not how that relationship should function. The service answers to the public it's not an entity that can be answerable only to itself.

3: Winterizing green spaces: Do you have any thoughts on ways City Hall can increase public use of it's many park and playground spaces that (IMO) are mostly unused during the colder months.

4: If you were on City Council last session how would you have voted when they voted on the "arena deal" and why? As this effectively amounts to the subsidization of a private business, more broadly speaking how do you feel about City Hall subsidizing private for-profit entities with taxpayer money? On a related note... will you also commit to vigorously opposing making any decisions of similar or larger scale without significant public consultation and commit to never having such a decision being made in-camera?

5: Finally, an oldie but a goodie... You're in a fight to the death, 1 horse-sized duck or 100 duck-sized horses?

[FacePaint]

Are you concerned about vote splitting in Ward 7? Do you endorse anyone for mayor?

[fotze2]

Have you ever been in a turkish prison?

[Jbo]

Im in Ward 1, but I have yet to see any canidate provide me with a solid answer on infrastructure concerns around blanket re-zoning.

How would you approach the need for afforable housing, while also investing in significant infrastructure in the inner city communities this targets? You cannot expand communities with row housing / duplex units / small apartment without significant upgrades to roadways, sewer/piping, electrical etc. in these communities.

And if these upgrades do occur, who foots the bill? The city? The developers? The buyers?

Would love one canidate to explain their view on this.

[LeftWing]

Have you legally changed your name? And was it to honor a childhood pet?

[gasman]

1. Zoning and Development

Blanket rezoning has led to a lot of frustration in established neighborhoods. Developers are taking advantage of the new rules without adequate regard for parking, infrastructure, or community character.

Question: How will you ensure that growth in Ward 7 is balanced and that existing communities aren’t overwhelmed by poorly planned infill? Will you support restoring meaningful local input into zoning decisions?

2. Calgary Police and Oversight

Calgary residents are increasingly concerned about rising crime and disorder, especially property crime and street-level violence. While accountability matters, many feel the CPS needs stronger support to enforce the law and keep streets safe.

Question: How would you balance oversight with ensuring that police have the resources, tools, and authority to actually deter crime and protect residents?

3. Arena and Subsidies

Many Calgarians see the arena deal as a mixed bag. While some question public funding for private ventures, others see long-term economic and community benefits.

Question: How would you approach large-scale projects like the arena to ensure there’s clear public benefit and financial transparency, without automatically rejecting private partnerships?

[undercoverbrother]

This is going exactly as i hoped it would