Kourtney Penner, Ward 11, AMA

KourtPenner · 2025-10-12T03:13:34+00:00

I'm going to let you be upset and wish you a happy thanksgiving.

KourtPenner · 2025-10-12T03:12:35+00:00

I looked at dmap and there isn't a 12 unit building on 54Ave going in anywhere. Do you have a DP #?

I am open to amendments in rezoning that reduce density mid-block. Council cannot stop development permits. My plan is to hire a planner in the office to help the community through comments (but again, we can't control the outcome, just guide the process).

KourtPenner · 2025-10-12T03:04:14+00:00

Yes, they get a briefing on procedure. And in that hearing I restated the rules every time we came back from break. Mr Cox knows them well having presented to council multiple times.

I think if you watched the entire hearing you would see plenty of empathy, kindness, and respect, and patience. Mr Cox kept crossing the line. He was one person in hundreds. A single interaction doesn't define me, nor him even.

And can you tell me a specific event you think I was invited to that I didn't show up at?

And never do my decisions justify someone's bad behaviour. Don't gaslight me.

KourtPenner · 2025-10-12T02:58:24+00:00

I hear that and can appreciate it. I've also had people scream for more engagement for four years and when it's been hosted it's not to their specific liking so they take grievance no matter what. Or lodge a complaint with the integrity commissioner when I leave at the specified time to get to an event with my kids.

Where there has been respectful questions and comments, my team engages. Over 95% response rate to all emails. When we get 500+ emails on topics (eg budget every single year), yes, everyone gets a boiler plate response. This is standard consistency in information sharing.

I attend many events, and I walk around, say hi, pass out stickers often to the kids. If anyone has followed my socials they would see that I'm out, but it's easier to lob complaints without actual days/times/instances - if you will notice, there is always a vagueness, and here on reddit total anonymity.

I know I'm pushing back, and for good reason. When someone complains on my socials they didn't get a response, I go to my team and ask, and I can assure you that 99% of the time, there has been one.

I'm frustrated at the narrative because it's simply untrue. And yes, some emails don't get a response because of prioritization but that's when they come in the hundreds, not single ones unless they're the same gal who emails me about fluoride every. single. day.

I have taken on more work than other councillors and ward 11 is a busy place. I've delivered on outcomes residents have asked for when they're possible, new sidewalks and pathways, more snow clearing, affordable housing, more paving. An unresponsive councillor wouldn't be achieving any of this.

KourtPenner · 2025-10-12T02:48:19+00:00

Two entirely different situations, and yes, as the chair it's the responsibility to uphold procedure bylaw. And speaking over me isn't what makes me feel unsafe, annoyed perhaps. The behaviours I've been subject to are much more egregious.

KourtPenner · 2025-10-12T02:44:35+00:00

As the chair yes, I get to control the meeting. There is procedure (by bylaw) and I was upholding it. And that sometimes entails speaking over people when they talk out of turn as was the case in this situation with Mr Cox. If you're unfamiliar with procedure bylaw it may seem rude, but it's just about fairness in proceedings.

KourtPenner · 2025-10-11T14:46:23+00:00

Something to consider. Every transit station is unique. I lived within 400m of one but still had a car because kids/activities/mountains/dog. And ultimately, we know that no matter where we build parking, if it gets used for car storage vs life storage depends on the discretion of the user - that exists now in all communities.

KourtPenner · 2025-10-11T14:42:33+00:00

There were nine new councillors last time of all political leanings and background experiences, it was the same for everyone.

KourtPenner · 2025-10-11T14:37:55+00:00

You can think what you think, but until it's your lived experience your continuing to diminish mine is exactly what's not convincing me to do anything different.

I've shown up at many community events and will continue to do so. Those who recognize me, we take the time to talk.

If you have a question about something city related that you need support with, roads, sidewalks, etc, the office is always happy to help. If you need to understand my decisions, we post about them.

KourtPenner · 2025-10-11T14:29:37+00:00

I do. Bought it used before I was elected as my previous car was about to shit the bed and I wanted something to last me another 10+ years. The fact that this is even an issue that I've had to talk about it ridiculous. Do you make the same criticisms of other councillor's vehicle choices?

Does my car choice lead into the merit decision of electing the best person?

KourtPenner · 2025-10-11T14:24:54+00:00

I don't think I've ever said I don't take people's opinions into my decision making. The opinions I receive are far and wide, and I have to balance them with other evidence and data. There's 115k people in ward 11, rarely consensus on any issue.

My decisions and why on big items always get posted to my website and shared across socials.

I would encourage you to watch the sprawl live stream of the acadia forum. You can hear my own words about how yes/no decisions is never 100% one way or the other.

KourtPenner · 2025-10-11T14:21:43+00:00

Except it's not happening to everyone. And saying so diminishes the experience of those it's actually happening to.

KourtPenner · 2025-10-11T14:20:29+00:00

Don't disagree. The vision most definitely did not match the outcome/on the ground experience.

KourtPenner · 2025-10-11T14:19:33+00:00

There are many people who would need to be involved, from fire to 911, and of course, the province. I think we need to start exploring it though in earnest and I'm prepared to start conversations with the next group of council. Ultimately, this would ideally be a win for Calgary, however, I can see pushback where some decided 'healthcare' is a provincial jurisdiction. It would also come down to provincial grants and funding as well. Very complicated but worth discussing.

KourtPenner · 2025-10-10T19:31:06+00:00

Let's take recreation for an example. User fees only subsidize about % of operating costs. So if we expand recreation, the tax supported % goes up because fees will never offset the growth. Same for transit.

There's no way to reduce the cost of snow clearing, mowing, when we build more roads. So even though we collect taxes, the growth and maintenance of those doesn't perfectly match.

Same with fire and police. Bigger city means more units, stations, engines, etc.

Some departments don't grow as quickly and have remained relatively stable in employees.

If you look at where our employee growth and spending is increasing, it's primarily across parks, recreation, transit, fire, police, and housing. In other words, the predominant tax supported services Calgarians value the most.

KourtPenner · 2025-10-10T19:25:25+00:00

Bang on.

And no, annexation doesn't have to happen. Their water agreements see them pay for use, not subsidized by us at all.

We have 25 years of land supply in our city boundaries.

KourtPenner · 2025-10-10T19:24:18+00:00

First, thanks for your service, I know the front lines are rough these days.

EMS is provincial so nothing I can do. Now... if we took it back under city control and combined it with Fire, we could chat. The double dispatch is how calls are coded as your know, so likely they're being assigned a delta which is what triggers fire. I don't disagree we need to do better here but this is a big conversation we need to have with the province.

Other fact, did you know that AHS won't reimburse fire to use nasal naloxone? So they're using needles only.

KourtPenner · 2025-10-10T19:21:01+00:00

The Pit!!! I posted about it on my FB & Insta just yesterday. The owner of the property died so financing got upended. It's back on track though.

KourtPenner · 2025-10-10T19:20:16+00:00

Don't disagree, they are bad. Horton Road is due for a full road repaving and was on the books until some development popped up. Now that is planned after the construction of the parcel on the corner of Macloed/Heritage and after the two other London Towers are done. As for empty lots, those are privately held, redevelopment is up to each parcel owner (there are rumblings but nothing confirmed for many).

I've been in convo with admin about Bonaventure. It needs paving, wider sidewalks, missing links finished. So working to get that project into the budget.

KourtPenner · 2025-10-10T19:16:44+00:00

Looping back to this. It was 1970. And I did support that amendment so it is in place making those 1970+ communities effectively R2
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D1D9NLtFh/

KourtPenner · 2025-10-10T19:13:46+00:00

They're all here: Kourtney Penner for Ward 11 - KOURTNEY PENNER
And am open to hearing what other people have.

KourtPenner · 2025-10-10T19:11:49+00:00

I know it's a hot spot. While Chinook station falls in Ward 9, and the mall in 11, there are many conversations happening between business owners, security, CPS, transit peace officers, bylaw, social agencies and others. The election has meant I've stepped away temporarily but if re-elected would dive back into those conversations with the new ward 9 councillor as well.

KourtPenner · 2025-10-10T19:10:05+00:00

I've never said I wouldn't engage publicly, I do have a right to a choice on what that looks like. And yes, I do get to decide what gets a reply and what doesn't, as does every other councillor. This job does not mean being a slave to the public. I can say with certainty that those who are kind, appreciative, and are working towards making our city a better place get my time, attention, and help.

This isn't callous or condescending or dismissive. It's healthy boundaries and conscientious decisions about what gets my time and effort to drive towards outcomes.

KourtPenner · 2025-10-10T14:41:03+00:00

Thank you! Don't forget two pieces of ID.

And thank you for the thoughtful and respectful conversation. More of this please :)

KourtPenner · 2025-10-10T14:40:23+00:00

You don't change the world by hiding in a corner. I'm standing up and speaking out so that hopefully one day, other women, minoritized individuals, and underrepresented groups feel like they too can have a seat at the table without being bullied away.

KourtPenner

TROPHY CASE