Calgary Mayoral Candidates Clash in 2025 Debate Over Safety Issues

Calgary’s leading mayoral candidates faced off on March 13, 2025, during a lively debate held at the Jack Singer Concert Hall. The event, organized by the Calgary Downtown Association and the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, featured five prominent figures: incumbent Mayor Jyoti Gondek, Jeff Davison, Jeromy Farkas, Sonya Sharp, and Brian Thiessen. The candidates discussed pressing issues, particularly focusing on public safety, which has become a significant concern among Calgarians.

After a brief welcome from Mark Garner, Executive Director of the Calgary Downtown Association, Deborah Yedlin, President and CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, introduced the candidates. Each candidate provided an overview of their platforms before diving into heated discussions about safety strategies in the city.

During the debate, Sharp challenged Farkas on his proposed safety plan, emphasizing the need for clarity on his evolving stance since his previous campaign. “I’d just like to understand where you stand on some of these issues because it seems very different than it was four years ago,” she stated. Her probing highlighted the candidates’ differing perspectives on essential safety measures.

Farkas responded by advocating for increased mental health support, a topic he believes is critical for addressing safety concerns. “I think it was a big mistake for a city council to make significant reductions to mental health supports in the same month that they funded the arena,” he said, underlining the importance of preventative measures in ensuring community safety.

Davison took a different approach, directly engaging the audience by asking how safe they felt in Calgary. His inquiry revealed a stark divide in public sentiment. “Most of them don’t feel safe, and that is actually the challenge that I see,” he remarked. Davison expressed frustration over the council’s timing, questioning their commitment over the past four years. “With all due respect to city council, how come you only figured it out when there’s an election, and all of a sudden we have plans?” he asked.

Gondek, in her response, reinforced her commitment to collaborating with the provincial government to enhance mental health and addiction support services. She noted the complexity of the issues at hand, stating, “The situation that we’re facing is not one that’s going to be solved with one answer alone, and it’s certainly not one that a single organization or a single order of government can resolve.”

The debate showcased not only the candidates’ positions on safety but also their ability to engage with each other’s policies critically. As the election date approaches, voters in Calgary are left to weigh the candidates’ proposals and their implications for the city’s future.

As the discussions unfolded, it became clear that safety remains a pivotal issue for the electorate. The 2025 mayoral race promises to be a closely watched contest, with public safety at its forefront and candidates actively seeking to address the concerns of Calgarians.