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Calgary’s annual stairclimb event has a different look for in-person return

Calgary's annual stairclimb event has a different look for in-person return

While there weren’t any stairs involved in this year’s annual stairclimb event, featuring Calgary’s first responders, there were plenty of donations to a worthy cause anyway.

Beginning at 8 a.m., Calgary Fire Chief Steve Dongworth and Calgary Police Chief Mark Neufeld were joined by other firefighters and civilians at Canada Olympic Park.

Once there, they put on 60 pounds of firefighting gear and climbed 390 feet in elevation for a total distance of three kilometres.

It was the first time the annual Wellspring Stairclimb Challenge was held in-person in approximately two years.

All of the money raised by participants will go to help firefighters and Calgarians who are fighting cancer.

The disease has affected many residents, including Chief Dongworth.

“Both of my parents passed away from cancer,” he told CTV News on Sunday. “We’ve had over 50 firefighters who’ve succumbed to occupational cancer – most of them retired – but I knew many of them, and many of them were friends.

“Cancer, I think for everyone, is intertwined into our lives as a terrible disease who takes people away (who are) far too young.”

A virtual climb was also available for anyone who was unable to come to the park for the in-person event.

Further details can be found on Wellspring Calgary’s website.

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Rekindling new arena talk? First meeting of Calgary’s event centre committee

Rekindling new arena talk? First meeting of Calgary's event centre committee


Calgary’s event centre committee will meet for the first time as part of the effort to restart discussions around a new home for the Calgary Flames.


The committee, which includes citizens and members of council, will hold its inaugural meeting Monday morning.


The meeting is set to begin at 9:30 am and go until 1:00 pm.


The five-person committee includes:


  • Ward 1 Coun. Sonya Sharp

  • Ward 8 Coun. Courtney Walcott

  • Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean

  • Brad Parry, president of Calgary Economic Development

  • Deborah Yedlin, president of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.


The committee came to fruition after the agreement to build an event centre officially fell apart at the start of this year when the city and Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation couldn’t agree on additional funding.  


The meeting will be streamed live on the City of Calgary’s website.