A vision for a creative and competitive Calgary

In the next decade, Calgary will grow to 3 million people. This may be the biggest challenge and opportunity we’ll ever face—and we won’t meet the moment without our city’s creators, storytellers, and placemakers. Every kid, and every Calgarian, deserves access to the arts—not just as entertainment, but as a path to belonging, confidence, and economic opportunity.

As mayor, this is my vision for a Calgary that creates and competes, by building our entire creative ecosystem—from downtown to Dover, from studio spaces to stages.

Calgary just got a D+ for fiscal accountability. Only four cities in Canada scored worse.

That’s embarrassing for a city that prides itself on leadership and innovation.

Why did we score so low?

I grew up on East Calgary’s soccer fields, where everyone was welcome — all you needed was a ball and some open space. That sense of belonging shaped who I am, and it’s something I want to carry with me as your next mayor.

Recently, I met with the Calgary Minor Soccer Association to learn more about the challenges facing grassroots sports organizations in our city. With over 30,000 kids playing soccer each year — and participation up 76% over the last five years — our city is falling behind in providing the field space and facilities to keep up with demand.

CALGARY — Mayoral candidate, and former City Councillor, Jeromy Farkas is calling for accountability after newly released documents show Calgarians will not only pay more than $500 million upfront for the new arena, but will also be forced to pay again through a ticket tax designed to help cover the private owners' share of the project.

“I think safe streets for our kids are really important as an issue. And I think that right now we’ve been taking a bit of a polarized approach, either through focusing solely on the social side through harm reduction and prevention, or solely through just addressing the symptoms of crime and social disorder,” [said Jeromy}. “I think we need to walk and chew bubble gum at the same time.”

Published in The Gauntlet

The province’s 15% property tax hike, paired with poor City spending decisions, has driven an 8.9% property tax increase citywide – and our leaders failed to push back or negotiate a better deal.

The problem isn’t just the province making the city do more with less—it’s weak leadership that lacks the leverage to stand up for Calgarians. Here’s how we can do better.

CALGARY – Jeromy’s 2025 campaign brought in more donations in its first 10 days than the first four months of his 2021 campaign. Meanwhile, the mayor remains silent on donors since Jan. 1 – and a municipal political party is set to host a $350 pay-for-access event later this month.

We can’t wait. We need housing we can afford, jobs we can count on and safe streets for our kids. With Calgary at the centre of a strong and united Team Canada, we will be ready for what’s coming.

Published in the Calgary Herald

RYAN JESPERSEN: “[Jeromy Farkas] tells us how losing the last election changed him as a person (and a candidate), and how he'd navigate a contentious relationship between the province and Alberta's municipalities.”

Real Talk with Ryan Jespersen

CALGARY - Jeromy Farkas, former city councillor and current CEO, announced today that he is running to be mayor of Calgary. As the city continues to experience unprecedented growth, Jeromy is focused on building a city that works for everyone.

Having worked inside and out of government, as community volunteers and on the front lines serving Calgary’s most vulnerable, we know that only throwing money at problems won’t solve them. We need cost-effective investments that empower those already making an impact — while ensuring value for money spent.

Published in the Calgary Herald

CHRIS NELSON: “Only in defeat do we discover where real friendship lies. Sometimes, such a discovery is quite an eye-opener. Naheed Nenshi, the former mayor whom Farkas went toe-to-toe with so often during the pair’s years on council, was calling. Despite their history, Nenshi reached out to support the councillor, who’d often been his biggest pain in the derriere.”

Published in the Calgary Herald

“Would this [UCP] government essentially tear up those contracts and take that land that was supposed to be protected forever? Would they instead go on and break those promises? That was the big question.”

Published in Livewire Calgary

Let’s stop playing political “hot potato” with our most vulnerable. Calgary’s low-income transit pass isn’t a “free ride,” nor is it left-wing. It’s simply the right thing.

Published in the Calgary Herald

DON BRAID: “In 2021 he was a green candidate that took some bad advice from people who promptly ditched him after he lost.

There’s a grown-up Jeromy Farkas now. He might be formidable.”

Published in the Calgary Herald

The recent push by Calgary city councillors to overturn rejected meal expenses from their trip to Quebec shows that what’s needed downtown is more common sense, not bigger expense accounts.

Published in the Calgary Herald

“Municipal political parties will really limit the ability of a representative to be nimble. It’s obvious that they will make it harder to respond to constituents’ needs, especially when you need to work to build consensus.”

Published on CBC-Radio Calgary

SPRAWL CALGARY: “I’ve heard from numerous Calgarians who voted for Gondek who have found themselves aligned with Farkas more recently—and disappointed by the mayor on files like the arena deal.”

From Sprawlcast