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Stories

  • S | The 2020 Edition

    Harnessing the power of small things

    In 2021, we need to open the door to empathy.

    Dec 20 2020 • Comics
  • S | The 2020 Edition

    Stephanie English: A 200-km trek for justice

    ‘I’m hoping to make better strides in life.’

    Dec 19 2020
  • Sprawlcast: Carving out space for stories of hope

    This year was bad, yes — but not completely.

    Dec 19 2020 • Sprawlcast
  • S | The 2020 Edition

    Fernanda Ortiz: A Cochrane teen finds growth in hardship

    ‘I’m not the only one that’s going through it.’

    Dec 18 2020
  • S | The 2020 Edition

    Käthe Lemon: Testing positive was a wake-up call

    ‘Even when you think you’re doing your best, it spreads.’

    Dec 17 2020
  • S | The 2020 Edition

    The Bear Clan: Calgary’s community-watch group

    Helping vulnerable Calgarians cope.

    Dec 16 2020
  • Calgary PACs gear up for 2021 election

    UCP green-lights big donations for third-party groups.

    Dec 15 2020 • City Hall Sprawl
  • S | The 2020 Edition

    Erin Phillips: An Anglican priest grapples with risk

    ‘We will just have to find another way.’

    Dec 15 2020
  • S | The 2020 Edition

    Elena Eli Belyea: Making theatre more accessible

    This challenging year also had its silver linings.

    Dec 14 2020
  • S | The 2020 Edition

    Dr. Fareen Zaver: How a physician’s life was turned upside down

    ‘I’m so afraid to be excited.’

    Dec 13 2020
  • S | The 2020 Edition

    Marita Obst: Bringing newborns into a changed world

    How an Edmonton midwife worked to keep everyone safe.

    Dec 12 2020
  • S | The 2020 Edition

    Rebecca Schooten: A Calgary mom leans into the discomfort

    ‘Community moves mountains.’

    Dec 11 2020
  • S | The 2020 Edition

    Treffrey Deerfoot: A Blackfoot elder who sees the big picture

    ‘We’ve been through pandemics before.’

    Dec 10 2020
  • S | The 2020 Edition

    Victoria Bucholtz: Creating a safe space for queerness

    A drag queen’s quest for equity — one show at a time.

    Dec 9 2020
  • S | The 2020 Edition

    Breanne Everett: The power of collective action

    Calgarians join forces to support front-line workers.

    Dec 8 2020
  • S | The 2020 Edition

    Jennifer Kenyeres: Creating warmth in cold times

    ‘The 2020 school year started with a bang but has ended with a stutter.’

    Dec 7 2020
  • S | The 2020 Edition

    Adanech Sahilie: An invaluable community connector

    ‘If each one of us does their part, we will have a good 2021.’

    Dec 6 2020
  • S | The 2020 Edition

    Taylor McNallie: A champion for Black rights in rural Alberta

    How one woman used social media for good.

    Dec 5 2020
  • What community gardens tell us about inequality

    In Calgary, this amenity isn’t available to all.

    Dec 5 2020 • Street Front
  • S | The 2020 Edition

    Chrisser Reyes: Tending to others and your own

    ‘I can’t afford to separate myself from my family.’

    Dec 4 2020
  • S | The 2020 Edition

    Suhail Panjwani: An immigrant teacher’s longing to belong

    His teaching practice has a focus on relationships.

    Dec 3 2020
  • S | The 2020 Edition

    Nhi Tran: How to open a bar in a pandemic

    Adapting to bring a ​‘little bright light’ to the community.

    Dec 2 2020
  • S | The 2020 Edition

    Sadie Vipond: A young climate activist finds her voice

    ‘We can’t go back to normal when this is over.’

    Dec 1 2020
  • What if Alberta actually planned for its future?

    Climate action isn’t a matter of if — it’s when.

    Nov 28 2020 • Climate Change Series
  • We could have done this differently — and still can

    A doctor responds to the COVID-19 crisis.

    Nov 25 2020 • Opinion
  • It feels like we’ve lost something in Alberta

    We need to work together again.

    Nov 21 2020 • Comics
  • Sprawlcast: The freest province in Canada

    As COVID-19 cases surge, Kenney doubles down.

    Nov 21 2020 • Sprawlcast
  • Why is Alberta clinging to its failed COVID-19 app?

    The UCP’s rigidity indicates a deeper issue.

    Nov 20 2020 • Alberta Politics
  • S | The Food Edition

    The human cost of food delivery apps

    ‘All the obligations of an employee, but none of the protections.’

    Nov 19 2020
  • Taking on climate change in Alberta

    Denial will not protect a landlocked province.

    Nov 14 2020 • Climate Change Series
  • S | The Food Edition

    Food banks: A band-aid solution to a growing problem

    To address food insecurity, we need a radical change.

    Nov 10 2020
  • Sign up for our new newsletter: City Hall Sprawl

    Jeremy Appel’s weekly dispatch on Calgary politics.

    Nov 10 2020 • City Hall Sprawl
  • The truth about the UCP’s ​‘fiscal responsibility’

    It’s empty talk, like so much else.

    Nov 7 2020 • Opinion
  • Our newsroom is growing — again!

    Say hello to our new reporter and membership editor.

    Nov 4 2020 • Sprawl Update
  • Why don’t we have more co-op housing?

    The benefits go beyond affordability.

    Nov 3 2020 • Street Front
  • Embracing the ghosts 2020 brought

    It’s time to leave old expectations behind.

    Oct 31 2020 • Comics
  • Here we go again: Calgary developers push for more

    New communities undermine city’s growth and climate plans.

    Oct 30 2020 • Sprawlcast
  • LETTERS: We don’t need more new communities

    It’s time Calgary takes sustainability seriously.

    Oct 27 2020 • Letters to the Editor
  • How does one stop a government?

    Public pressure has made a difference in the past.

    Oct 24 2020 • Alberta Politics
  • S | The Food Edition

    In Lethbridge, the Sage Clan offers food — and dignity

    They serve by asking: What do you need?

    Oct 23 2020
  • Is Calgary on track? It depends who you ask

    Young Calgarians are more likely to say yes.

    Oct 22 2020
  • S | The Food Edition

    Working at the bottom of the food chain

    The reality of agricultural migrant workers in Alberta.

    Oct 17 2020
  • LETTER: Hey Sprawl — please follow your own manifesto

    Don’t just preach to the choir.

    Oct 14 2020 • Letters to the Editor
  • Sprawlcast: The silence of Jason Kenney

    Why is Alberta’s premier so quiet on racism?

    Oct 10 2020 • Sprawlcast
  • Finding joy where we can

    Our daily tasks are connected to bigger things — even in 2020.

    Oct 10 2020 • Comics
  • I don’t love High Park — and that’s okay

    In Calgary, we need to stop scorning criticism.

    Oct 7 2020 • Street Front
  • ANALYSIS: The UCP’s war on public health

    Shifting from people to profit.

    Oct 1 2020 • Alberta Politics
  • Finding empathy in journalism

    A Q&A with Hadeel Abdel-Nabi

    Sep 29 2020
  • The education of Doug Schweitzer

    How a promising Red Tory became Kenney’s attack dog.

    Sep 26 2020 • Alberta Politics
  • It’s time to slow down

    In these hard times, attention is a gift.

    Sep 26 2020 • Comics
  • How Alberta welcomed big money into city elections

    The UCP’s Bill 29 undermines local democracy, municipalities say.

    Sep 19 2020
  • The Sprawl’s newsroom is growing, thanks to you

    We want to hire more journalists — and need your help.

    Sep 18 2020 • Sprawl Update
  • Calgary families choose the suburbs — why?

    Pushed out of the inner city, many don’t have a real choice.

    Sep 17 2020 • Street Front
  • Sprawlcast: The Albertans who are fleeing the province

    Fed up with the government, many are eying the exits.

    Sep 12 2020 • Sprawlcast
  • Navigating the school system in COVID-19 times

    Community connectedness is more important than ever.

    Sep 12 2020 • Comics
  • ANALYSIS: The reasons behind anti-racism protests

    It’s about expanding the choices available to us.

    Sep 11 2020
  • Back-to-school feels like a roller coaster

    ‘This year, so many things are out of my control.’

    Sep 5 2020 • Comics
  • What Sandip Lalli’s departure says about Alberta

    She gently criticized the UCP — and got replaced.

    Sep 4 2020
  • Sprawlcast: We all could use a little good news

    New ventures are popping up in neighbourhoods, even now.

    Aug 29 2020 • Sprawlcast
  • OPINION: Alberta’s back-to-school plan threatens women’s rights

    We need a vibrant feminist movement in Alberta right now.

    Aug 27 2020 • Opinion
  • Stoney Nakoda take Alberta to court over water sale

    ‘Alberta really is acting like it’s 1492.’

    Aug 25 2020
  • Been caught stealing: Life inside The Lorraine

    Can we be transformed by a building?

    Aug 22 2020
  • Sprawlcast: The Jason Kenney we need right now

    ‘I’ve been a very absent premier.’

    Aug 8 2020 • Sprawlcast
  • Making space for a new chapter

    Endings are hard — but they bring renewal.

    Aug 1 2020 • Comics
  • Calgary’s mask bylaw isn’t only about individuals

    In a society, we need to consider the health of the collective.

    Aug 1 2020
  • Canada’s worst hailstorm leaves Calgarians in limbo

    The UCP response hasn’t matched the disaster’s scale.

    Jul 30 2020
  • Under the lid at Righteous Gelato

    Former employees speak out.

    Jul 25 2020
  • The turkey that brought us together

    Today, Calgarians mourn the loss of Turk.

    Jul 24 2020
  • Black business owners call for meaningful support

    It’s about more than a one-time purchase.

    Jul 23 2020
  • Calgary plans to double its urban forest

    But budget cuts threaten this goal.

    Jul 22 2020
  • In Calgary, access to clean and safe toilets is a privilege

    Sanitation issues are a human rights concern.

    Jul 18 2020
  • ANALYSIS: Sexism and conspiracies in Alberta politics

    What’s behind the surveillance of Shannon Phillips.

    Jul 17 2020 • Alberta Politics
  • ‘Rooted in community’: Meet the artist behind our comics

    A Q&A with Sam Hester.

    Jul 15 2020
  • Calgary city hall can change swiftly — when it wants to

    Pandemic or not, this should be the new norm.

    Jul 14 2020
  • Not safe for work: Calgary sex workers adapt to pandemic

    When all else fails, there’s the internet.

    Jul 11 2020
  • S | The Racism Edition

    ‘Calgary is a city divided’: Where do we go from here?

    A messy public hearing on racism is not enough.

    Jul 9 2020
  • My cabbie is a doctor: The problem of skill-waste in Canada

    Educated professionals deserve more than low incomes.

    Jul 2 2020
  • S | The Racism Edition

    Cracking open the doors to justice

    Access to legal help often boils down to money.

    Jun 30 2020
  • S | The Racism Edition

    For immigrants, hard work isn’t optional

    Our strong work ethic is a matter of survival.

    Jun 27 2020
  • THOMAS: Albertans love our parks — so why close them?

    Standing up for Alberta should include nature.

    Jun 25 2020 • Alberta Politics
  • S | The Racism Edition

    The systemic racism of Canadian journalism

    It’s time to go beyond ​‘diversity and inclusion.’

    Jun 23 2020
  • S | The Racism Edition

    ANALYSIS: The truth behind the UCP’s anti-protest law

    Bill 1 is an intimidation tactic against Indigenous peoples.

    Jun 20 2020
  • S | The Racism Edition

    Expelling racism from the classroom

    Calgarians advocate for anti-racist curriculum.

    Jun 18 2020
  • S | The Racism Edition

    OPINION: The costs of Alberta’s frontier mythology

    On whose backs does economic freedom rest?

    Jun 16 2020
  • S | The Green Line Edition

    A fair ride: Equity and the Green Line

    Who truly holds power at city hall?

    Jun 12 2020 • Sprawlcast
  • S | The Racism Edition

    Addressing institutional racism in Canada

    The time to talk has passed. We need anti-racism action — now.

    Jun 10 2020
  • S | The Racism Edition

    The case for defunding Calgary police

    ‘We need people to be able to have their needs met.’

    Jun 9 2020
  • S | The Racism Edition

    Sprawlcast: Cheryl Foggo on Black life in Alberta

    ‘We swim in a world that is built upon white supremacy.’

    Jun 6 2020 • Sprawlcast
  • S | The Racism Edition

    Why being ​‘not racist’ is racist

    When you do nothing, you are complicit.

    Jun 5 2020
  • Kensington businesses struggle to survive pandemic

    It often comes down to one factor: landlords.

    Jun 3 2020
  • S | The Racism Edition

    ‘Tired of empty words’: Calgarians urged to act against racism

    Don’t just say something — do something.

    Jun 1 2020
  • S | The Green Line Edition

    Green Line at the crossroads

    A crucial moment — yet again.

    May 30 2020 • Sprawlcast
  • Sometimes things don’t get easier

    But sharing our stories can help.

    May 29 2020 • Comics
  • Changing our reliance on cars

    Will Calgary embrace shared mobility once again?

    May 27 2020
  • The stories we tell ourselves

    They will define this time for us.

    May 23 2020 • Comics
  • The complexity of the pandemic for First Nations

    Data is limited — but there’s a reason for it.

    May 20 2020
  • We mustn’t rebuild the same inequities

    This is a chance to transform city life — for everyone.

    May 15 2020
  • S | The Racism Edition

    Sprawlcast: Racial disparity and the Cargill outbreak

    Are we really in this together?

    May 12 2020 • Sprawlcast
  • Moving into the familiar — but unknown

    It feels like a risky time to build dreams.

    May 9 2020 • Comics
  • S | The Education Edition

    The hidden costs of school choice

    Instead of staying in their neighbourhoods, kids get bused away.

    May 8 2020
  • S | The Education Edition

    In Alberta classrooms, oil is a tricky lesson

    For teachers, it can be a minefield.

    May 7 2020
  • ANALYSIS: In Cargill, Alberta faces a question of morality

    Is economic productivity worth more than workers’ lives?

    May 6 2020
  • S | The Education Edition

    Are the queer kids alright in Kenney’s Alberta?

    After Bill 8, protections are less certain.

    May 5 2020
  • Asking for help isn’t shameful — it’s smart

    We need each other right now.

    May 2 2020 • Comics
  • S | The Education Edition

    Who is Adriana LaGrange?

    Like Kenney, Alberta’s education minister is driven by her faith.

    May 1 2020
  • ‘I’ve always looked for ways to improve things’

    A Q&A with Ximena González, The Sprawl’s assistant editor.

    Apr 30 2020 • Sprawl Update
  • Finding freedom in our smaller worlds

    If the Ramsay turkey can do it, so can we.

    Apr 25 2020 • Comics
  • Losing our summer — and finding it again

    The small joys are even more important now.

    Apr 24 2020
  • S | The Alone Together Edition

    Hold it! This is not over yet

    If we ignore the experts, everyone is affected.

    Apr 18 2020 • Comics
  • Sprawl Kids: Let’s make a radio show!

    Here’s your assignment.

    Apr 17 2020
  • S | The Alone Together Edition

    Albertans have done this before — in 1918

    Pandemic life a century ago.

    Apr 17 2020
  • Thomas: Why Shandro was spared

    Ministers should be held responsible — but increasingly aren’t.

    Apr 16 2020
  • S | The Alone Together Edition

    Instead of hoarding, help your neighbours!

    New pandemic posters from The Sprawl.

    Apr 13 2020
  • S | The Alone Together Edition

    The small joys of going outside

    They give us a sense of purpose.

    Apr 11 2020 • Comics
  • S | The Alone Together Edition

    The Shandro fiasco

    Alberta’s health minister takes on doctors — and his critics.

    Apr 9 2020 • Sprawlcast
  • S | The Alone Together Edition

    The Calgarians who keep us connected

    I didn’t see them, but I’m so thankful.

    Apr 4 2020 • Comics
  • OPINION: Educational assistants do more than we realize

    Their work matters, especially in a crisis.

    Apr 3 2020
  • Jason Kenney’s squeaky-clean power scheme

    The story he’d like you to forget.

    Apr 2 2020 • Alberta Politics
  • S | The Alone Together Edition

    Sprawl Kids: What I love about my street

    Cats, squirrels and more!

    Apr 1 2020
  • S | The Alone Together Edition

    In dark times, we’re building hopeful new norms

    Urban life in a pandemic is hard — but has silver linings.

    Mar 31 2020
  • S | The Alone Together Edition

    Still working up my courage to relax

    It’s harder than it sounds.

    Mar 28 2020 • Comics
  • S | The Alone Together Edition

    Guidelines for berating your local doctor

    If you really must do this, safety first.

    Mar 27 2020
  • S | The Alone Together Edition

    ‘We never know what’s coming next’

    Calgary kids, in their own words.

    Mar 26 2020
  • S | The Alone Together Edition

    Sprawl Kids: School’s out — and here’s what you told us

    Time for your next assignment!

    Mar 25 2020
  • S | The Alone Together Edition

    A new common sense for uncommon times

    Hannah Arendt left us some clues.

    Mar 24 2020
  • S | The Alone Together Edition

    This time is not wasted

    Let’s listen — and start building for what’s next.

    Mar 21 2020 • Comics
  • S | The Alone Together Edition

    Sprawl Kids: It’s okay to worry right now

    The coronavirus is scary. But we can slow its spread.

    Mar 18 2020
  • S | The Alone Together Edition

    Calgary shelters brace for coronavirus

    It’s time to treat housing as health care. Immediately.

    Mar 17 2020
  • S | The Alone Together Edition

    Pulling together — even as we move apart

    The 2013 flood made Calgary stronger. This can too.

    Mar 13 2020 • Comics
  • S | Sprawl on Sprawl

    Sprawlcast: Plan It Calgary, 10 years later

    We’re behind on key targets — including transit.

    Mar 6 2020 • Sprawlcast
  • The demise of local political Twitter

    Can we re-humanize the conversation?

    Feb 28 2020
  • S | Sprawl on Sprawl

    OPINION: Who really benefits from urban sprawl?

    Costs are socialized — but the profits aren’t.

    Feb 24 2020
  • S | Sprawl on Sprawl

    People power

    When Calgarians fought reckless development — and won.

    Feb 21 2020
  • S | Sprawl on Sprawl

    The city’s new plan to counter sprawl

    Are Calgarians ready for denser communities?

    Feb 13 2020
  • S | Sprawl on Sprawl

    Paying for it: Calgary’s 14 new communities

    What was city council thinking?

    Feb 10 2020 • Sprawlcast
  • Nenshi’s next scrap

    After nearly a decade, is he still in this?

    Feb 1 2020
  • Here’s what we’ll cover in 2020

    The Sprawl’s crowdsourced agenda.

    Jan 21 2020 • Comics
  • Sprawlcast slice: Calgary Womxn’s March

    ‘More than one day every year.’

    Jan 17 2020
  • Sprawlcast: More than just a corner store

    This is where community happens.

    Jan 13 2020 • Sprawlcast
  • The forgotten Calgary, now mapped

    Instead of your phone, try this.

    Jan 11 2020

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