Calgarians want festivals, food trucks, and improvements to safety at renovated Olympic Plaza

A progress update is out Tuesday on the work to transform Olympic Plaza in Calgary’s downtown.

In May, the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) launched a survey to hear what residents want in terms of cultural and recreational experiences in the revitalized space.

More than 3,100 people shared their thoughts, according to CMLC, 91 per cent of which were long-time Calgarians (people who have lived in the city for nine-plus years).

“We’re grateful that so many Calgarians took the time to share their ideas and aspirations for the future of Olympic Plaza through our public engagement this spring,” Kate Thompson, CMLC’s President and CEO, said in a statement. “The plaza has served our city well in its current form for 36 years. As we look to revitalize and modernize this critical block in the downtown core, understanding Calgarians’ feedback is critical in
ensuring that the future plaza is inclusive, accessible and adaptable for as many people and uses as possible.”

The most popular features identified by respondents were green space, a performance/concert area, a skating rink, outdoor eateries and a patio, and festive lighting.

When it comes to activities, Calgarians say they want festivals, performances and outdoor concerts, cultural events, food service/food trucks, and art installations in the updated space.

Those who responded to the survey also said they desire improvements to safety and perception of safety, and awareness of programming and events.

The project is expected to cost $70 million, with $40 million having been allocated through the city’s 2023-2026 budget for downtown revitalization.

While the plaza is in the early stages of design, CMLC says plans do currently consider a skating service for the winter months. Designs for the new plaza are expected to be shared in early 2025.

Olympic Plaza will be closed start late this year until 2028 for construction of the plaza of the revitalization of Arts Commons.

Arts Commons is set to undergo it’s transformation at a cost of $270 million, backed in part by Canadian entrepreneur David Werklund and his family.

Those renovations will add a new 162,000 sq. ft. building with a 1,000-seat theatre and a 200-seat studio theatre.

The venue will change its name to the Werklund Centre by 2026.

Calgarians invited to commemorate Olympic bricks

CMLC says since the project began, there have been many inquiries about plans for the future of the plaza’s Olympic bricks.

It explains the bricks were never intended to be repurposed or integrated in the revitalized plaza, but the project team did look into removing and returning them to the buyers.

The age and condition of the bricks makes that proposition unfeasible, CMLC says, and would also come at a significant cost.

“We recognize that the bricks hold sentimental value for many Calgarians as fond memories of the 1988 Olympics, which is a significant chapter in our city’s story,” said Thom Mahler, The City of Calgary’s Director of Downtown Strategy. “While the bricks will not be preserved, we and our partners at CMLC and Arts Commons hope that Calgarians will join us in commemorating the bricks before the plaza closes at the end of this year, and we look forward to a crafting a new chapter for this important gathering space in our downtown core.”

Calgarians can take part in the following commemorative activities:

• Visit Olympic Plaza any time between now and the end of December and find your brick using The City of Calgary’s Olympic Brick Finder.
• Register for one of six free, family-friendly Brick By Brick events through the month of September. CMLC’s team will be on site to help Calgarians find their brick, and a photographer will be available to capture photos of Calgarians and their bricks. CMLC will also provide
  materials for Calgarians to do and take home a name rubbing of their brick. Register to attend a Brick By Brick event here.
• A digital scan of the entire plaza is being prepared to create a digital archive of the space. More information about the digital scan will be available in the coming months.