Airdrie is one of the fastest-growing cities in Alberta. As of 2025, more than 90,000 people call this city home, which is 4,000 more than just last year; that’s the equivalent of adding the town of Carstairs every year. That growth brings new neighbours, new businesses, and new energy, but it also stretches our schools, clogs our roads, and fills our recreation facilities.
Some people say the answer is to stop building. The truth is, we cannot. Provincial legislation and past approvals mean growth will continue, and moving to cancel those approvals would incur significant legal costs to the City, and as a result, taxes would go up.
The real question is whether we let it overwhelm us, or whether we plan for intentional growth that makes Airdrie stronger.
That means:
- Holding developers accountable to contribute their share toward building new schools, recreation spaces, and infrastructure.
- Creating a fast-track approvals program within the City for priority projects like new school sites, health care supports, and high-employment providers so that what matters most gets built first.
- Ensuring an adequate supply of land for commercial and industrial growth so businesses can expand, new employers can set up shop, and families can find work in Airdrie without being forced to commute.
- Prioritizing downtown as the heart of Airdrie, and an economic engine with higher-density housing, commercial spaces, excellent accessibility, and strong public transit connections.
- Working with provincial and federal governments, school divisions, and neighbouring municipalities to prepare for the growth already on its way.
- Making sure that the residents of neighbouring communities, including Rocky View County, who use Airdrie’s infrastructure, recreation facilities and schools also contribute fairly to the costs of running them.
I believe in better growth that puts Airdrie families first. We can’t afford leadership that says what we can’t do. We need leaders who will plan for what we must do because our kids deserve spaces to play, safe streets, and vibrant communities.