Think-Tank Member Jim Gray Challenges Calgarians: "What Are You Going to Do About It?"
As Calgary approaches a population milestone of two million residents, business leader and philanthropist Jim Gray is issuing a compelling call to action. In a guest column for the Postmedia Calgary project Countdown to 2 Million, Gray emphasizes that each citizen holds both the power and obligation to shape the city's future for coming generations.
The Challenge of Sustaining Quality of Life Amid Growth
"We live in a wonderful city with a widely admired quality of life," Gray acknowledges. "That said, I believe that our so-admired character may prove increasingly difficult to sustain as we grow towards a population of two million."
The philanthropist warns that the world is becoming more complicated and competitive, requiring what he describes as an "all hands on deck" approach to preserve the qualities that Calgarians often take for granted. Gray is among three dozen community leaders participating in a virtual think-tank examining how Calgary can navigate its growth challenges while maintaining its distinctive character.
A Personal Journey of Responsibility
Gray illustrates his philosophy of personal responsibility through a revealing story from his early career. In the 1960s, while establishing himself in Calgary's oil and gas industry, Gray attended the world's largest oil show in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The experience left him profoundly impressed with how effectively the event showcased the petroleum industry to newcomers.
"To say that I was impressed would be a vast understatement," Gray recalls. During a weekend drive to the mountains with his late wife Josie, Gray described the Tulsa exhibition in detail, noting that Calgary's booming oil industry lacked similar educational opportunities for the many newcomers arriving from across Canada.
"I mentioned to Josie that we needed a show similar to the one in Tulsa to describe our industry to the hordes of new Calgarians," Gray writes. The couple, both originally from other provinces—Josie from a farming community in southern Manitoba and Gray from a mining town in northern Ontario—recognized that most of their new friends were also recent arrivals with limited knowledge of Alberta's petroleum history.
The Transformative Question
Josie's response would become a defining moment in Gray's life. Rather than suggesting he lobby government officials or industry associations, she posed a simple but profound question: "Okay, what are YOU going to do about it?"
"She didn't recommend that I encourage the government in Edmonton, the various industry associations or the City to become involved," Gray explains. "Rather, she explicitly asked me what I was going to do about it."
After careful consideration, Gray committed personally to exploring the idea's viability and, if encouraged, assuming responsibility for making it happen. "That decision, which I didn't fully appreciate at the time, would go on to change the course of my life in many ways," he reflects.
From Question to Legacy
Gray's personal commitment led to the creation of the Canadian Petroleum Exposition, staged as part of the 1966 Calgary Stampede. The exhibition was subsequently judged the best exhibit at any fair or exhibition in North America that year—a remarkable achievement for a first-time event.
"I pounded the pavement, canvassed the industry and made a lot of new friends," Gray recounts of the process. The success gave him newfound confidence to apply his wife's philosophy to numerous business and not-for-profit initiatives throughout his career, though he modestly adds, "not always successfully I should add."
A Call to Action for All Calgarians
Gray's message extends beyond his personal story to challenge all residents as Calgary grows toward two million people. He argues that sustaining the city's admired character will require more than institutional solutions—it demands personal engagement from every citizen.
"Each of us can make a difference and has the obligation to do so for the benefit of future generations," Gray concludes, urging Calgarians to ask themselves the same transformative question his wife posed decades ago: "What are you going to do about it?"
As part of the Countdown to 2 Million project, Gray's perspective joins those of other community leaders examining how Calgary can navigate its growth while preserving the qualities that make it special. His story serves as both inspiration and challenge for a city at a demographic crossroads.
