The City of Calgary has launched a comprehensive community resource centre at the Bowness Community Association building to assist residents throughout the extensive construction period for the Bearspaw South Feeder Main replacement project. This initiative recognizes the significant disruptions that major infrastructure work creates for local communities and aims to provide direct support through the remainder of 2026.
Accessible Support for Northwest Neighborhoods
Located at 7904 43rd Avenue N.W., the resource centre officially opened last week with a formal announcement event held on Monday morning. The facility will operate with consistent weekly hours: Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. While primarily serving residents of Bowness, Montgomery, and Parkdale—the three northwest communities most directly affected by the construction—the centre remains technically available to all Calgarians seeking information or assistance.
Dedicated Staff and Comprehensive Services
A team of four city employees will staff the centre, providing multiple forms of support to community members. These professionals will be available to address resident concerns, answer detailed questions about the city's water infrastructure projects, and help individuals navigate various municipal services and community resources. The centre represents a physical hub where citizens can receive personalized assistance with construction-related challenges and major disruptions to their daily lives.
"This centre exists specifically to support the community through what will undoubtedly be a challenging period," explained John Acheson, the city's community integration services lead. "Our dedicated team members are prepared to listen attentively, provide accurate answers to questions, and help connect people with the specific services and supports they may require during this construction phase."
Complementing Digital Communication Channels
Mayor Jeromy Farkas emphasized the importance of maintaining physical presence within affected communities alongside digital communication strategies. "I recognize how crucial it is for myself and our council colleagues to be physically present within the communities we serve," Farkas stated during Monday's announcement. "Face-to-face contact remains absolutely essential, particularly as we address the urgency of water restrictions, conservation measures, and mitigation of construction impacts on both residential areas and local businesses."
The resource centre provides the municipal government with an additional communication channel to disseminate information about the feeder main project, complementing existing social media platforms and traditional public messaging approaches. This multi-channel strategy ensures that residents have multiple avenues to access accurate, timely information about the infrastructure work affecting their neighborhoods.
Project Scope and Construction Methodology
The replacement feeder main represents a significant underground infrastructure project extending from Point McKay Park to 87th Street N.W., positioned just south of the Bow River and the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant. The initial construction phase will involve installing the new transmission line from Point McKay (adjacent to Edworthy Park) to 73rd Street N.W. using specialized microtunnelling techniques that minimize surface disruption while creating essential water infrastructure beneath the community.
Area councillors have openly acknowledged the disruptive nature of this extensive construction work on residents' daily lives. The resource centre initiative demonstrates the city's commitment to mitigating these impacts through direct community engagement and support services available throughout the project timeline.
