The Sprawl

Yesterday marked the ninth anniversary of The Sprawl. And today we’re kicking off our 10th year with some exciting news. At the 2026 Alberta Magazine Awards on Thursday, The Sprawl nabbed five wins—including Magazine of the Year! “Its stories are thoroughly researched, expertly written, and thoughtfully edited, providing readers with meaningful context and insightful journalism on the issues affecting Calgary today,” stated the judges.

This week I’ve been reflecting on the legacy of Calgary historian Harry Sanders, who died on September 6 at the age of 59. Sanders, the author of numerous books and the editor of Alberta History, chronicled the loss of many Calgary buildings that have been torn down in the name of progress. In 2019, I wondered if he might want to eulogize one of them for The Sprawl.

Calgary historian Harry Sanders wrote this story for The Sprawl in 2019 after W.A. Gough’s violin shop was demolished. Sanders died on September 6, 2026, at the age of 59. He wrote countless such pieces throughout his career, enthusiastically shedding light on the city’s forgotten stories and places. We are republishing this story today to honour Sanders’s life and work. This was originally published on December 30, 2019.

I get some truly hilarious emails. Anyone who does any kind of creative work these days is inundated with them, many obviously written by AI. The upshot of these messages: You're doing good work, but basically no one is reading or listening to it. "Sprawlcast has serious potential, but it's going unheard," reads one email I got after the last episode (The Life and Death of Local Radio in Calgary) came out.

Sprawlcast is Calgary’s in-depth municipal podcast. Made in collaboration with CJSW 90.9 FM, it’s a show for curious Calgarians who want a deeper understanding of the city they call home. A lightly-edited transcript of this episode is below, for those who would rather read than listen. You can hear this episode wherever you listen to podcasts.

What's a place in Calgary that is significant to you? I've been asking local artists this question as I commission work for the Pop-Up Press—and I'm always curious to see what they'll come up with. When I asked cartoonist Teresa Wong, she chose Hing Wah Imports in Chinatown, a favourite shop from childhood. When I asked illustrator and designer Tori English this same question, she chose the Calgary Folk Music Festival—also a favourite spot of hers from childhood.

There's a big public hearing on blanket rezoning happening at Calgary city hall this week. I am pretty sure I've typed that exact sentence, or something very close to it, numerous times in recent years. Mayor Jeromy Farkas calls it "housekeeping" after council's April decision to repeal blanket rezoning. That decision reverts most of the city back to the low-density residential districts that were originally in place before Jyoti Gondek's council approved blanket rezoning in 2024.

A question hangs in the air. Will Canada hold together, or will the nation break apart? There’s growing talk of separatism. Newspapers refer to a “national unity crisis.” And the prime minister in Ottawa speaks of the difficulty in striking a balance between federal and provincial powers. “The reconciliation of these two things is not easy,” he says.

A question hangs in the air. Will Canada hold together—or will the nation break apart? There’s growing talk of separatism. Newspapers refer to a “national unity crisis.” And the prime minister in Ottawa speaks of the difficulty in striking a balance between federal and provincial powers. “The reconciliation of these two things is not easy,” he says.

HEADS UP! The next 75 people to sign up as monthly Sprawl members for $12/mo (or more) will get my book The Hollowing of the Calgary Herald in the mail. Support our journalism and snag a copy before they're gone! More details below. I have been deep in the Sprawlcast salt mines this week, working on the next episode. But I want to set that down for a moment to share some exciting news.