“Today, I’m sharing my decision about the 2021 election. I will not be running for Mayor this October.Calgary, thank you, for everything. It’s been the honour of my life,” Naheed Nenshi, Mayor of Calgary.
The end of an era: the third purple wave It was few years ago when a relatively unknown young man burst onto the Calgary political scene with his bright purple and yellow signs. He was and still is charismatic, affable and above all, humane at his core.
The odds were against him but he pulled a huge surprise on all political pundits. His name is His Worship Naheed Nenshi. A man with African roots, a man with Indian roots, a man with a heart which flames for the City of Calgary. A man who is respected around the world and earned the accolade of one of the best Mayors in the world. He quickly started his bold ambitions to build on the solid foundations of his predecessors.
If my memory serves me right, he promised the much talked expansion of the Calgary airport. Many capital projects followed. And today he can look around boldly and say he did his best. He saw Calgary through the most difficult times in recent years. The 2013 floods, the oil downturn and finally the Covid-19 pandemic currently ongoing. I’m pretty sure he truly understands the slogan: leave the stage when the applause is loudest.
He has announced his intention not to seek a fourth term. Some of his hard core supporters are disappointed, some of his critics are happy, some are not even sure if we have a line up of suitable candidates to replace him. Regardless of how you see or feel about Mayor Nenshi, he did his best for Calgary. He won numerous awards to the admiration of many around the globe, namely: Young Leader Award in 2011 from the World Economic Forum, the President’s Award from the Canadian Institute of Planners in 2012, the World Mayor prize from the City Mayors Foundation in 2014 (First Canadian to win).
Finally, he received the Honorary Peace Patron Award from the Mosaic Institute in 2017.
He prevailed through all this with clear opposition from a section of the community, in the form of perceived racism, vandalism, etc. He stood tall to my admiration.
The next chapter after him has some big shoes to fill. Calgary is now the best place to live and work. That prestige cannot be lost no matter what. We need a leader capable of bridging the racial gap, creating a system for businesses to thrive, revamping downtown Calgary and above all making our Calgary Flames get their coveted new arena.
So in ending my short tribute to a man many has to come love, hate and cheered on for many victories for Calgary, I say adios. Calgary says “Thank you”.
Your sunlight over Calgary will never set. Thank you for your service and honorable discharge of your duties.
Dr Charles Odame-Ankrah, Community Leader in Calgary.
