Mayor Jyoti Gondek

1. The first step that municipal government can take on antisemitism is to condemn it publicly. We need to further ensure that we are providing safe spaces for gathering and worship, and a strong partnership with the Calgary Police Commission is important in understanding the steps that CPS is taking to provide support as needed.

2. I have taken the time visit synagogues and community centres to better understand how the Jewish community comes together during special days, as well as the important work that is being done for a number of important causes. Understanding the significance of the dates and initiatives means that I can be an ally and an advocate. It also allows me to ask City Administration to work closely with the Jewish community in creating a safe event.

3. It is important to maintain time-honoured traditions like proclaiming Holocaust Remembrance Day in the city, and offering space in municipal building for the annual menorah lighting. Further, the promotion of Holocaust and human rights education is vital to ensuring that history does not repeat itself. Early in my term, I attended "Here to Tell" at the Glenbow Museum, and arranged special times for all of Council to experience the stories of survivors. Having met Fanny Wedro at "Here to Tell" and understanding her appreciation for education, I was privileged to convene the necessary people to submit an application that ultimately led to the awarding of an honourary degree to Ms. Wedro in 2023.

Jeromy Farkas

Thank you for reaching out and for your leadership in strengthening Calgary’s Jewish community. I deeply appreciate the work of the Calgary Jewish Federation in fostering inclusion, education, and remembrance in our city.
 
For seven years, I served as the Program Administrator for the Israel Studies Program at the University of Calgary. During that time, I personally experienced threats and intimidation. I understand, firsthand, how antisemitism manifests and how important it is for civic leaders to take a clear, public stand against it.
 
1. Combating antisemitism at the municipal level
Antisemitism has no place in Calgary or elsewhere. As mayor, I will ensure the City takes a proactive stance against all forms of hate, including antisemitism, through public education, data collection, and enforcement. I will direct City Administration to strengthen partnerships with law enforcement, schools, and community organizations to track and respond to hate-motivated incidents. Hate crimes and vandalism will be treated with the seriousness they deserve, with the Calgary Police Service and Police Commission fully supported to investigate and prosecute offenders.

2. Safety of Jewish communal spaces
Safety is a shared responsibility. I will work closely with community leaders to identify and mitigate security risks at synagogues, schools, and community centres. This includes supporting federal and provincial funding for security infrastructure, coordinating police presence during high-risk periods, and ensuring first responders receive training on cultural and faith-based safety needs.
To strengthen this work across all communities, I will also establish a Mayor’s Interfaith Council — a standing body that brings together faith leaders to foster dialogue, coordinate on safety, and affirm that an attack on any faith community is an attack on all of us.

3. Holocaust and human-rights education
Remembrance is the foundation of prevention. I will ensure the City of Calgary continues to support Holocaust education and commemorations such as Yom HaShoah, including partnerships with schools, museums, and the Calgary Jewish Federation. The City can also amplify human-rights education by making civic venues and programs available for exhibitions and events that promote understanding, tolerance, and the lessons of history.
 
As mayor, I will stand in full participation with Calgary’s Jewish community — including celebrating major milestones such as Hanukkah menorah lightings and other community events — to publicly counter the misinformation and prejudice that too often target Jewish Calgarians. Leadership means showing up, standing up, and speaking out.
 
I was recently honoured to be hosted for a candidates’ Shabbat dinner, and with your participation, I would like to make that an annual tradition, starting in my first 100 days as mayor, so future mayors can stay connected with the community in a meaningful way.

Our city must be one where everyone, regardless of faith or background, feels safe, valued, and heard. I look forward to continuing to work together toward that vision.

Sonya Sharp

1. During my last four years as Ward 1 Councillor, I have had the privilege of sitting with the Jewish community on many occasions. The community has always warmly welcomed me at the annual Menorah lighting ceremonies for Chanukah at City Hall and I even had the honour of attending a Shabbat dinner. I have heard many stories of what Jewish Calgarians are facing in our own city and they have touched me greatly. 

It is incredibly important to me that every Calgarian feels safe, welcome and represented in their own city. There is no room in Calgary for racist and intolerant behaviour and every community should be able to confidently celebrate their culture and community without fear, violence or intimidation. I strongly believe when you take the job of Mayor, you have to represent all Calgarians and I am committed to speaking up against and taking action against discrimination and making City Hall a place where all voices are heard. 

2. This ties in with one of my top priorities, Public Safety. Myself and the Communities First team are committed to majorly re-investing in policing in the next budget and adding 500 more police officers over the next four years so Calgary is no longer among the country’s least protected big cities. I will bring back political support for Calgary Police and ensure they are fully resourced and supported to enforce law and safety. These plans have led to the Calgary Police Association endorsing me for Mayor and the Communities First candidates for Ward Councillors. I will also leverage my relationships with the Police Chief and our appointed members in the Calgary Police Commission to advocate as necessary. 

3. The example is set at the top, and as Mayor my leadership will be focused on uniting, not dividing, and embracing all the cultures, backgrounds and beliefs that make up our city. My conversations with the Jewish community will not end after the election, this is just the beginning of our long relationship. I will come back to your community and continue to listen, learn, and take action if needed. I would be happy to continue attending Jewish holidays and celebrates and share this with Calgarians. 

Brian Thiessen

1. That statistic demands immediate action, and it requires genuine partnership between City Hall and all communities facing hatred. Calgary's strength lies in our diversity and when any community faces hate, all Calgarians are diminished. As mayor, I will work with Calgary's Jewish community and all communities who are targeted by hate to build a safe and inclusive city for all. I strongly support The City of Calgary's Anti-Racism Strategic Plan and will ensure that plan has the resources required to implement it. In addition to the strategies set out in the Plan, I propose three key initiatives:

• First, co-develop comprehensive "Calgary for All" campaigns addressing antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Black racism, and other forms of hate. Working with the Calgary Jewish Federation and other community organizations, we will ensure that each campaign reflects the expertise and priorities of the communities most affected.
• Second, integrate community insights into our Public Safety strategy, ensuring our approach reflects the diverse knowledge and priorities of Calgary's multicultural fabric.
• Third, work with the leaders of our post-secondary institutions to ensure that our campuses are safe and welcoming for students of all faiths and backgrounds.

My experience as Chair of the Calgary Police Commission taught me that effective anti-hate work happens in collaboration with targeted communities. Calgary's Jewish community, alongside other targeted groups, are the experts on your own security needs—my job is to be your strongest ally in City Hall.
 

2. Community safety requires genuine partnership across Calgary's diverse faith and cultural communities. Every Calgarian deserves to feel safe in their places of worship, learning, and gathering.

Calgary already has strong building blocks for this work: the Calgary Police Service (CPS) Hate Crime Prevention Team triages every reported hate incident and offers education and outreach. CPS also runs an External Anti-Racism Action Committee to co-develop its Anti-Racism Strategy, and a Diversity Resource Team that engages faith and newcomer communities. These teams regularly brief the Police Commission and the community (including recent town halls with the Jewish Federation). 

As mayor I would enhance these efforts by:

• obtaining regular Council briefings on CPS’ hate crime initiatives,
• ensuring the Hate Crime Prevention Team and its outreach coordinator have stable funding,
• hosting formal quarterly security roundtables with Jewish and other faith leaders on anti-hate initiatives,
• publishing hate-incident data and key performance indicators (KPIs) on the effectiveness of our anti-hate initiatives,
• appointing a City “navigator” to help faith communities access security upgrades and federal security infrastructure program funding, 
• creating a Municipal Community Security Infrastructure Grant, similar to the federal program, that helps synagogues, mosques, gurdwaras, churches, and cultural centres improve safety and security of their community spaces, and
• work with CPS and communities targeted by hate to develop collaborative security protocols for religious holidays, cultural celebrations, and community events. 

My commitment is to ensure that every faith and cultural group has the municipal partnership they need to protect their sacred spaces, community centres, and schools.
 
3. Holocaust remembrance and human rights education strengthen Calgary's entire multicultural community. The City has an important role in supporting communities with their efforts to organize and host cultural events, including ceremonies to commemorate tragic moments of our history.  I propose four initiatives:

• First, ensure that the City is a supportive partner to all communities hosting commemorative events, such as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. That support could take various forms, including facilitating permits, providing event support, or working with CPS and our bylaw officers to enhance security.
• Second, provide mayoral leadership. As mayor, I will show up for community events that are important to Calgary’s faith and cultural communities.  For example, I was proud to attend the as the Calgary Community Menorah Lighting Ceremony at City Hall as a citizen and will continue to do so when I am mayor.
• Third, collaborate on inclusive memorial and educational spaces. If Calgary's Jewish community determines that a permanent Holocaust memorial in Calgary is important to the community, I will ensure that the City and its agencies are partners in making such a project a reality.
• Fourth, ensure that the education components of Calgary’s Anti-Racism Strategic Plan are properly funded to support education initiatives in Calgary.

Jeff Davison

No response at time of publication. We will update should this change.