Ward 7 council candidate Myke Atkinson wants to keep students in Calgary
By Holly Anghel, October 16 2025—
Independent Ward 7 council candidate Myke Atkinson says the University of Calgary is where he decided to make Calgary his forever city. Now, as he campaigns for city council, Atkinson says the concerns of students remain central to his platform, with priorities shaped around affordability, housing and building vibrant communities.
After earning his Bachelor of Commerce in 2006, Atkinson built his career in the not-for-profit sector, most recently serving on the service design and innovation team at the Calgary Public Library.
“The not-for-profit world is closely aligned with the priorities of government. It is not about maximizing profits and extracting the most from people; it’s about providing services in the most cost-effective and quality way,” said Atkinson. “Being in the not-for-profit space, you learn how to stretch a dollar. I think that’s really important when we are talking about people’s tax dollars.”
Atkinson highlights the need for significant investment in non-market and co-op housing, which Calgary has not expanded in over 50 years.
He points to Sunnyhill Co-op as an example of what is possible.
“It is a complete package for housing that meets the people’s needs. But the waiting list is years long to get in. We need to be looking at ways the city can make it easier for this kind of housing to come to Calgary on a larger scale,” said Atkinson.
While tuition increases and grocery prices are outside the city’s control, Atkinson said the municipality still has levers to ease pressure.
“All of these costs are going up, but the city does have dials we can control to help with affordability, to create vibrancy and to make Calgary a place that people can afford to stay,” he said.
Another priority for Atkinson is reactivating city-owned buildings that have been left empty after the closure of several inner-city recreational facilities.
“When buildings sit empty, they become hazards and dead zones,” he said. “Activating them with community programs adds vibrancy, makes neighbourhoods safer and gives people spaces to gather.”
Atkinson’s platform also focuses on rewilding underused greenways by replacing stretches of mowed grass with trees and pollinator-friendly plants. He says this would help improve Calgary’s shrinking tree canopy, which has dropped to eight per cent, and create a healthier cityscape by developing a patchwork of naturalization in the city.
If elected, Atkinson wants Calgary to remain a city where young people can thrive both before and after graduation.
“We don’t want to lose brilliant, talented individuals to other cities because they can’t afford to stay. Investing in young people is a reciprocal relationship — the city supports you, and we gain the benefit of having young, passionate, educated and energized people who want to create a life here,” said Atkinson.
Atkinson’s platform is grounded in pragmatism and community-minded ideals rather than partisan flash. His experience in the non-profit sector gives credibility to his focus on affordability and local reinvestment, making his candidacy realistic within the city’s fiscal constraints.
For a ward that includes the U of C, his emphasis on keeping young people in the city and fostering livable, connected neighbourhoods speaks directly to student concerns.
If elected, Atkinson would likely bring a collaborative, service-oriented approach to council — one that prioritizes steady, tangible progress over political grandstanding and reflects the lived realities of both students and longtime residents.
To vote in Calgary’s municipal election, you must be at least 18 years old, a Canadian citizen and a resident of Calgary on election day.
On Oct. 20, voters can cast their ballots for the city’s next mayor, as well as the councillor and school board trustee representing their ward.
For information on where to vote and how to get involved, visit www.electionscalgary.ca.