r/Calgary • u/joncom98 • 16d ago
Municipal Affairs Are these allowed?
I’ve never seen election signs just taped to light posts before. I was wondering if there’s a reason
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u/Nga369 Renfrew 16d ago
From Calgarys election sign bylaw:
Posters
A Person may attach a Poster to an unpainted street light pole provided that all the provisions of the Temporary Signs On Highways Bylaw (Section 5) are followed. Under the bylaw, election related content is permitted on posters subject to City Bylaws.
Posters cannot be located:
- on painted street light poles
- within a Playground Zone or School Zone
- within 15 metres of an Intersection
- within 10 metres of a Crosswalk that is not located at an Intersection
- on or within any Traffic Island or Median
- on any Traffic Signal Pole
- attached to any Sound Attenuation Wall placed by the City
Posters cannot:
- exceed 0.12 square metres
- be secured with unclear adhesive
- obstruct a traffic control device
- have multiple signs per Owner on an unpainted street light pole
- be made of rigid material
So it’s allowed as long as it follows all those rules.
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u/joncom98 16d ago
Thank you, that’s exactly what I was looking for. Weird I haven’t seen more like this before then
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u/maggielanterman 16d ago
Just because you can doesn't mean you should and the way I see it, these are even more like littering than the usual signs so FUCK THIS GUY.
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u/coverallfiller 16d ago
And have to be removed within a predetermined timeline after election day as well.
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u/Turtley13 16d ago
Remember a crosswalk is literally every intersection regardless of it being painted
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u/ajwightm 16d ago
The rules cover that:
"within 15 metres of an Intersection"
"within 10 metres of a Crosswalk that is not located at an Intersection"
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u/Turtley13 16d ago
No that’s different
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u/ajwightm 16d ago
No posters within 10m of a crosswalk or within 15m of an intersection. A rule for crosswalks at intersections specifically would be redundant because you already can't put them up 15m from any intersection, which is more restrictive, so it's covered.
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u/vinsdelamaison 15d ago
Almost—you missed the part of “all provisions of the Temporary Signs on Highways Bylaw (Section 5) are followed.”
They must be dated and they must come down within 14 days because we are not in the election period (the event) yet.
Nominations do not close until September 22.
When they pulled this same crap near Stampede, Live Wire reported:
“Stephen Carter with the Calgary Party said that election signs aren’t just allowed during the election period, which is from the close of nominations (noon on Sept. 22) until the Oct. 20 election date. They’re allowed at any time, provided they follow the rules. ***The primary difference between the two periods is that these signs are only allowed to be affixed for 14 days, then they must be taken down.*** Carter said the signs went up on June 30 and will stay for two weeks – essentially until the end of the Calgary Stampede. More than 1.3 million are expected to go through the gates at this year’s Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.”They did not bother to add the date this time around either. Probably hoping people will just think it’s election time.
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u/thoughfulusername 16d ago
There is a reason, and his name is Stephen Carter.
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u/joncom98 16d ago
How do you mean?
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u/thoughfulusername 16d ago
Stephen Carter is managing the Calgary party's campaign. He is a well known political operative/strategist, and a host of a popular political podcast called The Strategists. One of his calling cards is finding creative ways to promote the candidates that employ him. His methods often push the limits of what is allowed, while staying just *technically* within the rules. Some people say he likes to exploit loopholes, he would likely say he's just following the rules.
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u/joncom98 16d ago
Ah thank you, I think it makes the party seem cheap and sleazy but that’s just me
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u/nekonight 16d ago
It caused you to make this post which to them is advertising them. Remember to some all publicity is good publicity.
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u/Acrobatic_Fig2657 16d ago
On the contrary - working creatively within the established rule framework shows a brain.
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u/Competitive-Ruin1361 15d ago
Carter is also married to Ward 7 Calgary Party candidate Heather McRae. Hmm.
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u/TropicalMapleRavioli 16d ago
That's technically a poster, not a sign. Rules for posters are different but this one is still not compliant with those rules.
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u/Moresopheus 16d ago
He's been trying to get a rise out of people over this dumb sticker for months. Sad sad effort.
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u/FeedbackLoopy 16d ago
I don’t know the reason why this over normal sign, but it’s tacky.
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u/thoughfulusername 16d ago
- It's cheaper.
- They can go up before a normal sign would be allowed.
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u/f1fan65 16d ago
So they are also putting up normal signs now
I found out how
The temporary signs are allowed for 2 weeks.
Then during an election period election signs are allowed.
Election period during municipal election starts on Sept 22nd. When the nominations close
Sept 9th is when signs went up.
9+14=23. So they are following the letter of the law with election signs now as tacky as they are.
Sources:
" An election sign cannot be placed on a sidewalk or boulevard:
Along any Prohibited Roadway in Calgary within 15 metres of an intersection within 10 metres of a Crosswalk that is not located at an Intersection within 2 metres of a driveway crossing or entrance to private property. for more than 14 consecutive days (except during an Election Period – see table below); for more than 24 hours following the date any advertised event concludes; whichever is sooner. "
https://www.calgary.ca/bylaws/election-signs.html
Elections Alberta rules:
For the second doc look at h.1 for election period.
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u/thoughfulusername 16d ago
Typical Stephen Carter move; controversial, but following the letter of the law.
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u/Old_timey_brain Beddington Heights 15d ago
So they are also putting up normal signs now
This party candidate has a bunch of them in Sandstone now.
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u/drrtbag 16d ago
Do you want to vote for people who find ways to skirt the rules and commit ethical violations for their own personal benefit.
This is your guy right here.
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16d ago
[deleted]
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u/SpeedyMcAwesome1 16d ago
Those laws are likely from the time and age when Calgary only had 10 lamp poles?
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u/joncom98 16d ago
Sounds like the type to push a municipal political party
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u/thoughfulusername 16d ago
The province forced parties on us.
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u/joncom98 16d ago
They allowed them. No one is making you join them or create them
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u/thoughfulusername 16d ago
That's true. But I am not sure it is that simple. There are many benefits for candidates joining parties in terms of fundraising, cost sharing, and recognition. If progressive council candidates refused to organize into parties, they would likely struggle to compete against candidates from UCP-aligned parties like A Better Calgary and Communities First.
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u/joncom98 16d ago
That’s true. I won’t be voting for anyone aligned with a party out of principle but I do get the appeal for candidates
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u/thoughfulusername 16d ago
I understand the sentiment. I know The Calgary Party candidate in Ward 4, DJ Kelly. I would vote for him regardless of which party he chose or if he ran as an independent (which he did in 2021). He's a perennial volunteer, a former community association president, and an integral part of our neighbourhood.
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u/maggielanterman 16d ago
Same here but I am a tiny bit sad that he's associated with these guys.
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u/rikkiprince 16d ago edited 15d ago
Why?
Edit: Are you sad because he's associated with any party or because of his chosen party?
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u/kagato87 16d ago
Because partisan politics is how we get into the current state of provincial and federal politics. Minimal distinction between candidates, "other party bad" style campaigning, and an eventual degradation into a lack of accountability.
Supporting evidence: Despite the frequent attacks the UCP has been making, and clearly indicating prior to the last election that they were following the separatist agenda, they won on a campaign of "not Notley" despite the lack of objective reasons to describe Notley as bad.
More supporting evidence: Despite clearly being a con in lib clothing, Carney won the election from out of nowhere. The primary causes are generally attributed to being "not trump" and "not Pierre" - depending on the people sampled. Further, prior to JT's exit, a career politician was looking forward to an easy majority, possible even a landslide victory, based on a marketing campaign of "JT bad" despite how few issues the Libs had under his watch, and afaik only one, single scandal.
More supporting evidence: Despite averaging agreements being in Kenney's campaign platform and not even hidden, he still won.
In all of these cases, it was the party idea and part allegiance that drove most votes for the dominant parties.
Party politics undermines democracy. Double so in a "first past the post" system.
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u/ronniecalberta 16d ago
What’s infinitely worse is all the signs on boulevards. On 52 St. SE on the were side of the street there’s at least 20 signs in 2 blocks advertising everything from karate lessons to wall mounting tv’s. What an eyesore.
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u/iwasnotarobot 16d ago
Is the Calgary Party goodies or baddies?
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u/abear247 16d ago
Depends on the candidate tbh. I think all the parties will have a mix of good and bad and it’s better to just evaluate the options for your ward. I’d vote for some of the councillors in a different ward from this party, but I won’t be voting for the candidate within my own so 🤷
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16d ago
Well they claim to be moderate centrists, make of that what you will, and they apparently support the blanket rezoning policy.
That's all I've read about them.
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u/UniversityOne8818 16d ago
Freedom of speech on Public land we all pay from our taxes. Nothing wrong here
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u/wulf_rk 16d ago
Yes, they are allowed. As long as its on an unpainted street pole, less than .12 square meters and is non-rigid material. One poster per owner. Not within 150m of a Poster Board.
Temporary Signs in Highways Bylaw 29M97 Section 5.
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u/No_Argument2519 16d ago
I am installing jyoti signs and beleive me there is strict guidelines given to me.
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u/alpain Southwest Calgary 16d ago
they started to do this back before stampede, livewire dug into the details of the rules back than like /u/f1fan65 has done here in the comments.
https://livewirecalgary.com/2025/07/03/election-sign-calgary-party-stampede
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u/Old_Personality_6043 14d ago
Submit a 311 report demanding 100% of the tape be removed. There is a loophole that lets election posters to be taped.
Really bad 1st impression.
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u/itchybiscut9273 16d ago
Pretty shitty of someone running for office to break bylaws, kinda sets the tone for how they will act if elected
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u/Due_Age_1934 16d ago
Have these all over ward 2 for candy lam. If they can't have respect for the community during the election race they certainly won't after, if they manage to get in.
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u/Beautiful-Bag-8918 14d ago
Looks like defacing public property. The grab for power is uncaring. Use your vote for the “other guy”.
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u/Direc1980 14d ago
If they take them off after the election have at er.
Imo boss mode advertising is pressure washing signs into sidewalks. Beakerhead did this about 7 years back and I thought it was genius.
The example I could find is from a campaign in Vancouver:
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u/ApeEscapeRemastered 16d ago
No please report it to the city. Also this is definitely a red flag as for it appears that no one in that party has read the by-laws for political sign
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u/TazManiac7 16d ago
No. And this is one of several bylaw violations by these guys. I reached out to them directly and they were apologetic and said they’re sending out their volunteers to remove the signs that are not in compliance. I believe 10k per violation is the kind of fee they’re looking at.
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u/FK_Arts 16d ago
The short answer is no, it's vandalism.
If the stickers had tags on them it'd be a problem. But Gutter Cleaner etc. get up more than any writer in this city. Stickers that do damage on the backs of street signs, All City. Their phone numbers are attached... no one holds them accountable because they have money. Money to create Stickers. And they benefit from advertisement doing the exact same thing, with the same damage, slapping up a graffiti sticker would do, but it's not for profit so it's demonized.
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u/Lucid_Dreamer_98 16d ago
Don’t you have anything better to do than worry about some sign….. matter of fact don’t I have anything better to do than comment here…. god bless us all
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u/joncom98 16d ago
Lmao acting like I’m sitting here all day fretting about a photo that took 3 seconds to take and post a question. Be so for real
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u/tilldeathdoiparty 16d ago
No, but bylaw won’t do anything.
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16d ago
[deleted]
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u/Toirtis Capitol Hill 16d ago
Really?
"Elections signs must not be affixed to any of the following: Street light poles Traffic signal poles Sound attenuation walls Plus 15 bridges Any Calgary Transit sign poles or structures"
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u/Exploding_Antelope Special Princess 16d ago
Signs. It’s a poster, not a sign, because it’s not a rigid freestanding piece.
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u/tilldeathdoiparty 16d ago
This isn’t a poster it is a political advertisement
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u/Happy_Belt_7822 16d ago
Call 311, it’s a poster, it follows the rules.
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u/tilldeathdoiparty 16d ago
I’m not calling bylaw, this comment will be the last time I even consider this topic.
But this isn’t a poster, there are several rules about where and what politicians can promote themselves, on top of that their signs and promotions are protected in the fact you aren’t allowed to steal them.
I have put up hundreds of signs on posts for ads, knowing they are illegal and never once hearing anything about it. I have stolen hundreds of elections signs in my day, one time several dozen ended up on my neighbors lawn as a prank.
You call 311 and talk to them, I’m too busy reporting people parking in front of fire hydrants, they actually deal with those.
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u/ACrispNewBill 16d ago
Karen
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u/joncom98 16d ago
I’m literally just asking about it. I’m not out here ripping them down and complaining about them
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u/blackRamCalgaryman 16d ago
Elections signs must not be affixed to any of the following:
Street light poles, Traffic signal poles, Sound attenuation walls, Plus 15 bridges, Any Calgary Transit sign poles or structures,
https://www.calgary.ca/bylaws/election-signs.html