Druh Farrell Explained
| Druh Farrell |
| Office: | City of Calgary Councillor for Ward 7 |
| Predecessor: | Bev Longstaff |
| Successor: | Terry Wong |
| Birth Date: | [1] |
| Birth Place: | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Alma Mater: | Form and Function Design Academy |
| Term Start: | October 2001 |
| Term End: | October 25, 2021 |
| Party: | New Democratic |
| Smallimage: | File:Druh Farrell 2023.jpg |
Druh Farrell (born 1958 or 1959) is a municipal politician who formerly served as Councillor for Ward 7 in Calgary, Alberta. She was first elected in 2001.
Career before politics
Prior to being elected in 2001, Farrell was a fashion designer and clothing manufacturer,[2] and served as board member of the Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Association and chair of the Hillhurst Sunnyside Planning and Development committee, co-founder and chairwoman of the Inner-City Coalition,[3] and manager of the Kensington Business Revitalization Zone Association.[4]
Electoral record
| Ward 7 |
|---|
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|
| Druh Farrell | 7,687 | 44.4% |
| Augustine Joseph Barron | 3,565 | 20.6% |
| Margot Aftergood | 2,079 | 12.0% |
| Kendrick L. Charles | 1,733 | 10.0% |
| Harvey Cohen | 1,214 | 7.0% |
| Jon Adams | 743 | 4.3% |
| Wyatt-James Taylor McIntyre | 289 | 1.7% | |
[5]
Farrell was reelected to serve Ward 7 in 2004 for a 3-year term by acclamation, having run unopposed.[6]
| Ward 7 |
|---|
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|
| Druh Farrell | 8,998 | 68.9% |
| Barry Elridge | 2,249 | 17.2% |
| Merle Terlesky | 1,280 | 9.8% |
| Jag Aithal | 532 | 4.1% | |
[7]
| Ward 7 |
|---|
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|
| Druh Farrell | 11,910 | 42.9% |
| Kevin Taylor | 10,658 | 38.4% |
| Jim Pilling | 2,621 | 9.4% |
| Elizabeth Ann Cook | 1,367 | 4.9% |
| Michael Krisko | 1,204 | 4.3% | |
[8]
| Ward 7 |
|---|
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|
| Druh Farrell | 8,923 | 37.5% |
| Kevin Taylor | 6,600 | 27.7% |
| Brent Alexander | 6,299 | 26.5% |
| Joylin Nodwell | 1,988 | 8.3% | |
[9]
| Ward 7 |
|---|
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|
| Druh Farrell | 9,753 | 41.0% |
| Brent Alexander | 8,916 | 37.5% |
| Dean Brawn | 2,882 | 12.1% |
| Margot Aftergood | 1,765 | 7.4% |
| Marek Hejduk | 456 | 1.9% | |
[10]
On February 22, 2021, Farrell announced she would not be running for reelection in the 2021 Calgary municipal election.[11]
31st Alberta general election
After controversy alledging party officials' bias towards Farrell, on May 13, 2022, Farell won the nomination to become the Alberta NDP candidate for Calgary-Bow in the 2023 Alberta general election.[12]
Tenure as city councillor
Peace Bridge
The $24.5-million Peace Bridge designed by Santiago Calatrava on the Bow River between Eau Claire and Sunnyside, was a "controversial" project from its onset with many people considering it to be an "unnecessary extravagance." Farrell was a vocal supporter of the footbridge and as a result she "became the human shield at which many strangers directed their intense anger."[13] On March 24, 2012, "thousands of Calgarians flooded onto the [bridge] to celebrate its opening." About 6,000 people use it daily. It quickly became a "tourist magnet"−the "most photographed structure in Calgary". It ranked among the top ten architectural projects[14] and public spaces of 2012.[15]
Walk21 Microgrants
The $172,500 Walk21 Community Microgrants Council Innovation Fund Application created by Farrell, Gian-Carlo Carra and Brian Pincott was approved by City Council on April 10, 2017.[16] The program, which coincides with an international conference on walking hosted at the University of Calgary in September, will provide $112,500 for about 150 walking improvement community projects, which is about eight per ward to be completed by 2020. It celebrates Canada's 150th birthday.[17] Photos of the arching rainbow under the LRT bridge by Kensington's Riley Park, one of the Walk21 Microgrants projects, were widely shared on Instagram.[18]
Aquatic wheel chairs pilot project
Calgary’s Parks Department purchased three "water-hardy wheelchairs" which are currently available at Canmore, Rotary and South Glenmore/Variety splash parks as part of their accessibility initiative. Farrell had suggested the idea to Parks after she had heard about aquatic wheel chairs in an American water park.[19]
Terrigno Law Suit
In May 2017, the Terrigno family served Farrell with a lawsuit related to a 2015 failed land use rezoning application regarding their building after City Councillors voted to reject their application on May 11, 2015[20] [21] The lawsuit alleged that Farrell used her position and power to kill the proposed development which was less than 100 meters from her home. In June 2017, Farrell filed a statement of defence, saying the lawsuit is intended to injure her reputation ahead of the October 2017 municipal election.[22] The case and two appeals were all dismissed.[23]
Vote Against New Communities
Along with Mayor Naheed Nenshi, Farrell was the only councillor to vote against a proposal for 14 new edge communities in July 2018.[24]
Opposition from Save Calgary PAC
Farrell is one of five incumbents in the October 2017 Calgary elections, targeted with negative publicity by the newly formed Save Calgary political action committee (PAC), who also target councillors Gian-Carlo Carra, Diane Colley-Urquhart, Evan Woolley and Mayor Naheed Nenshi.[25] [26] [27]
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Druh Farrell - Council candidate for Ward 7 . 2019-11-01 . 2013-09-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130917005651/http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Druh+Farrell+Council+candidate+Ward/8888785/story.html . dead .
- News: Seven vie for Ward 7 vote: [Final Edition]]. Summerfield. Robin. October 14, 2001. Calgary Herald. September 23, 2015. Canadian Newsstand Complete.
- News: Property tax notices delayed till March: [Final Edition]]. Collins. Ron. January 29, 1999. Calgary Herald. September 23, 2015. Canadian Newsstand Complete.
- News: Kensington businesses protest traffic proposal: City studying changes for Louise Bridge: [Final Edition]]. Pommer. David. May 16, 1999. Calgary Herald. September 23, 2015. Canadian Newsstand Complete.
- Web site: City of Calgary . Unofficial Results - 2001 Civic Election . https://web.archive.org/web/20110720122913/http://newsroom.calgary.ca/pr/calgary/release20011017_084455_11250_0.aspx?ncid=17940 . July 20, 2011 . March 7, 2021 . The City of Calgary Newsroom.
- Web site: Calgary municipal election, 2004 Official Results. City of Calgary. September 22, 2015. November 11, 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20041111095434/http://www.gov.calgary.ab.ca/election/.
- Web site: Calgary municipal election, 2007 Unofficial results. City of Calgary. October 18, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20071018030032/http://www.gov.calgary.ab.ca/election/. October 18, 2007.
- Web site: Calgary municipal election, 2010 Official Results. City of Calgary . September 22, 2015.
- Web site: Calgary municipal election, 2013 Official Results. City of Calgary. September 23, 2015. September 14, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150914195257/http://www.calgary.ca/CA/city-clerks/Scripts/Elections2013/2013-General-Election-Results.htm. dead.
- Web site: Calgary municipal election, 2013 Official Results. City of Calgary. July 8, 2018.
- Web site: Ward 7 Calgary Coun. Druh Farrell not running for re-election in October - Calgary Globalnews.ca. 2021-07-29. Global News. en-US.
- Web site: Druh Farrell wins nomination to become NDP candidate in Calgary-Bow. . 2022-08-03 . calgaryherald . en-CA.
- News: The "little red bridge" that divided a city turns five . Calgary Herald . March 24, 2017. August 31, 2017.
- Web site: 2012 in review: Top 10 projects . Azure Magazine. 20 December 2012 .
- Web site: Top ten public spaces . Design Boom. 28 December 2012 .
- News: Calgary $172K walking microgrants a hit with some, miss for others on council: Walk21 Microgrants will give Calgary neighbourhoods a chance to come up with their own traffic solving problems . Metro News . Calgary . April 10, 2017. August 31, 2017.
- News: Calgary council OKs $172K in micro-grants to improve street walkability . Annalise . Klingbeil . Calgary Herald. Calgary . April 10, 2017. August 31, 2017.
- Web site: This rainbow bridge by Riley Park has been taking over Instagram . Daily Hive . August 31, 2017. August 31, 2017.
- News: City of Calgary pilots aquatic wheel chairs in splash parks: Water-safe chairs will help make splash play accessible for parents and children in three of Calgary's parks . Metro News . August 31, 2017 . August 3, 2017.
- News: 'It's an abuse:' Terrigno lawsuit asks Farrell to pay her own legal bills . Metro News . August 31, 2017 . August 30, 2017.
- News: Calgary Coun. Druh Farrell should be ousted for 'targeted malice' toward Kensington tower, lawsuit alleges: Documents say conflict with owners of Osteria de Medici property and Farrell dates back to 2008 . Meghan . Grant . CBC News . May 23, 2017 . August 31, 2017 .
- News: Coun. Druh Farrell files defence against lawsuit, says it's politically motivated: Terrigno family is suing the local politician, alleging interference in a development proposal . Drew. Anderson . CBC News . June 9, 2017 . August 31, 2017 .
- News: Franklin . Michael . Appeal court dismisses 'unusual case' involving former Calgary city councillor . 10 September 2024 . CTV News . 9 November 2023 . en.
- News: Council approves 14 new neighbourhoods, but experts say plans will worsen sprawl?.
- News: Save Calgary's campaign against city councillors raises questions about 3rd-party electoral laws: What's Save Calgary? It's not easy to find out, and some say that's a problem for democracy . Robson . Fletcher . Drew . Anderson . CBC News . August 28, 2017 . August 31, 2017.
- Web site: About . Save Calgary . nd . August 31, 2017.
- News: Mayor Nenshi, Druh Farrell tell Save Calgary group to 'stop hiding behind anonymity' . Global News . August 29, 2017 . August 31, 2017 . Alyssa . Julie.
