The City of Calgary is putting the familiar phrase ‘children are our future’ into action. This award winning program is a collaboration between The City and other partners, ‘City Hall School’ promotes better understanding of the role of municipal government among students. Classes are held in City Hall School classroom within the Calgary Municipal Building for one week. Using real-life examples, students examine social and environmental issues in greater depth than occurs in regular class or at home. Parents learn alongside the students and teachers, and city staff are able to share their expertise with new audiences. Calgary is going beyond the ‘bricks and mortar’ of community development by investing in its social infrastructure to create a sustainable, vibrant community for the future. Virtually every city business unit has been involved in the program over the past two years, and there is no limit to what students may study:

• environmental issues, which have included waste and recycling, landfill issues, and water treatment;
• the city’s art collection and heritage buildings;
• animals that work for the city – the police canine unit, for example;
• forensics and emergency medical services;
• media;
• geographic information systems and how the city uses technology;
• careers with the city;
• social issues such as population diversity, youth, poverty, homelessness, and affordable housing.