Jeromy Farkas, 39, has been sworn in as Calgary's 38th mayor, marking a new chapter for the city. He took office this week alongside 14 city councillors, 10 of whom are newcomers. Farkas's election continues a trend in Calgary of young mayors, following in the footsteps of former mayors Dave Bronconnier and Naheed Nenshi, who were both 39 and 38, respectively, when they took office. Nenshi made history in 2010 as the first Muslim mayor of a major North American city, while Jyoti Gondek became the first female mayor in 2021. Farkas is also notable for being Calgary's first openly LGBTQ mayor. Farkas's swearing-in ceremony was emotional, according to his team, and he won the election by a narrow margin of 616 votes over former city councillor Sonya Sharp. Gondek, the incumbent, finished third, marking the first time since 1980 that a sitting mayor failed to win re-election. In his first hours as mayor, Farkas expressed enthusiasm for his new role, despite the challenges ahead. He is currently focused on onboarding with the new council and preparing for the city’s 2026 budget, which must be approved by the end of November. Farkas has indicated that he is open to various options to reduce tax increases proposed by the previous council. The new council is expected to face significant challenges, particularly regarding housing policies. Farkas ran as an independent in Calgary's first municipal election under new provincial rules that allow party alignment. He may find himself as a key vote on contentious issues, such as blanket rezoning, which ties federal housing funding to higher density developments. Farkas acknowledged the divisions within the council, stating, "You have a new council, with those on the right wanting removal of blanket rezoning and those on the left opposed to change." He believes there is a consensus among Calgarians that the current blanket rezoning approach has not effectively delivered affordable housing. He elaborated, "You’ll see $600,000 bungalows being torn down, replaced with four $750,000 luxury condos, and that hasn’t delivered housing that’s affordable." Farkas emphasized the need for a more targeted approach to housing development, particularly in relation to federal funding. As Calgary anticipates significant population growth, Farkas is aware of the challenges this presents. Premier Danielle Smith has projected that Alberta could reach a population of 10 million by 2050, with a substantial portion of that growth occurring in Calgary. Farkas stated, "Our council, and me as mayor, we are going to be here to welcome the two millionth Calgarian," acknowledging the public's concerns about the strain on housing and infrastructure. He also highlighted the importance of ensuring that all Calgarians have access to safe and affordable living conditions. Recent statistics show a dramatic increase in the net international migration of school-aged children to Alberta, which has implications for local schools and services. Farkas's leadership will be closely watched as he navigates these complex issues. He remains optimistic, stating, "It’s a great place to be, because, like our city and me personally, I’m now old enough to know and still young enough to do."