Overdose calls spike 143% as downtown Calgary businesses shutter and staff strain

Calgary firefighters responded to nearly 6,000 overdose calls between January and July 2026—a 143% increase from the same period last year. By July alone, crews were answering as many as 35 calls per day.

Wards 7 and 8, which cover downtown and the Beltline, are seeing the highest concentration. The spike is straining both first-responder resources and the mental and physical health of firefighters working the calls.

The crisis is emptying downtown businesses. Fauzi Salem, who operates Falafel King on Stephen Avenue, said his revenue dropped about 70%. "They go, 'Oh, we're scared to go outside. They stay in the Plus-15,'" Salem said of his customers. "This is the heart of downtown Calgary. They have to support small businesses. They have to do something."

Pedro Parada, a food-truck operator, said he now avoids Stephen Avenue unless working a specific event. "We see people bent over, just under the influence of drugs, and it's not appealing for a business owner to be next to that," he said.

The Calgary Firefighters Association attributes the spike to changes in the drug supply and the growing pains of a city approaching two million residents. "Any time you increase any type of call 143 per cent, it certainly puts a strain on resources," said Jamie Blayney, the association's president.

Ward 7 Coun. Myke Atkinson says the province must take responsibility for addiction and mental-health supports. The Sheldon Chumir supervised consumption site closed without a clear transition plan. "It's not having good outcomes," Atkinson said of recent provincial decisions. City administration and the provincial government have not yet provided a statement on overdose response or business support measures.