Andrew Yule called it boot camp for city councillors.

Just days after Calgary’s municipal election and before both vote tallies becoming official and the Oct. 29 swearing in, Calgary’s councillors elect were getting up to speed on the job.

It’s part of the required onboarding and orientation program under Section 201.1 of the Municipal Government Act (MGA).

Yule, the councillor-elect for Ward 3, said after doing sign clean-up with volunteers on Wednesday, he got a call from Mayor-elect Jeromy Farkas to join him at the leadership prayer breakfast at the BMO where he said he was bombarded with conversations.

Then, he had coffee with fellow councillor-elect John Pantazopolous at the Good Earth at city hall, as they become more acquainted.

“Then we got off to the races. It’s been since 10:30 I’ve been going from room to room. Each of us had a buddy that was taking us around and showing us different meeting rooms and talking to different important people,” Yule told LWC.

“I’m probably going to have to really digest everything that I just went through. It’s like boot camp for councillors.”

According to the City of Calgary, during the orientation, councillors learn about the role of the municipality, the organization, role and responsibility of both councillors and the city staff, the key municipal plans, policies and projects and public participation.

They also get up to speed on the budgeting and financial administration. The budget will be one of the first major tasks tackled by the new council.

“Administration worked closely with current Council Members to refine the orientation agenda and inform the content, including individual feedback sessions, workshops and public discussions at both Council Services Committee and City Council meetings,” read an email response from the City of Calgary.

“We are looking forward to supporting Calgary’s new Mayor and Council as they prepare for their term and working with them to deliver on the priorities of all Calgarians.”

Humbling to walk through the doors of city hall: Pantazopolous

The incumbent councillors, along with a few of the new city council members, got their onboarding done on Thursday. The remaining candidates will be done in the coming days. Along with beginning to learn how the city works, they got the primary hardware they needed to do the job, and a pass that gives them access to certain parts of the municipal building.

Ward 6 councillor-elect John Pantazopolous said the onboarding was a good introduction.

Councillors had acquired a city-issued laptop, a phone and were shown the location of their offices. A lanyard with his City of Calgary ID hung from his neck. Of course, there’s hiring to do to staff the office, so they also got a crash course through HR to talk about compensation and councillors services as well.

“It was just really humbling, to walk through the doors and when people address you, ‘hello, Mr. councillor-elect, and you’re like, ‘oh my goodness, it’s just so formal. It’s always been, John,’” he told LWC.

“So, just humbling, because you go in there and I get to meet people, and you realize how many people it takes to run the city.”

Pantazopolous said it’s good to do it before being sworn in so the new councillors aren’t uncomfortable.

“Just like in kindergarten, take your kids to school the day before. You just feel comfortable with the hallway. So, it was good,” he said.