The Winston Heights–Mountview Community Association is exploring the idea of a Community Chicken Coop Pilot, a small, centrally managed project focused on local food resilience, education, and community engagement.
This proposed pilot would involve a shared chicken coop located on community-owned green space near the North Hall. Unlike private backyard hens, this would be a community-led and governed model, similar in spirit to a community garden. The goal is not only local egg production, but also hands-on learning about urban agriculture, animal welfare, composting, and climate-ready food systems.
The project is being designed to meet or exceed the standards of Calgary’s Urban Hen Program, including requirements for animal care, biosecurity, sanitation, winterization, ventilation, and responsible operation. A dedicated Community Chicken Committee would oversee governance, operations, volunteer coordination, and reporting to ensure accountability and continuity over time.
Education is a core component of the proposal. While urban hen training is currently available online, there are limited opportunities for urban-specific, hands-on learning within the city. A community coop could provide practical workshops for adults interested in keeping their own hens, as well as age-appropriate learning opportunities for children to better understand food systems, animal care, and sustainability. Composting of manure and bedding would integrate with the existing community garden, reinforcing circular resource use and sustainable land practices.
This initiative is still in the early exploratory stage. The association has begun outreach with multiple levels of government and has submitted an application to the City’s Communities Climate-Ready YYC Large Grant to support a time-limited pilot. No final decisions have been made, and no construction or livestock plans are approved at this time.
Before moving further, the association wants to hear directly from the community. We are looking to understand:
• Level of community interest and support
• Willingness to participate in a committee or volunteer roles
• Interest in training or educational programming
• Questions or concerns that should be considered early
Community feedback will help determine whether the project is feasible and how it should be shaped if it moves forward.
Residents and interested community members are encouraged to share their thoughts by completing a short interest and feedback form at: winstonheights.ca/chickens
This link will eventually host more detailed project information, but for now it redirects directly to the feedback form.
If you have questions or would like to share ideas outside of the form, you can also reach us at:
Thank you for helping shape how food resilience, education, and sustainability can grow in Winston Heights–Mountview.
Jile Meyn
Board Secretary & Communications Lead
Winston Heights Mountview Community Association
