“It is my pledge and personal guiding philosophy to ensure public safety and welfare while practicing integrity, honesty, and fairness.“
Meet John
FOR WARD 2
Real Leadership for Real Results
I’m John Garden, Ward 2 Councillor candidate for the 2025 Calgary Civic Election, and a professional engineer who takes my obligation seriously. Through my designation, I am bound by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta’s (APEGA) oath and code of ethics. It is my pledge and personal guiding philosophy to ensure public safety and welfare while practicing integrity, honesty, and fairness.
It is with those guiding values that I seek to humbly serve the residents of Calgary’s Ward 2 and to act as a champion for my constituents and for all Calgarians. I want to represent Ward 2 in the Calgary Council Chambers to address your concerns and bring forth your solutions.
While the election is still several months away, I’ve been knocking on doors and speaking to residents of Ward 2. I hear you. I hear stories about safety concerns for commuters on public transit. I hear concerns about out-of-control tax increases. I hear concerns about Calgary’s aging infrastructure.
While I may not have all the answers yet, you have my word that I will work tirelessly and collaboratively to find solutions to these pressing issues. I will listen when you speak, and I will reflect the will of Ward 2 through constructive and solution-focused dialogue.
A vote for John Garden is a vote for Back to Basics and Real Leadership for Real Results in Ward 2.
Please read my platform for more details about what I will do for Calgary.
How I Got Here
My wife Linda and I are long-term residents of Morningside in Citadel (26+ years), having raised two children, now young adults, who attended local public schools and participated in Ward 2 community and school sports.
My career has spanned 45 years of comprehensive hands-on field experience in the oil and gas industry, starting in 1978 as a truck driver in Nisku. My field experience provides me with a practical approach to problem-solving and how teamwork is necessary for successful operations.
As a lifelong learner, I returned to school in 1988 as a mature student, earning a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Calgary. I then worked in downtown Calgary before founding a successful consulting engineering firm specializing in oil and gas, managing operations across Western Canada and internationally. I am proud of my firm and the success we had as a team, working with multidisciplinary teams of geologists, engineers, finance, and executives, overseeing and adhering to budgets in the hundreds of millions of dollars, on time and on budget.
Field experience in such a dynamic atmosphere taught me to make quick, qualified decisions, and to listen and learn from everyone. I learned to balance decisions when conditions changed and to change my view of what was needed for successful execution.
The success of my firm was based on sound financial decisions for money that was not my own. I was accountable for highly complex and expensive operations in Canada, the United States, Ukraine, and Albania.
I take responsibility for my decisions and actions.
I have extensive experience in both the public and private sector, having been a director and CEO of public oil and gas companies. Success in these roles hinged largely on governance and accountability for shareholders and stakeholders, ensuring everyone is protected in a fair and equitable manner.
I have worked as a mentor to engineering students at the University of Calgary and SAIT. I have taught as an instructor for SAIT’s Petroleum Technology program. Giving back and helping others reach their full potential is foundational to who I am.
