Immigration Checks Stir Conversation at Calgary Worksite

Hey Calgary! A major immigration enforcement action at the Event Centre worksite has sparked a serious community discussion.
​

Yesterday, October 15, 2025, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), backed by the Calgary Police Service, conducted a surprise operation at the site of our new Event Centre construction. This was a planned compliance check under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) aimed at verifying the legal status of workers on site.
​

For many long-term Calgarians, this type of operation feels jarring and unprecedented for our city. Calgary prides itself on its welcoming spirit and its reliance on a diverse workforce that has powered our booming construction and events sectors. But this incident challenges that local comfort zone.
​

While workplace inspections are common in larger cities like Toronto, this marks a new reality for Calgary. Immigration lawyers point to a recent federal trend: the CBSA has been given new funding and hundreds of new enforcement officers, allowing them to ramp up inland operations across the country. This signals a national shift toward stricter enforcement, moving beyond the border and directly into our city’s workplaces.
​

The shock felt by workers on site—including those who are long-time Canadian residents—forces us to confront the delicate balance between maintaining a safe, legal labour market and upholding Calgary's values of openness and community support.
​

This is more than just a bureaucratic check; it’s a moment for Calgarians to reflect on what kind of labour environment we want to foster. As a city built on successive waves of talent, we must stay engaged in the conversation about how federal enforcement actions resonate with our local identity.