[9] Nenshi worked for McKinsey & Company for several years before starting his own consulting firm 'Ascend Group' which advised non-profit, private and public sector organizations.
[17] He was an instructor in non-profit management in the Bissett School of Business at Mount Royal University and wrote a regular municipal affairs column for the Calgary Herald.
specialist Richard Einarson, the name "Purple Revolution" was chosen because the campaign wanted broad appeal across the socio-economic spectrum of liberal red and conservative blue voters.
[19] A late September poll showed that his campaign was generating interest as he sat third with eight per cent support, although well behind the leaders, alderman Ric McIver (42%) and local media personality Barb Higgins (28%).
[21] Days before the election, a Calgary Herald poll showed that Nenshi's grassroots campaign continued to gain momentum as he had 30 per cent support among decided voters, placing him in a statistical tie with McIver and Higgins.
The group however believed developers should pay slightly increased taxes as long as inner city communities equally also contribute their share of growth costs.
[29] In October 2013, Nenshi and Councillors Andre Chabot and Gian-Carlo Carra proposed to realize a 2008 plan by then-Mayor Dave Bronconnier to redevelop International Avenue (17th Ave SE) as a vital transportation hub.
The city operates non-tax non-profit corporation, 'Attainable Homes' which partners up businesses to help provide for impoverished Calgarian families.
Wenzel stated that his reputation was tarnished and that he was vilified as a subject of political opportunism during Nenshi and his allied counselor's platform campaigning.
Nenshi in an interview with David Gray, host of CBC Radio's Calgary Eyeopener, described the meeting as a scene from the film The Godfather.
[57] Soon after assuming the office, Nenshi's council implemented many developments to revitalize Calgary's viability with capital infrastructure projects, such as redevelopment of the East Village neighbourhood with the New Central Library and the National Music Centre.
[73] In 2011, in the wake of Holden's resignation, Nenshi's council and Enmax's board implemented reforms such as decreasing the salaries of senior staff, and a higher meritorious standard for bonuses.
Enmax hired new management and a new CEO Gianna Manes, who is experienced in mass project completion such as the Shepard Energy Centre for which Holden advocated.
[74][75] In 2011, Nenshi performed the ground breaking ceremony for Enmax's Shepard Energy Centre, a natural gas power plant capable of generating 800MW, more than half the electrical needs of Calgary.
To address the problem of congestion of rush hour ridership, the city is upgrading busy C-train platforms to accommodate four-car trains.
[87] Nenshi sought the advice of Calgarians for further feedback and ideas of how to make city services easier to access in 2012 for its third phase of cutting red tape.
[90] In summer 2016, the city officially voted in favour of funding $5 million to the Calgary Bid Exploration Committee to report about the economic viability of hosting the 2026 Olympics.
[103] The likeness of Nenshi wearing Scuba gear, was designed by Calgarian artist "Mandy Stobo" on T-shirts, to raise relief funds for the Red Cross.
[108] Towards the end of first Nenshi's term, the Manning Centre published a study entitled "Growing the Democratic Toolbox: city council vote tracking" by Jeromy Farkas.
[112] As Calgary grew into a metropolis with challenging needs the city experienced typical increased incremental costs of living such as rises in property taxes.
Nenshi disfavours property tax as being archaic and unable to effectively collect revenue for capital civil works such as upgrading transportation.
[124] Nenshi and his Edmontonian mayor counterparts Stephen Mandel and Don Iveson have been negotiating with the Alberta government to enact a city charter.
A debate was held in May 2013 and offered five options: return the money to Calgarians as a rebate, invest in revitalizing older neighborhoods, improve Calgary Transit, reduction in taxes for businesses, and reducing the city's debt.
[137] Soon after winning the 2013 mayoral elections in October, for the two weeks duration of the 2014 Winter Olympics, Nenshi decided that city hall would fly the rainbow gay pride flag to protest the anti-gay stance of the Russian government.
The Federal, Provincial, and Municipal governing bodies of Canada began the dialog intended to redress the historical deficits and misgivings caused by centuries of abusive political inequalities.
[144] However, according to an interview with the Calgary Eye Opener of the CBC News, Councillor Ward Sutherland explained that the titular "wild party" that Farrell referenced in her accusations occurred during the Christmas of 2007, years before Nenshi's current sitting council.
[147][148][149] To address the challenges of evolving into metropolises Nenshi and former Edmonton mayor Stephen Mandel negotiated a memorandum of understanding with the Alberta government.
[150] This motion will enable both mayors to work with the provincial government to draft city charters, effectively articulating the powers and responsibilities the municipalities have to deal with unique issues of development such as taxation.
[160] Nenshi and two other Canadian delegates won a Young Leader award by the World Economic Forum in 2011 for his innovative ideas of urban planning.
[162] Nenshi was ranked second most important person in Canada, next to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, by Maclean's magazine 50 top Canadians list for 2013.