Richard Pootmans

Richard Pootmans is a Canadian politician who served as the councillor for Ward 6 on the Calgary City Council. Pootmans initially served two terms from 2010 to 2017 before a one-term hiatus during which he co-founded a consultancy. He returned to council following the 2021 municipal election.^[2] Pootmans resigned from his position on November 26, 2024, citing "personal and family reasons," less than a year from the 2025 Calgary municipal election.^[3]

Richard Pootmans
City of Calgary Councillor
In office October 18, 2010 – October 16, 2017
Preceded by	Joe Connelly
Succeeded by	Jeff Davison
Constituency	Ward 6
City of Calgary Councillor
In office October 25, 2021 – November 26, 2024
Preceded by	Jeff Davison
Succeeded by	TBD
Constituency	Ward 6
Personal details
Spouse	Frances Wright
Residence	Signal Hill
Alma mater	University of Calgary Mount Royal University Carleton University[1]
Website	http://www.calgary.ca/councillors/ward-6/Pages/Ward-6.aspx

Early life

Richard Pootmans was born in 1956.

Education

Lisgar Collegiate (Ottawa) Class of 1974

Carleton University (Ottawa) Class of 1979

Mount Royal University (Petroleum Land Management) Class of 1979

University of Calgary (MBA) 1996

Awards

Pootmans was the 2009 recipient of the Economic Development Alberta Economic Developer of the Year.^[1]

Career before politics

Pootmans was a founding member of the 17th Ave Business Improvement Area (BIA), which became the first BIA established in Calgary on September 18, 1984. Pootmans was a business owner on the business corridor at the time, and advocated for investment in the "deteriorating streetscape" as competition with Chinook Centre and the then-unfinished Eau Claire Market loomed.^[4]

Prior to being elected in 2010, Pootmans taught as an instructor for 5 years at the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary. He was Senior Business Development Manager, Real Estate – Calgary Economic Development, Financial Analyst; Vice President, Installations – SMED International, Consultant; Financial management, business strategy – TractionWorks, Co-owner – PORTS International stores, Calgary, and worked as a Landman – Hudson's Bay Oil and Gas Company, Dome Petroleum.^[1]

Electoral record

2010 municipal election

Pootmans was first elected to serve Ward 6 in the 2010 election, taking 31% of the votes in a field of 10 candidates.^[5]

2013 municipal election

Pootmans was reelected in the 2013 election by capturing 51% of the votes.^[6]

2021 municipal election

After a four-year hiatus from politics, Pootmans sought election in Ward 6 during the 2021 municipal election. His successor, Jeff Davison, did not run for council, instead seeking the mayoralty. Pootmans won with 48% of the vote on October 18.^[7]