These were some of Calgary's best April Fools' Day pranks

Nude skating at West Hillhurst Arena (Reddit)

Love it or hate it, April Fools’ Day has become a minefield of misinformation on the internet, from effortless plugs by brands just trying to get their product some eyes to genuinely chuckle-worthy takes that poke fun in just the right way.

There were quite a few Calgary-specific fools floating around the web this April Fools’ Day, so we decided to put a list together of our favourites — both to highlight the hilariousness and to act as something of a PSA in case you fell for the tricky tales.

Pay Swoop an extra 10 cents to recline your airplane seat

Swoop, the ultra-low-cost airline operating flights out of Edmonton, introduced their Recline for a Dime initiative, which would allow flyers to recline their seats in 10-degree implements for every dime they paid.

“Lie-flat luxury seating seems to be all the rage these days,” said Steven Greenway, President of Swoop, in the April 1 release.

“Our travellers now have the option for a premium experience without breaking the bank. It’s a pivotal moment in the world of ultra-low-cost travel and only the beginning for product innovation at Swoop.”

City Councillor pitches Calgary Tower Expansion plan

According to LiveWire Calgary, Councillor Evan Wooley is hoping to give Calgary’s iconic tower a boost, adding 275 metres to make it the tallest tower in the city.

“I remember going up the Calgary Tower as a child, thinking it was so tall and majestic,” said Woolley in the article. “It saddens me to think that we’re losing our heritage by usurping the Tower’s status. I’m thrilled about the new plans for the Tower and really looking forward to being able to see my house from the elevated observation deck.”

The article included a fake council motion, technical drawings of an extended tower, and a chart showing just how the landmark would measure up against the other YYC skyscrapers.

Tonight is Adult Nude Skate Night at West Hillhurst Arena

Nude skating at West Hillhurst Arena (Reddit)

The West Hillhurst Community Association has erected a rather cheeky sign outside of their rink advertising a Nude Skating Night.

Likely making reference to the controversy that surrounded Calgary Southland Leisure Centre’s naked wave pool and water slide night from last year, the sign was posted to the Calgary subreddit.

The number one concern from Reddit users was, apparently, what the helmet policy would be.

NDP introduces Buck-a-Bucha to their campaign platform

Apparently taking inspiration from Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s very real ‘buck a beer’ promise, Rachel Notley issued a release on April 1 promising that “no Albertan would be excluded from the benefits of kombucha (‘bucha) consumption.”

According to the release, the NDP would make the beverage accessible to all Albertans, and, in a very sincere dig on her opponent, Jason Kenney, stated that “Under a Jason Kenney government, kombucha will only truly be accessible to the top 1%.”

Calgary Police Service to add additional crime-fighting animals to force

We’ve had huge success using animals to fight crime in #Calgary. Thanks to our partners at @CalgaryHumane, we’ve been testing out how we can use even more species. The results speak for themselves. Have a look to see what we’ve been up to… #yyc pic.twitter.com/4lohKX662y

— Calgary Police (@CalgaryPolice) April 1, 2019

The Calgary Police Service announced in an April 1 Twitter video that they would be implementing the Critter Unit Tactical Enforcement (CUTE), which would see reptiles, cats, and guinea pigs used alongside the K9 unit to fight crimes.

While the video ended by explicitly stating that is was an April Fools’ Day joke, CPS also put out a very real call to adopt from the Calgary Humane Society “so we don’t.”

Polar vortex insurance available from Alberta Motor Association

Following Alberta’s recent record-breakingly cold winter, the Alberta Motor Association has decided to offer “Polar Vortex Insurance” — promising that, if the temperature remains under 25°C for 14 consecutive days, they will send you to a tropical destination.

“Albertans, like polar bears and the House of Stark, are built for extreme cold. But research shows there’s only so much the human psyche can take,” said Dee D’uctibulle, AMAIC Director of Claims, in a release. “That’s why we created Polar Vortex Insurance: to put the win back in winter.”

Also included in their April 1 video was a drone that can deliver auto parts to you in remote destinations, a phone case that will shock you if you’re trying to distract yourself while driving, and self-ageing passport photos.

$5.1 billion casino resort proposed for downtown Calgary

Preliminary artistic rendering of MGM Grand Calgary for depiction purposes only. Not the final design. (MGM)

MGM Resorts International is looking into building a 22-acre casino resort just south of Fort Calgary.

Creating 8,000 jobs and injecting at least $90 million in annual revenue into the city, the resort would be used during the Calgary Stampede and include a 2,000 seat seasonal patio alongside a new NHL arena.

While the massive development would add some flash to Calgary’s skyline, the proposed casino is, unfortunately, too good to be true.