When Matt Zabloski turned the corner and looked down at the foyer of Calgary City Hall back in March, 2018, he saw a dozen reporters waiting for him.

“There were about 10 cameras with their lenses trained on an empty space — and I knew I would soon be standing in that space answering questions about bylaws. The information just left my brain,” Zabloski says. That is when he realized his life had changed.

When Zabloski became a civil servant eight years earlier, he expected to be shuffling papers, not leading a newscast. But Calgary’s success in adapting to the legalization of recreational cannabis — and his central role in that development — has made Zabloski a high-profile figure in the city and in the cannabis space.

Alberta has been the most successful province in rolling out cannabis, according to many industry observers. The province has more than 300 retail outlets, even though its population (4.3 million) is less than one-third the size of Ontario’s, which has fewer than 30 stores.

Analysts attribute Alberta’s success to the fact it moved quickly to lay the groundwork for cannabis. It was among the first provinces to unveil a regulatory framework and it adopted a free-market regime, where the opening of retail outlets is driven by demand.

Calgary is the fourth largest Canadian city in terms of population, but it has more licensed cannabis retail stores than any other city in the country. The number stands at 66 and is certain to climb because the city has approved more than 150 other permits.

Although the fourth largest Canadian city, Calgary has more licensed cannabis retail stores than any other city in the country. / Photo: Tetyana Babiy / iStock / Getty Images Plus Tetyana Babiy / iStock / Getty Images Plus

The city isn’t setting a limit on the number of cannabis stores it will approve. “We as a municipality are not looking at a cap,” Zabloski told a broadcaster. “We’ve allowed the market to sort itself out.”

Zabloski has a high profile as the city’s project lead for the legalization of cannabis. But not too long ago, he was an apprentice carpenter who specialized in insurance restoration work.

“I would be replacing baseboards and window casings in a flooded basement one week,” he recalls, “and replacing the hardwood flooring and cabinets in a burnt-out kitchen the next.” After replacing hail-damaged siding when the temperature dropped so low his tools froze, he decided to come in from the cold.

Zabloski started his career as a civil servant in 2010. He worked in the city’s Planning & Development Department before moving on to Calgary Community Standards.

When Justin Trudeau launched his first bid to become prime minister, promising to legalize recreational cannabis, Zabloski took notice. “I remember thinking it might really happen, so I started paying close attention,” says Zabloski, who graduated from the University of Calgary with a degree in international relations in 2007.

“I remember thinking it might really happen, so I started paying close attention.” / Photo: Jose S / iStock / Getty Images Plus Jose S / iStock / Getty Images Plus

When Anne McLellan, leader of the federal task force on cannabis, issued her report on legalization in December 2016, the city started looking into the possible implications. Zabloski was involved from the outset. “We saw legalization coming and felt we needed to act,” he recalls.

By the time Alberta came out with its cannabis framework in November 2017, Zabloski and his colleagues had already done a sizeable amount of research.

“We took a lot of steps to prepare for legalization early on,” he recalls. “For example, in February 2017, we invited a representative from the city of Denver [where recreational cannabis has been legal since 2013] to speak to us about how they adjusted to legalization.”

Matt Zabloski, project lead for the City of Calgary’s cannabis legalization project poses for a photo at his downtown Calgary office. Zabloski spoke about the surge of interest in marijuana retail stores prior to legalization coming into effect in July 2018. Thursday, January 4, 2018. Dean Pilling/Postmedia

Cannabis industry leader Deepak Anand commends Zabloski for getting a head start on the cannabis file, but says that is not the only factor in his success.

Anand met Zabloski at a cannabis conference almost five years ago. “It was clear to me that he wanted to learn as much as possible about the cannabis industry, and he wanted to meet the people who worked in it. He took our industry seriously.”

Anand praises Zabloski and his colleagues for being proactive. As an example, he points to one of the municipality’s cannabis initiatives — the development of a cannabis business hub. It’s a massive industrial park for cannabis companies from across the supply chain.

“I think we embrace that spirit of capitalism and entrepreneurship,” says Zabloski. “I think that has facilitated a lot of growth.”

Zabloski says there is still much work ahead. The city is working to determine the best approach to public consumption of recreational cannabis — at the moment, it can’t be consumed in a public space other than in designated spaces at festivals and events — and it must adjust to the recent legalization of edibles and topicals.