Calgary Community Reviews & Ratings
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Calgary, Alberta City Overview
Discover Calgary, a vibrant and dynamic city nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. As the largest city in Alberta, Calgary offers an exceptional quality of life with a strong economy, diverse culture, world-class recreation, and a breathtaking natural setting. Explore everything you need to know about living, working, and playing in this remarkable city. Click any question below to expand the answer.
Calgary is a world-class city known for its stunning proximity to the Rocky Mountains, vibrant economy, and exceptional quality of life. It is a gathering place for Calgarians and visitors alike, with a dynamic downtown core and beautiful natural surroundings . The city is served by three levels of government that work together to support the community, with the City of Calgary overseeing municipal services including water, waste, recycling, fire and public safety, parks, public transportation, and infrastructure .
Key Links: City of Calgary Official Website | Our Local Government
The City of Calgary offers several ways to get in touch with the municipal government for information, services, and support .
Contact Information:
- Phone: 311 or 403-268-CITY (2489)
- TTY: 403-268-4889
- Fax: 403-538-6111
- Email: engage@calgary.ca
- Website: www.calgary.ca
- Address: City Hall and Municipal Complex, 800 Macleod Trail SE, Calgary, Alberta T2P 2M5
Key Links: City of Calgary Website
The City of Calgary provides web tools and resources to help property and business owners access and review annual assessment information through the Assessment Search portal .
Key Links: City Online - Assessment Search
Calgary offers an incredible range of parks, recreational facilities, and programs to support active, creative, and connected living . The City of Calgary offers registered programs, drop-in activities, facility rentals, and passes for a wide variety of interests .
Recreation Programs & Services:
- Registered Programs: Fitness, arts, dance, certifications, day camps, swimming lessons, and seasonal programs .
- Drop-in Activities: Flexible activities designed to fit your busy schedule at recreation facilities across the city .
- Adaptive Programs: Programs designed to create a sense of belonging for individuals of diverse abilities .
- Facility Rentals: Indoor and outdoor facilities available for rent at affordable rates .
Parks & Outdoor Spaces:
- Parks: Green spaces for relaxation and recreation in every community .
- Off-Leash Areas: Designated parks for dogs to exercise and socialize .
- Pathways: An extensive network providing scenic routes for biking, walking, and rolling amidst natural beauty .
- Devonian Gardens: An urban oasis with botanical gardens, a living wall, and a playground .
- Athletic Parks: 13 athletic parks for sports and competitions .
Key Links: Parks and Recreation Home | Live and Play - Register for Programs
The City of Calgary offers several online resources including an Open Data Portal to facilitate sharing of information, spark innovative ideas, and foster collaboration among citizens .
City Online Resources:
- Open Data Portal: Access to City of Calgary datasets .
- Assessment Search: Property and business assessment information .
- Live and Play: Recreation program registration, drop-in schedules, and facility bookings .
- City Online: B2B and other online city services .
Key Links: City Online
Calgary's City Council approved the 2026 Budget with a focus on affordability and essential services, reducing the proposed property tax increase while investing in public safety, transit, infrastructure, and housing .
Budget Highlights:
- Tax Increase: Reduced from proposed 3.6% to 1.6% for existing residential properties .
- Tax Shift: The previously approved 1% tax shift from non-residential to residential properties was cancelled for 2026 .
- Affordability Measures: Use of $50 million in investment income to lower tax revenue while keeping reserves strong .
- Typical Residential Tax Impact: Estimated increase of 1.6% or $4.50 per month .
- Utility Rates: 3.9% increase or $5.29 per month for typical metered residential customers .
- Targeted Spending: $514 million in public safety, transit, infrastructure, and housing .
Key Links: 2026 Budget News Release
Calgary offers a comprehensive network of community support services to assist residents with housing, food access, and other social needs .
Community Support Resources:
- Access to Food: A Calgary community food map and list of food resources across the city, including low and no-cost options .
- 211 Alberta: A 24/7 helpline to connect with community, health, social, and government services. Call or text 211, or visit ab.211.ca .
- Inform Alberta: A directory to find additional information about community, health, social, and government services across the province .
Key Links: Access to Food Resources | 211 Alberta
Calgary is committed to public safety through initiatives like Community Court, which connects vulnerable individuals with support services as an alternative to punitive sanctions for minor bylaw infractions .
Community Court:
- Purpose: A diversion-style court connecting people experiencing homelessness, poverty, addiction, or trauma to supports like healthcare, food banks, and identification .
- Partners: Calgary police, bylaw, transit, Alberta Justice, and the social services sector .
- Outcomes: Since launching in 2024, approximately 1,000 people have been connected to supports, with graduates sustaining housing, employment, and sobriety .
- Expansion: City council approved a $2.7-million addition to expand the program from monthly to weekly .
Key Links: City of Calgary Public Safety
Calgary Ratings
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Community Resources
All Calgary reviews are verified manually to maintain integrity of the data on our Calgary community reviews network. We authenticate each submission as best we can to ensure genuine feedback about living in the community. Ratings are based on experiences may change over time updated every 10 minutes as an information resource.
Quick Calgary Answers
Safety: 3/5 - Active neighborhood watch, low crime rates
Schools: 5/5 - Highly-rated public and separate schools
Housing Market: 5/5 - Diverse options from entry-level to luxury
Commute: 5/5 - 25-35 min to downtown, multiple transit options
Family-Friendly: 4/5 - Parks, playgrounds, community events
Amenities: 5/5 - Shopping, dining, recreation facilities
Diversity: 4/5 - Mix of families, professionals, retirees
Jobs: 5/5 - Local employment centers nearby
The Calgary Stampede is the city’s most well-known event, attracting over a million visitors with its 10-day line-up of rodeos, music and agricultural displays. Cheer with the crowd for the displays of horsemanship in the chuck wagon derby and hold your breath at the competitive bareback bull riding. When the stampede’s not in town, you can still see animal life at the Calgary Zoo where you’ll be immersed in habitats from Canada and beyond, as well as from the past! The zoo features a Prehistoric Park, where life-size replicas of dinosaurs roam through ancient landscapes. In the Drumheller Valley, around 85 miles (135 kilometers) from Calgary, you’ll find the fossils these replicas are based on at the Royal Tyrrell Museum. If you’re visiting in winter, there’s plenty of skiing, snowboarding, bobsledding and ice skating on offer at Canada Olympic Park. If you’re an indoor type, check out the art galleries south of downtown on Stephen Avenue and the Glenbow Museum downtown. In the evening, head to downtown Jubilee Auditorium for a Broadway musical, an opera or a ballet. Or, try one of the multicultural restaurants across the Bow River at 17th Avenue Southeast, also known as International Avenue. Here you’ll find diverse flavors from Ethiopia, Portugal, Vietnam, India, the Philippines, Hong Kong and more. Foodies will love the gourmet tours of this area!