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: 4/5 - Active neighborhood watch, low crime rates
Schools: 5/5 - Highly-rated public and separate schools
Housing Market: 4/5 - 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: 4/5 - Shopping, dining, recreation facilities
Diversity: 4/5 - Mix of families, professionals, retirees
Jobs: 4/5 - Local employment centers nearby
Calgary lake home communities are making sure residents can safely enjoy their abundance of unique water amenities. “People have been told to stay home, keep healthy, but not travel – and in your backyard is a lake and its parks – so we needed to get it open,” said Sally Lockhart, general manager of the Mahogany Homeowners Association (HOA). Lake walking trails never closed, and Mahogany’s lake and beaches opened May 23 with stringent safety protocols designed in conjunction with Alberta Health Services (AHS). As Calgary’s largest lake community, where 13,000 residents have access to the 25.5-hectare lake, Mahogany’s online registration system ensures all members (no outside guests allowed) seeking access to beaches and amenities like tennis courts are accommodated. Only one gate (out of 10 total) is open per beach to allow for accurate visitor tracking. To ensure physical distancing is maintained, residents can book a roped-off, 24’ x 50’ beach spot for a three-hour period (three sessions/day) with three cohort families (up to 15 residents) allowed per space. “WE WOULD HATE TO EVER GET OUR LAKE CLOSED – THAT’S WHY PEOPLE MOVED HERE.” – MIKE MIKKELSON, LAKE BONAVISTA HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT Lockhart says this ensures 3,000 residents per day can use the beaches, about the same number as before the pandemic. Members bring their own equipment (tennis rackets, balls, life jackets, etc.) and no food is allowed (barbecues aren’t available) except snacks for children. Playgrounds and washrooms, which are cleaned every half hour, are open, and table seats, poles and shades are disinfected after each beach session. Rental space in the 25,000-square-foot club facility could also become available (following AHS restrictions) in several weeks for residents only. Mike Mikkelson, Lake Bonavista Homeowners Association president, says his community’s lake walking areas also never closed, with residents seeking safe outdoor exercise limited to the trails. The Lake Bonavista HOA board has closely followed provincial health guidelines to ensure they can keep the lake open for residents. “We would hate to ever get our lake closed – that’s why people moved here,” said Mikkelson. Entry is limited to the north gate and amenities are now 95 per cent open to residents. However, rental equipment (boats, lifejackets, etc.) is not available. Outdoor fitness equipment, tennis and pickleball courts, and volleyball and hockey nets are open, but use is mainly restricted to members of the same household. Residents must set up their towels and chairs on the expansive grassy areas around the beach, to ensure physical distancing can be maintained on the sand and lake. Outside guests – who have represented up to half of beachgoers in past years – aren’t permitted. COVID-19 safety guidelines are displayed on signs posted throughout Lake Bonavista, with additional updates appearing regularly on the HOA’s website and Facebook page.