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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Quick Calgary Answers
Safety: 5/5 - 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: 5/5 - Parks, playgrounds, community events
Amenities: 5/5 - Shopping, dining, recreation facilities
Diversity: 5/5 - Mix of families, professionals, retirees
Jobs: 5/5 - Local employment centers nearby
Calgary has done much in recent years to counter the perception that it is dependent on the oil and gas industry. The city is becoming a more attractive option for investors and families due to its recent efforts toward diversification. Calgary is well-positioned for the next era of prosperity, thanks to recent gains made in Information Technology. Amazon recently announced it would open a cloud computing center near Calgary, which will attract billions in investment. It follows Mphasis, Infosys and other large tech companies that have established themselves within the city. Additionally, the city plans to expand in areas such as agribusiness, creative industry, and financial services. Natasha Phipps is a prominent local realtor who founded the Phipps Real Estate Group. We talked to her about diversification and what it might mean for Calgary residents and investors. “The diversification of Calgary is something that has been needed for a very long time,”Phipps said. “The benefit of diversifying is firstly, more stability. Real estate has seen the Calgary and Alberta markets as very volatile. The hope is that diversification can bring more consistency to the market.“ Although Calgary is crucial for attracting new industries, there are many benefits that could make Calgary a more attractive choice. Phipps points out the large amount of space available for office and industrial property that Vancouver has struggled to provide. Phipps also highlights the “very attractive workforce”In the city that is ready for the challenge of a shifting economic system “We’re a very young and well-educated city, with an entrepreneurial spirit. That combined with Alberta’s tax advantages makes Calgary a great home for many blooming businesses.” For Canadian’s attracted to Calgary by one of its emerging sectors, there is even better news in the area of affordability. Calgary has some of the lowest home prices of any major city. However, the province also boasts some of the highest household incomes. With all the modern amenities you would expect from major cities, but at much lower prices, Calgary has it all. “Particularly for people buying their first home, they’ve been priced out of other markets. Even if you’re a retiree, you want your money to go further. So Alberta is a very attractive market for that fact alone. You can get into a single-family house here for the price of a two-bedroom condo in other major cities.” In November 2021 the benchmark price of a condo in Vancouver was $752,800. This is significantly more than the price for a Calgary detached house, which was $542,600. Home buyers are not unaware of this disparity: Stats Canada reports that over 33,000 people moved to Alberta from Ontario and BC last year. Speaking on Calgary’s appeal to real estate investors, Phipps said that when it comes to the major economic indicators that investors look for, such as GDP and population growth, employment opportunities and infrastructure improvements, Calgary is checking all the boxes. “And you get a great renter profile here because you’re getting people who have good well-paying jobs and who are looking to get settled in Calgary but are not necessarily in a position to be able to buy. Plus, you can actually obtain positive cash flow here, which is becoming harder and harder to do in the Canadian real estate market.” Phipps claims that Calgary’s suburbs include the following: “sweet spot”Cash flow can be achieved in multiple property types, including detached houses, duplexes and multiplexes. “Another sector that has started to become interesting here again, in my opinion, is pre-sale condos. While pre-sale condos work well in an appreciation market, the Calgary condo market has been flat to negative for the past five to ten year. The tide is turning now. “So we’re starting to see presale condo construction projects make sense again. In these new developments, you can get that passive appreciation over the next four to five years while it’s being built and then have a really nice investment property at the end of that time as well.” Phipps is optimistic about Calgary’s future and expects continued market performance. Get in touch Natasha Phipps at the Phipps Real Estate Group site or join the discussion on Calgary Real Estate Investing’s Facebook page. Source: Canadian Real Estate Magazine