Recently Calgary politicians, business, education and community leaders have been lamenting that all of the negative talk about Calgary’s future is causing the city’s young people to move away - looking for better opportunities. Further, some are thinking all the negative media about Calgary is also keeping young people from across Canada and around the world from moving to the city.

While Calgary has been caught in a negative vortex for the past 6+ years as a result of the decline of the oil and gas industries that dominate our downtown economic engine, the city still has a strong economy for a city its size. Let’s have a look.

Calgary has numerous murals that celebrate the city’s diversity and strong sense of community.

Calgary is a young, smart city that is continuing to grow and evolve.

Calgary continues to grow

Yes, Calgary is not as robust as it was 6 years ago, but on a per capita basis our current economy is on par or higher than most cities its size. The problem is we are used to competing with cities two or three times the size of Calgary. It might surprise people to know Calgary has the second largest concentration of small businesses (under 50 employees) in Canada.

Calgary is more than its big downtown corporate oil companies.

It might also surprise some that 8 of the top 10 World Banks and 8 of the top 10 Investment Banks have a presence in Calgary. Calgary is the financial headquarters of western Canada, making it an ideal place for Fintech startups.

Despite the downturn in the energy sector, Calgary’s populations has continued to grow at a healthy pace over the past four years. And in the past year Calgary grew faster than Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal. And even though downtown office vacancy rates are at a record high, the residential population of the downtown and City Centre continues to increase. And when it comes to attracting new immigrants Calgary welcomed 19,625 or 1.3% of its population in 2019 (a 1% level of immigration is considered healthy).

FYI: Calgarians still have a median household income of $102,570, the highest of Canada’s major cities. And, Calgarians can boast the highest per capita GDP of any major city in Canada at $83,607, far surpassing Toronto ($59,458), Vancouver ($56,417), Ottawa ($55,680) and Montreal ($46,606). Calgary has the highest employment participation rate of any major Canadian City at 73%. (source: Calgary Economic Development).

Calgary has always been a place for positive people who want to work hard, play hard and get ahead.

I have been accused in the past by some as being too optimistic, too pro Calgary and too much of a Calgary cheerleader. I think what Calgary needs today are more cheerleaders and less doomsayers.

So I have come up with my top 10 reasons why Calgarians should be more optimistic about Calgary’s future.

#1. Livability

Calgary continues to be ranked by outsiders as one of the most livable cities in the world, and has been consistently for 10+ years. In fact, Calgary is often the most livable city in North America – not Vancouver, Austin, Seattle, Nashville, Toronto or Montreal.

Link: Is Calgary REALLY one of the most livable cities in the world?

Link: It takes a lot of different villages to create a healthy city.

Link: Calgary vs Vancouver: Affordability & Quality of Life

Or you can live in one of Calgary’s many lake communities and still be less than 30 minutes from downtown.

#2 Tech Hub

Calgary may not be the fastest growing tech hub in the world, but it is definitely making great strides. Recent developments at Platform Calgary, SAIT School of Digital Tech, Creative Destructive Labs – Rockies, as well as the University of Calgary’s announcement of creating an Innovation Quarter are all evidence Calgary is serious about becoming a tech hub.

In December 2020, Benevity landed a $1.1-billion USD deal with Hg Capital LLB - a British private equity firm. Another global rising star is Symend, which has quintupled its work force to 250 employees in the past 13 months and plans to double this year.

Most recently Northern RNA Inc and Providence Therapeutics both based in Caglary have partnered to produce the first made-in-Canada COVID-19 vaccine and has inked a deal with Manitoba government to supply the province with the vaccine.

#3 Diversity

While Calgary, like all cities, has lots of room for improvement when it comes to being more tolerant, it is Canada’s third most ethnically diverse city, with over 120 languages spoken. Calgary is a very welcoming city with over 160 community associations representing 200+ neighbourhoods. It is home to several major community parades - Pride Parade, Nagar Kirtan Parade and Parade of Wonders. It is also home to a diversity of festivals – Afrika Days, Fiestaval Latino, Turkish Festival, Chinatown Street, Arab Film, Fairy Tales Queer Film.

Live: Calgary: Parades Celebrate Cowtown’s Cosmopolitan Culture

#4 Healthcare

With the opening of the Calgary Cancer Centre in 2023, Calgary will have three modern health science centres – South Health Campus and Alberta Children’s Hospital being the other two. The Cumming School of Medicine is ranked 150th in the world, and the University of Calgary is a leader in Life Science research. The Foothill Medical Centre campus has one of the biggest concentrations of medical facilities in Canada.

Alberta Children’s Hospital was designed with input from children, hence its funky Lego-like design.

Calgary’s new Cancer Centre will enhance Calgary’s reputation as a centre for health and wellness research.

#5 Education

Calgary has a very robust education system that includes both a Public and Catholic School system, as well as a diversity of private and charter schools. The city is also home to six post-secondary schools – Alberta University of the Arts, Bow Valley College, Mount Royal University, University of Calgary, Southern Alberta Instituted of Technology (SAIT), and St. Mary’s University.

The Foothills Medical Centre, Alberta Children’s Hospital and South Health Campus are all teaching hospitals. The Cumming School of Medicine is home to several medical institutes.

McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health
Hotchkiss Brain Institute
Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation
Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute for Child and Maternal Health (ACHRI)
Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta
Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute
O’Brien Institute for Public Health

The University of Calgary is currently Canada’s fastest growing research university. It is home to several leading edge schools including Creative Destructive Lab – Rockies, Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, and Trico Foundation Social Entrepreneurship. Further, the University’s faculty of Kinesiology is ranked #1 in North America and #7 globally.

SAIT is home to one of the world’s best School of Hospitality and Tourism. It consistently graduates students who become top-notch chefs and hoteliers. It has an amazing Chocolate Lab. SAIT will soon be opening the SAIT School For Advanced Digital Technology downtown to address the need for more programmers and software developers.

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology’s 100+ year old campus is a mix of old and futuristic architecture.

Calgary is home to one of North America’s best public library systems.

#6 Transportation Infrastructure

The Calgary International Airport is a major Canadian airport hub, with more international connections than cities like Ottawa, Austin, Nashville or Portland. The airport is central to our multi-modal transportation and logistics hub status. The airport combined with good road infrastructure (including the new Ring Road) and the CN/CPR rail infrastructure makes Calgary a major North American inland port.

On a per capita basis, Calgary has one of the largest and busiest LRT systems in North America. It has a more extensive transit system (bus, BRT and LRT) than any city its size in North America. The new Green Line will ensure this continues for at least the next 25+ years.

Calgary also boasts a protected cycle network downtown tied into its 1,000+ km pathway network as part of our municipal transportation infrastructure.

Calgarians enjoy the shortest commute times of any major city in Canada.

#7 Recreation

Calgary has amazing recreational facilities, including the world’s two largest YMCAs, a large reservoir in the middle of the city, world class fly fishing, a ski hill, climbing centres, world’s fastest speed skating arena, one of the world’s largest public skateparks, Harvie Passage (a world class white-water facility for canoeist and kayakers) and excellent mountain biking at Canada Olympic Park. There are dozens of golf courses within the city limits or just beyond. Calgary is also home to a cricket pitch in Riley Park.

If you love horses, you will love Calgary. Not only are they dozens of riding ranches, but the 300-acre, Calgary Polo Club is one of North America’s finest with nine-full sized playing fields and an indoor arena. And 505-acre Spruce Meadows is considered to be one of the top three equestrian facilities in the world.

One of the things that makes Calgary so livable it its 5,600 parks and green spaces, its 1,000+ kilometers of multi-use pathways and 100+ off leash dog parks.

No Calgarian is more than a five minute walk to a green space.

The Rocky Ridge YMCA is not only one of the largest in the world, but one of the most futuristic looking ones too.

Canada Olympic Park offers amazing bike trails, as well as arenas, downhill skiing and snowboarding. It is where most of Canada’s Winter Olympic athletes train.

Freddy loves Calgary’s annual Shaw Charity Classic. It is one of the top PGA TOUR Champions events. It raised a record setting $14 million in 2019 and $12 million in 2020 even though the event didn’t happen. Calgary has a culture of caring and gener… — Freddy loves Calgary’s annual Shaw Charity Classic. It is one of the top PGA TOUR Champions events. It raised a record setting $14 million in 2019 and $12 million in 2020 even though the event didn’t happen. Calgary has a culture of caring and generosity.

Calgary is home to numerous indoor climbing centres, as well as the Rockies, for amazing outdoor climbing opportunities.

Shaw Millennium Park offers biking and skating opportunities for beginners, intermediate and experts.

#8 Arts & Entertainment

Calgary has one of the world’s best new libraries, one of North America’s largest performing arts centres (Arts Commons will be undergoing a major expansion and renovation over the next 5 years), Western Canada’s largest museum (Glenbow, will also be renovated over the next 5 years), Canada’s newest major museum (Studio Bell), several theatre and dance companies, opera and philharmonic.

It has an impressive year-round festival schedule including not only the world famous Calgary Stampede, but several international music, film and literary festivals. Calgary has a very diverse music scene from the philharmonic to several big bands, from Saturday afternoon blues jams to folk music clubs.

Calgary is home to numerous award winning restaurants and chefs. Calgary chef Darren MacLean, one of Canada’s most acclaimed chefs and restaurateurs, was a finalist on Netflix’s global competition “The Final Table.” In 2020, ten Calgary restaurants were included in Canada’s top 100 restaurants.

Calgary had a strong independent café and roasterie scene before Starbucks was even born. Baristas at Monogram Coffee have consistently won national barista championships and have ranked as high as third place in global competitions.

Further, Calgary’s craft brewery scene has exploded in the past five years, and today there are 50+ craft beer breweries, distilleries and cideries in the city. Calgary is home to CRAFT Beer Market, which offers Canada’s largest selection of draft beers - 100+ beers on tap. Willow Park Wine & Spirits has one of the largest collections of wine and scotch in Canada.

Studio Bell aka National Music Centre is home to one of the world’s largest collection of keyboard instruments, which made available to musicians from around the world in its recording studio.

The Glenbow Museum offers both contemporary and historic exhibitions.

#9 Mountains

Calgarians have easy access to the wonders of the Canadian Rockies, from Banff (an authentic mountain town) to Lake Louise, a village retreat and Canmore, a coal mining town turned outdoor adventure wonderland. The Rockies offer world-class downhill and cross-country skiing, hiking, mountain climbing, cycling, golfing and fishing, as well as culinary delights. Just an hour away, the Rockies provide a great one day or weekend getaway for those living in Calgary.

Lake Louise hosts an annual World Cup downtown hill ski event.

#10 Youth

Calgary is one of the youngest cities in North America. Calgary consistently has one of the highest number of citizens with a post-secondary education in Canada. From 2009 to 2019, while there was a 4,401 decline in the number of 18 to 24 year olds, there was a 20,115 increase in 25 to 34 year olds i.e. a healthy increase in young graduates. Calgary has the highest number of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics graduates per capita of any major city in Canada - 18%.

Calgary is very attractive to young professionals, entrepreneurs and creatives as you can afford to live, work, create and play much easier here, than cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Seattle or San Francisco.

Link: Calgary ranked one of North America’s most affordable cities.

Calgary’s Zoomer Generation is gradually taking the reins from the Boomer Generation to manage the city’s future.

Last Word

Calgary’s collection of parks, pathways, arts, recreation, restaurants, healthcare and schools is on par or better than cities its size in North America. We also have some of the most modern urban infrastructure of our peer cities. Calgary is a young and smart city.

Barack Obama said “The future belongs to young people with an education and the imagination to create.” Calgary has tens of thousands of well-educated young creative citizens who will ensure Calgary thrives in the 21st century.

Recently a young Calgary professional in the financial sector said to me “Calgary’s entrepreneurial spirit stems from its long history of innovation and risk-taking culture from early pioneers to junior oil & gas companies. Calgary’s entrepreneurial spirit is instilled in its youth as a result of watching parents built businesses from scratch, with their passion, work ethic and ingenuity.”

This is why I am confident Calgary’s Zoomer generation, will continue to build on what the Pioneer, Frontier and Boomer generations before them started.

For more insights into Calgary:

Calgary Economic Development

Tourism Calgary

Top 10 Reasons Why Calgarians Should Be Optimistic About Their City’s Future