Calgary's Best Communities

Avenue magazine's annual Best Neighbourhood list identifies neighbourhoods that best deliver on the qualities identified as the most important by Calgarians. After compiling responses on everything from walkability and friendliness, to commute times and parks, Avenue works with Leger Marketing to compare survey results to quantitative data from the City of Calgary, the Calgary Police Service and Walkscore.com. 

View the results for 2020

Community Associations

Calgary is home to over 150 community associations. These associations provide recreational, social and educational opportunities to their members. They also advocate for residents on issues related to building, development and community life in their area of the city.

Calgary’s community association volunteer network is more than 20,000 strong, the largest pool of volunteers in the city.

The Calgary Region is home to approximately 1.4 million people in over 30 diverse urban and rural communities. Home to over 240 different ethnic origins, Calgary is the third most diverse major city in Canada. 

No matter where you decide to plant your roots, you can feel at home in Calgary.

Getting Involved

Volunteers are an integral part of the Calgary community. In fact, Albertans hold the 2nd highest national volunteer rate at 55 per cent.

Interested in getting involved in the community? Here are some resources to get connected to volunteer opportunities in Calgary:

• City of Calgary - Volunteer Opportunities
• Propellus - The Volunteer Centre of Calgary
• Volunteer Calgary
• Volunteer Connector

Inner City

Calgary’s most trendy inner city neighbourhoods boasts an eclectic energy felt everywhere you go. With a small-town vibe, right in the heart of the city, here is a roundup of Calgary’s oldest neighbourhoods and some of the most sought-after areas to live in:

• Mission
• Beltline
• Sunnyside
• Bridgeland/Riverside
• Inglewood
• Cliff Bungalow
• East Village

Walk or bike around to the many fitness studios, coffee shops, restaurants, local boutiques, and later indulge in the nightlife scene in these vibrant communities.

Lake Community

There are several prized lake communities in Calgary offering a unique lifestyle to connect with nature right at home. The benefit of living near a lake oasis is enjoying private access to the scenic waters coupled with various amenities in each neighbourhood: 

• Arbour Lake
• Auburn Bay
• Mahogany   
• Lake Bonavista 
• Aspen Woods 
• McKenzie Lake

Downtown

Calgary already has one of the best pathway systems in North America, but walkability is more than just pretty paths. It’s about mixed use — being able to walk to school, work, shops, restaurants and parks on real sidewalks.

You’ll find you can work, play and shop all within walking distance in the centrally located downtown area: 

• Downtown West End 
• Downtown East Village
• Downtown Core 
• Eau Claire
• Chinatown