Communities

Finding the right Calgary community for you and your family

Welcome to Calgary! Do you know that there are more than 240 communities here?

Are you trying to figure out which neighbourhood would be the best one for you and your family? Do you want to learn more about a particular community?

I can help. As a real estate expert, I can provide you with important insights into a range of communities so you can make a more informed decision. I know these communities!

The community you live in is just as important as the home you buy. That’s why I am committed to helping you make the right choice.

Getting to know Deep South Calgary

Calgary, Alberta, is Canada’s energy capital and continues to be a draw to people from across Canada and around the world.
Calgary is an easy city in which to find your way around—it is divided into four quadrants. NorthwestNortheastSouthwest and Southeast. All addresses in the city have a NW, NE, SW or SE after the name (eg. 100 Mckenzie Towne Dr. SE). Avenues run east-west and Streets run north-south. Most roads in the central core of the city are numbered (rather than have a name) making it easy to find them.
The quadrants are separated by Centre Street in the North and MacLeod Trail in the south, Memorial Drive in the east and the Bow River in the west.
Our real estate focus is in the southeast and southwest area of Calgary, primarily the Deep South or the region close to South Stoney Trail (also known as the 22X or Marquis of Lorne Trail). This is our favourite part of the city—it’s where we both live, where we know that people enjoy their lives, closer to nature, in safe, well-planned active communities.

 

SOUTH EAST

EAST of DEERFOOT TRAIL
Auburn Bay
This is Calgary’s Cottage Country with a stunning view of the downtown skyline from the shores of the expansive 43-acre lake. The homes in Auburn Bay were designed by Carma Developers to have that cottage-country feel. The colours are striking and the use of dormers, shutters and other architectural details make Auburn Bay a warm, relaxing place to live.
The new Southeast Hospital is now open just south of Auburn Bay, which will keep the community a vibrant one for decades.

Copperfield
This community is bordered by South and East Stoney Trail and is next to New Brighton and McKenzie Towne (and very close to High Street and 130th Avenue). It is designed with urban, classical and heritage architectural styles, and housebuilders were allowed to choose from 20 colours and exterior finishings. Curving boulevards lead to vibrant, colourful streets. Its theme is Close to Nature and you’ll find various ponds and walking trails.

Mahogany
This community will be about 1,300 acres in size and will be built over 15 years. It is unique due to its interconnected three-part lake will be the largest in Calgary at 62 acres of lake. It also has a large wetlands pond area and a large shopping area.  It’s just south of Stoney Trail, east of 52nd ST SE.
The Ollerenshaw Ranch is preserved within Mahogany, allowing this brand new community to have an historical past. The houses in Mahogany are very unique. They include Coastal, Shingle, French Country and Arts & Craft styles. Mahogany has every form of housing including condo apartments, townhouses, duplexes, single-family houses with attached, detached or rear-attached garages, executive-size, estate homes and lakefront houses. It also includes Westman Village, a unique new area providing targeted condos & stacked town homes for everyone from empty-nesters to assisted living seekers to young professionals. An amazing community we’d be happy to take you to tour!

McKenzie Towne
This beautiful neighbourhood is made up of several sections (Prestwick, Inverness, Elgin) that each have their own flavour. Elgin and Inverness use European architectural influences, while Prestwick is very British with its Victorian-inspired homes. McKenzie Towne has the largest community shopping street of all the southern communities—High Street is charming and convenient with quaint shops, dance studios, restaurants, a pub and it’s perfect for a stroll. It also has all your essentials—drug store, video store, hair salon, dry cleaner and so on.
The community of McKenzie Towne has to be seen to be fully appreciated. Its homes all have front porches, detached (not front-facing) garages, and its neighbourhood feel is evident. The boulevards are tree-lined, sidewalks encourage walking, several ponds, a gazebo, toboggan hill and a skateboard park offer activities. The copper-topped Towne Hall and the spires of several churches make McKenzie Towne a photo opportunity as well. Imagine living there!

New Brighton
This community is designed to make you feel like you’re in the English countryside. New Brighton’s residents are very lucky to have some terrific recreational facilities including a central park and a private residents’ club. Lest you think it is “old”, New Brighton was built as a “wired” community and each house has an In-Home Network. The homes comprise “classic architecture with a modern flair” and include gorgeous windowboxes and carriage-style garage doors. There’s a pond, new schools and a great family feel to New Brighton.

Seton
This is a new planned community comprising residences, commercial buildings, institutional buildings (the new South East Hospital) that is just in the early stages of construction. It’s located directly south of Auburn Bay east of Deerfoot Trail SE.
Carma Developers says the commercial park will cover 360 acres and incorporate the new hospital, a high school, a movie theatre, a public library and a huge regional recreation center. It will also include 2.5 million square feet of retail and office space and 1,500 multi-family housing units. Carma’s aim is to make Seton the “downtown” of the southeast. The new Cineplex VIP theatre is now open as well as the Marriott hotel, many superb restaurants and two grocery stores — it’s exciting to see what’s next in Seton.

WEST of DEERFOOT TRAIL and EAST of MacLEOD TRAIL
Chaparral

This lovely community boasts a 32-acre manmade lake and surrounding park that includes two waterfalls, a recreation center and facilities for fishing, boating, skating and diving. It’s got great schools and its location is ideal—close to Deerfoot and MacLeod Trails and all their amenities.
The homes in Lake Chaparral borrow details from the architectural styles of the early 20th Century and Calgary’s early western heritage including Craftsman, National Folk, Prairies and Colonial Revival.

Chaparral Valley
Located in a picturesque valley between Cranston and Chaparall along the Bow River. It feels quiet and serene and you’ll be able to ride your bike or walk along the pathway, even to Lake Sikome! The Blue Devil golf course is next to the community. Chaparral Valley is only expected to hold 600 homes, making it an ideal small-town model. It is unique in that the river valley is a lush and peaceful setting. Wolf Willow is a new planned community here, but construction has not begun.

Cranston
This community is actually named after the Cranston family whose homestead was located here. Cranston is perched on a ridge with a breathtaking view of the Bow River Valley, Fish Creek Provincial Park, the city skyline and the majestic Rocky Mountains. Its logo and distinctive landmark is a windmill and Cranston is great for anyone who likes an outdoor lifestyle and fresh air.
Cranston has a good mix of estate, move-up and entry-level homes, so its residents vary from retirees to young couples just starting their families. The homes are often a good size and very well finished. There are mountain views as well.
Riverstone in Cranston
An estate area that runs along the Bow River to the west of Cranston. A beautiful setting with towering trees, fields and direct access to the river. A manmade creek runs through the middle of Riverstone to bring nature even closer to residents. Upscale condos, villas, single-family homes and large estate homes.
 

Deer Run
Developed in 1978, Deer Run offers encounters with nature at every turn. The area is home to Calgary’s only public manmade lake, Lake Sikome, and has walking and biking paths directly to the Bow River in Fish Creek Provincial Park. It offers a paved hockey rink and a pleasure skating rink.

Douglasdale
This is prime real estate as this community was designed in 1986 to take advantage of the spectacular views of the river valley and the mountains. Lots of green space, its own golf course and access to Fish Creek Provincial Park and the river. Mature trees, wide lots, and big houses are to be found here. It’s also within walking distance of the shops on 130th Avenue. Some great opportunities to get a good-sized lot and a family home.

McKenzie Lake
Once a farming area, this area began to be developed residentially in 1982. It has a great location next to Fish Creek Park and offers views of the Bow River, the city skyline and the mountains. It is a lake community, although check that the property does include access to the lake amenities. (The boundary for access to the lake ends south of the Mountain School property line.)
McKenzie Lake has a very involved community association and centre—lots of activities from yoga to seniors gatherings. The Beach Club is lovely and the tennis courts and outdoor skating rink are gorgeous. One of the first planned communities and still one of the best.

Sundance and Midnapore
Midnapore used to be a small town and became part of Calgary in 1961. It is a lake community (Lake Midnapore) and it is also mature enough that it has two churches that have been named as historical sites.
Sundance is to the south of Midnapore, established in 1982. It is also a lake community (Sundance Lake) and is bordered on the north and east by Fish Creek Park.
These communities share a large community centre, that has a ton of activities. Sundance and Midnapore border MacLeod Trail and the Shawnessy shopping area.

Walden
A ribbon pathway framed by stands of preserved trees. Traffic-calming devices that promote walking and biking. A naturalized wetland and clear-water pond. These are just a few of the features through which Walden holds tight to its natural legacy.
The vision for this new community created by Genstar comes from Henry David Thoreau’s 19th-century novel Walden (which emphasizes finding simplicity in life by getting back to nature).
Walden is 620 acres south of Chaparral, and divided into three villages, each with its own distinct feel. A 160-acre park and trail system called the Walden Preserve and a golf course are great draws. It has a very urban style in a suburban setting.

 Legacy
Stonework accents, an open-heart sculpture by actress and jewelry designer Jane Seymour, city and mountain views are just a few of the features of this new community. Legacy includes 300 acres of developer-protected environmental reserve and 15 kilometres of paved walking paths. Located off MacLeod Trail, the community offers timeless living for every stage of life.

SOUTH WEST

WEST of MacLEOD TRAIL

Bridlewood and Somerset
Development started here in the 1990s. The east side of Bridlewood is a natural wetland, where birds, flora and fauna abound and pathways weave through the area. From condos to single homes, the location is a big draw to its many residents. Shawnessy Center is very close with Big Box stores, theatres, restaurants, South Fish Creek recreation center, library and more. Very close to Spruce Meadows as well.

Evergreen
Calgary’s Garden Community boasts that it has more greenspace than any other Calgary community. You’ll see ornamental wrought iron, stone bridges, traditional architecture and a wide selection of homes. The architecture has touches of Craftsman, Colonial, Prairie, French Revival, and Italian Renaissance. 

Silverado
Besides a great name, this community is closest to the Rocky Mountains in the southwest of Calgary. It has a ranch feel to it, probably because of its close proximity to Spruce Meadows. It also has a 60-acre park called the Radio Tower Creek wetlands separating it from Spruce Meadows.
Home styles include Tudor, Arts and Crafts, Colonial Revival and Stick Victorian. Silverado is one of the newest communities, so there are lots available and some brand new homes that are ready to sell. An estate-sized area has some amazing large homes and lots.
Belmont, Yorkville and Pine Creek are all newly planned communities south of Silverado, but have not begun sales yet.

Contact me about a tour of these areas! My clients really learn a lot about these communities on a tour with me and that helps them choose the perfect community for them.