At this very moment, Calgary is being shaped into a vibrant city of the future. Terms like city building, placemaking and community are more than buzzwords. They signal a growing recognition of the civic participation needed to build Calgary into a city of tomorrow. Calgary continues to change and grow at an unprecedented rate — the population grew by nearly 20 per cent in the past five years, according to provincial government data.
So, what are citizens imagining for Calgary’s future?
As part of Avenue’s annual Future of the City coverage, we asked a set of questions to various Calgarians. Their answers reflect their hopes, expectations and predictions about what kind of city Calgary can become.
In one way or another, everyone we spoke to positioned Calgary as a dynamic place of opportunity. Across age, gender and industry, amidst a backdrop of economic uncertainty, people are excited for Calgary to step out from under the banner of being an oil and gas powerhouse and into a new era defined by potential in the areas of art, tech, education and more.
Editor’s Note: Participants responded as citizens and not necessarily as representatives of their respective organizations. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
As Calgary grows, what should we be fighting to keep?
Adrian Stimson is a member of the Siksika Nation, an interdisciplinary artist, and the board chair and external governor for Alberta University of the Arts.
“Absolutely, the arts. We have a gem, Alberta University of the Arts. The number of artists and designers that have come out of that institution and now contribute to the economic wealth and the cultural artistic well-being of the city is something that we need to enhance.
“Many people have the idea that the arts are frivolous, ‘the poor artist’ and all this sort of stuff, but we’re a profession, and we infiltrate so many aspects of society. The economic reward is in the billions. Yet we never really hear about that. And so we’re trying to change those perceptions.
“The arts are absolutely vital to any city that wishes to grow. We need to show people that we are open, that we are doing dynamic things, that we are supporting those in our community to examine the human condition, examine our environment, and examine absolutely everything about who we are from a critical lens in order for us to improve things. And that includes culture. We have a diversity of cultures in Calgary and each one of those cultures needs to be celebrated.
“I really do believe that at the core of everything, we are all the same, and that one core belief is that we should have love for each other. In that we can grow and we can flourish.”
Joanne Pitman is the Calgary Board of Education’s chief superintendent of schools.
“Schools are the heart of many communities. They are places of learning during the day and spaces for connection after school hours. They’re spaces where community groups gather, playgrounds stay busy and fields fill with activity. These shared spaces help bring people together and strengthen the connections that make communities thrive.
“We should be deliberate in how we design new neighbourhoods, and revitalize established ones, all with an eye towards creating conditions for relationships. Create the conditions for roots to be set and natural supports built in where families, friends and neighbours across generations can be connected.
“As we grow, we should be keeping strong community schools where students can build strong relationships over time and experience vibrant programming. As families seek affordable housing, we see an increase in students who attend multiple schools in one year.
“Similarly, because so many of our schools are full, students may not be attending a school close to home where they can walk, play and engage in active transport.”
What should we be willing to leave behind or change?
Wakefield Brewster is a professional poet and spoken-word artist, educator, producer, and literacy advocate.
“As Calgary grows, it could leave behind the sense of this being a small town.
“Historically, factually, nostalgically and tragically, Calgary will, through song and story, always remember how it began, how it was, and now, how it’s come to be.
“However, the only constant element in life is change, and with growth in population, nationally to internationally, a modern-thinking human can only expect many changes, from the many peoples.
“We can leave behind how we used to live. Celebrate in our similarities. Delight in our diversity.”
Pam Krause is the CEO of the Centre for Sexuality.
“There is a narrative of who Calgary is, especially to the outside world. People think of money and success in the oil industry.
“We need to leave behind outdated assumptions about who belongs in our city. As Calgary becomes more diverse in every sense, including culture, identity and lived experience, we need to tell stories that represent who we really are. We need to make sure that policies are inclusive and systems recognize diversity. These are all things that are evolving and need to be prioritized in how we represent the city.”
Monica Zurowski is the editor-in-chief of the Calgary Herald, and the first female editor-in-chief in its 143-year history.
“We should leave behind any outdated concepts about where change and innovation can occur. Innovation isn’t just occurring in boardrooms; it’s occurring in schools, in communities, in networking organizations, in small business, in remote workspaces and more.”
Frances Wright is co-founder of the Famous 5 Foundation, which drove a movement to recognize the five democratic champions from Alberta who worked tirelessly to ensure that women were enfranchised and legally recognized as persons.
“Let’s leave behind the requirement for people to be perfect or just like us. Solutions and achievements can come from a variety of sources and we need to be open to seizing these opportunities. Let’s leave behind being one of Canada’s cities with a high rate of domestic violence. We can do better in this regard, and in electing representatives from all three major political parties so we always have a presence and a channel for sending and receiving information.”
As Calgary grows, what are you most worried about?
Colin Jackson is a member of Calgary on Purpose, a platform for Calgarians to share what Calgary is to them and what they want it to be.
“I’m concerned that we will continue to be a city of transients. By that I mean, a fair number of people who have leadership positions here in business, in particular, are in transition. If you’re a head of the next company in Singapore, then your next stop is Calgary, and then back to London. There are folks who stick around, but a lot of folks don’t. And those who aren’t in that movement don’t necessarily want to retire here. There are a lot of Calgarians building Victoria.
“Calgarians are often discontented in many ways. That can be a good thing if it’s focused towards producing a more caring, more curious community. It’s not such a good thing if it’s focused on the simple accumulation of wealth. Already we have a very tiered class system. There’s a whole lot of us in the middle who are worried: ‘I’m two paychecks away from [crisis]; if I lose my job, will I be able to meet the mortgage?’ There’s fear in the city, and my concern is that fear grows and becomes dominant. Then we’re responding with defence, rather than with reimagining.”
Pam Krause
“I mostly worry about sprawl. We have communities that are so far apart that it is difficult to build a strong identity as a city. It’s difficult to get residents involved in the community and yet social isolation is consistently identified as a problem for Calgarians.”
Rowan Fisher is the executive director of the Calgary Justice Film Festival (CJFF) and a former managing lawyer.
“I worry about what can be lost in the push toward scale and speed. Growth can unintentionally flatten a city’s character, prioritizing what is measurable over what is meaningful. There is a risk that arts, culture and community spaces become secondary, rather than recognized as essential to a healthy civic life. For organizations like CJFF, that concern is closely tied to whose stories continue to be told. If growth is not paired with intention, voices that are already underrepresented can be further pushed to the margins. The result is not just inequity, but a city that loses its ability to fully understand itself.
“At its best, Calgary is a place of dialogue, curiosity and care. Without sustained investment in those values, we become more disconnected from one another, even as the city expands around us. Growth should not come at the expense of empathy, reflection or the spaces that make meaningful conversation possible.”
Reece Tomlinson is the founder and CEO of RWT Capital Corporation, a leading Canadian-based M&A advisory firm.
“The ability to get in and out of Calgary downtown with ease is problematic. As a result, you have more businesses moving away from downtown, which then creates a hollow centre. A big concern is making sure that the core remains intact — a great place to live and work.”
What is one belief or principle Calgary should be known for?
Rowan Fisher
“Commitment to curiosity. As the city grows and evolves, curiosity creates the conditions for a more thoughtful and responsive future. It encourages people to ask questions, to seek out perspectives beyond their own and to stay open to experiences that may be unfamiliar or uncomfortable.
“Through CJFF, we see how curiosity can be sparked and sustained. Documentary film invites audiences to step into different realities, not to arrive at easy answers, but to better understand complexity. It is in that process that assumptions are challenged and new ways of thinking begin to take shape.
“A city grounded in curiosity is less likely to rely on fixed narratives about who belongs or what Calgary is meant to be. Instead, it remains adaptive, engaged and open to change.”
Colin Jackson
“Having a sense of realism, modesty or scale about who we are. Some people in Alberta go [on] at great length about how insulted they are by the lack of attention we get from the East. Okay, but how much attention do we actually pay to the Maritimes? Not much. But more to the point, I spend a fair bit of time in the U.S. and in Europe, and the general attitude towards Canada and Calgary is kind of like our attitude towards Norway or Sweden. ‘Oh, that’s nice. Yeah, you’re probably a nice person.’ It’s a sense of proportion about who we are. The reality is, we’re not particularly well known globally. I’d like us to see our reality as a chance to write our story on our terms. And I would love that story to be one that is about radical hospitality. We are a place where we were welcomed by the original inhabitants. The first settlers wouldn’t have made [it through] the winter if they didn’t have some help from the Blackfoot.”
Bobbie Racette is a Métis-Cree, 2SLGBTQIA+ leader, and founder of Tapwi.com, which uses AI to help overlooked entrepreneurs access opportunities, resources and relationships.
“That belonging isn’t earned, it’s offered. As a queer Indigenous woman who built a company here, I know what it means to wonder if there’s space for you. Calgary has the chance to be the city that answers that question with a yes, every time, for everyone. That’s the city I’m building toward. That’s the city worth fighting for.”
Monica Zurowski
“Innovation. It means we’re adaptable, flexible and forward looking, all of which is important in a fast-changing world. Innovation can drive growth in the economy, lead to new cultural offerings and ensure our city remains a desirable place to live.”
How do current discussions on immigration influence your perspective on Calgary’s future?
Elise Konadu Ahenkorah is the lead strategist at Inclusion Factor, a human resource and workplace culture advisory firm.
“Immigration is one of Calgary’s greatest opportunities and is already shaping the city’s future. Across Canada, immigration is driving nearly all labour force growth and will account for the majority of population growth in the years ahead. As an HR leader and consultant working with some of Canada’s largest employers, it directly impacts workforce planning, early career pipelines and long-term talent strategies in a country with low fertility rates and an aging population.
“The opportunity for Calgary is both economic and cultural. Immigration brings talent, perspective and global connection, but those benefits are only realized when people are set up to succeed. That means moving beyond attraction and focusing on integration. Employment access, credential recognition, community connection and fair systems all matter.
“We are no longer just competing with other Canadian cities. Calgary is competing with global markets for talent, investment and innovation. The focus has to be not only on attracting people, but on creating the conditions for them to stay, grow and fully contribute. If Calgary gets this right, it strengthens its position as a globally competitive city, securing major tourism and event bids, attracting investment and building industries that can compete on a global stage.”
Byron Neiles is a seasoned energy executive and is the former executive vice-president at Enbridge Inc. He serves on the board of directors for Enmax and Calgary Economic Development and on the University of Calgary Board of Governors.
“Immigrants have always been central to Calgary’s success. They have made outsized contributions across every part of city life — building businesses, strengthening our health-care and education systems, enriching our arts, culture and sport, and shaping our communities. Calgary’s growth and character are, in many ways, a direct reflection of their impact. Some of the current rhetoric risks distorting that reality and, at times, projecting a narrative of intolerance that doesn’t reflect who we are at our best. I know that a negative view in this regard is held of us in other parts of Canada and we need to turn that around.
“The truth is straightforward: immigrants belong here. They are essential to Calgary’s economic vitality, our cultural richness and our long-term future. As Calgary continues to grow, our ability to remain open, welcoming and inclusive will be one of our greatest strengths.”
Joanne Pitman
“The CBE has 44,000 students learning English as an additional language. These are young people with strength, experience and a desire to succeed and contribute. Their primary need is to continue developing English language proficiency, not because they lack ability, but because language is key to fully accessing learning and opportunity. We need to continue to assess and evolve the supports across sectors to ensure that the future for each young person is one of connection, opportunity and generates the recognition that there is a meaningful and productive path for each newcomer.
“Our challenge is to respond to changing community needs at scale while staying connected to each student as an individual. I know we can do this.”
Jung-Suk (JS) Ryu is the founding president and CEO of Canada’s first multidisciplinary disability arts organization, the National accessArts Centre, presented by TD.
“As the son of first-generation immigrants and a father to a third-generation Korean-Canadian, the current discussions are absolutely terrifying. We always say that our strength is in our diversity — clearly, we haven’t done a good enough job explaining why immigration (in all of its forms) is actually critical to the future success of our city’s growth. We also need to look at the representation of diverse voices leading Calgary’s major civic partners — from Werklund Centre to Calgary Economic Development, and, of course, the Stampede. We need to demonstrate this message around diversity with action. It doesn’t work to claim diversity matters, but not execute.”
Adrian Stimson
“Certainly, the separatist movement in this province is an issue. The rhetoric that comes out of that is, ‘Stop immigration, ignore the treaties.’ That is a danger. That is divisive.
“Often, the onus falls on those who are more moderate and understanding in society to change things, but the other side has to, as well. They have to learn that we are in an evolving world, that immigration is happening and not be afraid of it. There’s this fear about these ideas that what was established is going to be destroyed. And, we look at history, and things always evolve and change.
“As First Nations people, that’s part of our being. I often thought we were the best ecologists and the best [at] critical thinking, because that’s what we do: we observe the environment and we know that things change. So, the importance is to understand that change and create situations where that change can happen in a good way, instead of a conflicting way. The current discussions around immigration don’t help in fostering the notion that Calgary is a safe, welcoming place.
“As a Siksika (Blackfoot), we have seen waves of immigration from the beginning. And [in] the beginning, there was a connection, there was a strong sense of co-operation. Then, of course, it ebbs and flows. Our perspectives of people who come here, who are truly open-hearted and truly want to give to this community, give to this province, that’s good. But, if you’re here to come and divide us, I don’t think we want you here.”
Wakefield Brewster
“There is nothing about immigration that concerns me, past logistics. It’s complex and complicated, like every single human being. However, it’s getting done, it’s never perfect and forever must improve.
“In many recent discussions, immigrants have been portrayed as the leading problem in health care, social assistance, housing, education and more, which I find to be a dangerous pairing.
“I am part of the immigrant story, so I inherently support every story that is for immigration. I’m not an expert, but I know that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to live in Toronto — and then have the bravery or the willingness or the adventure to move across Canada to Calgary — if my parents did not leave their home in Barbados. The immigrant story is me.”
Reece Tomlinson
“We certainly hear a lot of talk from the people we do business with that there seems to be a migration within Canada [of people] moving to Calgary. When I first started my career in Calgary … the city really needed a lot of junior talent. And then a lot of people, they made some money, got established and they went back to wherever they came from.
“It seems to me like this is actually a little bit different now. People are choosing Calgary as a place to live, raise their kids — all those things. That’s a very unique thing, and says a lot about the city itself. [Calgary’s] a much more multicultural city than 20 years ago, without a doubt. Do I think that’s really positive? Yes.”
What are you most excited, passionate and optimistic about for the future of Calgary?
Elise Konadu Ahenkorah
“Calgary feels like a city at the edge of its next identity, and that’s what excites me most.
“Having moved here 14 years ago, I’ve seen how much the city has evolved. Right now, it feels like we’re at a real turning point. There’s a visible shift happening in the number of new businesses opening, the quality of major events and sports events, the growth in year-round tourism, and the diversification of industries from AI and tech to health-care, design and social enterprises.
“Calgary has this young, entrepreneurial energy, which makes it more open, more experimental and more willing to try new things.
“What I find especially powerful is that Calgary isn’t trying to replicate other cities. We’re not trying to be Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal. We’re holding onto our Western roots while layering in arts, culture, film and global perspectives in a way that feels authentic.”
Jung-Suk (JS) Ryu
“The incredible generosity and spirit of Calgarians. Whether it’s in the arts, social services, community development or business, we are seeing Calgarians step up in truly impressive ways to meet the needs and support the aspirations of Calgarians around us. Through all of the ongoing tumult in the world today, there is no other city that I’ve seen where it’s more important to roll up your sleeves and try, versus sitting on your hands and seeing if something pans out. This ‘can do’ spirit will always be a part of our DNA and will be a critical ingredient in our future success.”
Byron Neiles
“What excites me most about Calgary’s future is its resilience and reinvention. Not long ago, amid low energy prices and the aftershocks of COVID-19, some questioned whether Calgary’s best days were behind us. That narrative has proven wrong. Yes, the energy sector has rebounded, but more importantly, Calgary has evolved. We’re seeing the rise of a new generation of entrepreneurs and innovators across technology, agri-food, fintech, life sciences, university research, creative industries and logistics. Together, they are diversifying our economy, strengthening its resilience and positioning Calgary as a magnet for talent, investment and opportunity. What gives me real optimism is that this momentum feels durable. Calgary is redefining itself as one of the most dynamic and forward-looking cities in North America.”
Bobbie Racette
“Calgary is waking up to itself. I see a city that’s starting to understand that its greatest asset isn’t energy, it’s people — the entrepreneurs, the newcomers, the Indigenous communities who have always been here, the queer kids who stopped leaving. There’s a creative and economic energy building here that I don’t think we fully have words for yet, and that excites me more than anything.”