Calgary is a young, vibrant city that is growing quickly. How can we build a bright and innovative future for our city, and who are the people currently working on this task?
These are the kinds of questions that get asked at Avenue‘s Future of the City Festival. The festival celebrates the people who are building the future of Calgary today, and is an opportunity for attendees to hear more about the work they’re doing.
If these are topics you’re interested in, here are a few reasons why you should attend the 2025 festival on September 18, 2025.
Hear local experts talk about creating a city of belonging
Third places are those places that aren’t our homes or our workplaces, but “third” spaces that we use to forge community. How do we build a city of belonging by improving and activating Calgary’s third spaces? That’s the question of the first thought-provoking panel discussion at this year’s Future of the City Festival. Join the discussion with Bethel Afework, co-founder of Alcove Centre for the Arts; Barb Gillard, executive director of visitor experience for the Calgary Public Library; Jasmine Palardy, co-founder of The Good Future Collective and Global Director, WRLDCTY; and Ryan Sirski, Vice President, Office Leasing and Operations at Oxford Properties Group.
Get an inside glimpse into Calgary’s Innovation Strategy
There are folks in town who are truly dedicated to building a city underpinned by innovation to help launch startups, scale businesses and spark breakthroughs. Becoming the innovation capital of Canada won’t happen by accident, it will happen by design. In this panel discussion, attendees will get to hear directly from panelists Crystal Phillips, Senior Director at the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) and Kimberley Van Vliet, founder and CEO of WaVv and ConvergX, about what we’re doing to make Calgary the innovation capital of Canada.
Network with Calgarians passionate about community and design
Take advantage of the opportunity to network with Calgarians who are enthusiastic about community, design and innovation. Mix and mingle before and after the panel discussions to exchange ideas, ask questions and learn more about other Calgarians who are working towards our city’s future.
Tickets are available now for the Future of the City Festival on September 18, 2025
Use the code FUTURE10 for a 10 per cent discount on your ticket at checkout.
Avenue‘s Future of the City Festival is made possible thanks to the support of our sponsors and community partners Calgary Economic Development and Oxford Properties.
