Calgary’s 8 best neighbourhoods according to Avenue

A list compiling Calgary’s ‘best neighbourhoods’ is out — highlighting the prime living locations for young families, architecture nerds, outdoorsy types, seniors, and more.

The selection, published annually by Avenue Magazine, features the best of the city’s more than 200 communities while acknowledging that a gold place finisher for one may not be so for all.

Winners are divided into categories, highlighting “different strokes for different folks.” This year, top finishers and honourable mentions were chosen for eight categories.

Those who consider themselves “new urbanists” will enjoy the southwest community of Currie, built on land formerly used as a Canadian Forces base, the publication says, with its design catered to walkability and a connected, neighbourly feel.

Calgarians who are “frequent flyers” will find a home in Thorncliffe, according to Avenue, because the community is close to the airport and plays host to many local hotspots. It also has “one of the city’s most active and vibrant community associations.”

An area with a range of school options, recreation areas, the River Park at Sandy Beach and more, makes Altadore the winner in the Best Neighbourhood for Young Families category, the magazine says.

Not to be overlooked in the interest field are those with a love of architecture, some of who may be referred to as “architecture nerds.” Avenue reports Upper Mount Royal takes the cake in that category, with streets that are a “smorgasbord” of architectural forms.

Discovery Ridge is considered to be the best for Calgarians who enjoy the outdoors, given its “easy access to the Rockies.”

“Tucked in alongside Highway 8 on the city’s westernmost edge, residents of Discovery Ridge are practically halfway to Kananaskis Country before they even get in their vehicles, with Griffith Woods Park, one of the city’s most picturesque natural areas, right in their backyard,” it added.

What makes a neighbourhood cute? Avenue says to them, it’s a mix of cottage-style heritage homes, residential streets lined with mature trees, “quirky features” that pop up and easy access to boutique shopping. And that community that has all of the above is Crescent Heights, according to the publication.

Avenue says for a long time, the most walkable neighbourhoods in Calgary were in the city’s core; that all changed with the University District development — this year’s winner of the Best Car-Free Neighbourhood. It features a supermarket, restaurants and cafes, movie theatres and a soon-to-be-opened hotel.

Last but not least is the best neighbourhood for those we love the most — seniors. Avenue says the southeast community of Mahogany is the winner on that front — providing accessible housing, recreation, and community-building amenities for “an active and healthy life.”