Living in City Centre Calgary: Reasons to Love Downtown Living
Posted by Justin Havre Real Estate Team on Tuesday, October 8th, 2024 at 8:22am.

Given the city's rugged, natural beauty, ample employment opportunities, booming economy, and high quality of life, it's easy to see why so many new residents continue moving to Calgary. While the entire city has continued its steady growth, one of the most in-demand areas is Calgary's City Centre.
The City Centre is a vibrant urban district in the centre of Canada's third-largest city. It has a world-class food scene, a budding art scene, and a thriving economy. If life in the heart of Calgary sounds like a dream come true, prospective residents and visitors should dive in and explore everything that is Calgary's City Centre.
The City Centre Lifestyle

Situated in the heart of the city, Calgary's City Centre is one of the most metropolitan districts in Western Canada. Founded in 1875, Calgary was named after Calgary on the Isle of Mull in Scotland. As a western city, Calgary is shaped by its natural landscape: the rolling prairie hills, the nearby Rocky Mountains, and the two rivers that cut through it.
With over 1.2 million people, Calgary is Canada's third-largest city, only behind Toronto and Montreal. In addition to being a contemporary city with modern architecture and some of the most impressive skylines in North America, there are a number of Calgary neighbourhoods with Rocky Mountain views. Conventional wisdom would indicate these are on the city's outskirts, but City Centre communities like the Crescent Heights neighbourhood offer excellent mountain vistas, too. Calgary residents, particularly those who live in the City Centre, take great pride in their city's unparalleled magnificence and natural beauty.
City Centre South of the Bow River
The City Centre, one of Calgary's most prominent districts, comprises ten distinct neighbourhoods to the south of the Bow River:
- Downtown
- Eau Claire
- West End
- West Connaught
- Connaught Centre
- Victoria Crossing Centre
- Stampede Park
- East Victoria Crossing
- East Village
- Chinatown
Each of these neighbourhoods has a unique identity, with Downtown Calgary marking the true centre of this urban district. Seven of the ten neighbourhoods partially border the Bow River or the Elbow River, adding to each neighbourhood's personality. While each neighbourhood is distinguished, most residents value these four things: outdoor living, exceptional food, vibrant culture, and endless opportunities to enjoy their community.
City Centre North of the Bow River

The remaining handful of City Centre's neighbourhoods is on the north shore of the Bow River. These communities are more heavily residential, and some of the most sought-after luxury homes in Calgary can be found here. The detached homes have a distinctly suburban feel, but they still provide excellent accessibility to downtown.
The Hillhurst neighbourhood offers stunning detached homes, while the Bridgeland-Riverside community encompasses St. Patrick's Island Park and the Calgary Zoo. Other City Centre neighbourhoods north of the river include Sunnyside, Rosedale, and Renfrew.
Employers Near City Centre
Calgary's cost of living and thriving economy draw people to the city every year. With its projected continued job growth and rapidly expanding tech industry, Calgary shows plenty of economic promise. Over 140 major companies are headquartered in Calgary—the highest concentration of any city in Canada. Furthermore, many of these company headquarters are located in the City Centre of Calgary. Of the numerous employers based in Downtown Calgary, these are the most prominent:
- Aecon Group Inc.: Construction and development company that focuses on infrastructure; has over 12,000+ employees.
- Suncor: Energy company that focuses on the world's most prevalent energy sources; has over 13,000+ employees worldwide.
- Enerflex Ltd.: Worldwide supplier of products and services to the global power generation and gas production industry; has over 1,800 employees worldwide.
- Gibson Energy: Crude oil infrastructure company that focuses on providing global markets with oil; has approximately 550 employees
With so many companies, Calgary's top industries include:
- Aerospace & Logistics
- Agriculture
- Creative Industries
- Fuel & Energy
- Financial Services
- Interactive Digital Media
- Life Sciences
- Technology
- Economics
- Healthcare
In addition to these industries, Calgary also has a demand for professional service providers, such as real estate professionals, accountants, attorneys, etc. For professionals who are considering relocating to Calgary, particularly City Centre, this city has a thriving job market that caters to various industries.
City Centre Amenities

When deciding to relocate to a new area, whether it's relocating from another city or moving to another area within the city, one of the most important factors prospective residents consider is the area's amenities. Apartments and condos in the City Centre are near countless amenities, including health and wellness, healthcare facilities, public transportation, museums and galleries, entertainment venues, outdoor spaces, shops, and fine dining options. Very few cities strike a balance between urban abundance and living a well-rounded lifestyle as Calgary does—and no district achieves this better than the City Centre. Learn more about everything this area has to offer.
Neighbourhood Services
One of the most appealing aspects of living in the urbanized City Centre is its abundance of amenities and services for many residents. One of the primary services many take into consideration is public transportation. Fortunately, Calgary's public transit system is one of the best in all of Canada. Calgary Transit provides easy access to the city via bus, train, rideshare, and special services, transporting residents to all four quadrants. Around 50% of Calgary's downtown workforce utilizes the city's public transit system. In addition to public transit, Calgary has over 700km of multi-use pathways, making it one of the most bike-friendly cities in Canada.
Neighbourhood Shopping

Calgary's City Centre is home to hundreds of specialty shops and restaurants to suit shoppers' needs. Like many large metropolitan areas, City Centre has tons of small specialty food stores within walking distance, particularly for those around Downtown Calgary and living in Chinatown. 17th Street is one of the main arteries that run through most of the district's neighbourhoods, where many residents find smaller bodegas, delis, and specialty markets. For shoppers looking for more formal shopping options, The Core serves as Downtown's main shopping centre, with a variety of boutiques, retailers, restaurants, and specialty stores.
Things To Do in Calgary City Centre
For residents living in the City Centre, excitement is around every corner in this vibrant, western city. There is never a shortage of things to do, from a bevy of urban parks to the numerous art galleries and museums. Even within City Centre, each neighbourhood has a distinctive flavour, with sites for nearly every type of visitor. Each neighbourhood has unique restaurants and boutique shops worth exploring, from Chinatown's independent shops to the high-end shopping in the Eau Claire neighbourhood. Check out each of the neighbourhoods of City Centre and beyond to get a feel for everything Calgary offers.
Outdoor Activities

For many residents, one of the most exciting aspects of life in Calgary is its outdoor spaces. Calgary is one of North America's most naturally beautiful cities, with the rolling prairie hills to the east and the Canadian Rockies to the west. Many residents take advantage of this city's stunning beauty and incorporate the great outdoors into their lifestyles.
Calgary has hundreds of kilometres of multi-purpose pathways through the city's park systems, used for biking, jogging, and walking. Cycling in Calgary is excellent, and it's widely considered one of the most bike-friendly cities in North America. Even within City Centre, there is a bevy of beautiful city parks, including:
- Prince's Island Park
- Pearce Estate Park
- Eau Claire Plaza
Prince's Island Park, located in Downtown Calgary, is one of the area's most famous city parks and is often used for significant events, such as Canada Day celebrations and the Calgary Folk Festival. Pearce Estate Park, located on the shores of Bow River in City Centre's Inglewood neighbourhood, is a natural wetland park and is home to the Sam Livingston Fish Hatchery and the Bow Habitat Visitor Centre. Eau Claire Plaza is a beautiful city park with a market, a wading pool, restaurants, and a playground.
Restaurants, Breweries & Bars
In recent years, Calgary has become one of the rising stars in the culinary world. It is a top contender for one of the best foodie cities in Canada, competing with the likes of Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto. And City Centre is one of the main reasons for this honour. From Calgary's best breweries to fine dining and more, City Centre is the place to be.
Nicknamed Cowtown, Calgary was historically known for its meat-centric menus due to its rich cattle-ranching heritage. Today, it's increasing its gastronomic profile to world-class proportions, offering dining selections from all over the world. From casual eating to upscale dining, this city offers everything in between. Downtown Calgary's most popular restaurants include:
- CHARCUT Roast House
- Blink Restaurant & Bar
- Holy Grill
- Brigg's Kitchen & Bar
- Kabuku Downtown
- Mango Shiva
Nearby Attractions
From Calgary Zoo to nightlife in the Beltline, Calgary has all the trappings of a world-class city. Even in the City Centre, visitors are treated to beautiful sights and sounds. To get an even better view of the city, many visitors climb to the top of Calgary Tower, offering sweeping views of the area's rolling landscapes and stunning mountain vistas. Other nearby attractions in the downtown area include Glenbow Museum, Stephan Avenue Walk, Peace Bridge, Olympic Plaza, and Fort Calgary National Park.
City Centre Schools

The schools in Calgary offer a variety of learning opportunities for students of all ages. As part of the Calgary Board of Education, students living in City Centre can easily find schools near their neighbourhoods. Students living City Centre are part of Area VII, which has over forty public and private schools. Students attending secondary school will likely attend Western Canada High School in the Cliff Bungalow neighbourhood.
For students who are interested in pursuing post-secondary education, nearby universities in Northwest Calgary and other districts include:
- University of Calgary
- Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
- Mount Royal University
- Ambrose University College
- Alberta University of the Arts
- Bow Valley College
Considerations Before Moving to Calgary's City Centre
From its robust economy to its big-city amenities, the City Centre offers nearly everything residents love about Calgary. It's home to a number of the best neighbourhoods in Calgary, and in recent years, residents have had increasing employment opportunities coupled with an outstanding work-life balance. When moving to the City Centre, exploring the different neighborhoods is crucial to finding the right fit. Every neighbourhood in this district has its own distinct identity, and finding the right fit can be genuinely enriching for a resident's life.
If you're looking for the perfect Calgary home, contact Justin Havre with eXp Realty and Calgary Homes at (403) 217-0003 to get in touch with a local Calgary real estate agent and discover your new dream home today.