Living in Northeast Calgary: Reasons to Love Living in NE Calgary
Posted by Justin Havre on Monday, September 30th, 2024 at 8:30am.
With its rugged natural beauty, ample employment opportunities, booming local economy, and high quality of living, it's easy to see why so many people are moving to Calgary. Northeast Calgary, in particular, offers many of the city's greatest amenities: museums, zoos, golf courses, upscale shopping, and more. Located east of the famous Nose Hill Park, Northeast Calgary is a naturally beautiful district with wide-open green spaces and tremendous convenience. It's also home to several schools, recreation centers, and outdoor spaces, ensuring there are always things to do. Discover what makes living in Northeast Calgary an attractive option for residents looking for a well-rounded lifestyle.
10 Reasons to Love Living in Northeast Calgary
- Affordable Housing: Northeast offers a range of affordable housing options, from condos to single-family homes.
- Proximity to Calgary International Airport: Convenient access to the airport is ideal for frequent travellers and aviation-related jobs.
- Diverse Cultural Community: The area is known for its multicultural neighbourhoods, offering diverse restaurants, festivals, and cultural experiences.
- Great Public Transportation: Excellent access to Calgary’s C-Train and bus systems makes commuting easy.
- Prairie Winds Park: A large park with walking trails, sports fields, a splash pad, and picnic areas for outdoor activities.
- Calgary Zoo: One of Canada’s top zoos, located just a short drive away, offering fun for all ages.
- Strong Job Market: Opportunities in aviation, retail, and logistics due to its proximity to the airport and industrial areas.
- Shopping and Entertainment: Easy access to shopping centers like CrossIron Mills and Sunridge Mall.
- Educational Facilities: The area features several schools and proximity to colleges like the University of Calgary.
- Growing Area: New developments and infrastructure improvements are adding value to the area.
The Northeast Calgary Lifestyle
Northeast Calgary, a quadrant comprised of twenty-three different communities, is a vibrant area of Calgary becoming as well-known as the downtown area. With rolling hills and prairie views, Northeast Calgary also has ruggedly beautiful landscapes that rival nearby districts. Like many other Calgary districts, Northeast Calgary provides access to the Calgary Pathway system. The system connects walkways throughout many of the best parks in Calgary. With ample hiking, dog parks, and green spaces, outdoor living is natural for many residents.
Along with its natural beauty, Northeast Calgary is home to some of the area's biggest attractions, including the TELUS Spark Science Centre, Prairie Winds, the Marlborough Mall, and more. From its lively festivals to its hidden gems, residents of this eclectic community will always find something to do.
Employers Near Northeast Calgary
For many people, employment prospects are among the most significant factors for determining where to live. The growing economy in Calgary is projected to see continued growth over the decade to come, bolstered by a burgeoning tech industry and the many companies based here. More than 143 major companies have headquarters in Calgary—the highest concentration of head offices in Canada. Many of these major companies are based in Northeast Calgary, giving workers more employment opportunities.
Just a 15-minute drive from Downtown Calgary, Northeast Calgary is close enough to enable quick commutes to the rest of the city. That said, there are many businesses within the confines of Northeast Calgary.
For Northeast Calgary residents, one of the largest employers is the airport. Established in 1992, Calgary International Airport borders Northeast and Northwest Calgary and employs over 300 full-time workers. This airport offers many opportunities for aviation careers, including flight crew, ground crew, air traffic control, ticket agents, and more. WestJet, one of Canada's largest airlines, is headquartered in Northeast Calgary, with additional hubs in Toronto and Vancouver.
Other major companies with headquarters just a short commute for Northeast Calgary residents include:
- Shaw Communications
- Attabotics, Inc
- Obsidian Engineering Corp
- BP Canada
Northeast Calgary Amenities
When deciding to relocate to a new area, whether it's relocating from another city or moving to another location within the city, one of the most important factors prospective residents consider is the area's amenities. While Northeast Calgary is just outside of Calgary's City Centre, it offers many of the same amenities the busier downtown area provides, yet has a smaller, tight-knit community. Northeast Calgary is home to some of the area's best museums, shops, restaurants, and outdoor activities. Learn more about the array of amenities within this eclectic community.
Neighbourhood Services
Among the many considerations before someone relocates to a different city or area is the services each neighbourhood provides. Like many areas of Calgary, public transit is easily accessible. Calgary Transit's Blue Line LRT Stations run through Northeast Calgary, with stations in the Saddle Ridge neighbourhood, Martindale, Marlborough, and others.
Another critical aspect of neighbourhood enjoyment is community engagement. In Northeast Calgary, this community heavily encourages civic engagement and hosts many events at the Genesis Centre in the Martindale neighbourhood. This well-equipped community center hosts a bevy of local events throughout the year.
Neighbourhood Shopping
Along with its commuting ease and vibrant communities, one of the many perks of living in Northeast Calgary is its numerous shopping options. Home to three major shopping centres, residents will have a variety of shops and retailers to suit their shopping needs. Sunridge, a local shopping centre, has many restaurants, boutique shops, retailers, and service providers. In the popular Marlborough neighbourhood, Marlborough Mall is another local shopping centre with numerous chain stores, restaurants, and service providers. Another option for shopping is Deerfoot City, which has many department stores, specialty shops, and more.
Things To Do In Northeast Calgary
While Downtown Calgary is most well-known for its sights, Northeast Calgary is home to many iconic landmarks–and extremely close to many more. The Calgary Zoo, one of western Canada's largest zoos, is located in the Bridgeland-Riverside neighbourhood, just outside of Northeast Calgary. The TELUS Spark Science Centre is an immersive science museum that encourages a love for science and learning in Northeast's Renfrew neighbourhood. On the second Thursday of every month, it hosts Spark After Dark, an adult-only science event that sparks a lifelong love for learning.
Outdoor Activities
Nestled in Alberta's rolling hills, Northeast Calgary has some of Western Canada's most beautiful, rugged terrain. Outdoor enthusiasts will love some of the best hiking and biking in Calgary at places such as Prairie Winds and the Calgary Pathway system. For pet owners, a beautiful dog park in Northeast Calgary called Tom Campbell's Hill Natural Park has off-leash areas, splash parks, and panoramic views of Calgary's skyline. Beyond the community's many parks, Northeast Calgary is a haven for golf lovers, with many great courses nearby. Surrounded by a share of the golf course homes in Calgary, the courses in or near Northeast Calgary include:
- Winston Golf Club
- Wingfield Golf Club
- Fox Hollow Golf Course
- McCall Lake Golf Course
- The Golf Centre at Harvest Hills
Restaurants, Breweries, & Bars
In recent years, a growing culinary scene has made dining out one of the most fun things to do in Calgary. The city is a top contender for one of the best foodie cities in Canada, competing with the likes of Vancouver and Toronto. Within its rich, vibrant communities, Northeast Calgary residents can find restaurants that satisfy all of their food cravings, including Canadian cuisine, farm-to-table, Italian, Mexican, and some of the most iconic restaurants in Calgary. Some of the area's most popular brunch destinations include OEB Breakfast Co, Blue Star Diner, and Diner Delux. Along with its food, Northeast Calgary is a hidden gem for innovative microbreweries, such as Minhas Micro Brewery and Tool Shed, Calgary's first microbrewery.
Nearby Attractions
Home to the Calgary International Airport, Northeast Calgary has become Alberta's unofficial aviation capital. It also happens to be the home of The Hangar Flight Museum, home to some of Western Canada's most comprehensive aviation exhibits. The museum is located at the southern edge of the airport. However, aviation attractions are not this community's only entertainment source. Elliston Park is located in the Forest Lawn neighbourhood in East Calgary, just a kilometre or so south of Northeast; the park hosts the annual GlobalFest, which draws attendees from around the globe.
Northeast Calgary Schools
When relocating to a new community, educational opportunities are among the most important factors to consider. Students residing in Northeast Calgary are part of Area III in the Calgary Board of Education, which oversees all of the public schools in Calgary. Area III has public and private schools, with 27 elementary schools, one elementary/junior high school, one middle school, eight junior high schools, and three senior high schools. They offer various programs to suit students' individualized educational needs. For students pursuing secondary education, Area III's three high schools are Forest Lawn High School, Lester B. Pearson High School, and Jack James High School.
Along with public education, Northeast Calgary offers area students an array of private education options. One of the most prominent private schools in the area is Heritage Christian Academy, a Catholic-denominational school for grades K–12.
For students who are interested in pursuing post-secondary education, Northeast Calgary is just a short distance from some of the area's best universities:
- University of Calgary
- Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
- Mount Royal University
- Ambrose University College
Living the Good Live in Northeast Calgary
From its abundance of community engagement to its easy access to big-city amenities, there are so many wonderful aspects of life in Northeast Calgary. In recent years, this suburban area has grown significantly, thanks, in large part, to its share of the best master-planned communities in Calgary. When making a move to Northeast Calgary, it's crucial to explore the different neighbourhoods within this community to find the right fit. Northeast Calgary strikes a great balance balance between a tight-knit community and vibrant city living.
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.