10 Things to Love About Living in South Calgary: The Best of Cowtown Awaits

Living in South Calgary offers a blend of convenience, nature, and amenities, making it a sought-after area. With easy access to parks, shopping centers, and recreational facilities, residents can enjoy a balanced lifestyle with everything nearby. South Calgary features a variety of housing options, from modern developments to established neighbourhoods, making it easy to find a place that suits your needs. With easy access to McLeod Trail and Deerfoot Trail, residents of the southern part of the city enjoy easy driving in Calgary with quick commutes to downtown. Living in South Calgary combines comfort and practicality.

Reasons to Love Living in South Calgary

• Fish Creek Provincial Park: One of Canada's largest urban parks, Fish Creek offers extensive outdoor activities.
• Glenmore Reservoir: Perfect for kayaking, boating, and cycling along scenic paths.
• Great dining: Popular restaurants like Mercato and The Nash offer diverse culinary experiences.
• Craft breweries: Annex Ale Project offers locally crafted brews in a cozy setting.
• Proximity to nature: Green spaces are abundant, providing outdoor recreation close to home.
• Golf courses: Access to courses like McKenzie Meadows and Maple Ridge.
• Shopping: Large shopping centers like Southcentre Mall offer extensive retail options.
• Diverse housing: A variety of neighbourhoods with housing for different preferences.
• Public transit: Well-connected transportation makes commuting easy.
• Community vibe: South Calgary offers a welcoming and active lifestyle.

South Calgary Lifestyle

South Calgary is a vibrant, dynamic area with much to offer its residents, including several recreational facilities and parks. There are plenty of opportunities to stay active and engaged, from outdoor pools and sports centres to beautiful city parks. South Calgary also has employment opportunities in many fields, adding to the residents' high quality of life. Plus, South Calgary residents have easy access to some of the city's best amenities, including everything in City Centre Calgary.

South Calgary has seen tremendous population growth in recent decades. Not only is the area home to some of the best master-planned communities in Calgary, including Seton and Cranston, but it also offers a huge share of the new construction homes in Calgary. With its great access, variety of real estate offerings, and ever-expanding amenities and services, South Calgary is a great place to live.

Employers Near South Calgary

For many, the strong economy in Calgary is one of the most attractive aspects of living here. The city has a healthy employment rate and more than 140 major company headquarters, some of which are in South Calgary.

Just a 10-minute drive from Downtown Calgary, South Calgary is an easy commute for many Calgary residents. And for those who don't wish to work in Downtown Calgary, there are many employment opportunities within Marda Loop's dynamic business park.

Some of the largest industries in South Calgary are education, science and technology, and home inspection services. Mount Royal University is one of the area's largest employers, with over 1,600 employees, from professors and faculty members to other staff. Alberta Precision Laboratories is another prominent employer in the neighbourhood, with more than 5,200 workers. Popular positions include health care, administrative and support staff, and medical/scientific personnel.

South Calgary Amenities

An area's amenities can be a big factor when determining where to move to. South Calgary offers many big-city amenities and attractions while being in a smaller, more tight-knit community than some of the surrounding areas. From locally-owned shops and restaurants to recreational facilities, South Calgary has many desirable amenities for residents and visitors to utilize.

South Calgary Services

One crucial aspect of neighbourhood enjoyment is community engagement. In South Calgary, the tight-knit community hosts local events and promotes civic engagement.

Residents in South Calgary also benefit from numerous local services like The Mardaloop Registry, where residents can take road tests and renew their vehicle registration. For public transportation, residents have access to Calgary Transit, which offers over 150 routes throughout the city. The transit stops in South Calgary generally follow Macleod Trail, and there are fully-equipped stations in the Shawnessy neighbourhood, Shawnee Slopes, Canyon Meadows and more.

The Canine Companionship Clinic keeps residents' pets in top health, while the Giuffre Family Library provides free educational resources to people of all ages.

South Calgary Shopping

One of the best parts of living in South Calgary is its abundant local shopping options. Residents have nearly every type of shop and specialty store at their fingertips, thanks to a major business park and numerous local boutiques. Marda Loop Business Park has over 150 trendy shops, boutiques, and restaurants for area shoppers to explore, from national retailers to specialty stores. Along with the Marda Loop Business Park, there's great shopping at The Shops at Avenue Thirty Four, a unique blend of shops inside historic Calgary homes.

The CF Chinook Centre, one of the best shopping malls in Calgary, is convenient to every South Calgary neighbourhood and an attraction in itself.

South Calgary Property Owners' Associations

The organization responsible for creating and maintaining many of these amenities is the Marda Loop Communities Association, a group of neighbourhood volunteers and staff members. In addition to organizing events, they act as a conduit to City Hall, giving residents a strong and coherent voice. The association works to keep the neighbourhood vibrant, evolving, and engaged. Those who wish to be part of the community are encouraged to become part of the association.

Things To Do in South Calgary

With easy access to Downtown Calgary, South Calgary residents will always find something to do, even a short distance away. That said, residents don't have to travel far to find something to keep them entertained. From local events to parks and recreational facilities, South Calgary offers many amenities its residents can take advantage of.

Outdoor Activities

Nestled in the prairie lands, Calgary is one of Western Canada's most beautiful cities. This is especially true in South Calgary, where there are numerous parks and hiking trails. Fish Creek Provincial Park, one of the largest urban parks in Canada and one of the best parks in Calgary, provides scenic trails for hiking, biking, and birdwatching. Sikome Lake, located within the park, is a popular spot for swimming during the summer months.

Another popular park in the area is South Calgary Park, which has many recreational amenities, including soccer fields, baseball diamonds, picnic areas, and more. Another popular park is River Park, located near Sandy Beach in the exclusive Altadore neighbourhood. River Park provides a beloved dog park with an off-leash area where dogs can roam freely.

For golfers, courses like McKenzie Meadows and Maple Ridge Golf Course are nearby, offering well-maintained greens. Whether you live in the McKenzie Lake neighbourhood or the Maple Ridge community, there's a golf course nearby in South Calgary. Additionally, Glenmore Reservoir features boating, kayaking, paddleboarding opportunities, and walking and cycling paths along the shoreline.

Restaurants, Breweries, & Bars

In recent years, Calgary has developed quite a reputation as a Canadian foodie destination. This acclaim is spilling out of downtown and into surrounding districts, including South Calgary. Most known for its local farm-to-table dining, South Calgary serves a multitude of culinary offerings and cuisines.

Bow Valley Ranche is one of the city's most beloved restaurants. It's located at the meeting point of the Parkland neighbourhood and Fish Creek Provincial Park. The building itself, one of the most beautiful historic homes in Calgary, enhances Bow Valley Ranche's stunning surroundings.

For those seeking craft beer, Annex Ale Project—one of the best breweries in Calgary—stands out with its unique brews and cozy taproom. For fine dining, be sure to visit The Lake House in the Lake Bonavista community. Finally, South Calgary is full of small local restaurants, well-known chains, and neighbourhood bars. These spots make South Calgary a culinary hotspot.

Nearby Attractions

Located just over five kilometres from Downtown Calgary, South Calgary residents are a short drive away from some of the city's best attractions, including phenomenal city parks. One of the area's most popular attractions is also one of the closest to downtown: the CF Chinook Centre. This massive shopping mall is located in the Meadowlark Park neighbourhood, where it boasts dozens of eateries and hundreds of popular stores.

Nearby, Heritage Park is a living museum that honours the history and heritage of Calgary and its people. It is located on the banks of the Glenmore Reservoir in the Eagle Ridge neighbourhood. Finally, the rest of Cowtown's plentiful attractions are easily accessible from South Calgary, thanks to convenient roadways and efficient public transit.

Schools in South Calgary

Educational opportunities are among the most important factors when relocating to a new community. Students residing in South Calgary are part of the Calgary Board of Education, which services all of Calgary and the surrounding areas. South Calgary is part of Area V, which has one of the largest student populations in the Calgary Metropolitan Area. Area V's borders are Glenmore Trail SW and 50 Avenue SE to the north and the city limits to the west, south, and east.

While there are many schools within Area V, the closest schools to South Calgary are Altadore School, Central Memorial High School, Mount Royal School, Richmond School, and Western Canada School. Of these five schools, two are primary, and three are secondary. Central Memorial High School, Mount Royal School, and Western Canada High School are the area's most prominent secondary schools. Meanwhile, Third Academy is one of the area's most prominent private schools, catering to primary and secondary educational needs.

In addition to primary and secondary schools, South Calgary is just a short distance from several post-secondary schools. One of the area's most well-known universities is Mount Royal University, which is located in the nearby Lincoln Park neighbourhood.

Living in South Calgary

From its lush green spaces to its convenient access to big-city amenities, South Calgary has many attractions that have residents excited to move to the area. In addition, South Calgary also provides its residents with a healthy economy. But before moving to a certain area, prospective residents should explore Calgary's districts and neighbourhoods. For those who want to enjoy all Calgary has to offer, South Calgary is an ideal place to call home.