Over a six-month period around 16,500 Calgarians voiced their opinions online and in person regarding the city's new Central Library and the future of the library system in general.

"Calgarians responded with enthusiasm, passion and inspiration," said Janet Hutchinson, Calgary Public Library Board Chair. "They clearly see their libraries as essential to helping create complete communities and feel strongly that they are a symbol of inclusiveness, hope and growth."

A new report from the Alberta Secretariat for Action on Homelessness shows more than 6,600 homeless Albertans have been provided with housing and supports since 2009.

Highlighting progress on ending homelessness in Alberta, the report also showed more than 1,600 people have graduated from Housing First Programs and are living independently, with approximately 80 per cent of Albertans who received support to help them break the cycle of poverty remaining housed.

Having long provided an affordable entry into the housing market, Calgarians are again turning to the condo sector as a way to make their homebuying dreams a reality.

According to CREB®, sales in the apartment and townhouse sector recorded annual increases of 12 and 16 per cent, respectively, in 2012, despite a decline in listings.

A likely factor in the rising demand for Calgary condos is the lack of availability in the city rental market. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's (CMHC) Fall Rental Market report for the city, the apartment vacancy rate in the Calgary CMA declined to 1.3 per cent in October 2012.

Calgary was amongst the top contributors to a slight increase in Canada's New Housing Price Index (NHPI) in December, with prices in the city advancing 0.5 per cent month-to-month.

According to Statistics Canada, the combined metropolitan region of Toronto and Oshawa, as well as the region of Calgary, were the top contributors to a 0.2 per cent increase in the NHPI, with increased material and labour costs contributing to higher prices in Calgary.

Through an unassuming door and up a set of stairs in Calgary's Manchester Industrial area, one can find barnboard, blue and white bowling chairs, an Elvis movie poster and more — pieces saved from the landfill to find a new lease on life with the Reclaimed Trading Company (RTC).

When contractor Kelly Kask started storing overflow construction pieces in his home garage five years ago, it was only a matter of time before that one garage turned into two, which turned into 10, which turned into the addition of three warehouses which turned into the reclamation company with both a Calgary location and a newly opened location in Vancouver.

East Village is on its way to becoming one of Calgary's most sought after neighbourhoods.

"Starting this year it's fast forward again, it hasn't slowed down at all actually which is really great," said Susan Veres, vice president marketing and communications for the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC).

"We finished the year last year (and) interest in the remaining parcels of land was really quite high so our focus last year and this year will be on commercial development, less on the multifamily side."

Calgary's West LRT was the recent recipient of two showcase awards at the Consulting Engineers of Alberta's annual awards in Edmonton.

The Calgary City News Blog reported Hatch Mott MacDonald, who served as the City's engineer on the project was recognized in both the transportation infrastructure and project management categories.