Just what is a "single-family" home these days? The distinction is getting blurrier, as many families opt for multi-generational homes.

As the benefits of year-round recreation and leisure become ever more pronounced – including physical health, emotional and mental well-being, community connection and overall quality of life – Calgary developers are working to ensure active living is accessible across the city.

For a city that merges cosmopolitan chic with shades of the Wild West, striving to attain the best of both worlds is nothing new. Lately, though, developers are taking the "have your cake and eat it too" approach, crafting trendy, downtown-style districts and amenities in up-and-coming Calgary suburban areas. If you're seeking to merge the benefits of the suburbs with the cool retail and cultural scene of the inner city, your search may be over.

When it comes to the names of Calgary communities, some honour early pioneers, others are named after the surrounding landscape and some simply sound like a nice place to live.

Pleasant Heights, Scenic Acres and Sunalta (a mash up of sunny and Alberta) sound like they could have come out of a real estate subdivision name generator. But how do developers actually come up with the names for new communities?

In just over six months time, an area structure plan (ASP) setting out the vision for a natural, amenity-rich, 570-hectare parcel of land in Calgary's deep south will go before city council.

The proposed new community of Ricardo Ranch is named after an area ranch owned by Calgary Stampede co-founder Senator Patrick Burns, and first established by William Crawley Ricardo.

Fire safety tips to protect your home

In Calgary, a recent string of house fires has people thinking about fire safety in the home.

Carol Henke, public information officer with the Calgary Fire Department, says kitchen fires are the most common residential call for the fire department, "and often it's because people leave their cooking unattended."

The shifting popularity of new-build home upgrades

Home command centres, extra-large closets, gyms, secondary suites, energy efficiencies and more – the new-build bells and whistles homebuyers are choosing today are all about convenience.

No matter the size of the home, buyers want products that support a busy lifestyle, says Michelle Jakeman, director of sales and marketing for Calbridge Homes.