Sanda Peric made a happy discovery since moving into her new condo, Vivace at West 85th, in Calgary's West Springs community.

"I basically don't need a car," said the 20-something of her first home purchase.
"I can go grocery shopping; I can get my nails done, all within walking distance. There are a ton of amenities nearby."

"West Springs is the perfect mix of suburban living with its sense of quiet and community and being close to the Core. I hop on the train, and I'm there in 10 minutes," said Peric, who takes the LRT to her job downtown.

A large grant aims to improve the economic development of the multicultural business district along 17th Avenue S.E.

The northwest community of Bowness offers plenty of diversity, thanks to the area's long and varied history. Just take a stroll along the main street and you will feel as though you have stepped back in time.

"Bownesians have this incredible sense of pride. They are proud that they are a small town in the big city," said Jacqui Esler, executive director of the Mainstreet Bowness Business Improvement Area and former main street business owner.

The great thing about living in Calgary is that every neighbourhood comes with bragging rights and the southeast riverside community of Quarry Park is no exception.

"There really isn't anything that compares to Quarry Park in Calgary – the location, the variety of housing types, the strong sense of community and the strong identity with great architectural character," said Glen Deibert, residential director at Remington Development Corp., the developer behind the community.

Situated on a historic quarry site adjacent to the Bow River, Quarry Park graces 400 acres of reclaimed land that features over 90 acres of park land, a 50 acre nature reserve and 10 km of paved walking and cycling paths that weave through the area, connecting to the Bow River pathway system.

In the course of striving to make a safer community, polish its image and improve home values in the area, something amazing happened in Coventry Hills – a truly close-knit community was created.

The North Hills Community Association formally launched its Building Safer Communities program last April in an effort to reduce crime in Coventry Hills.

The need for a neighbourhood watch program became apparent when a number of informal groups and initiatives began to pop up in isolated pockets, with residents using social media to alert each other about suspicious activities and crimes in the area.

Vancouver-based Macdonald Development Corp. is known for its thoughtful community designs, often imbued with a west coast feel.

It's a vibe that resonates with residents – connecting neighbours and instilling a strong sense of community. Watermark at Bearspaw, the developer's latest master-planned community, is no exception.

The 290-acre community is located in Rocky View County at the edge of Calgary's city limits, touching the northwest neighbourhood of Tuscany.