The substantial growth seen in Calgary's detached resale market this year has been driven by the mid-range segment, but big-ticket listings are also bouncing back.

Between Jan. 1 and the end of April, 350 detached homes priced at $1 million or higher have changed hands in Calgary, according to CREB^®. This represents a 289 per cent upswing from the 90 transactions that occurred over the same period a year ago.

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.

Bearspaw is part of Rocky View County, a horseshoe-shaped region that encompasses over 16 communities, including the upscale estate areas of Springbank, Elbow Valley and Bragg Creek. Today, Rocky View County has a population of almost 40,000 people, living in 13,620 dwellings, mostly on acreage-type lots, with Bearspaw making up a much smaller portion of those numbers through a combination of farms, ranches, acreages and master-planned communities.

After the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they planned to call Canada home, Okotoks town council passed a resolution inviting the royal couple to settle in their town.

Since then, however, a viral pandemic and a change of heart on the part of the couple – they are reportedly quarantining in California and have shifted their sights to finding a new home in Malibu – seem to have scuttled the possibility of the royals settling in the Great White North any time soon.

Yet, with all the attractive properties in the Calgary area, the possibilities for Harry and Meghan would have been endless.

Where can you take in mountain views, watch wildlife and enjoy a peaceful acreage lifestyle, all while still being able to access downtown Calgary in under half an hour? According to residents, the answer is the communities of Springbank and Bearspaw on Calgary's northwestern fringe.

Silverhorn acreage development focuses on conservation and enhancement of nature

For 25 years, Mark Kwasnicki has not only been living in the Bearspaw area on the doorstep of Calgary's northern boundary, he has also been building large, custom homes for some who would become his neighbours.

He knows what people want when it comes to acreage homes – including the high-end construction specs, impressive designs, and all the bells and whistles – but he also knows what they want from the development itself.

Finding the right home in a welcoming community

When Chris and Carly Dykstra sold their home in Victoria's Oak Bay neighbourhood last spring, they debated what their next step would be. They had lived on the West Coast for close to 10 years, raising their three girls who are six, 10 and 11. But when push came to shove, the Dykstra family decided to move back to Calgary, where Chris had started his career and the couple's two eldest girls had been born. They found their perfect home, one that would accommodate three children, three Golden Retrievers, a cat and a bunny – a 4,500-square-foot, open-concept, custom home in the family-friendly neighbourhood of Watermark in Bearspaw.

A new Symons Valley Ranch Market rises from the ashes

A project is underway to redesign and rebuild the Symons Valley Ranch Market, after a devastating fire roared through the historic building and iconic grounds in late January of this year.

"The market had become a real gathering point for the community," said Ken Aylesworth, the market's managing partner.

Amy Shafer found her own private oasis in Watermark at Bearspaw

Amy Shafer grew up on a farm, so when it came to building her dream home, being immersed in nature on the doorstep of wide-open park space was a top priority. She and her husband, and their three children, had been living in Valley Ridge, but just didn't feel connected. Their search for the perfect lot brought them to Watermark in Bearspaw, where they purchased a 1.33-acre home site that backs on to an Aspen grove, a freshwater pond and walking trails. The community features 46 acres of parkland and 16 ponds, and brushes up against the Haskayne Legacy Park, with trails connecting to Calgary and Cochrane.