Year of Construction: 1896

Address: 102 17th Ave. S.W.

Community: Beltline

Architectural Style: Queen Anne Revival

Year of Construction: 1885

Address: 1880 First St. S.W.

Community: Mission

Architectural Style: Queen Anne Revival

Built in 1885, the Rouleau Residence is one of the oldest buildings in Calgary and stands as a reminder of Mission's rich Francophone history.

One of the oldest communities in the city, Mission began as a French-speaking Catholic mission in 1875. In 1899 the community was incorporated as the Village of Rouleauville in what was at the time, the Northwest Territories.

"Mission is a phenomenal place to live and play," said Julie O'Donnell, executive director of the 4th Street Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ).

There's no doubt that the communities of Mission and Cliff Bungalow spin at a vibrant pace, with people always out strolling, talking, poking into galleries and artisan shops, and enjoying the vast selection of restaurants and coffee shops.

It was that hum that enticed Nicole Butz to make a move to the area a year ago.

On an afternoon stroll, residents of the neighbouring communities of Cliff Bungalow and Mission can feel like they've gone back in time. They might encounter structures built in the Queen Anne, Spanish Colonial, Classical and Georgian Revival styles, all from the early 1900s, within only a few blocks.

However, combing through the city's historic neighbourhoods is no longer an activity reserved for area residents, as Heritage Calgary is helping people learn about Calgary's past through self-directed walking tours.

Year of Construction: 1907
Community: Mission
Architectural Style: Edwardian Gable Front
Architect: B.C. Mills Timber and Trading Co.

Located in the oldest part of the historic community of Mission, the Stepney Residence holds a unique distinction. It is a rare example of a prefabricated house constructed using pre-assembled, interlocking wall panels that still displays its original cladding. In fact, it is the only confirmed example left in Calgary.

Just steps away from the action and amenities on 17th Avenue S.W., the sister communities of Upper and Lower Mount Royal epitomize the best of the age-old adage: location, location, location.

Nicole Butz - Mission
For Nicole, the day begins with a short stroll from her riverside, two-bedroom condo (she has a downtown view and awakens to the honking sounds of geese) to La Boulangerie Bakery Cafe on Fourth Street to grab a latte.

She calls herself an ardent inner-city junkie. "I don't really do the suburbs well, and Mission's vibrant but a little bit out of the core, so you get a different vibe. It just feels like home."

Calgary's most walk- and transit-friendly communities

While Calgary is still viewed by many as a car-centric city, there are many other ways for Calgarians to get around – whether you choose to walk, bike or take transit. Just ask the residents of the following communities, the proud recipients of some of the city's highest walk and transit scores from www.walkscore.com.

New B.C. speculation tax could prompt Albertan vacationers to look closer to home for second-property purchases

Scott Henderson has split his work time between clients in the Okanagan and those in his hometown of Calgary for the last 15 years.

Eight months ago, the marketing/communications agency owner got pre-qualified for a mortgage for a second residence in Kelowna. Then, this February, B.C.'s provincial government announced a speculation tax on out-of-province and foreign owners to discourage buy-up of housing by investors who, it claims, leave homes empty and drive up home prices. A homeowner can avoid the tax by living in, or renting out, the home half the year.