Beyond bricks and mortar, it's culture that speaks to the heart of the city. The annual Mayor's Lunch for Arts Champions is proof the arts community is not only alive, but thriving in Calgary.

This year's sold out lunch, held on March 22, once again brought together Calgary's business and art communities to recognize the important relationships that foster artistic achievement.

"We see leaders in our community create canvases for dreams to take shape," said Randy Ferguson, COO of Strategic Group, the Champion sponsor of the Mayor's Lunch. "That is what makes a great city. Not a good or a functional city, but a great city. One that people learn from, admire, and replicate."

Ongoing economic challenges, shrinking population growth and a pandemic that won't go away add up to a downtown Calgary office market facing critical vacancy rates.

One solution is adaptive reuse: the conversion of vacant office space into residential projects. The University of Calgary's School of Public Policy recently published a research paper exploring the challenges and opportunities surrounding adaptive reuse and how it could make a major difference in the city's downtown core.

Just like homeowners, renters value a sense of community in the place where they live.

This element has emerged in the design of skyscrapers with purpose-built rental suites in Calgary over the past five years, with companies such as Strategic Group making ways to create connections among neighbours a priority.

For enthusiasts of the food hall phenomenon, comparing these facilities to food courts is like equating a Mercedes to a Hyundai because they both have wheels. Inspired by a European tradition, food halls can more accurately be described as a cross between an upscale food court and a farmers market.

Now, the trend that's captivating much of Canada has come to Calgary.