Downtown resident Niko Florez said that he feels safe in some places in Calgary’s core, but not all.

He said it will take a greater commitment from the city, the community and other downtown stakeholders to continue building momentum and seeing improvements in the area.

The City of Calgary delivered a report on the state of the downtown, covering the milestones and successes in its revitalization from 2022 to 2024.  The report was first delivered as part of a State of Downtown Community Conversation hosted by the City of Calgary for various stakeholders in the core.

The report captured some of the various achievements over the past three years, including downtown office conversions, increased downtown property values, and major infrastructure projects underway.

“This report offers us the opportunity to pause and reflect on incredible work that’s been done downtown over the last three years, and celebrate those who’ve helped build it and who are shaping where we go next,” said Thom Mahler, director of downtown strategy with the City of Calgary.

The report highlights the projected return of $3.50 for every dollar in public funding invested in downtown office conversions, with the expected creation of 1,498 homes for 2,400 new residents.

It also points to infrastructure investments like the Scotia Place Event Centre, the Arts Commons Transformation, BMO Centre Expansion, and revitalization of west side amenities like Cowboys Park.  The report also refers to the expansion of downtown campuses for Bow Valley College and the University of Calgary.

Mayor Jyoti Gondek said that the vitality of the downtown matters to everyone.

“For too long, it was seen as simply being a business district that opened in the morning and shut down at night,” she said.

“Calgarians deserved a revitalized downtown that functions as a true neighbourhood. It’s dynamic, it’s inclusive, and it is alive with opportunity. It’s a place where people gather, where they connect, where they live and where they contribute to the energy of our city.”

With downtown property values having increased by $1.8 billion, Mayor Gondek said that means a greater share of property taxes come from the core, lessening the impact on Calgary home and small business owners.

Still work to do, particularly on safety

While there have been several milestones as Calgary continues to reshape its downtown, there’s still a long road ahead.

Kay Choi, director of partnerships with the City of Calgary, said that work is being done on all 28 recommendations that came from the downtown safety leadership table. Progress is being made on creating a safer downtown.

Choi said there’s been a 12 per cent decrease in social disorder, public safety and medical calls in the downtown area.

“Last year, 73 per cent of Calgarians said that they feel safe, and this year, we’re seeing that 85 per cent of Calgarians feel that they are safe,” Choi said.  

“But please understand that we still have a lot more work to do. We are acting, we’re moving the needle, but we still have more work to do.”

Ward 7 Coun. Terry Wong said that work must continue on Calgarians’ perception of safety in the downtown. Even though crime stats are improving, people are still feeling unsafe in the core.

Wong cautioned, however, that it’s a continuum, and continued collaboration is required to maintain the momentum.

“We focus on some of the conversations today about clean and safe. We talk about a great destination to live, work and play. We talk about a great experience,” he said.

“Those are the things that are evolving to get us to where we want to be.”

Florez, who lives, studies, and works in the downtown, said he loves living in the core. When he first moved to Calgary two years ago, one of the things he highlighted in immigrating from Colombia was the safety the city offered.

“When I researched and I Google Calgary online, I find out, like, OK, it’s a clean city. OK, it’s a safe city. Of course, being here, I’ve noticed it has changed a lot, but I think it’s something that is growing and improving,” he said.

“We can make it better. I think it needs to be like a work in progress.”

Florez said one key area he’s identified as a Bow Valley College grad is that classes would sometimes end at 9:30 p.m. and students wouldn’t feel safe taking the train at that time.

“I think it’s something that we need to work around, and it’s something that as an effort, a group effort, we need to work with the government, the police, but also the communities, the colleges, the universities,” he said.

“Everyone has to be involved in this conversation.”