Kensington has been arguably one of the coolest locations in the city for decades, and a large part of that has had to do with the efforts that the business improvement area (BIA) has undertaken.

That vibe is one that has been earned, through consistent efforts to make the community inclusive, fun, and a place that has been worth visiting.

The Kensington BIA celebrated their 40th anniversary as the third business revitalization zone to be created in Calgary, with a kickoff party on Aug. 10 that counts down to their formal creation date in mid September.

That history and celebration is aimed to recognize the importance that the Kensington BIA has played in keeping the area vital, said Gwyneth Midgley, Executive Director for the Kensington BIA.

“It’s kind of a flagship area for maintaining Main Street activity, as opposed to big box mall kind of shopping, and it has been very successful in maintaining that vitality and vibrancy in the inner city and supporting small and medium sized businesses that are accessible,” Midgley said.

She said accessibility has been in large part due to the interests of the business owners that make up the BIA board of directors, to keep the area inclusive.

That has ranged from putting up pride banners, something that Midgley said has been thanked by local LGBTQ2S+ community members, to hosting a variety of different events that cater to diverse interests.

That history of the area has included over the decades an annual Salsa dancing festival, a Harry-Potter-themed takeover of Kensington Road, to outdoor drag shows, music concerts, annual Christmas programming, and a dog-themed Halloween event that has become increasingly popular with visitors.

Those have come with the support of local community groups, who have frequently been involved with the programming.

“I think what we’ve been able to do is work closely with the local community association and to develop that relationship with the people in Sunnyside, West hillhurst, Hill Hurst, and just across the river to create that sense of pride and support that these businesses require to survive. It is a community, it’s not just a shopping street,” said Midgley.

Ward 7 Councillor Terry Wong presented a recognition certificate to the Kensington BIA on Sunday, recognizing the work that Midgley has done, alongside long-time former BIA Executive Director Annie McInnis.

Coun. Wong said that the recognition from Ward 7, also was meant to celebrate the diversity of activations undertaken by the BIA.

“It’s definitely brought more attention and eyes to the area, and therefore more patronage to the to the businesses. Focusing on the businesses themselves,” Wong said.

He said that as the former Executive Director for the Chinatown BIA, he respected the nimbleness of the Kensington BIA to represent merchants.

“The Kensington BIA has a long history representing, knowing and representing all the retailers in the area, and I know that Gwyneth is going to care for the same tradition Annie McInnis used to,” Wong said.

“Kensington is Kensington, and not Marda Loop, not international Avenue. And so having that unique character is extremely important as part of the growth strategy.”

Celebrating the past 40, and looking ahead to the next

Midgley said that as part of the lead up to September, the BIA will be recognizing some of the long-time businesses in the community as well as some of the newer ones.

“When you look at the history of the businesses in Kensington, you’ve got everything from Chicken on the Way, which has been there decades, and the Roasterie on 10 Street that has been there since the 1970s, I believe. Both ends of the business district there have iconic,” she said.

“What’s so cool about it too, is the historic value of the area.”

She said that for their 40th, the BIA has enlisted the help of an muralist and an Indigenous Elder to create a mural that represents the long history of Kensington, long before the BIA ever existed.

That mural will represent the history from when the Bow River was a meeting place for Indigenous peoples, to when Riley Park was formed to host cricket, to the Red Brick Block from 1910, to the present day.

Midgley also acknowledged that change is coming to the community, in the form of new development.

“The density around transit nodes, that’s part of the city plan, and it’s a good plan. I think that will help the businesses. To be quite honest, it’s going to provide more pedestrian traffic,” she said.

“People can come there easily, or bike paths and that kind of thing. But also, we’re going to have people on site to frequent the businesses, whether it’s coming for an ice cream in the evening or going to the gym or hanging out at a pub or something like that. It’s going to be a benefit.”

She said that there will be growing pains for the community, and that the BIA would continue to work to advocate for businesses.

Coun. Wong said change is coming through the Riley Communities Local Area Plan, which will allow for buildings between nine and 26 storyes to be built in Kensington.

“Albeit not as high on Kensington Road,” he said.

Midgley said the density could make it more difficult for some businesses in the future.

“Hopefully we’ll still maintain that good variety and and be able to have good relationships with the property owners, with the landlords to to continue to keep Kensington as that unique, attractive area that people want to come to.”

More information on the 40th anniversary celebrations in Kensington can be found at @kensingtonyyc on Instagram, and at Kensington Calgary on Facebook.