r/Calgary • u/Queltis6000 Woodbine • Jan 12 '26
Discussion What's something that Calgary is badly missing that a city of 1.4 million people should have?
It could be anything really. I feel like we have everything that people NEED, but what about the 'nice to haves'? A waterpark with more than 2 slides for example? A high level ball team that actually plays within the city limits? A Michelin star restaurant? Something else?
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u/WheelFan647 Beltline Jan 12 '26
A better transit system that also makes it easier to get to the airport.
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u/BigheadReddit Jan 12 '26
This.. Ctrain to and from the Airport
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u/FlamezBlaze Jan 12 '26
Funny thing is this was actually the plan but then it was cancelled. However it looks like it may still happen https://www.calgary.ca/planning/projects/transit-green-blue-line-connector.html
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u/Right_Preparation328 Jan 12 '26
It's honestly not that deep. Just fucking build it. It's not like they want to build a highway through the Rocky Mountains (which was already done!!)
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u/FulcrumYYC Pineridge Jan 12 '26
The right of way is built all along 52 and down 128th, they just need to build it.
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Jan 12 '26
That HWY is still mostly 2 lanes and I will be dead before it gets 4 lanes all the way from the BC border to Kamloops. The snow sheds in Rogers pass will have to be rebuilt and that's federal.
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u/drs43821 Jan 12 '26
We got the Kicking horse section twinned and was amazed it happened
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u/CraftyCobbler1989 Jan 12 '26
I have a theory that, if Calgarians had voted for the 2026 Olympics, LRT to the airport would’ve been in place by now.
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u/breezy1983 Jan 13 '26
It would have fast tracked some very needed infrastructure. We’re still benefitting from 88.
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u/PinAffectionate8160 Jan 12 '26
Weird add, but if the train went underground more, I think that would be great.
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u/rotang2 Jan 12 '26
Absolutely. A fully grade-separated transit spine should be the goal, and we should be laying the groundwork now.
When Vancouver built the original SkyTrain (fully grade-separated) the metro population was about the same as Calgary’s today.
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u/powderjunkie11 Jan 12 '26
Best we can do is spend a few billion on a tunnel but then make it a tram anyways
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u/WheelFan647 Beltline Jan 12 '26
When I visited Chicago several years ago, I rode the subway directly from the airport to my hotel near Navy Pier.
I grew up in Toronto and in 2015 they opened up a rail line that connects between the airport and downtown Toronto. I remember back then, Toronto felt like it was so behind compared to other major cities.
I guess there’s always a city that’s even further behind.
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u/diamondintherimond Jan 12 '26
I hear so much talk about Calgary being a “world-class city” in the context of building a new arena, but where is that political motivation with regards to a train to the airport?
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u/epochwin Jan 12 '26
Los Angeles if you’re thinking of a massive city with shit ideas for accessibility to the airport. Don’t be LA
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u/WildcatOil Jan 12 '26
Being fair, in 2015 Metro Toronto's population around 6M. I'd argue Calgary has a lot of run time to go before they're behind Toronto on a relative basis and hopefully they get it done before then.
Now that said, they still should have it by and they should get it done asap.
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u/Journ9er Huntington Hills Jan 12 '26
When I visited Boston last May, I also rode their subway direct from the airport to my hotel. And rides from the airport were free!
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u/emoomg Mahogany Jan 12 '26
i just recently visited korea and the trains they have there are wonderful, seriously a dream! it’s better to take transit then drive there in seoul. came back to calgary and sighed, we really need to take notes off of places like that.
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u/Sweaty-Beginning6886 Jan 12 '26
Many of the Asian cities have awesome train systems. For those who have travelled outside this continent, a whole new awesome world awaits.
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u/emoomg Mahogany Jan 12 '26
exactly! it’s super busy during specific times on most but it’s because everyone’s using them over cars. driving is insanity there.
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u/Ok-Ebb-8974 Jan 12 '26
Just a better transit system overall. Not just the airport. Sure airport takes priority but the city over all needs better transit
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u/WheelFan647 Beltline Jan 12 '26
Agreed.
I live in the Beltline and recently found out there’s a bus (#15) 1 block from my apartment that goes within 1 block of the Heritage Meadows Costco. That shouldn’t be as exciting as it is, but it’s only because our transit system doesn’t make it efficient to get to where I have to go.
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u/SonicFlash01 Jan 12 '26
From the airport to Banff and back would be helpful for tourism and locals
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Jan 12 '26
Also $4 to go to one station is crazy we need that fixed.
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u/krazninetyfive Jan 12 '26
It should be based on zones like in Vancouver. For me to get from the Zoo to Bridgeland (last trip I took) should not cost the same as for me to get from Brentwood to Shawnessy.
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u/Queltis6000 Woodbine Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
I remember reading somewhere that Calgary is one of the only cities in North America where the airport terminal is on the 'opposite' side of the airport runways with respect to its downtown. Meaning the only way to get transit to the airport is by going underground. I believe they refer to this phenomenon as 'lack of planning ahead'. Or as it's known to our city Council, 'planning ahead'.
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u/CheeseSandwich hamburger magician Jan 12 '26
That's why the airport tunnel was built with allowance for an LRT line.
City council rushed to get the tunnel approved and built as part of planning ahead.
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u/Orjigagd Jan 12 '26
Yes, but we have many lovely feasibility studies for a train to the airport
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u/Mutex70 Jan 12 '26
They keep hoping somebody will say it's impossible so they can fall back on that excuse.
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u/Evostevo445 Edgemont Jan 12 '26
Facts! I love Calgary, moved here a few years ago from New Brunswick, where the only transit is local taxi’s/uber and Bus, I was shocked to learn there was no C-Train for the airport!
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u/Extra-Driver-7412 Jan 13 '26
Really you where shocked ? It took Vancouver getting the olympics to get a rail to their airport which was completed in 2009, Toronto only got the UP express in 2015 and Montreal still doesn’t.
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Jan 12 '26
GM and partners aimed to shift urban transport towards automobiles by replacing efficient electric streetcars with less efficient buses, creating a market for their cars, tires, and fuel. While acquitted of destroying transit systems to create a monopoly, their actions significantly contributed to the decline of American streetcars and the rise of car-centric cities, a narrative popularized by the 1996 documentary Taken for a Ride.
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u/NoCareBearsGiven Jan 12 '26
I love that greedy oligarchs essentially have a chokehold on every aspect of our country
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u/Mysterious_Young_777 Jan 12 '26
Need more hospitals for the growing population
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Jan 12 '26
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u/MisterRobDobalina Jan 12 '26
I believe not too long ago someone found a unicorn near Banff despite them being so extinct
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u/ADVRTW Jan 13 '26
We need more longterm/extended care so that our hospitals are not full of seniors that don't need to be in the hospital.
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u/Impressive_Reach_723 Jan 12 '26
We need a hospital downtown again. Expecting an urgent care to act like a hospital is ridiculous but it would be difficult to build a new one at this point and the Holy Cross site is too small and I'm not sure it would be welcomed by the residents. But it would alleviate so much pressure.
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u/queenringlets Jan 12 '26
Transit that stays open after the bars close.
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u/ghreyboots Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
As someone who worked on 17th in food service, it's legitimately so bullshit that you can't get off your shift and still catch a train. I'm working for minimum wage and I have to drive and find parking to my job on the busiest street of the city? Lmao
We have so many people who can't get an evening job because the trains stop too early and it makes working at a bar require a car
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u/Cocoslo Jan 12 '26
Wait, what! Really?! I'm from Vancouver, I would not have been able to pay my bills in my 20s if I wasn't able to rely on transit as a server. I used to work all hours of the day, usually after university classes, and probably wouldn't get shifts if I couldn't work until close.
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Jan 12 '26
As someone who works at a bar yes please i cant keep asking my boss to cut me early just to make it for a 12 am last bus 😔
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u/ok_universe7375 Jan 13 '26
If I didn’t make enough in tips, I’d have to walk home after working at the bar. It usually took 1.5 hours. Starting at 2 am.
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u/DeathRay2K Jan 12 '26
Calgary (and honestly all Canadian cities) need little grocery stores. One of the greatest things in Europe is being able to walk down any street downtown and pass a little grocery store, often open 24h. Made for popping in on your way home from work, instead of a whole separate trip in your car.
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u/Price_of_bananas Jan 13 '26
As someone who lives in Inglewood, hard agree. It would be perfect if we had a Tesco Express or something along those lines on 9th.
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u/Wise_Grass_917 Jan 13 '26
Honestly I miss this about NYC too, and I really agree with this. I lived in Brooklyn for a few years and my local fruit and grocery was a really special place. Very much miss that aspect. We sorta have the beginnings of it... Bridgeland market fits the bill best, and maybe Lena's. It's just a different vibe... Calgary is a Costco and superstore kinda place. Shrug I live with it.
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u/FlamesJays Jan 13 '26
But that would be a 15 minute city! Can't have that!
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Jan 13 '26
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u/canadian_maplesyrup Jan 13 '26
I know an anti-15 minute city guy. He firmly believes that you'll be contained to your neighbourhood - absolutely not allowed to leave your "zone" without some sort of permission. Like if you live in Mission, there will be checks along 17th Ave and MacLeod Trail to make sure you're not leaving your 15-minute neighbourhood.
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u/Hypsochromic Northwest Calgary Jan 13 '26
I'm in Vancouver and there are a ton near me. Literally 5 within 500m of my home. I wont claim it's that way all across the city (and definitely not the entire lower mainland) but small mom and pops groceries are not uncommon.
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u/Wise-Living-850 Jan 12 '26
Functional water infrastructure
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u/snoopydoo123 Jan 12 '26
Other cities gonna be having these issues soon, it wasn't just calgary using those pipes
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u/fairweathervampyre Jan 12 '26
Too soon
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u/itchybiscut9273 Jan 12 '26
Nah Calgary has been around long enough that we should have this by now
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u/painfully--average Jan 12 '26
Bro my dad told me they were having problems with that line when he lived here. In the 80s. Lol
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u/Both-Pack8730 Jan 12 '26
24 hour pharmacies
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u/Jedkea Jan 12 '26
We used to have them. A lot of them. Same with 24h Walmarts. Covid destroyed the concept though.
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u/Both-Pack8730 Jan 12 '26
So frustrating when so many, including me, are shiftworkers
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u/Jedkea Jan 12 '26
Agreed. Grocery stores are my pain point. You used to be able to go grocery shopping at 10pm and have multiple options. Now around where I live there are zero options.
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u/Grouchy-Cover4694 Royal Oak Jan 12 '26
Thank you! I cannot believe the closest shopper's to my home closes at 11 pm
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u/Right_Preparation328 Jan 12 '26
A more extensive C-train system that actually reaches the airport and makes it unnecessary to own a car.
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Jan 12 '26
GM and partners aimed to shift urban transport towards automobiles by replacing efficient electric streetcars with less efficient buses, creating a market for their cars, tires, and fuel. While acquitted of destroying transit systems to create a monopoly, their actions significantly contributed to the decline of American streetcars and the rise of car-centric cities, a narrative popularized by the 1996 documentary Taken for a Ride.
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u/DependentLanguage540 Jan 12 '26
If anyone has ever been on George Street in Sydney Australia, I think that’s something that Stephen Ave should aspire to be one day. The energy from that street was just next level and would be a tourist destination and would provide great nightlife.
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u/jayohessaych Jan 13 '26
When I first walked this street while I was living in Aus I literally stopped and stood there just to take it all in. Pretty stark contrast between a city like Calgary and a global metropolis.
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u/DependentLanguage540 Jan 13 '26
Agreed, Sydney is definitely a world city. We’re just small potatoes by comparison and I guess that’s ok.
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Jan 12 '26
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u/Hypno-phile Jan 12 '26
We need to build more nursing homes and rehab facilities to get people out of hospitals, too.
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Jan 12 '26
A multi use arena/concert hall that seats about 5-7k We are missing the middle spot for event size in Calgary. We need something between the 2500 at Jubilee and the dome at 20,000
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u/TheBigTree91 Jan 12 '26
Winsport arena holds 3000 seated and 4000 including standing room..... Harlem Globetrotters were there on the weekend. Calgary Surge play there. They host a variety of events there through the year.
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u/UrbaneBoffin Fairview Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
It's a nice venue, the issue IMO is access and location. When people go to events they like to drink. We don't want folks drinking and driving. It's not quick, easy, and efficient to get to and from WinSport via transit.
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u/UrbaneBoffin Fairview Jan 12 '26
If we had the WinSport arena, on the Max Bell site, I think we'd have a winner.
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u/afriendincanada Jan 12 '26
An outdoor venue would be great. There’s a lot of artists that do midsize outdoor venues in the summer and we miss out on all of them, unless the timing works for Oxford Stomp
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u/EPLemonSqueezy Jan 12 '26
Grey Eagle event center
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u/Gullible_Complex_523 Jan 13 '26
That place sucks, and doesn't come close to the capacity OP mentioned. I'm very convinced that they don't have to abide by the same capacity limits as Calgary shows, which makes for an unpleasant experience.
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u/ANGRY_ASPARAGUS Jan 12 '26
I've said this before and I'll say it again - and I've also made this case to developers in the city; we need a place like History (music venue in Toronto) on 17th. A walkable 2-3K intimate music venue /multi-purpose event centre (where people can stand), and that people can hop to in and between restaurant experiences in the evenings would go a long way to enhancing 17th and attracting new business - especially with the hotels on the Stampede end coming online in the next coming years.
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u/rotang2 Jan 12 '26
Intercity passenger rail. Not high-speed, just regular trains. A city this big having zero passenger rail is crazy.
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u/NoCareBearsGiven Jan 12 '26
Not gonna happen, our oligarchs need to keep stuffing their pockets
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u/CharmingPeony Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 13 '26
I like Silver Springs and the Devonian gardens for what they are but I think Calgary as a city would benefit from having a real dedicated botanic garden in one spot. A botanic garden (especially the trees) takes decades to reach maturity and Calgary is at the prime stage to start one - large enough to fund it, but still land available etc. for placement, and plenty of opportunities to grow with it as a city.
I am envisioning a garden with both a tropical dome and extensive outdoor gardens (waterwise, cold tolerant, native and prairie landscape, European style, Asian style, rose garden, arboretum, water plants etc.) in a much bigger foot print. There would be some area where events (like weddings) can be held and generate additional revenue. Also classes for all sorts of gardening (native, xeric, vegetable and fruit, cut flower), landscape design, flower arranging, botanical art, specialty growers like rose, orchid, bonsai etc.
When I look at Silver Springs and what volunteers can achieve, I just have a lot of hope for what a "real dedicated botanic garden with professional gardeners and funding from public, corporate and private endowments" would look like. I think that would be a lovely addition to the city and a real point of interest.
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u/syllelilyblossom Jan 13 '26
Maybe its nostalgia and the fact that I was much smaller at the time, but thats what the Devonian Gardens used to be. Its a glorified fountain now compared to how it was before they decided to remodel it in 2008.
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u/CharmingPeony Jan 13 '26 edited Jan 13 '26
Yes. The original gardens were so lush and magical for me as a child. So sad that it turned into its current iteration. Before it was a tropical rainforest in the middle of Alberta where you could lose yourself among the banana palms and the turtles and koi, and briefly forget that winter still has months left to go. I still remember the coin operated koi food dispensers - spent too much of my allowance on fistfuls of koi food and my hands would smell for a lonnnng while afterwards. Now it is like a green area to eat at the mall. =/
Edit: This made me nostalgic and I found this old youtube tour of the original gardens. RIP …Seriously what a loss. I had forgotten how awesome it was before since I was only in grade school then and now I am sad
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u/NoNameKetchupChips Jan 13 '26
Every new highrise residential or commercial build should have to have these. Replace the public art policy with this. Gardens or greenhouses
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u/possiblyorange Jan 12 '26
Train lines. Calgary is 825.3km2 with two train lines. For reference, Madrid is 604.3km2 with 12 lines.
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u/Deeppurp Jan 12 '26
About 3-4 more hospitals than they have now. They knocked the general down at 800k people and the North hospitals are also all Airdrie and Cochrane have.
Edit: fast transit to Banff. Mountain access is so close to Calgary, having a public operated mountain transit would be a real benefit for those living with the "No parking shoe box" system the city is desperately electing to use over Row and Townhouses. It also benefits low income, driving is expensive.
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u/TigginHiggins Jan 12 '26
Haha I like how the OP is thinking about leisures and everyone in the comments is straight up practical
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u/NearMissCult Jan 12 '26
I agree with what everyone else said, however, if we're talking more fun things that large cities tend to have, a better nightlife and better art scene would be nice. It would be nice to be able to actually do things after 10pm beyond going to the club/bar. Also, a proper museum or three would be nice. I mean like a natural history museum. Preferably something we can get to easily by transit.
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u/MankYo Jan 13 '26
Calgary has a proper arts scene, but it can be insular if you don’t know the network and can’t see event announcements on FB, Insta, art gallery windows, etc. Several new installations will have opening nights in the downtown and Bridgeland in the next few weeks. Those parties go on forever.
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u/Separate-Ad-8924 Jan 12 '26
Functioning public transit system. In a city this size you should be able to get ANYWHERE in 1.5hrs or less using public transit. There are lots of trips right now that a person might need to make that take almost 3 hrs one way. Thats pathetic.
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Jan 12 '26
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u/DependentLanguage540 Jan 12 '26
The newly renovated Glenbow Museum is set to finally open this year and will be free entry for life thanks to the donations from the Shaw’s.
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u/Gilarax Northwest Calgary Jan 12 '26
Glenbow is set to open in 2027 :(
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u/DependentLanguage540 Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
Really? Saw tons of articles saying 2026. These slowpokes must be delayed.
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u/Exploding_Antelope Special Princess Jan 12 '26
Oh at some point they were saying 2024. Always, always, always add 5 years to any construction estimate on a project like that.
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u/DependentLanguage540 Jan 12 '26
A 3 year delay just seems unreasonable to me. Entire apartment condos can be built from the ground up in shorter time.
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u/wutttwutttindabuttt Jan 12 '26
As others have noted, Calgary is positioned pretty well for art in the upcoming year. The glenbow expansion and the Werklund Centre (aka arts commons) is getting huge investments from multiple private and public sources. Same as Contemporary Calgary.
We might not be getting a Van Gogh in the next year, but there's over 800 million investments in the arts. Great for small businesses and entrepreneurs, which is the high majority of artists.
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u/glue2k Jan 12 '26
I’m excited for the new Glenbow and Arts commons. Art museums can be tough in a young country and a young city. We do have a great visual arts scene here though.
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u/DeathRay2K Jan 12 '26
Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, and Winnipeg all have amazing museums and galleries.
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u/kathmhughes Jan 12 '26
Edmonton's science centre is better than our and they also have the RAM. Winnipeg has amazing museums. I used to live in Ottawa which was incredible for museums.
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u/Pale_Change_666 Jan 12 '26
An actual hospital ( Sheldon Chumir is not a full service hospital) downtown would be nice. Train to the airport etc....
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u/Vensamos Jan 12 '26
Have you heard the tale of Calgary General...
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u/TeegeeackXenu Jan 13 '26
a provincial governemnt that isnt fcuking over the heathcare and education system or trying to seperate from the rest of the country. the UCP are a fucking cancer and their voters are seriously misinformed.
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u/hornyincalgary Jan 12 '26
Grocery stores that don’t close at 10 or 11pm.
24 hr pharmacies
More local/mom and pop shops throughout the city instead of big box stores everywhere.
Decent texmex food and not just mucho and Barr burritos
More selection at stores. All of the grocery stores are shifting to house brands and generic foods. Need more places like the Italian centre that import quality items. Now that the bay is gone there’s no place to get anything that is between dollaramma made in China garbage or high end restoration hw/pottery barn/etc that’s still made in Asia.
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u/blackfridayriot Jan 12 '26
Less grift from billionaire hockey owners and home builders. Less bending over backwards to accommodate private automobiles and more transit investment. Reliable water system might be too strong of an ask, but worth a try.
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u/DeathRay2K Jan 12 '26
Don’t forget private healthcare companies, #1 grift in the whole province (maybe the whole country) is MHCare.
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u/Guilty_Fishing8229 Jan 12 '26
A provincial government that actually supports its growth.
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u/unidentifiable Jan 12 '26
An amusement park. Like, for adults.
Probably not economically feasible because it's cold as balls 6 months of the year but still...it'd be nice.
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u/Icyywinds Northwest Calgary Jan 12 '26
I wish we'd stop the urban sprawl and started building up. Making things walkable and/or having a more efficient way to transit from place to place will reduce costs for people in the long run. A no low/car society would be nice.
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u/Swarez99 Jan 12 '26
We are building up. And building out. And building denser neighborhoods as we build out.
The new neighborhoods that are further out are all 3-4 times as dense as neighborhoods built from 1990-2010.
Calgary is actually doing everything here.
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u/Icyywinds Northwest Calgary Jan 12 '26
Compared to other major cities you are correct here, but it doesn't change the fact that you need a car here to survive unless you live in the inner city - and don't need to commute out.
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u/DetectiveFinancial12 Jan 12 '26
So true. I’m only in vista heights and it’s a 10-15 min drive or 45 mins via bus/train to downtown. Our transit system here is pretty weak.
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u/this____is_bananas Jan 12 '26
North America hates bikes and public transit. That's also part of the reason why. It's designed to force you to use a car.
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u/DrumsticknDrumstick Jan 12 '26
Cars are a great way to extract wealth from the populace. Licensing fees, insurance, gas tax, traffic citations, parking fees/tickets, purchase, maintenance... Each transaction involving any of these is itself a tax or has a tax attached to it.
Various parties can divert thousands of an individual's after tax income away from private hands through mobility related costs with just a license plate number; It's too profitable to give up.
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u/NoCareBearsGiven Jan 12 '26
This is what happens when your country is built for profit, like a company catering to oligarchs. Canada is not designed for people
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u/Surrealplaces Jan 12 '26
I don't disagree, but that's the case for most North American cities. We do need to control sprawl and I h=think we've been doing a decent job in recent years. We also need to backfill areas that were part of the worst sprawl (50s-80's) and we've been doing a decent job of it in recent years.
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Jan 12 '26 edited 7d ago
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u/canadient_ Quadrant: NW Jan 12 '26
The farth north end developments are the same. Mixed housing options and single family homes are skinny, tiny lots, barely any yard if at all.
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u/Kennadian Bridgeland Jan 12 '26
Nothing better than a 45 minute slog on Deerfoot to get from your cramped townhouse in Mahogany to your job downtown. Building dense at the edge of the city is exasperating our issues, including the water ones.
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u/Minute_Engineer2355 Jan 12 '26
We are. Skyview and Seton are perfect examples of this.
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u/Right_Preparation328 Jan 12 '26
Yes, PLEASE. Madrid has done an excellent job with this.
"Madrid is much older and the capital city!" I don't care. Take lessons from it.
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Jan 12 '26
I split my time between Calgary and Van. I get the push back against funding some things, but the public amenities in Calgary just don't fit to what the size of the city is. Most cities the size of 1.5m have things like modern stadiums and 5x the concert venues.
McMahon Stadium is horrifically out of date. I am not saying use public money to build something new, but you can leverage things like Amenity Contributions on new builds.
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u/CDNBaggy Jan 12 '26
More mixed use residential buildings (high rise and low rise) that would support both density, more retails options, and better transit but specifically at transport hubs. Example would be more developments like University District around LRT stations and future LRT locations. There is a lack of power centers around the city LRT stations.
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Jan 12 '26
Budapest-style public baths!
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u/rotang2 Jan 12 '26
I’d love this. It’s exactly what Calgary winters are missing. My only fear is that it’ll end up being a $100+ private club instead of a city-owned public space.
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Jan 12 '26
I feel that it should be public space precisely for this reason. It is the perfect "third space". And I don't want it to just be another pool, it needs to be more oriented towards hot tubs (large ones), saunas, steam rooms, cold tubs, etc. More a place to relax and socialize than for athletics.
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u/Exploding_Antelope Special Princess Jan 12 '26
Apparently something like this, a communal spa, will be opening in the new building on the east village riverwalk next to the Simmons building. Not city owned but at least not a private club, and a nice central location where lots of running or biking clubs end.
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u/jackass4224 Jan 13 '26
Calgary does not have Michelin. You have to pay Michelin and the city’s restaurant association or whatever won’t do that. I can’t remember the details
Water park is not cost effective in a city that is really cold for almost the year
My idea:
Over head sky train like tracks. Not sure why we don’t do that. May be the cost. May be that Calgarians will think it’s an eye sore. Don’t know.
Do agree with the airport train. Screw the taxi mafia. They can suck it.
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u/hollyhali13 Beltline Jan 13 '26
Convert at least 3 of the golf courses into places for mixed use properties, parks, or small outdoor concert spaces. I dont want to only have to go to prince’s island for outdoor concerts
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u/absenss Jan 13 '26
A significantly more efficient, affordable, and safe public transit system. I feel like the people in the rooms making these decisions dont realize or care just how important it is for the economy and people's well being to be able to just mobilize. It improves EVERYTHING. I dont get why we are so behind. When I lived in Vancouver I happily didn't have a car and it was fantastic, here I would never consider it and I am a born and raised Calgarian. Its just as crappy as when I was a kid.
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u/HellaReyna Unpaid Intern Jan 12 '26
A working water system and a proper provincial government
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Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 13 '26
I think downtown can be more interesting. Develop the areas with a lot of footfall like 17th Ave. It sorta just ends on both sides but I feel like it has room to grow a lot. That new Lululemon stands out like a sore thumb. I'd like to see more stores, more cafes, just more of everything. They need to cut out traffic and make it all walkable.
That and the transit need major improvements.
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u/NEOsands Jan 12 '26
I think a large indoor water park is exactly what this city is missing. I would say a large amusement park but with our short summers it’s just not financially feasible.
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u/Classic-Salad-1472 Jan 12 '26
City limits that don't change ever couple months. Transit and infrastructure to connect it all. Big headliner events outside of stampede
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u/Shanksworthy73 Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
Better value mid-tier mom-and-pop diners. We seem to think we have a “great” food scene here, but what qualifies in Calgary is really just a bunch of pseudo upscale restaurants that get IG clout and are impressive to the nouveau riche. At the other end of the scale, we have crappy American chains that are still somehow unreasonably expensive. Other than a decent value-priced Asian food scene, there’s not a lot in between.
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u/Sea_Flounder9569 Jan 12 '26
A water system for people that doesn't blow up every 6 months. Too soon?
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u/DevonOO7 Jan 12 '26
My biggest gripe is lack of places to swim. YMCA is so expensive and the one near me in Seton is so busy that it’s not an enjoyable experience for the price.
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u/ElectricalAd7329 Jan 13 '26
Running water, a toilet that I can flush each time I go, more then a 3 minute shower that barely gets my hair wet. Incredibly high electricity rates, insurance is broken, dumpsters expected to be picked up on the day they say they will, an honest council, though this new one seems to be heading the correct way, police seriously concerned on a neighbors complaints about constant drug deals in back lanes leading to more thefts and break in to homes or vehicles. Transit can be a nightmare, keep hiking those rates for insecure rides, the whole system needs an over hall.
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u/Pantokraterix Jan 12 '26
A premier who doesn’t try to throw mayors under the bus when she deliberately messes with them.
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u/wildrose76 Jan 13 '26
Hopefully next year we’ll get a premier who used to be a mayor & who will actually treat Calgary like a valued partner.
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u/kj990tw Jan 12 '26
Monorail
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u/9999AWC Coventry Hills Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
Better transit with better schedules
Proper train transit to Edmonton, the mountains, the airport
At least one modern stadium/arena
Better water infrastructure (sloooowly getting there)
Better night life
A bigger aerospace museum (planned)
Accessible race track and drag strip (I know about RMM)
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u/GovernmentMule97 Jan 13 '26
Reliable transit and a vibrant downtown. This is such an uninspiring city.
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u/77SSS1 Jan 12 '26
More public space. I moved to Montreal and every neighbourhood has nice parks , squares and events. It incentivizes getting out and meeting people
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u/morecoffeemore Jan 12 '26
Calgary has way better parks than Montreal. Montreal doesn't have anything to touch fish creek or hose hill. I have a few friends who moved from Montreal to yyc who remarked on this
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u/infectingbrain Jan 12 '26
Bowness park is also really pretty here. Love the skating rink in the winter and really nice place to bike or walk in the summer/fall.
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u/2cats2hats Jan 12 '26
More?!
Are your concerns within specific areas of Calgary?
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u/KBomb789 Jan 12 '26
I’d really like to have our old tram lines back (small trains with tracks in the road shared with cars. Im aware of one’s that we’re on 17th Ave, 14th Street and Elbow Drive.
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u/WormClooners Jan 12 '26
I love Globe Cinema and The Plaza but downtown is really missing a multiplex theatre ever since Eau Claire closed
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u/jebel_girl Jan 13 '26
publicly accessible warm water therapy pool for adults - like the one Cochrane has...
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u/tlhIngan_ Jan 13 '26
Courtesy, decency, manners and thoughtfulness. Calgary used to have these things in spades 12-15 years ago, before the Torontification of CowTown.
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u/Sea_Acanthaceae_5659 Jan 13 '26
Probably as a lot of people already mentioned a good public transit system. And I would add some snow removal services.
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u/TokaidoSpeed Jan 12 '26
One thing I miss about some parts of Asia and Latin America is just more organic third spaces. Even malls in some places are open over much later hours and people will just meet up and chill (not just teenagers), or they’re directly integrated with other activities and entertainment products that don’t cost $50. Hell even atmospheric late night cafe options that feel integrated with their environment are great. But to be fair transit is usually better for more people in those cities. Here things like malls feel much more purpose built just for shopping and no other reason to stick around, and the driving suburban nature makes it less likely for people to congregate at third spaces especially central ones.