The struggle for affordable housing continues to be the top concern for Calgarians, according to the latest City Pulse Report released yesterday. As someone who’s covered this city for over a decade, I’ve watched these pressures build across neighborhoods from Kensington to Forest Lawn.
“We’re seeing unprecedented demand coupled with insufficient supply,” explains Sarah Woodsworth, Chief Economist at the Calgary Economic Development Authority. “The average two-bedroom apartment now sits at $1,850 monthly, representing a 12% increase year-over-year.”
Walking through Marda Loop last weekend, I counted five new development sites on a single street. The construction boom is evident, but it hasn’t translated to affordability yet. Many residents I’ve spoken with express frustration at being priced out of neighborhoods they’ve called home for years.
Employment concerns ranked second in the report, with 68% of respondents indicating anxiety about job security. This marks a shift from last year when employment ranked third behind education. The technology sector continues to grow, adding approximately 3,200 jobs since January, but traditional energy sector employment remains volatile.
City Councillor Marina Tejada points to changing economic realities. “Calgary is experiencing a fundamental restructuring. We’re diversifying, but transitions create uncertainty for workers,” she told me during our interview at City Hall.
Education quality and accessibility rounded out the top three concerns. Parents across Calgary express increasing worry about classroom sizes, with the Calgary Board of Education reporting an average of 28 students per classroom in high schools.
“My daughter’s Grade 10 math class has 34 students,” says Bowness resident Terry McMillan. “How can teachers provide individual attention with those numbers?”
The provincial government recently announced a $14 million education funding increase for Calgary, but critics argue this barely keeps pace with inflation and population growth.
Housing affordability impacts nearly every aspect of city life. Young professionals delay starting families, seniors struggle to downsize affordably, and businesses report difficulty attracting talent due to housing costs.
Local developer Westmark Properties recently postponed their affordable housing project in Inglewood, citing rising construction costs and regulatory hurdles. CEO Michael Chen expressed frustration with the approval process: “We want to build affordable units, but the economics become impossible when permits take 18 months.”
The City of Calgary launched its Housing Strategy Acceleration program last month, aiming to streamline approvals for projects with at least 20% affordable units. Early results show promise, with processing times reduced by approximately 40%.
Community advocates like Affordable Calgary Now have pushed for more aggressive measures. “We need inclusionary zoning requirements for all new developments,” argues executive director Amina Hussein. “Other cities have successfully implemented this approach.”
Employment concerns reflect Calgary’s ongoing economic transition. While unemployment sits at 6.2% according to Statistics Canada, this figure masks significant disparities across sectors and demographics.
Youth unemployment remains stubbornly high at 11.8%, particularly affecting recent graduates. The Chamber of Commerce’s NextGen Skills program aims to address this gap by connecting students with employers for training opportunities before graduation.
“We’re trying to build career pathways earlier,” explains Chamber President Deborah Williams. “Students need to see themselves in Calgary’s future economy.”
Education concerns center on both quality and accessibility. Post-secondary enrollment at the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University has increased 7% this year, yet provincial funding hasn’t kept pace with inflation.
The provincial education minister defended current funding levels during last week’s press conference at McDougall Centre. “Alberta maintains the highest per-student funding in Western Canada,” he stated, though fact-checking reveals this claim only holds true when excluding infrastructure investments.
Looking ahead, the report suggests these three concerns will likely dominate municipal politics heading into next year’s election. Mayoral candidates are already positioning themselves around housing and economic development platforms.
As I finish writing this at my favorite Kensington coffee shop, I’m watching a young couple pore over rental listings with increasingly frustrated expressions. Their experience mirrors the statistics and expert opinions, reminding me that behind every percentage point in these reports are real Calgarians making difficult decisions about their future in our city.
The path forward requires balancing development with affordability, economic growth with stability, and educational excellence with accessibility. Finding these balances will define Calgary’s next chapter.
