Two southeast communities conceptualized in the late '80s and early '90s are still turning heads 20 years later. McKenzie Lake and McKenzie Towne share a lineage and a location: they are both named after one of the first homesteaders in the area, James McKenzie, and they sit side by side on the east and west boundaries of Deerfoot Trail. But that is where the similarities end.

The established community of Aspen Woods is slated for some growth thanks to the optimistic outlook of a few developers. On the south side of 17th Avenue S.W., immediately south of Aspen Landing Shopping Centre, Ronmor Developers Inc. is in the conceptual stages of its latest project – Springbank Hill Market, a 20-acre, mixed-use, commercial and residential development.

One of the fastest growing communities in the city, Evanston was designed with lifestyle in mind. Located on the city's northern edge and bounded by two major arteries – Shaganappi Trail and Stoney Trail – the community features easy access to the downtown core and the mountains.

"Evanston's vision was wide-open spaces and a place for families to grow and flourish. It was achieved by creating parks, soccer fields, green spaces and amenities right in the community," said Laura Field, marketing co-ordinator for Qualico Communities, the developer behind Evanston.

At first glance, the southeast communities of Ramsay and Ogden may seem as though they have nothing in common. Ramsay is an up-and-coming, inner-city, hipster hangout, while Ogden conjures images of a more family-centric, suburban lifestyle. However, these communities are threaded together by a common denominator that weaves through the city's landscape and is steeped in rich history – the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR).

As one meanders along the narrow and hilly streets of Bankview, it's hard not to be struck by the eclectic nature of the streetscape. Century-old, Craftsman-style homes sit alongside 1960s-era, four-storey, walk-up apartment buildings, and swanky new duplexes and infills. Adding softness to the landscape, fifty-foot-tall trees pepper the greenspaces, arching across the boulevards and creating a canopy of enchantment. Steps away, coffee shops, pubs and the boutique shops on 17th Avenue S.W. thrum with the beat of the bustling city.

When one thinks about Calgary's southeast community of Forest Lawn, one of the first things that come to mind is its lively food scene.

"I try to take a meander through the area at least once a month, exploring new restaurants and grabbing some great ingredients from the local ethnic food stores," said Jenna McNab, who loves to whip up authentic culinary gems. Although she doesn't live in the neighbourhood, like many Calgarians she considers Forest Lawn's International Avenue a can't-miss destination.

However, Forest Lawn is about more than just food. It's also about diversity and inspiration.

WestCreek Developments continues to make its mark on Calgary's suburban skyline with two new communities – Cornerbrook in the northeast and Wolf Willow in the southeast.

Rumour has it that a new residential community in Calgary's deep southwest takes its name and heritage from an upscale and eclectic inner-city Toronto borough with oodles of history.

Yorkville, the brainchild of Mattamy Homes, is designed around a family friendly outdoor lifestyle that promotes active and healthy living – the kind of lifestyle that cultivates connectedness and interaction.

Sitting just south of Silverado between 194th Avenue and 210th Avenue S.W., the new Calgary community of Belmont is touted as a quiet refuge on the edge of the city and a place for new beginnings.

"It's a bright, modern community with a broad appeal for those looking for affordable quality in south Calgary," said Steve LePan, development manager with Anthem United. "As the first new community in the area, it's focused on affordable quality for first-time buyers or those new to Canada."

Roughly 25 years ago, the northwest community of Citadel began taking shape. At the time, it was literally pushing the northern edge of the city, etching its boundaries along Country Hills Blvd and Sarcee Trail, while its northern edge spilled into the wild sagebrush of ranchers' fields. Today, it is bounded by Stoney Trail to the north and west.