Gardening is easier in the southwest, where the climate is mellow

Are you a north-side person in Calgary or a south-side holdout? I have lived all over the city and surrounding areas, including Airdrie, Riverbend, Ramsay, Valley Ridge, Rideau Park and Spruce Cliff, and I make it to many more communities around the city during my travels for work.

During all this moving, there is one thing that I've noticed. If you are a gardener, life in the south is simpler: less wind, less frost, less killer hail and more heat, as elevations drop and the climate gradually mellows. In the southwest, the climate is softer and the garden living is easy.

New communities and developments in bustling town offer more choices for would-be residents

The explosive growth that Cochrane continues to enjoy is evident when Mayor Ivan Brooker reels off the names of more than a dozen new communities either under development or in the planning stages in the scenic town west of Calgary.

"We've had huge growth – we were the second-fastest growing community in all of Canada from 2011 to 2016," said Brooker.

"People love the location. We're a beautiful community, you're on your way to the mountains, and we're not a small town necessarily, in the aspects of not having services. We have everything you would expect in a big city. The amenities are there for anything you might want to entertain as a family."

Mature and distinctive communities are a point of pride for Calgary's southwest residents

Lawyer Chris Davis is no stranger to Calgary's southwest, a sprawling quadrant of the city roughly bordered by the Bow River to the north, Macleod Trail to the east, and the city limits to the south and west.

"My family has long roots in the southwest, going back to the early 1920s," he said, adding he spent his early years growing up in Lower Mount Royal and is also running for city council in Ward 8 in this fall's municipal election.

"Historically, there seemed to be a big divide as to whether your family chose to live north or south of the Bow River."

Because of his familial connection, Davis found himself gravitating toward an adult life in the southwest, residing in Bankview, Elbow Park, Garrison Woods, Parkhill and Richmond-Knob Hill at various times.

Granary Road will offer more than the traditional farmers-market experience

A new farmers market set to open just south of Calgary city limits is reimagining the traditional market as a family entertainment venue.

Granary Road will have a variety of shops in its public market, but also an active learning park that is a mash-up of a children's playground and an interpretive centre.

"Parents are always looking for something to do with their children and while we have some amazing attractions in Calgary, there aren't enough," said Jane Walter-Lockwood, director of business development for Granary Road.

Inn from the Cold reports consistent number of bed stays to 2015

A haven of hope – that's how many guests at Inn from the Cold describe Alberta's only barrier-free shelter exclusively for families, which continues to see capacity-like numbers leading into one of its busiest times of the year.

"One of the things we're doing here is restoring dignity," said director of donor relations Janeen Webb.

In the face of Alberta's ongoing economic downturn, Inn from the Cold has reported about 30,000 bed stays so far in 2016. Webb said that's consistent with 2015 when the organization saw almost 40,000 stays by year's end.

Lake communities merge city and cottage life for an experience you can't get anywhere else in Calgary

Greg Macdonald is a self-described "fishing fool."

"I'm either fishing, or thinking about fishing," he said, laughing.

This love of fishing is one of the reasons Macdonald and his wife are buying back in to the community of McKenzie Lake.

"We first bought a house in McKenzie Lake in 1999," said Macdonald.

"We sold it a couple of years ago when the market started to turn, but we just bought back in the area, because we loved lake living so much."

Three Calgarians breathe life into former convent

A cool redesign is transforming a former convent in Calgary's inner-city into a haven dedicated to seniors experiencing Alzheimer's and dementia. Called Life House, the pilot project is the brainchild of Sano Stante, Cory Krygier, and Twyla Hayes, three Calgarians who are passionate about sustainably reshaping established Calgary communities, and reconfiguring the look of elder care.

"Our focus is on providing a high quality of life and maintaining social integration with the community," said Sano Stante, president Sano Stante Real Estate Inc. and former president of CREB®.

Planned Green Line could make Calgary neighbourhoods more liveable, desirable

The upcoming Green Line will help make Calgary a more environmentally friendly place to live.

But it's also likely to make the grass look a little greener when it comes to property values in communities the multi-billion-dollar Light Rail Transit (LRT) line will serve.

"When you're looking for creative, educated and talented people, LRT access helps attract them when you have a city because it helps create diverse communities and streetscapes, and culturally distinct and diverse amenities with high quality design," said Misty Sklar, Green Line planning lead (transit oriented development) for the City of Calgary.

Flora, fauna and family fun abound in Canada's second-largest urban park

Few realize that the title of second-largest urban park in Canada belongs to Fish Creek Provincial Park. Then again, it's not just the size that attracts two million visitors a year to this sprawling natural area in south Calgary.

In addition to Sikome Aquatic Facility for swimming, the park is home to a mountain bike skills park and many sites for hiking, biking and bird watching. A number of day-use areas offer prime picnic spots, while those who seek more formal dining can enjoy the on-site Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant.

There's a visitor centre with theatre and exhibit areas, as well as the Environmental Learning Centre, a nature school that hosts students in science education from Calgary and area schools. The learning centre in particular reflects the values embraced by the park and its users.