A handful of early communities in the area helped Calgary grow to the city it is today

More than 130 years ago, Calgary consisted of a fort surrounded by prairie grasses, First Nations tribes and settlers making a fresh start in the new west.

Today, the city is home to more than one million people and represents the industry engine of Canada's thriving economy.

Still, many of the communities founded yesterday remain today. Here's a snapshot of just a few:

Family transforms its home for scares and charity

Not satisfied with simply adorning their lawn with a few pumpkins, one Calgary family continues to take its Halloween decorating to the next level.

For the past 27 years, the Campbell family has annually transformed its otherwise-unassuming Rocky Ridge home into a haven for all things horrifying.

St. Patrick's Bridge opening connects East Village to Bridgeland, Sunnyside

After more than a year of delays, the long-awaited St. Patrick's Bridge officially opened to the public this week.

The $25-million pedestrian bridge is expected to see more than 4,000 people annually traversing between the communities of Bridgeland and Sunnyside north of Memorial Drive to the revitalized East Village. Officials at the grand opening said it will cater to walkers and cyclists heading in and out of downtown, as well as improve access to nearby attractions such as Fort Calgary and the Calgary Zoo.

Do you believe in ghosts? If you're a non-believer, Calgary Ghost Tours just might change your mind.

Around for eight years, the company started organizing tours around the historic communities of Inglewood and Kensington – as well as downtown and even Banff – in the search for signs of the dearly departed. Guests also get to learn more about the city's history along the way. Johanna Lane of Calgary Ghost Tours took some time out of her day to chat with CREB®Now about her favourite stop on the tour and what films make her check the closet before heading to bed.

CREB®Now: ?What is a Calgary Ghost Tour?

Lane: Calgary Ghost Tours are tours that combine historical information with ghost stories. We tell you the history of places and then who we think is still "hanging" around.

* In this three-part series, CREBNow takes a look at the sinister and spooky side of Calgary's haunted housing history 

Touring Heritage Park's eerie abodes

The accounts all sound like something out of the classic ghost story: lights that turn on with no electricity; windows and doors that seem to open and close themselves; even sightings of a long-dead figure - returned from beyond the grave for reasons unknown – in an upstairs window.

The CREB® Charitable Foundation announced five recipients for the Governor's Grants reception Oct. 17.

"I'm very proud of everything the Charitable Foundation does to support the community on behalf of our members," said Aneve MacKay-Lyons, Charitable Foundation co-ordinator. "To the five recipients that we will be recognizing tonight, you all make tremendous contributions to the community and I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart."

* In this three-part series, CREBNow takes a look at the sinister and spooky side of Calgary's haunted housing history

Ghost walk reveals historic Calgary neighbourhoods' most haunted residents

It's chilly. Toque weather – a tad dreary, with not a star in the sky.

The perfect night, really, for a ghost walk in the historic Calgary community of Inglewood.

Closely situated to Fort Calgary, Inglewood was once home to the city's first main street in 1875. Originally known as East Calgary, or Brewery Flats, the name Inglewood was bestowed upon the community in 1911 by Col. James Walker.

Calgary Chamber comes out in support of secondary suites

The Calgary Chamber of Commerce has come out in support of secondary suites in the city – a hot-button topic that has dominated city council's agenda over the past several months.

"The Chamber, in particular, is in support of the further legalization of secondary suites because there's a strong business case to do it," said Justin Smith, director of policy, research and government relations.

"Mainly, there's a strong business case in having an affordable rental market in a city to attract new labour. and to also retain talented labour to make sure you have an affordable city overall."

Calgary's secondary suite saga continues, focus turns to ageing in place

It just might be the suite that broke the camel's back.

City council debated rezoning one secondary suite for more than three hours on Oct. 6, leaving many since then to further question the process surrounding the issue.

Several residents from the northwest community of North Haven appeared before council to speak against an application to rezone property to include a secondary suite. Included in those speaking against was Sonya Staveley who lives between Nesbitt and Nolan roads, an area zoned RC-1, not allowing secondary suites. She said it's the process of filing for secondary suites that needs to change.