While it is known for its breathtaking beauty, proximity to Canmore and some excellent ice cream, Cochrane is also a community with a rich and diverse history, fuelled by its ranching origins.

My favourite Netflix show has a plot of murder and suspense. Unlike a dead tree in your yard, where the cause of death might not be determined for years, there is always resolution at the end of every season of Shetland.

Named after the French novelist and playwright Honore de Balzac, the tiny hamlet of Balzac, located just north of Calgary, is so small that its population doesn't even crack double digits. However, it packs a wallop when it comes to commercial development.

As visions of a green Christmas danced in their heads, cannabis companies scrambled to secure retail locations in Calgary during the lead up to legalization and the aftermath. While some might say "the more, the merrier," others are left to wonder about the long-term impact of this increased demand on the city's commercial real estate market.

For Calgary-based, world-class explorer and adventurer Laval St. Germain, home is where the heart is.

"I could be on the other side of the planet, living in an apartment in Hong Kong or a tent in Kenya, but as long as I am with my family, I am at home," he said, just days before he was set to depart on his latest adventure to the South Pole in support of the Alberta Cancer Foundation.

As one of Canada's fastest growing mid-sized cities, Airdrie forecasts population growth of nearly 50 per cent over the next six years, with a head count that is expected to swell from its 2018 census figure of 68,091 to almost 100,000.

It's a growth curve that has only steepened in recent years, as in the past 10 years alone the population has doubled, up from 34,116.

To buy or to lease? That is the question for business owners today.

When it comes to finding a home for a business, the option of buying the space rather than leasing it is one that many are taking more seriously these days.

Franchise businesses in Canada contribute almost $100 billion annually to the economy and generate jobs for 1.8 million people, according to the Canadian Franchise Association.

Owning a franchise can also be a solid investment, provided a person does their due diligence before signing on the dotted line.

CREB®Now sat down with the mayors of Calgary's four primary satellite communities – Airdrie, Okotoks, Chestermere and Cochrane – to find out what makes their town or city unique and a great place to live.