Demographics helping to distinguish Calgary market as Canada's leader

Calgarians need not be defensive about their hometown's place amongst Canada's preeminent cities, at least not when it comes to the world of real estate.

Having seen a rise in sales and prices, Calgary's housing market has been experiencing the same prosperity seen in Vancouver and Toronto – a trio billed as the "hot three" in a recent report from BMO Capital Markets.

There are, however, conditions that separate our city from the housing hot spots to the east and west.

Making holiday wreaths from nature's bounty

* photo courtesy Rocky Mountain Wreaths

It's that time of year, when the days grow short, your windows need scraping and your plastic sparkly wreath comes out from storage for its repeat seasonal appearance.

But it doesn't have to be that way.You could start cutting greens in your own landscape and bring the rich evergreen smells of the season into your home.

Simply get out into the garden and cut what you need for table decorations, swags and containers (as long as the plants aren't frozen stiff). If it's pliable, it's cutable.

Motion to provide 18-month window under review

Calgary homeowners with existing illegal secondary suites could have an 18-month window to get city approval if a current motion by council is approved.

On Monday, Ward 10 Coun. Andre Chabot suggested establishing a year-and-a-half "relaxation" for homeowners with current suites to meet with city officials and determine if their suites are legal or apply to make them so. After the 18 months, owners would be fined for a first offence.

The motion would also enable city administration to identify legal suites on an interactive map available to the public.

How the future of oil and gas in Alberta will affect Calgary's housing market

The plummeting price of oil is unlikely to affect Calgary's housing market in the immediate future, but a prolonged slump could eventually leave its mark on the local landscape, say Canadian economists.

"If the recent slide in oil prices turns down the migration taps, construction activity could begin to soften again in Calgary," said BMO senior economist Robert Kavcic, noting that, in the interim, Calgary's housing market remains red hot.

Once rundown community emerging as residential magnet

* Old neighbourhoods, new Calgary: A look at some of Calgary's earliest communities and how they're evolving with the times

Once home to the city's early elite, the historic community of Victoria Park is back on the map for Calgary homebuyers.

The Beltline neighbourhood has seen resurgence in its housing market this year, with several newly announced high-profile condo developments complementing a dramatic rise in resale activity over the last 10 months.

Bowness Park partially reopens to public after two-year closure

Two years after being closed for renovations – with some added delay due to flooding in June 2013 – Bowness Park is partially reopen for business.

The City said the entire west side of the park – including the parking lot, picnic areas and a new central square – is now open to the public. The east end of the park will remain closed until next year.

New guidelines aimed at encouraging travel by foot, bike and transit

A new policy approved by council could have more Calgarians ditching their daily drive in favour of greener transportation.

Seen as a way of encouraging Calgarians to travel by transit, bike or by walking, the Complete Streets Policy and Guide is expected to "improve both measurable and perceived safety, provide attractive streetscapes, provide transportation options, improve universal accessibility, promote economic well-being of both businesses and residents, and increase civic space" while reducing the total amount of paved space in the city, said council.

Making great compost this winter

My husband is a new-age composter.

By that, I mean composting is a new thing for him – something he hasn't historically been involved with.

And if there is one thing my engineer husband likes it's a task with logical and direct instructions. He doesn't want to guess what I need for my birthday, so he isn't going to guess what pile the potato peels he's holding should be dumped into.

New film centre coming to southeast Calgary

After much delay, Calgary's burgeoning film industry is about to get a major boost.

Approved earlier this year but with roots dating back to 2009, the city's first major film studio broke ground late last week in a high-profile ceremony ironically set within an unassuming industrial suburb at 5750 76th Ave. S.E.

Spread out over more than three hectares of land, the $23-million facility will include 50,000 square feet of purpose-built sound stages, 20,000 square feet or warehouse space and 15,000 square feet of space for office and storage.