Q&A with surrounding communities

Calgary's satellite communities and their respective housing markets saw economic conditions play out in different ways this past year.

CREB®Now spoke with the mayors of Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks and Chestermere to get their perspectives on 2016. Here's what they had to say:

Airdrie continues to step out from the shadow of its neighbours

Airdrie has come a long way from its roots along the tracks of the Calgary Edmonton Railway.

Located almost literally in the shadow of Calgary, Airdrie's rise from sleepy railway stop to full-fledged city is reflected in the number of people who choose to call the community home.

Rising from just over 12,000 residents in 1991 to 58,690 in the recently released 2015 census, Airdrie is now Alberta's seventh largest city, ranking ahead of such centres as Leduc and Grande Prairie.

Airdrie's population grew by 3,799 or 10.4 new residents per day, versus 5,331 total or 15 new residents per day last year – a growth rate of 6.92 per cent growth rate, compared to 10.76 per cent last year.