With a multitude of projects underway in Okotoks, Chestermere and south Calgary, Anthem United is set up for a busy year

The name may be new, but the passion for creating communities remains as ingrained as ever.

Just last month, United Communities completed the process of changing its name to Anthem United, which reflects its corporate relationship with the Vancouver-based developer, investment and management company, Anthem.

Founded some 83 years ago as United Management, this is only the second time the company has changed its name. In the 1990s, the rebrand to United Communities came about when the company's focus shifted to greenfield development, says Steve LePan, marketing director for Anthem United.

Newest townhome designs focus on livability

Mattamy Homes' latest project has the presidential stamp of approval.

More than that, the design of the two townhome style Manor series show homes in The Gates at Hillcrest in Airdrie, including the 1,698 square foot Aspen and 1,525 square foot Birch – have his hand prints all over them.

After an absence of 10 years, Don Barrineau, president of Mattamy Homes' Calgary division, decided it was time to get involved in home design again. What he found early on was that his vision of what the homes should focus on hasn't changed.

Lake living in Chestermere has the Totlands feeling great about relocating

When it came to finding their forever home, sussing out a community that offered a shorter commute to work was top of mind for Jared and Vera Totland.

The young couple, who are both 30, had been living in Calgary's deep south for a few years.

"Driving downtown to work was getting to be an hour each way," recalled Jared, a chartered accountant. But it wasn't just the work commute that was becoming a headache. everything felt like a long drive away, said Jared.

With plenty to see and do, the Municipal District of Foothills may be your next day-trip destination

South of Calgary lies the Municipal District of Foothills. Okotoks, High River, Black Diamond, Turner Valley and Longview are all within the district's boundaries, an area that encompasses some 3,600 square kilometres of ranchlands and rolling foothills.

According to 2011 census figures, not only is the district home to 21,258 people, it also
offers Calgarians and area residents a variety of interesting attractions. The website www.coollittletowns.com – an initiative of several southern Alberta communities – provides information on district attractions, from hundreds of unique shops, restaurants, galleries, activities and experiences.

Hard work and resilience has turned High River into a reinvigorated, thriving community

There were doubters, those who believed High River couldn't possibly survive the devastation of the 2013 flood.

Well, they're being proven wrong.

"The town utilized a 'build it back better' mentality," said Jodi Dawson, the town's manager of economic development.

After spending more than $100 million on flood mitigation to protect new and existing residents and businesses, High River is back a bit bigger, and definitely better, than before.

Tamani Communities hopes small-town lifestyle and nature's grandeur will bring new buyers to its Riversong development

There's nothing like good economic news – and maybe a strong hint that winter is finally melting away – to draw home shoppers out of hibernation and into show homes.

Cam Hart, vice-president of Riversong developer Tamani Communities, says there is a different attitude among those visiting show homes in Riversong on the south side, within the town boundaries of Cochrane.

"We definitely see a more positive outlook going into this year than at the beginning of 2015 and 2016," said Hart. "And as the local and regional economies continue to stabilize and improve, we believe we'll see more buyers."

Rocky View's proposed gravel pit policy has local homeowners crying foul

Gravel hardly seems like a subject to stir controversy, but a proposed policy plan for gravel pits in Rocky View County has done just that.

Since the draft of Rocky View County's Aggregate Resource Plan was announced last year, it has raised the ire of residents in areas close to existing and possible future gravel operations.

Satellite communities offer more bang for your buck

Landing your dream home can be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But if the financial stars don't align the way you'd hoped, you may have to manage your expectations.

Such was the case for Jarred Jusko Friedman and his wife Shaaz, who decided to buy their first home last fall, after renting in Calgary's northeast community of Skyview Ranch.

"We started looking, but we soon found we weren't even able to get into the market at our target price range," said Friedman, adding that the only viable option in their price range was a townhome.

Not your traditional suburban community

The rapidly growing community of Chestermere exudes an intrinsic lightness of being and a twinkling joie de vivre. You can feel it crackling in the air as you stroll down the pathways, watching people run, blade and bike during the summer months or cross-country ski in the winter, whooshing, swishing, all the while laughing.

"It's the people that really make this an amazing place to live," said resident Ryan Armstrong.

He moved his young family from northwest Calgary to Kinniburgh Estates in East Chestermere four years ago and hasn't looked back.