Perched high on the bluff overlooking Deerfoot Trail in Calgary's northeast sits the iconic Calgary Herald building. But few know that behind the iconic structure lies the thriving residential community of Mayland Heights.

Originally named Crossroads, the community was annexed to the city of Calgary in 1910, long before shovels hit the dirt to carve the two super highways that now bind it. Running along its northern edge is the Trans-Canada Highway, while to the west, Deerfoot Trail carries hundreds of thousands of cars, as Calgary commuters make their way to work and others pass through the city on their way to other destinations.

The lands that became northwest Calgary's Mount Pleasant community were annexed by the City in 1910, making it one of Calgary's older neighbourhoods. When development began in the area in 1912, Calgary's population numbered fewer than 50,000 people.

New developments on Calgary's western edge hope to raise the bar for active, outdoor living

Two major developments in Calgary's northwest will soon solidify the area's reputation as the gateway to Rocky Mountain recreation and winter adventure.

While the nearby Trans-Canada Highway will guide future residents towards mountain playgrounds in Canmore and Banff, the communities of Rowan Park and Medicine Hill will offer their own built-in recreational amenities.

Chestermere Lake's evolution from slough to city centrepiece

When Jen Peddlesden and her family moved to Chestermere Lake 40 years ago, people told her she was crazy.

At that time, what is now a 2.65-square-kilometre waterway was merely a "slough, just a place to put a boat," and was primarily a backyard playground for nearby Forest Lawn residents or the Calgary Yacht Club, which has been headquartered there since 1933.

Chestermere's local government gets a facelift, with new mayor and councillors on the job

In October's municipal election, residents of the City of Chestermere elected both a new mayor and an entirely new city council. The fact that no incumbents were re-elected would have been notable, except that in Chestermere's case, no members of the previous council chose to run again.

As a result, the new council is planning a fresh start for the community after several tumultuous years that saw rampant complaints from residents over utility rates that increased by more than 50 per cent in five years and property taxes that some homeowners claimed had doubled over the course of a decade.

Alberta's agricultural heritage defines thriving Strathmore

The Town of Strathmore has a rich and varied history – a history that was built on agriculture and community spirit.

"Quality is a way of life here in Strathmore," said Strathmore Mayor Michael Ell. "It just has that small-town feel to it and it is a friendly, caring community."