Jenna Dutton and her fiancé have called the city centre community of Ramsay home for the past two years. Prior to that, Dutton lived in next-door Inglewood.

"I'm drawn to the area because of the local shops, the heritage buildings, the diversity, the cool music scene and that everything is within walking distance," said Dutton.

In other words, Dutton is drawn to the urban lifestyle. It's a way of life characterized by walkability, community diversity and proximity of amenities, something she was exposed to while living in Montreal.

It's still only October, but thanks to COVID-19 and Calgary's fickle weather, it's time to start planning for winter. After a summer full of park picnics, patio meals and backyard hangouts, the arrival of cold weather and the wet stuff will require a pivot to winter-appropriate outdoor activities. And if the rush to snag home fitness gear and bikes this spring/summer was any indication, equipment for traditional winter sports might soon be hard to find.

Here are a few ways you can stay active and social in and around Calgary this winter:

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.

CREBNow's three-part series examining the news, community and culture of cycling in the city

With a proposed network of downtown cycle tracks unveiled, Calgary City Council will vote On April 28 to determine whether or not the $11.5 million pilot project will get the go ahead.

City Transportation said the 12-month pilot allows time to study how the new network affects people traveling in areas pegged for cycle tracks, will connect existing pathways so more people can utilize them and will provide the same function and safety as a permanent cycle track would.