Downtown Calgary, locally known as the Downtown Core, is a major dense inter-city urban and suburban district located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is known for being the main central business district (CBD) of the city and is known for many high-rise buildings, tourism and eateries/shops. The district is mainly divided into seven residential and commercial neighbourhoods forming Downtown Calgary, which include Eau Claire, Chinatown, East Village, the Beltline, Sunalta, the Downtown West End, and Mission.
Downtown Calgary is boarded by 14 Street W to the west, the Elbow River Crossing on 9 Avenue SE to the east, the CP Rail tracks to the south and the Bow River/Memorial Drive to the north.
The neighbourhoods of the Beltline and Mission are mainly considered part of downtown although being residential districts, majorly due to high population densities, high dense businesses, and as well retail and nightlife, but are not considered as neighbourhoods by the City.
The C-Train light rail system owned by Calgary Transit runs through 7 Avenue SW on the Red and Blue Lines within the middle of the core and runs east to west on a shared double track road, with rides being free along the corridor. The underground-future Green Line will run through 2 Street in a north to south direction.
The population of the district was around 40,000 people in 2016.
Neighbourhoods[]
Commercial core[]
The commercial core in Calgary is also known as the Financial District, which is the main central business district of the City of Calgary, and comprises major high-rise skyscrapers, and had eight of the tallest buildings in Western Canada. The core is connected via indoor bridges and walkways covering 18 kilometers, known as the Plus 15 (+15), being the worlds longest pedestrian skywalk system, connecting 130 buildings within Calgary and over 86 bridges, with its main hub being at the CORE Shopping Centre.
The area surrounding Stephen Avenue and the CORE Shopping Centre are known to be the main retail hubs in the core; the former being a outdoor pedestrian mall containing major stores, eateries and cinemas, and is located adjacent TD Square/CORE Shopping Centre. The CORE Shopping Centre is mainly linked by its anchors Holt Renfrew and Hudsons Bay, its borders between 2 Street SW and 5 Street SW. Major attractions within the core include the Devonian Gardens, the Glenbow Museum, Olympic Plaza, Arts Commons and the Telus Convention Centre.
Government district[]
The Calgary Municipal Building.
The main government district of Calgary is mainly centered around the Calgary Municipal Building and City Hall, being known for many government city headquarters and major city services including the Calgary Police Service, the Central Library, the federal Harry Hays building, Bow Valley College, the US consulate, and the Calgary Board of Education (CBE). It is mainly centered around Macleod Trail, Chinatown, and the East Village.
Cultural district[]
Calgary's cultural district is anchored by the Burns Building and Olympic Plaza, serving as a hub for both education and the arts. This area boasts a variety of educational institutions and cultural venues, known for Bow Valley College, the Glenbow Museum, Arts Commons, and the Max Bell Theatre.
In a tribute to women's rights and Canadian history, a statue of The Famous Five stands between Stephen Avenue and Olympic Plaza, who fought for gender equality in Canada as women.
Entertainment district[]
The entertainment district is located along 8 Avenue S. It contains the pedestrian mall of Stephen Avenue, lined with restaurants and shops, enclosed shopping centres (including The Core), as well as Calgary's only art house movie theater (the Globe Cinema) and recreation areas such as the Devonian Gardens. Landmark buildings found in this district include major luxury hotels, including the the Hyatt Regency Hotel, the Calgary Marriott and Fairmont Palliser Hotel. Landmark skyscrapers in this district are Scotia Centre, Bankers Hall, and Eighth Avenue Place.
East Village[]
East Village is an area located east of the Downtown Core. For a long time, it was plagued by high crime rates and homelessness, but it has undergone significant redevelopment since the 2000s. In 2007, the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation initiated $357 million worth of infrastructure upgrades for the neighborhood. These improvements included raising all streets above flood plain levels, upgrading sewers and storm drains, and constructing plazas.
As a result, East Village has transformed into a vibrant hotspot in the downtown area. It is home to the award-winning RiverWalk, several restaurants in the historic Simmons Mattress Factory building, and multiple new condo towers. The neighborhood also hosts Studio Bell, the National Music Centre, and the Central Library.
Downtown West End[]
Downtown West End
Downtown West End is a high-rise, high-density residential neighbourhood to the west of the Downtown Commercial Core, known for major high-rise condos/apartments. It is home to Millennium Park (now known as Cowboys Park); a large skate park, and it is also home to the Calgary Pride event every June. The C-Train light rail line serves the West End through the Blue Line at Downtown-West Kerby station, and the neighbourhood is also connected via the Plus 15 skywalk system.
Chinatown[]
Chinatown is a cultural district located to the north of the Downtown Core, known for high-density living as well as a high-density of East Asian retail and resturants, and is known for the Chinese Cultural Centre, the largest of its kind in North America. Chinatown Calgary currently has an area redevelopment plan in place with work continuing towards revitalizing the neighbourhood. The neighbourhood also contains Dragon City Mall, the only traditional Chinese-inspired shopping mall in Alberta.
Eau Claire[]
Eau Claire is a major district located immediately north of the Downtown Core and is south of the Bow River. It is known for Prince's Island Park, a large urban park on an island in the Bow River and the site of many summer festivals, including the Calgary Folk Music Festival, and various busking happenings. The neighbourhood is famously known for the now demolished Eau Claire Market, which was one of Calgary's oldest malls, first opened in 1993. The mall got demolished in May 2023 to make way for the Green Line C-Train LRT station, Eau Claire. The mall had included a Cineplex Odeon cinema and local stores.