The City of Calgary’s commitment to excellence has earned recognition both nationally and internationally. Awards for City operations highlight the vibrancy, efficiency and innovative nature of both our corporation and the city we serve.

Quality of life

A great place to make a living, a great place to make a life.

quality of life awards in calgary
Year Recipient  Award Conferring Body
2024 Calgary 

World's 5th most livable City

The Economist
2023 Calgary

Friendliest city in the world

Condé Nast 2023 Readers Choice Awards
2023 Calgary

World's 7th most livable City

The Economist
2022 Calgary

World's 3rd most livable City

The Economist
2021 Calgary

47th Best City in the world

Resonance Consultancy
2020 Calgary

47th Best City in the world

Forbes
2020 The City of Calgary

Canada's Best Employers

Forbes
2020 Calgary

Honorary Recognition: Reader Rock Garden

World Urban Parks
2019 Calgary

World's 5th most livable City

The Economist
2019 Calgary

Most Livable City in North America

The Economist
2019 The City of Calgary

Youth Employment Centre - Community Choice Award for Best Recruiter

Star Metro
2019 Calgary

Canada's 4th most Youthful City

YouthfulCities Canadian Urban Work Index
2019 The City of Calgary

Climate Leader of the Year

Dive Awards
2018 The City of Calgary

Canada's Best Employers

Forbes
2018 The City of Calgary

4th Most Livable City in North America

The Economist
2018 Calgary

World's 5th most livable City

The Economist
2017 The City of Calgary

Canada's Top Employers for Young People

Forbes
2017 The City of Calgary

Canada's Top Employers for Young People

Mediacorp Canada
2017 The City of Calgary

Canada's Greenest Employers

Mediacorp Canada

Planning, development and architecture

Planning, building and developing great communities for everyone.

quality of life awards in calgary
Year Recipient  Award Conferring Body
2021 City of Calgary

Award of Excellence, Jury's Award of Excellence: Dale Hodges Park

Canadian Society of Landscape Architects Association
2021 City of Calgary

Award of Excellence, Planning & Analysis: The Future of Stephen Ave

Canadian Society of Landscape Architects Association
2021 City of Calgary

Heritage Calgary Award, Resource Conversation: Historic City Hall

Heritage Calgary
2021 Calgary Parking 

Best Design/Implementation of a Surface Lot

International Parking & Mobility Institute
2021 Calgary

Bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community

Share the Road Cycling Coalition
2020 City of Calgary Award of Planning Merit: Beltline Area Redevelopment Plan Alberta Professional Planners Institute 
2020 City of Calgary

Canadian Award for Financial Reporting

Government Finance Officers Association
2020 City of Calgary

Distinguished Budget Presentation Award

Government Finance Officers Association
2020 City of Calgary

Award for Outstanding Planning for the climate emergency: Biodiverse Communities Initiative

Commonwealth Association of Planners
2020 City of Calgary

Award for Outstanding Planning for cities and human settlements: Transit-Oriented Development Implementation Strategy

Commonwealth Association of Planners
2020 City of Calgary

3rd best overall planning features, government charges and approvals times in Canada

Canadian Home Builders' Association
2020 City of Calgary

Award for Planning Excellence: Biodiverse Communities Initiative

Canadian Institute of Planners
2019 International Ave Development Plan

Award for Planning Excellence 

Canadian Institute of Planners
2018 The 4th Ave Flyover

National Urban Design Awards - Community Initiative

Royal Architectural Institue of Canada
2018 East Village Junction

Best Small Project

Canadian Urban Institute's Brownie Award
2018 Csquare

Award of Merit

 Prairie Design
2018 Crossroads Garden Shed

People’s Choice Award

Architizer A+
2017 The City of Calgary

Canada's Best Employers

Forbes
2017 The City of Calgary

Canada's Top Employers for Young People

Mediacorp Canada
2017 The City of Calgary

Canada's Greenest Employers

Mediacorp Canada

Technology and innovation

We're harnessing our resilient prairie spirit and going high-tech.

Year Recipient Award Conferring Body
2023 Calgary

Most dynamic growing tech community

2023 Global Startup Ecosystem Report by Startup Genome
2020 City of Calgary

4th best Open Cities Index in North America

Public Sector Data
2020 The City of Calgary

Best Geospatial Program Maturity in North America

PSD Citywide
2019 Stoney CNG Bus Storage and Transit Facility

National Award for Innovation and Excellence

The Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships
2019 Internet of Things

Smart 50 Award

Smart Cities Connect
2019 Live Maps

Larger municipalities award

Minister's Awards for Municipal Excellence
2018 The City of Calgary

Award of Excellence for GIS use

ESRI Canada
2018 The City of Calgary

Top 25 GIS Programs in Canada

Public Sector Digest
2018 Internet of Things Network

Award for Municipal Excellence

Minister's Awards for Municipal Excellence

Additional awards and recognition

Other noteworthy awards and recognition.

Year Recipient Award Conferring Body
2022 City of Calgary

Environment and Sustainability Award: Biosolids and Willow Trees for a Low Carbon Economy

Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta
2021 City of Calgary

Canadian Project of the Year Award (Up to $100M CAD): the Rangeview Sanitary Trunk Phase 1 

Tunnelling Association of Canada
2021 City of Calgary

Social Procurement Champion – City of Calgary for the Benefit Driven Procurement Policy

Buy Social Canada
2020 City of Calgary

Environment and Sustainability Award: The Bioengineering Demonstration and Education Project

Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta
2020 City of Calgary

Best Social Media Campaign Runner Up: #SupportLocalYYC

Marketing News Canada
2020 Calgary

3rd best scorecard on prosperity

Toronto Region Board of Trade
2020 City of Calgary

Gold Quill Award: This is not an Ashtray

International Association of Business Communicators
2020 City of Calgary

Award of Excellence: Archeology and Calgary Parks Uncovering Human History

Canadian Society of Landscape Architects Association
2019 City of Calgary

Canadian Award for Financial Reporting

Government Finance Officers Association
2019 City of Calgary

Distinguished Budget Presentation Award

Government Finance Officers Association
2019 Shepard Waste Management Facility

Exceptional Municipal Water/Wastewater Project Award

Western Canada Water
2019 City of Calgary

Gold Quill Award: The City's approach to Cannabis Legalization

International Association of Business Communicators
2019 This is My Neighbourhood

Core Values Award for Contribution & Innovation in the Field

International Association of Business Communicators
2019 Calgary Police Service Marine Unit

Canadian Safe Boating Award: Special Recognition

Canadian Safe Boating Council
2019 Traffic Calming Curbs

2019 Road Safety Engineering Award

Transportation Association of Canada
2019 Current Budget

Distinguished Budget Presentation Award 

Government Finance Officers Association
2019 Too Good to Waste

Award of Distinction - Top Municipal Video 

Municipal World
2018 City of Calgary Cab Driver with Checker

International Driver of the Year

International Association of Transportation Regulators
2018 Green Cart Program

2018 Municipal Program Award: Green Cart Program – City of Calgary

Recycling Council of Alberta
2016 Calgary

3rd most diverse in Canada

Statistics Canada, Census 2016

Recognizing outstanding achievements and contributions

  • Calgary Awards

    Honouring outstanding citizen achievements in 13 categories including; Citizen of the Year, arts, education, accessibility and youth; this program gives The City the opportunity to acknowledge these contributions.

  • Mayor's Urban Design Awards

    The Mayor’s Urban Design Awards (MUDA) recognizes the contribution of Calgary urban designers, architects, landscape architects, and artists to the livability of our city.

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