Calgary, the province of Alberta’s largest city and Canada’s third largest municipality, is a vibrant, thriving city. Located just east of the Canadian Rockies at the confluence of the Elbow and Bow rivers, its prairies and foothills are home to more than 1.1 million people. Its booming economy is based on aerospace, energy, film and television, financial services, health and wellness, manufacturing, technology and logistics, transportation, tourism, and retail. The Calgary area is also home to Canada’s second highest collection of corporate head offices. But while the city is currently prospering, its leaders are also focused on its sustainability direction for 2020.

For a number of years Calgary’s city leaders have looked beyond the current prosperity to prepare the city for sustainability in 2020 and beyond. The city has created a Municipal Development Plan to meet a series of targets, objectives, and goals designed to ensure sustainable development and proper management of its resources. The plan was created using the wisdom, expertise and knowledge of people from a wide variety of disciplines. The result is a comprehensive approach which takes into consideration multiple potential outcomes.

Making a Plan

One of the tools used as part of the Municipal Development Plan is the 2020 Sustainability Direction. This tool enables city leaders to throw their support behind decisions which are anticipated to provide the best possible outcomes. It helps to clarify where they are heading and what needs to be done to get them there in the most efficient and effective manner. It includes indicators which enable them to track the progress they are making towards their objectives. To keep all stakeholders apprised of what’s going on, Calgary’s civic leaders issue a series of annual 2020 sustainability direction reports.

Keeping Track of Progress

The key to ensuring Calgary is headed in the right direction towards attaining its sustainability goals is keeping the public and other stakeholders connected and abreast of which activities are working and which ones need tweaking, improving, or replacing. According to the 2014 2020 Sustainability Annual Report, progress towards almost 80% of objectives and targets are on track. However, a number of challenges exist. One of them is the impact population growth is having on meeting Calgary’s goal for the reduction of greenhouse gas emission. More work is also needed on meeting objectives related to the economy and the labor market.

Pushing Forward

While nearly 80% of Calgary’s 2020 sustainability objectives have been met, the annual reports have revealed some of the issues over which the city has limited influence or about which they need data. That is one of the strengths of the annual sustainability reports. It provides civic leaders with real time updates on troublesome issues and enables them to make the necessary adjustments in a timely manner. This improves the chances of these objectives being met because more resources and attention can be given to them.

While Calgary’s Sustainability Direction for 2020 is important, city leaders also have a 100-year vision for the Calgary area designed to make it a great place to live, work, and do business. Called the imagineCALGARY Plan, it reflects Calgary’s sustainable future priorities and needs. That vision is broken down into 30 year goals. Those 30 year goals are supported by a series of progressive 3-year business plans that build towards making the blueprint for Calgary’s sustainable future a reality.