photo credit: Travel Alberta GEOGRAPHY CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA Calgary is 848 square kilometres (327.4 square miles), elevation: 1,048 metres / 3,438 feet above sea level Calgary lies at the intersection of two major highway systems making it western Canada s distribution hub. The Trans-Canada Highway reaches across the vast country from ocean to ocean, while the CANAMEX Corridor extends north/south from Canada to Mexico Calgary is located just a one-hour drive from the Rocky Mountains that stretches 3,000 miles (4,830 km) from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States WEATHER Summer Temperature (June August) Daily Average: 15.2C (59.4F) Daily Maximum: 21.9C (71.4F) Winter Temperature (December February) Daily average: -7.5C (18.5F) Daily maximum: -1.4C (29.5F) CALGARY ACCOLADES Calgary # 5 Most Livable Cities in the World (out of 140 global cities) Economist Intelligence Unit - 2011 World s Fastest Growing Cities - Focuses on emerging powerhouses In North America, the best urban prospects (Raleigh-Durham, NC, Austin, TX, Salt Lake City and Calgary, Canada -- business friendly, relatively affordable - Forbes 2010)
TOURISM Tourism in the Calgary metropolitan area is a $1.1 billion industry In 2009, Calgary welcomed 4.7 million visitors The tourism industry creates employment for roughly 1 in 10 working Calgarians MAIN ATTRACTIONS ARTS AND CULTURE SPORTS TEAMS Aero Space Museum of Calgary Bow Habitat Station Butterfield Acres Children s Farm Calaway Park Calgary Stampede Calgary Tower Calgary Zoo, Botanical Garden & Prehistoric Park Canada Olympic Park Canada s Sports Hall of Fame Fort Calgary Glenbow Museum Heritage Park Historical Village Lougheed House Military Museums Olympic Oval Scotiabank Saddledome Spruce Meadows TELUS Spark, the new Science Centre Alberta Ballet Alberta Theatre Projects Art Central Art Gallery of Calgary Calgary Opera Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra Cantos Music Foundation Cultural District EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre Theatre Calgary Theatre Junction GRAND Vertigo Theatre Designated Cultural Capital of Canada 2012 Calgary Flames Calgary Hitmen Calgary Roughnecks Calgary Stampeders Calgary Vipers For details on events and attractions, go to visitcalgary.com HISTORY Calgary s natural setting, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet is an area of rich grasses, clear rivers, and warm, moist winds. In 1884, Calgary was incorporated as a town. Within a decade, the population had topped 6,000, enough to qualify for full city status. The early 1900s were boom years for the fresh and friendly city. The first Calgary Stampede was staged in 1912; it has grown into an annual summertime celebration known around the world. Two years later, in 1914, just before the outbreak of the First World War, huge reserves of oil were discovered just outside of town. The world needed oil then, and Calgary had plenty. The little-city-that-oil-built became the place where everyone wanted to be. We hosted the Olympic Winter Games in 1988, a meeting of the world s powerful G8 leaders in 2002, and our professional football and hockey teams have won championships throughout the years. We re still the centre of Canada s oil, gas, and alternative fuel industry and a worldwide energy powerhouse - but other sectors are gaining strength and international recognition. Above all, Calgary has always been known for its can-do entrepreneurial attitude. Ours is truly one of the most livable communities anywhere, a favoured city in one of the most favoured countries on earth.
ECONOMY There s an energy in Calgary that exhilarates, invigorates, and motivates. It s a place of big skies and big ideas. Nothing is etched in stone, anything is possible and everything is on the horizon. There s opportunity here to start a business, start a new life, or start an adventure. And everyone is welcome to be part of the energy. bepartoftheenergy.ca GDP Growth Ranks 6 th among major Canadian cities in Real GDP growth: -3.5 % in 2010 Highest total GDP growth over the past 10 years (2001-20010) at 29.6% Highest average 10-year (2001-2010) growth rate of major Canadian cities at 2.9% Consumer Price Index (CPI) January 2011 inflation rate of 0.8%, unchanged from January 2010 Head Office Concentration Highest concentration of head offices per capita in Canada at 9.3% 114 Calgary-based companies on the FP500 list; 10 are among the top 50 in Canada Calgary has experienced a 46.2% growth in head offices over past 10 years (2000-2009) Second highest head office per capita growth for the period 2000 2009, at 13.4%, behind Edmonton at 33.3% Industry Composition Industry FORECAST GDP BY INDUSTRY CALGARY CMA 2010 (2002 $ Millions) 2014 (2002 $ Millions) Change Manufacturing 4,959 5,837 17.7% Construction 4,382 5,281 20.5% Primary and Utilities (includes oil & gas) 12,773 14,704 15.1% Transportation and Warehousing 3,634 4,325 19.0% Information and Cultural Industries 2,389 2,900 21.4% Wholesale and Retail Trade 6,207 7,430 19.7% Finance, Insurance and Real Estate 11,742 13,777 17.3% Business Services 6,167 7,453 20.9% Personal Services 3,311 3,913 18.2% Non-Commercial Services 5,368 6,216 15.8% Public Administration and Defence 2,131 2,410 13.1% ALL INDUSTRIES 63,064 74,245 17.7%
Company Name WAM Development Group / AIMCo Project Description Stonegate Landing Retail, Office and Industrial development Project Cost ($ Millions) Timing $2,250.00 2008-2016 Matthews Southwest Developments The Bow Office Tower $1,500.00 2007-2011 Calgary Airport Authority Alberta Infastructure/ Alberta Health and Wellness Torode Commercial Ltd. Remington Development Corp. City of Calgary CALGARY MAJOR PROJECTS (as of April 2011) New International Transborder Concourse (previously listed as Facility Expansion Concourse B/C) Hospital for South Calgary (South Calgary Health Campus phase 1) Ramsay Exchange Commercial, Retail and Residential Development Quarry Park Mixed-Use Development phases 1 and 2 West LRT Line from Downtown to Westside Rec Centre Status Announced. First phase occupancy late 2009. Under construction. Ledcor Construction. $1,400.00 Proposed. Planned completion by 2015. $1,310.00 2007-2012 Under construction. EllisDon Construction. Kasian Architecture / HDR Inc. $1,100.00 Proposed. Planned construction start late 2008 or early 2009. Phased development. $1,000.00 2006-2015 $1,000.00 2010-2012 Under construction. Phase 1 completed. Planned construction start hotel Q1 2010. Office complex on hold. Under construction. SNC Lavelin Construction (Pacific). Enmax Corp Dolemo Developments Alberta Transportation Harvard Developments Shepard Energy Centre Natural Gas Fired Generatiing Plant (800MW) Edworthy Club Health Club Southeast Section Calgary Ring Road (Stoney Trail) from 17 Ave SE to Highway 2A) Eau Claire Market Redevelopment $1,000.00 2011-2015 Announced. Kiewit Energy Canada Corp. / Black & Veatch Canada Corp. AUC conditional approval October 2010. $1,000.00 Proposed. Spa, squash courts, hockey rinks, movie theatre and condo hotel. $769.00 2010-2013 Announced. Chinook Roads Partnership. Planned construction start May 2010. $750.00 Proposed. Planned construction start 2008, completed by 2018. Alberta s Cost Advantages Most competitive provincial corporate tax jurisdiction in Canada Corporate income tax 10.0% Sales tax 0% Payroll tax 0% Inventory tax 0% Lowest provincial personal income tax rate in Canada Marginal personal income tax rate 10.0%
CALGARY; A GLOBAL ENERGY CENTRE Calgary is Canada's energy capital and is growing to become a global energy centre Calgary is home to virtually every major oil and gas company in Canada The concentration of Calgary's energy sector is like no other in the world, with access to energy companies across the entire value chain including exploration and production, financial markets, transportation and distribution, legal, accounting, design, software and technology, services and more Oil Sands Canada has the second largest oil reserves in the world Global Crude Oil Reserves by Country 300 World Oil Reserves Accessible Oil Reserves 260 250 State owned or controlled 51% Canada s Oil Sands billion barrels 200 150 175 138 115 Accessible 49% Other Accessible Reserves 100 102 99 92 50 60 44 37 30 25 20 19 0 Saudi Arabia Canada Iran Kuwait Iraq Venezuela Abu Dhabi Russia Libya Nigeria Kazhakhstan Qatar China United States Source: Oil & Gas Journal Dec. 2009 Oil Sands Expenditures and Investments $18 Billion per year to maintain and operate 1.9 million barrels of current capacity $15-$25 Billion of additional capital expenditures per year associated with barrels currently under construction Analysts predict oil sands capital investment to reach over $180 Billion in the next decade due to strong oil prices and global investment
REAL ESTATE Housing Starts Total housing starts in 2010 were up 47% from 2009 at 9,262 units, up from 6,318 units in 2009 Building Permits Second highest total growth in total building permits in Canada at 58.1% over the past 10 years (2001-2010) Calgary Housing Market Average Q4 2010 price for standard two-storey home: $400,000 Downtown Office Vacancy Rate (Q4 2010) 13.0% Suburban Office Vacancy Rate (Q4 2010) 13.6% Industrial Vacancy Rate (Q4 2010) 3.8% PEOPLE Population Calgary, Alberta, Canada is the largest city in Alberta with more than 1.1 million people (2009) and is the largest major metropolitan area between Vancouver and Toronto 23.6% of Calgarians are immigrants, and 1.1% of Calgary are non-permanent residents 22.2% of population is a visible minority with Chinese and South Asians leading Among the highest visible minority rates in Canada after Toronto and Vancouver Employment Employment rate in 2010 was 69.3 %, down from 71.4% in 2009 Unemployment The average annual unemployment rate in the Calgary Economic Region was 6.8% in 2010 Lowest average annual unemployment over the last five years
Salaries and Wages Consistently highest wages and salaries per employee in Canada for the past 10 years -- $65,121 per employee in 2010 Second highest total growth in wages and salaries per employee over the past 5 years (2006-2010) at 15.0% Second highest average annual growth in wages and salaries per employee over the past 5 years (2006-2010) at 4.3% Second highest total growth and average annual growth in wages and salaries per employee over the past 10 years (2001-2010) at 53.5% and 5.4% respectively Education Calgary has the highest rate of post-secondary attendance in Canada (73%) There are five public post-secondary institutions in Calgary, including two major universities: The University of Calgary Mount Royal University SAIT Polytechnic Bow Valley College Alberta College of Art and Design There are also a number of private post-secondary schools in town, some of the most popular being: St. Mary s University Alliance University College DeVry Institute of Technology University of Phoenix In addition, there are satellite campuses in town for the University of Lethbridge, Olds College and Athabasca University. Health Care Calgary is a safe and healthy city one of the safest and healthiest big cities in the world. In worldwide quality of living survey done by Mercer Human Resources Consulting, Calgary was ranked as the cleanest city in the world (for health and sanitation) four times in six years (in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2007). In 2008, the firm ranked Calgary among the top 25 cities in the world for personal safety and security. Like all Canadians, Calgarians receive health care services under a publicly funded insurance program that is defined by the federal government, and implemented by the provincial government. Each province must provide health care coverage that is comprehensive, universal, portable and accessible by all. In Alberta, it s completely free: you don t even pay a monthly premium.
CALGARY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT S ROLE Calgary Economic Development (CED) is working to make Calgary the undisputed choice for people and business. As Calgary s lead economic development agency, we work with businesses to facilitate growth, expedite local, national and international business investment and trade development opportunities and promote sustainable economic growth in the Calgary region. We do this by assisting businesses in the following areas: Business retention and expansion Business investment and attraction Trade development Workforce development Research calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com Follow us on twitter @calgaryeconomic 1.888.222.5855 TOURISM CALGARY S ROLE Tourism Calgary is Calgary s destination marketing organization. Representing the tourism industry and more than 550 members, Tourism Calgary brings Calgary to the world and the world to Calgary. Tourism in Calgary annually contributes over $1.1 billion to the local economy. Tourism Calgary s lines of business: Leisure Travel marketing to wholesalers, tour operators, travel trade, and consumers Sport, Culture & Events bid evaluation, development and management services to attract major and non-major sport and culture events Conference & Event Services attendance building, planning support and delegate events Visitor Services Visitor Information Centres and online services Digital Marketing website (booking engine, interactive maps and tools, etc.) and social media Tourism Research trends and reporting information to industry visitcalgary.com Follow us on twitter @calgary or @tourismcalgary 1.800.661.1678