Southwest Outer Suburbs
From Calgarypedia
Contents |
Overview
The southwest outer suburbs lie outside the inner city/suburbs of Calgary. The region is split between two sections, the central west suburbs, south of the Trans-Canada Highway and west of Sarcee Trail; and the far southwest suburbs, south of the Glenmore Reservoir and west of Macleod Trail.
The southwest outer suburbs are part of city wards 6, 11 and 13, represented by aldermen Joe Connelly, Brian Pincott and Diane Colley-Urquhart respectively.
Demographics
The total population of the region is roughly 229,500 people as of 2007. The most populous communities in the region are Evergreen with 14,648 residents and Signal Hill with 13,874 residents.[1][2][3]
The average population is around 5,000 residents per community, with the most sparsely populated communities being Eagle Ridge with 246 residents and Bel-Aire with 461 residents.
Representing approximately 17% of the total population of the southwest outer suburbs, the largest portion of residents are ages 35-44. The 45-54 demographic is a close second, representing roughly 16% of the total population of the region.
The average household income of the region is around $83,000 annually. Southwood is the lowest- income community in the region, with an average household income of $51,409 in 2000, while Aspen Woods was the wealthiest neighborhood with an average household income of $133,939. [4] [5] [6]
Residents of immigrant origin make up 19.37% of the population of the southwest outer suburbs, compared with the citywide average of 21.8%, making the region just slightly less diverse than the whole of Calgary. The majority of immigrants across wards 6, 11 and 13 in the southwest outer suburbs are from the United Kingdom; however there is also a strong Chinese, Indian, Filipino, and American presence in those communities. [7] [8] [9]
Housing
Across all three wards that make up the southwest outer suburbs, the majority of housing was single detached homes.[10] [11] [12] There is also a significant number of row houses and a much smaller contingent of apartment complexes and detached duplexes than the communities closer to the downtown core of Calgary.
Schools
Primary Education – Public
See Also: Primary Education in Calgary
The southwest outer suburbs fall primarily within the Calgary Board of Education’s Area V. Area V consists of 41 communities in the southwest and southeast areas. Schools in Area V have an annual enrollment of about 25,000 children. [13] Programs from Grades 1 - 12 are offered. Area V has 46 schools currently in operation.
Currently, Area V has:
- 28 elementary schools
- 1 elementary/junior high school
- 5 middle schools
- 7 junior high schools
- 4 senior high schools
- 1 special setting school for children with physical or learning disabilities
Primary Education – Separate
The Calgary Roman Catholic Separate School District No.1 (CSSD) provides education in both English and French languages, with an emphasis on spiritual growth. The CSSD has 25 elementary, junior high and senior high schools in communities across the southwest quadrant of the city. [14]
Primary Education – Private
There are a number of private schools across the southwest quadrant of the city, including Calgary French and International School, Calgary Waldorf School, Christopher Robin School, Green Learning Academy, Menno Simons Christian School, Mountain View Academy, The Calgary Jewish Academy, Third Academy (for children with learning disabilities) and the Webber Academy.
Transportation
Route 201 of the Calgary C-Train light rail transit system services stops along Macleod Trail from downtown to the furthest southern communities of Somerset and Bridlewood. Currently, the C-Train does not service the central southwest outer suburban communities such as Signal Hill and Springbank Hill, but Calgary Transit’s bus service covers those communities and most other communities not serviced directly by the C-Train.
Major routes in the southwest outer suburbs are Macleod Trail, Sarcee Trail, Glenmore Trail, Heritage Drive SW, Southland Drive SW, Anderson Road SW, Canyon Meadows Drive SW, 14 Street SW, Shawnessy Boulevard SW, 162 Avenue SW, Marquis of Lorne Trail SW, Spruce Meadows Trail SW, 17 Avenue SW, 101 Street SW and 69 Street SW.
Amenities
Several large shopping centres are located in the southwest outer suburbs, including Chinook Centre, Britannia Shopping Plaza, Glenmore Landing, Park-It & Market Discount Clearance Outlet, Richmond Square Shopping Centre, Sarcee Plaza, Southland Crossing, Strathcona Square Shopping Centre, Westbrook Mall and Westhills Towne Centre.
Attractions
Chinook Centre, located in Chinook Park at the junction of Macleod Trail and Glenmore Trail, offers not only a wide selection of retail stores but also a movie theatre, bowling alley and several restaurants and cafes. Glenmore Reservoir, Calgary’s primary source of drinking water, offers sailing and boat rentals. Heritage Park Historical Village offers a look back into the old west on 66 acres of parkland. It employs costumed interpreters, and offers rides on an authentic steam train, blacksmithing demonstrations and an old-fashioned midway [15].
Parks and Recreation
Each community in the southwest outer suburbs is serviced by a community centre, offering various activities including summer and winter sports. Glenmore Reservoir has a surrounding park open to the public, and Fish Creek Provincial Park offers picnic areas, scenic walking/hiking paths and a boat launch ramp. It is also home to the Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre [16].
List of Southwest Outer Suburban Communities
External Links / Sources
Federation of Calgary Communities
Southwest Calgary Neighbourhood Descriptions
Calgary Roman Catholic Separate School District No.1
City of Calgary Ward 6 Profile
