Airdrie: Small town heart, big time growth

What started out as a small railroad outpost in the late 19th Century has today become one of southern Alberta’s most populous and progressive cities in the 21st.

Airdrie has enjoyed all kinds of growth, especially over the last decade, but it has not lost its small-town heart. And don’t just take our word for it, Expedia ranked it second in its 2018 national survey of the friendliest cities and towns in Canada.

Airdrie is now a major regional commercial and industrial hub, a steadily growing metropolis with its own distinct character and not just another one of Calgary’s bedroom towns. It remains on the fast track to growth – and picking up speed.

Today, Airdrie is a city with a population of 70,564, according to a 2019 census, compared to the 38,091 it had just 10 years prior. There are now 26,210 dwellings in the city just north of Calgary, with 951 new homes added between April 2018 to April 2019.

Airdrie was first established as a railway village in 1889 during the construction of the Calgary and Edmonton Railway. It is situated on the Queen Elizabeth II Highway (Alberta’s busiest), which connects Calgary and Edmonton. The Calgary International Airport is also just a short distance away, which further cements this reputation as a connectivity hub.

Homebuyers’ haven

Quena Sanchez is a recent transplant, who moved to Airdrie not too long ago with her husband, Josh, and five-year-old daughter, Annika, plus their dog, Dexter.

“We’ve lived in Airdrie almost a year and a half and I’m still learning all the various cool businesses and resources available,” she tells Calgary New Home + Condo Guide.

“In this relatively short time, we’ve grown fond of many local businesses, farmers market and recreation facilities. I’m constantly amazed about the good nature and ‘small town’ feel of Airdrie. People greet you while walking down pathways, have many neighbourhood friends, our daughter has been involved in many recreational opportunities and all of our experiences since moving have been positive.”

When asked what the biggest surprise was about living in Airdrie, she says it may just be the utter convenience the city offers. “Maybe the biggest surprise has been how little we need to go to Calgary for anything other than to visit family, friends and the occasional zoo outing. We have so many services and opportunities right here.”

Locally grown

But if there’s anything to know about Airdire, it’s best to talk to locals. And no one is more local than McKee Homes. The much-respected, family-run homebuilder has been doing business in Airdrie since the 1980s, and company president, Elaine Doel, says the strong community bonds unique to Airdrie is a key appeal.

“There are plenty of great minor sports options, and many school options all within close distance to every community,” she says. And McKee Homes should know as they have a presence in almost all of them.

Family-friendly communities

There are several new communities in various stages of development that are sprouting in all sectors of Airdrie, 10 of them probably coming in less than a decade ago. The newest, Lanark by Melcor Developments, just opened its first showhomes earlier this year.

Bayside and Bayview by Genesis Land Development and Cooper’s Crossing by Westmark Holdings are probably the biggest and the most established of these new communities. Midtown, the first land development project from Shane Homes, is the newest in Airdrie’s inner-city and is closest to the core.

The south part of Airdrie is where majority of the new growth is seen. Southpoint by Vesta Properties may just be the hottest right now as it releases its latest phase. Southwinds by Mattamy is also making huge strides. As is Hillcrest by Apex Development, where Quena chose to settle her family. These communities benefit the most from the new access to the Queen Elizabeth II Highway that makes commuting to Calgary and points south all that much easier.

Chinook Gate by Brookfield Residential is closest to the northern border of Calgary. While Ravenswood by Qualico Communities and King’s Heights by Melcor Developments are getting close to completion.

All espouse the family-friendly traits of Airdrie, with tons of in-community amenities that promote a balanced lifestyle with an abundance of recreational opportunities for all ages and interests.

Southpoint has made this a priority as this master-planned community is already one of Airdrie’s greenest communities with 12 acres of green space including a tennis and basketball court, children’s playground, barbecue area, plus a new school and dog park right within the community’s borders.

Shopping: big box to boutique

One of Alberta’s biggest shopping malls, CrossIron Mills, is just a short drive from Airdrie, and the city itself has its own retinue of big box stores that offer tons of convenience to residents.

But Airdrie has its own set of fantastic, kitschy boutique stores that offer everything from fresh farm goods to sought-after collectible items.

There is Souto Farm which offers fresh produce and various baked goods and cooked dishes from other local businesses. Squiggly Pig Marketplace is a great store with many local artisans and crafts people exhibiting their work.

Airdrie is also gaining a reputation as a collector’s haven with SNAP Collectibles and Treasure Cove Collectibles that offer comic books, toys and some hard-to-find items for the pop collector. Where On Earth Did You Get That antique mall is an institution and may just be southern Alberta’s largest with 15,000 square-feet of cool collectibles.

Foodie factory

The casual visitor may be surprised at the outstanding array of local restaurants and diners and coffee shops the abound in Airdrie. It has a very international palette with everything from Chinese, Mexican, Italian and throw in a little Greek in there too.
A local favourite is Abe’s Modern Diner. It offers some of the best burgers in town, and their brunch menu is also amazing. “All our ingredients are sourced locally,” says Abe’s director of operations, Luis Gonzalez. “We do our best to support the local community too.”

Mckee Homes’ Elaine Doel says her favourite local restaurant is Old Town Pizza House. “The food and atmosphere are great, and the ownership and staff are also great!”

For authentic Greek cuisine, you can’t go wrong with Paros On Main. Serving the community of Airdrie for the past 17 years. Their head chef, Mrs. Tzigalanis, is sure to satisfy any craving for Greek dishes with her homemade flavor that brings the Mediterranean to the prairies. The lamb souvlaki is a must-try.

Crave an indie coffee? Sorso Coffee Co. is the place to be. “Belly up to our antique bar for a beer or vino,” suggests staff on the website. Or bring your laptop and work while you sip on a latte made with beans from Rosso Coffee Roasters.