Calgary Metropolitan Region

This article is about the region surrounding and including the City of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. For other uses, see Calgary (disambiguation).

The Calgary Metropolitan Region (CMR), also commonly referred to as the Calgary Region, is a conglomeration of municipalities centred on Calgary, the largest city in Alberta.

Calgary Metropolitan Region
Metropolitan area
Downtown Calgary skyline
Member municipalities of the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board
Location of the region in Alberta
Coordinates: 51°0′N 114°0′W
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Area  (2016)[1]
• CMA	5,107.55 km2 (1,972.04 sq mi)
Population  (2016)[1]
• CMA	1,392,609
• CMA density	272.5/km2 (706/sq mi)
GDP
• CMA	CA$103 billion (2020) [2]
Time zone	UTC-7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
Area code(s)	403, 587, 825, 368

With the Government of Alberta's establishment of the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board (CMRB) in 2017, the CMR's boundaries were legislated to include the City of Calgary, Foothills County to the south, Rocky View County to the west, north, and east, and a western portion of Wheatland County further to the east.^[3] Also within these boundaries are the cities of Airdrie and Chestermere, seven towns: Cochrane, Crossfield, Diamond Valley, High River, Irricana, Okotoks, and Strathmore, two villages: Beiseker and Longview, and two First Nations communities: Tsuu T'ina 145 and Eden Valley 216. Not all of these, however, are administrative members of the CMRB.

The Calgary census metropolitan area (CMA) as delineated by Statistics Canada is smaller than the CMR. The Calgary CMA includes Calgary, Rocky View County, Airdrie, Beiseker, Chestermere, Cochrane, Crossfield, Irricana, and Tsuu T'ina 145.

The Calgary Metropolitan Region is a major transportation hub for southern Alberta, Saskatchewan, eastern British Columbia, and parts of the northern United States. It is home to the Calgary International Airport, the fourth busiest airport in Canada in terms of total aircraft movements.^[4]

Calgary CMA

The Calgary CMA, as defined by Statistics Canada, includes the following nine municipalities:^[5][6][7]

• three cities (Airdrie, Calgary and Chestermere);
• one municipal district (Rocky View County, which includes Langdon – the CMA's largest hamlet);
• three towns (Cochrane, Crossfield, and Irricana);
• one village (Beiseker); and
• one First Nations reserve (Tsuu T'ina Nation, which includes the Townsite of Redwood Meadows).

In the 2011 Census, the Calgary CMA had a population of 1,214,839 living in 464,001 of its 488,451 total dwellings, a 12.6% change from its 2006 population of 1,079,310, making it the largest CMA in Alberta and the fourth largest in Canada. With a land area of 5,107.55 km² (1,972.04 sq mi), it had a population density of 237.9 people per square kilometre in 2011.^[8]

Also in terms of area, the Calgary CMA makes up approximately 40% of Statistics Canada's Division No. 6 in Alberta.^[9][10] The balance of Division No. 6 includes the census consolidated subdivisions of the MD of Foothills No. 31 to the south and Mountain View County to the north.^[11]

Foothills County and the municipalities within are often considered as part of Calgary's metropolitan area due to, among other things, the MDs shared boundary with the City of Calgary and the bedroom community nature of towns like Okotoks, High River, and Diamond Valley

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Calgary

Ethnicity

Panethnic groups in Metro Calgary (2001−2021)

Panethnic group	2021[12][13]		2016[14]		2011[15]		2006[16]		2001[17]
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
European[a]	849,560	57.98%	869,555	63.26%	828,330	69.08%	805,825	75.29%	756,500	80.2%
South Asian	153,200	10.46%	122,900	8.94%	84,870	7.08%	57,700	5.39%	36,855	3.91%
Southeast Asian[b]	117,445	8.02%	93,900	6.83%	71,245	5.94%	41,320	3.86%	28,940	3.07%
East Asian[c]	112,825	7.7%	106,240	7.73%	89,345	7.45%	77,885	7.28%	59,585	6.32%
African	75,645	5.16%	54,190	3.94%	32,985	2.75%	21,060	1.97%	13,665	1.45%
Indigenous	48,625	3.32%	41,645	3.03%	33,370	2.78%	26,575	2.48%	21,915	2.32%
Middle Eastern[d]	48,180	3.29%	39,130	2.85%	25,765	2.15%	17,670	1.65%	11,390	1.21%
Latin American	34,390	2.35%	27,710	2.02%	20,595	1.72%	13,410	1.25%	8,605	0.91%
Other/Multiracial[e]	26,265	1.79%	19,385	1.41%	12,620	1.05%	8,840	0.83%	5,865	0.62%
Total responses	1,465,180	98.88%	1,374,650	98.71%	1,199,125	98.71%	1,070,295	99.16%	943,310	99.15%
Total population	1,481,806	100%	1,392,609	100%	1,214,839	100%	1,079,310	100%	951,395	100%
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Language

The question on knowledge of languages allows for multiple responses. The following figures are from the 2021 Canadian Census, and lists languages that were selected by at least 1,000 respondents.

Knowledge of languages in Metro Calgary

Language	2021[18]
	Pop.	%
English	1,430,255	97.62%
French	98,320	6.71%
Oromo	2,115	0.14%
Somali	2,430	0.17%
Amharic	8,450	0.58%
Arabic	34,975	2.39%
Hebrew	2,065	0.14%
Tigrigna	7,655	0.52%
Khmer (Cambodian)	1,255	0.09%
Vietnamese	19,290	1.32%
Bisaya, n.o.s.	1,115	0.08%
Cebuano	3,530	0.24%
Hiligaynon	1,365	0.09%
Ilocano	6,560	0.45%
Indonesian	1,250	0.09%
Pampangan (Kapampangan, Pampango)	1,145	0.08%
Tagalog	70,230	4.79%
Kannada	1,085	0.07%
Malayalam	3,850	0.26%
Tamil	4,425	0.3%
Telugu	2,425	0.17%
Albanian	1,865	0.13%
Bulgarian	1,015	0.07%
Czech	2,130	0.15%
Polish	9,110	0.62%
Russian	15,020	1.03%
Serbo-Croatian	6,600	0.45%
Slovak	1,440	0.1%
Ukrainian	4,620	0.32%
German	16,305	1.11%
Afrikaans	2,070	0.14%
Dutch	4,540	0.31%
Danish	1,075	0.07%
Greek	2,335	0.16%
Bengali	6,140	0.42%
Gujarati	11,115	0.76%
Hindi	44,965	3.07%
Kacchi	2,320	0.16%
Marathi	2,290	0.16%
Nepali	2,925	0.2%
Punjabi	68,240	4.66%
Sinhala	1,380	0.09%
Urdu	31,625	2.16%
Kurdish	1,420	0.1%
Dari	4,760	0.32%
Iranian Persian	6,960	0.48%
Italian	9,510	0.65%
Portuguese	6,780	0.46%
Romanian	5,875	0.4%
Spanish	58,975	4.03%
Japanese	5,155	0.35%
Korean	12,225	0.83%
Akan (Twi)	1,395	0.1%
Igbo	3,030	0.21%
Swahili	3,405	0.23%
Yoruba	6,335	0.43%
Mandarin	46,240	3.16%
Min Nan (Chaochow, Teochow, Fukien, Taiwanese)	2,380	0.16%
Cantonese	42,805	2.92%
Thai	1,300	0.09%
Turkish	2,600	0.18%
Hungarian	3,665	0.25%
Total responses	1,465,175	98.88%
Total population	1,481,806	100%

Calgary Metropolitan Region Board

The Calgary Metropolitan Region Board (CMRB) was legislated through the enactment of the CMRB Regulation in 2017, and will be officially established on its effective date of January 1, 2018.^[3] Municipalities that will be participating as members of the CMRB include the cities of Airdrie, Calgary, and Chestermere, the towns of Cochrane, Okotoks, High River and Strathmore, the MD of Foothills No. 31, Rocky View County, and Wheatland County.^[19]

Calgary Regional Partnership

Founded in 1999,^[20] the Calgary Regional Partnership (CRP) is a cooperative between 15 urban municipalities in the greater Calgary area that deals with regional growth and planning issues.^[21] The CRP's motto is Thinking regionally... acting locally...^[21]

Membership

The CRP's current membership includes three cities (Airdrie, Calgary, and Chestermere), eight towns (Banff, Canmore, Cochrane, Diamond Valley, Irricana, Nanton, Okotoks, and Strathmore, and one townsite (Redwood Meadows).^[21][22] Of these thirteen municipalities, four of the ten towns (Banff, Canmore, Nanton, and Strathmore) are outside, but in proximity to, the Calgary Region's boundaries as defined in this article. Of the remaining six towns, two of them (Diamond Valley, and Okotoks) are outside the Calgary CMA boundaries as defined by Statistics Canada.

Past members

Membership in the CRP once consisted of the four municipal districts and two additional towns. These included the MD of Bighorn No. 8, the MD of Foothills No. 31, Rocky View County, Wheatland County and the towns of Crossfield and High River. The MD of Bighorn No. 8 pulled out of the CRP in March 2009 due to the lack of opportunity for infrastructure connectivity to the balance of the Calgary Region.^[23] In June 2009, the latter three opposed the Calgary Metropolitan Plan that was being considered for approval by the CRP's member municipalities.^[24][25] All three subsequently withdrew from the CRP in September 2009.^[25][26][27] Crossfield and High River withdrew from the CRP in December 2011 and April 2013 respectively citing concerns that the CRP was becoming another layer of government.^[28][22]

In an attempt to bring the MD of Foothills No. 31 and Rocky View County back to the CRP, Alberta's Minister of Municipal Affairs, Doug Griffiths, requested that the two municipal districts and the CRP engage in mediation.^[29] All parties agreed to participate and the mediation process has since concluded with a report delivered to Minister Griffiths for review and decision.^[30]

List of municipalities

Calgary

Okotoks

The following list provides the overlapping memberships or enumerations of municipalities in the greater Calgary area that are part of some, or all, of the designations: Calgary Metropolitan Region (CMR); Calgary census metropolitan area (CMA); or the Calgary Regional Partnership (CRP).

Municipality	Municipal status [31]	Calgary CMA [32]	CMR member	CRP member [21][22]	Population (2021)	Population (2016) [33]	Population (2011) [34]	Population (2006) [35]
Airdrie	City	Y	Y	Y	74,410	61,581	42,564	28,927
Banff	Town			Y	8,305	7,851
Beiseker	Village	Y			828	819	785	804
Calgary	City	Y	Y	Y	1,306,784	1,239,220	1,096,833	988,193
Canmore	City				15,990	13,992	12,228	12,039
Chestermere	City	Y	Y	Y	21,425	19,887	14,824	9,564
Cochrane	Town	Y	Y	Y	34,467	25,853	17,580	13,760
Crossfield	Town	Y		(Formally a member)	3,599	2,983	2,853	2,648
Diamond Valley	Town			Y	5,341
Eden Valley 216	First Nations reserve				644	596	587	370
Foothills County	Municipal district		Y	(Formally a member)	23,199	22,766	21,258	19,736
High River	City		Y	(Formally a member)	14,324	13,584	12,920	10,716
Irricana	Town	Y		Y	1,179	1,216	1,162	1,243
Langdon	Hamlet		Y		5,497	5,305	4,211	2,595
Longview	Village				297	307	307	300
Nanton	Town			Y	2,167
Okotoks	Town		Y	Y	30,405	28,881	24,511	17,145
Redwood Meadows	Town					1,053
Rocky View County	Municipal district	Y	Y	(Formally a member)	41,028	39,407	36,461	34,171
Wheatland County	Municipal district		(Formally a member)	(Formally a member)	9,299	8,788	8,551	8,343
MD of Bighorn No. 8	Municipal district			(Formally a member)	1,598
Strathmore	Town		(Formally a member)	Y	14,339	13,756	12,305	10,225
Tsuu T'ina Nation 145	First Nations reserve	Y			2,710	1,643	1,777
Total Calgary CMA					1,487,303	1,397,914	1,219,050	1,081,905
Total Calgary Metropolitan Region					1,589,775	1,482,887	1,295,478	1,144,205

See also

• Calgary
• Calgary-Edmonton Corridor
• Edmonton metropolitan region
• Census Metropolitan Area
• https://www.calgarymetroregion.ca/

References

1. "Population and dwelling counts, for census metropolitan areas, 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data". Statistics Canada. August 28, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
2. "Statistics Canada. Table 36-10-0468-01 Gross domestic product (GDP) at basic prices, by census metropolitan area (CMA) (x 1,000,000)". Statistics Canada.
3. "Calgary Metropolitan Region Board Regulation (Alberta Regulation 190/2017)" (PDF). Alberta Queen's Printer. 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
4. "Aircraft Movement Statistics: NAV CANADA Towers and Flight Service Stations: Annual Report (TP 577), 2011" (PDF). Statistics Canada. May 2012. p. 18. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
5. "2006 Community Profiles, Geographic hierarchy – Calgary CMA". Statistics Canada. 13 March 2007. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
6. "2011 National Household Survey Profile, Geographic hierarchy - Calgary Census metropolitan area". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
7. "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population, More information: Calgary [Census metropolitan area], Alberta". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
8. "Population and dwelling counts, for census metropolitan areas, 2011 and 2006 censuses". Statistics Canada. 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
9. "Population and dwelling counts, for census metropolitan areas, 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data". Statistics Canada. 2010-01-06. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
10. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census divisions, 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data". Statistics Canada. 2010-01-06. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
11. "2006 Community Profiles, Geographic hierarchy – Division No. 6". Statistics Canada. 2010-02-05. Archived from the original on 2012-05-28. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
12. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-09-21). "Indigenous identity by Registered or Treaty Indian status: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
13. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-10-26). "Visible minority and population group by generation status: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
14. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2021-10-27). "Census Profile, 2016 Census Calgary [Census metropolitan area], Alberta and Alberta [Province]". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
15. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2015-11-27). "NHS Profile, Calgary, CMA, Alberta, 2011". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
16. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-08-20). "2006 Community Profiles Calgary Alberta (Census metropolitan area)". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
17. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-07-02). "2001 Community Profiles Calgary Alberta (Census Metropolitan Area)". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
18. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-08-17). "Knowledge of languages by age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
19. "Calgary Metropolitan Region Board". Alberta Municipal Affairs. November 7, 2017. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
20. Alan Mattson (2010-07-06). "CRP chief leaves reformed organization after seven years". Cochrane Eagle. Archived from the original on 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
21. "About the Calgary Regional Partnership". Calgary Regional Partnership. Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
22. Marco Vigliotti (April 15, 2013). "High River leaves Calgary Regional Partnership". High River Times. Canoe Sun Media. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
23. Hamish MacLean (March 11, 2010). "Bighorn not in Calgary region (Partnership includes Canmore, Banff)". Canmore Leader. Canoe Sun Media. Archived from the original on 2011-09-29. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
24. "2009 (What a year it has been)". Cochrane Times. Canoe Sun Media. December 30, 2009. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
25. John Barlow (January 6, 2010). "Year in Review". Okotoks Western Wheel. Great West Newspapers LP. Archived from the original on 2010-01-10. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
26. "Rocky View withdraws from Regional Partnership". Rocky View County. September 14, 2009. Archived from the original on 2012-08-18. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
27. Kirsten Mundy (September 23, 2009). "Wheatland County withdraws from the CRP". Strathmore Standard. Canoe Sun Media. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
28. Marie Pollack (December 21, 2011). "Crossfield leaves Calgary Regional Partnership". Airdrie Echo. Canoe Sun Media. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
29. Robson Fletcher (2013-02-14). "Decision on Calgary Regional Partnership mediation process expected next week". Metronews.ca. Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
30. Jason Markusoff (2013-11-21). "Tories to amend controversial civic planning bill". Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on 2014-01-12. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
31. "2024 Municipal Codes" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
32. "2006 Community Profiles, Geographic hierarchy – Calgary (Census metropolitan area)". Statistics Canada. 2010-02-05. Archived from the original on 2012-03-15. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
33. "Population and dwelling count, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 2017-02-06. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
34. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
35. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 2010-01-06. Retrieved 2012-02-24.

1. 2001-2016: Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
   
   2021: Statistic includes all persons belonging to the non-indigenous and non-visible minority “White” population group.
2. Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
3. Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
4. Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
5. Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.

External links

• Official website