It was 2010 15 years ago. If that sentence alone didn’t send you to the floor, keep reading.

In that time, Calgary has changed a lot. Our city has experienced a major flood, survived a global pandemic, and built its tallest-ever skyscraper.

Locals are quick to point out the differences too. Since 2010, the population has grown by ~447,000 people, ushering in new building projects and boosting economic spending. The population of Calgary has increased by ~6 per cent each year, and in the past five years, has grown by 18 per cent.

The cost of living has gone up, and housing affordability has decreased. But the changes are more localized, too.

Recently, local Calgarians took to Reddit to share the things they’ve noticed have changed most in the past 15 years.

Was the Calgary of 2010 really a much better place? Let’s dive into it.

We spend more on groceries

On Reddit, most users seem to agree that the cost of living in Calgary has gone up.

With the post-pandemic surge in grocery store prices, food has gotten more expensive for most Canadians. That goes for Calgary as well, though the price of food and groceries is fairly reasonable compared to the national average.

The average monthly food bill in Calgary is around $500 for a single person. Interestingly though, Albertans have always been big spenders when it comes to household groceries. In 2010, Stats Can reported that Albertans spend an average of $8,427 a year on food, the highest in all of Canada. That continues into 2023, with households in Alberta reporting the highest average spending on goods and services of all the provinces.

Driving ability has gone down

Many Calgarians complain about perceived poor driving ability across the city.

“Couldn’t agree more… since 2020 people driving ability is going way down…” said a user on Reddit.

Overall, the total number of traffic fatalities in Alberta has decreased from 344 in 2010 to 297 in 2023. There were 151,289 total traffic collisions in Alberta in 2010 and 119,070 total collisions in 2023, a 21 per cent decrease. Maybe that’s due to vehicles on the whole getting safer with improved features and technology.

In Calgary though, it’s a different story. In 2024, the City of Calgary and Calgary Police Service recorded a 10-year record high in fatal traffic collisions. The Calgary Police Service Traffic Unit also conducted 85 total traffic investigations related to serious-injury or fatal collisions, which tied with 2007 as the highest yearly count on record.

There seems to be some agreement that driving quality has decreased in recent years, though some users claim it’s better than in other Canadian cities.

“As someone who lived in Winnipeg for a few years I was really impressed by how well majority of people drive in Calgary,” said one person.

Some stats don’t change, like the highest number of injury collisions occurring in October, which is consistent from 2010 to 2023. Friday is still the most collision-prone day of the week.

More craft beer

One person on Reddit pointed out a win for beer lovers everywhere: Calgary has “more craft beer,” and this definitely seems to be true between 2010 and now.

With more than 40 breweries and counting, Calgary has exploded into a craft beer hotspot.

Calgary brewers are known for being experimental, willing to take risks, and open taprooms in welcoming community centres.

It’s easy to brew hop with many of these craft brewers popping up in communities in Inglewood and the Beltline.

In 2010, it was a lot harder to order a hoppy IPA at a trendy spot in Calgary. That’s a definite win for our city!

A quieter downtown

Many Calgarians are quick to reminisce about the oil and gas heydays, back in the ’80s and ’90s, when business in downtown Calgary was booming.

“Downtown Calgary felt a lot busier than it does now,” said one user. “Back then, the oil and gas industry was still booming, and that brought a lot of people into the core for work. Offices were full, and you could really feel the energy in the streets during the weekdays.”

That economic activity supported a lot of downtown retailers, including those along Stephen Avenue.

“I will admit that Stephen Ave has seen better days,” said one person. “Some businesses have closed up shop.”

With the recent job cuts from Imperial Oil, the company has also announced its decision to leave downtown Calgary and set up shop elsewhere by 2028.

Although Calgary’s downtown core isn’t as bustling with oil and gas executives as it once was, locals also point out how they appreciate the murals and art installations that have livened up the downtown core in recent years.

“I’m a huge fan of the new murals and sculptures around the city,” said one user.

A stronger arts scene

It’s hard to deny that Calgary’s arts and culture scene has enjoyed a boost since 2010, a significant shift that has changed the city’s cultural direction and focus.

“It’s much better in terms of arts and culture now,” said one person on Reddit, which is definitely true when you consider the construction of the National Music Centre and the BMO Centre Expansion at Stampede Park.

Calgarians are also awaiting the reopening of the Glenbow Museum at its revitalized home in the JR Shaw Centre for Arts & Culture in 2026.

The expansion of the Werklund Centre, formerly Arts Commons, is also an exciting development for our city, contributing to a vibrant and busy downtown core within a thriving arts ecosystem.

Though some Calgarians on Reddit are nostalgic for times when the arts scene was more localized and tight-knit.

“No real ‘community’ vibes in regards to live music with upcoming acts/djs and good bars with good people,” said one user. “Days of broken city or drum and monkey can’t be found anywhere.”

Though we’ve experienced the closure of many local and beloved music venues, there’s a change in tune on the airwaves with the city’s investment in major arts infrastructure projects.

Did this list capture your sentiments about what’s changed in Calgary? Whether you’re new to the city or remember what it was like 15 years ago, the future has plenty in store.

There’s tons to be excited about!

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Em Medland-Marchen

Em is a Staff Writer for Curiocity Calgary. They are passionate about live music, rose gardens, iced coffee, and walks along the Bow River.

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