City of Calgary achievements and awards
The City of Calgary’s commitment to excellence has earned recognition both nationally and internationally. Awards for City operations highlight the vibrancy, efficiency and innovative nature of both our corporation and the city we serve.
Quality of life
A great place to make a living, a great place to make a life.
| Year | Recipient | Award | Conferring Body |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 2026 | Recipient : The City of Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: Forbes |
| Year: 2026 | Recipient : The City of Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: Mediacorp Canada Inc |
| Year: 2026 | Recipient : The City of Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: Mediacorp Canada Inc |
| Year: 2025 | Recipient : Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: The Economist |
| Year: 2025 |
Recipient :
The City of Calgary |
Award:
Alberta Top Employer Award |
Conferring Body: Mediacorp Canada Inc |
| Year: 2025 |
Recipient :
The City of Calgary |
Award: | Conferring Body: Forbes |
| Year: 2024 |
Recipient :
The City of Calgary |
Award: |
Conferring Body:
Bloomberg Philanthropies |
| Year: 2024 | Recipient : Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: The Indigenomics Institute |
| Year: 2024 | Recipient : Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: The Economist |
| Year: 2023 | Recipient : Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: Condé Nast 2023 Readers Choice Awards |
| Year: 2023 | Recipient : Calgary |
Award:
World's 7th most livable City |
Conferring Body: The Economist |
| Year: 2022 | Recipient : Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: The Economist |
| Year: 2021 | Recipient : Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: Resonance Consultancy |
| Year: 2020 | Recipient : Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: Forbes |
| Year: 2020 | Recipient : The City of Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: Forbes |
| Year: 2020 | Recipient : Calgary |
Award:
Honorary Recognition: Reader Rock Garden |
Conferring Body: World Urban Parks |
| Year: 2019 | Recipient : Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: The Economist |
| Year: 2019 | Recipient : Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: The Economist |
| Year: 2019 | Recipient : The City of Calgary |
Award:
Youth Employment Centre - Community Choice Award for Best Recruiter |
Conferring Body: Star Metro |
| Year: 2019 | Recipient : Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: YouthfulCities Canadian Urban Work Index |
| Year: 2019 | Recipient : The City of Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: Dive Awards |
| Year: 2018 | Recipient : The City of Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: Forbes |
| Year: 2018 | Recipient : The City of Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: The Economist |
| Year: 2018 | Recipient : Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: The Economist |
| Year: 2017 | Recipient : The City of Calgary |
Award:
Canada's Top Employers for Young People |
Conferring Body: Forbes |
| Year: 2017 | Recipient : The City of Calgary |
Award:
Canada's Top Employers for Young People |
Conferring Body: Mediacorp Canada |
| Year: 2017 | Recipient : The City of Calgary |
Award:
Canada's Greenest Employers |
Conferring Body: Mediacorp Canada |
Planning, development and architecture
Planning, building and developing great communities for everyone.
| Year | Recipient | Award | Conferring Body |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 2021 | Recipient : City of Calgary |
Award:
Award of Excellence, Jury's Award of Excellence: Dale Hodges Park |
Conferring Body: Canadian Society of Landscape Architects Association |
| Year: 2021 | Recipient : City of Calgary |
Award:
Award of Excellence, Planning & Analysis: The Future of Stephen Ave |
Conferring Body: Canadian Society of Landscape Architects Association |
| Year: 2021 | Recipient : City of Calgary |
Award:
Heritage Calgary Award, Resource Conversation: Historic City Hall |
Conferring Body: Heritage Calgary |
| Year: 2021 | Recipient : Calgary Parking | Award: | Conferring Body: International Parking & Mobility Institute |
| Year: 2021 | Recipient : Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: Share the Road Cycling Coalition |
| Year: 2020 | Recipient : City of Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: Alberta Professional Planners Institute |
| Year: 2020 | Recipient : City of Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: Government Finance Officers Association |
| Year: 2020 | Recipient : City of Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: Government Finance Officers Association |
| Year: 2020 | Recipient : City of Calgary |
Award:
Award for Outstanding Planning for the climate emergency: Biodiverse Communities Initiative |
Conferring Body: Commonwealth Association of Planners |
| Year: 2020 | Recipient : City of Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: Commonwealth Association of Planners |
| Year: 2020 | Recipient : City of Calgary |
Award:
3rd best overall planning features, government charges and approvals times in Canada |
Conferring Body: Canadian Home Builders' Association |
| Year: 2020 | Recipient : City of Calgary |
Award:
Award for Planning Excellence: Biodiverse Communities Initiative |
Conferring Body: Canadian Institute of Planners |
| Year: 2019 | Recipient : International Ave Development Plan | Award: | Conferring Body: Canadian Institute of Planners |
| Year: 2018 | Recipient : The 4th Ave Flyover |
Award:
National Urban Design Awards - Community Initiative |
Conferring Body: Royal Architectural Institue of Canada |
| Year: 2018 | Recipient : East Village Junction | Award: | Conferring Body: Canadian Urban Institute's Brownie Award |
| Year: 2018 | Recipient : Csquare | Award: | Conferring Body: Prairie Design |
| Year: 2018 | Recipient : Crossroads Garden Shed | Award: | Conferring Body: Architizer A+ |
| Year: 2017 | Recipient : The City of Calgary |
Award:
Canada's Best Employers |
Conferring Body: Forbes |
| Year: 2017 | Recipient : The City of Calgary |
Award:
Canada's Top Employers for Young People |
Conferring Body: Mediacorp Canada |
| Year: 2017 | Recipient : The City of Calgary |
Award:
Canada's Greenest Employers |
Conferring Body: Mediacorp Canada |
Technology and innovation
We're harnessing our resilient prairie spirit and going high-tech.
| Year | Recipient | Award | Conferring Body |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 2023 | Recipient: Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: 2023 Global Startup Ecosystem Report by Startup Genome |
| Year: 2020 | Recipient: City of Calgary |
Award:
4th best Open Cities Index in North America |
Conferring Body: Public Sector Data |
| Year: 2020 | Recipient: The City of Calgary |
Award:
Best Geospatial Program Maturity in North America |
Conferring Body: PSD Citywide |
| Year: 2019 | Recipient: Stoney CNG Bus Storage and Transit Facility |
Award:
National Award for Innovation and Excellence |
Conferring Body: The Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships |
| Year: 2019 | Recipient: Internet of Things | Award: | Conferring Body: Smart Cities Connect |
| Year: 2019 | Recipient: Live Maps |
Award:
Larger municipalities award |
Conferring Body: Minister's Awards for Municipal Excellence |
| Year: 2018 | Recipient: The City of Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: ESRI Canada |
| Year: 2018 | Recipient: The City of Calgary |
Award:
Top 25 GIS Programs in Canada |
Conferring Body: Public Sector Digest |
| Year: 2018 | Recipient: Internet of Things Network |
Award:
Award for Municipal Excellence |
Conferring Body: Minister's Awards for Municipal Excellence |
Additional awards and recognition
Other noteworthy awards and recognition.
| Year | Recipient | Award | Conferring Body |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 2025 |
Recipient:
City of Calgary |
Award:
Alberta's Top Employers 2025 Winners |
Conferring Body:
Alberta’s Top Employer 2025 |
|
Year:
2025 |
Recipient:
City of Calgary |
Award:
Forbes 2025 Canada's Best Employers List - Best Companies to Work For |
Conferring Body:
Forbes 2025 Best Employers |
| Year: 2022 | Recipient: City of Calgary |
Award:
Environment and Sustainability Award: Biosolids and Willow Trees for a Low Carbon Economy |
Conferring Body:
Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta |
| Year: 2021 | Recipient: City of Calgary |
Award:
Canadian Project of the Year Award (Up to $100M CAD): the Rangeview Sanitary Trunk Phase 1 |
Conferring Body: Tunnelling Association of Canada |
| Year: 2021 | Recipient: City of Calgary |
Award:
Social Procurement Champion – City of Calgary for the Benefit Driven Procurement Policy |
Conferring Body: Buy Social Canada |
| Year: 2020 | Recipient: City of Calgary |
Award:
Environment and Sustainability Award: The Bioengineering Demonstration and Education Project |
Conferring Body: Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta |
| Year: 2020 | Recipient: City of Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: Marketing News Canada |
| Year: 2020 | Recipient: Calgary |
Award:
3rd best scorecard on prosperity |
Conferring Body: Toronto Region Board of Trade |
| Year: 2020 | Recipient: City of Calgary |
Award:
Gold Quill Award: This is not an Ashtray |
Conferring Body: International Association of Business Communicators |
| Year: 2020 | Recipient: City of Calgary |
Award:
Award of Excellence: Archeology and Calgary Parks Uncovering Human History |
Conferring Body: Canadian Society of Landscape Architects Association |
| Year: 2019 | Recipient: City of Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: Government Finance Officers Association |
| Year: 2019 | Recipient: City of Calgary | Award: | Conferring Body: Government Finance Officers Association |
| Year: 2019 | Recipient: Shepard Waste Management Facility |
Award:
Exceptional Municipal Water/Wastewater Project Award |
Conferring Body: Western Canada Water |
| Year: 2019 | Recipient: City of Calgary |
Award:
Gold Quill Award: The City's approach to Cannabis Legalization |
Conferring Body: International Association of Business Communicators |
| Year: 2019 | Recipient: This is My Neighbourhood |
Award:
Core Values Award for Contribution & Innovation in the Field |
Conferring Body: International Association of Business Communicators |
| Year: 2019 | Recipient: Calgary Police Service Marine Unit | Award: | Conferring Body: Canadian Safe Boating Council |
| Year: 2019 | Recipient: Traffic Calming Curbs | Award: | Conferring Body: Transportation Association of Canada |
| Year: 2019 | Recipient: Current Budget |
Award:
Distinguished Budget Presentation Award |
Conferring Body: Government Finance Officers Association |
| Year: 2019 | Recipient: Too Good to Waste | Award: | Conferring Body: Municipal World |
| Year: 2018 | Recipient: City of Calgary Cab Driver with Checker | Award: | Conferring Body: International Association of Transportation Regulators |
| Year: 2018 | Recipient: Green Cart Program |
Award:
2018 Municipal Program Award: Green Cart Program – City of Calgary |
Conferring Body: Recycling Council of Alberta |
| Year: 2016 | Recipient: Calgary |
Award:
3rd most diverse in Canada |
Conferring Body: Statistics Canada, Census 2016 |
Recognizing outstanding achievements and contributions
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Calgary Awards
Honouring outstanding citizen achievements in 13 categories including; Citizen of the Year, arts, education, accessibility and youth; this program gives The City the opportunity to acknowledge these contributions.
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Mayor's Urban Design Awards
The Mayor’s Urban Design Awards (MUDA) recognizes the contribution of Calgary urban designers, architects, landscape architects, and artists to the livability of our city.