Why Calgary?

Calgary has several competitive advantages to support the expansion of existing industrial subsectors, and attract new industrial development. These advantages include:

  • An interconnected network of air, rail, and roadways enabling Calgary as an ideal distribution centre; 
  • A large and growing labour force; 
  • High quality services and utilities, including transit, water and power networks; 
  • Industrial lands that are available, serviced, and varied across location, size, and land use; and
  • A network of established industrial businesses that can serve as suppliers and customers to new industrial businesses.

People and technology

Calgary supports a thriving technology and innovation sector, it is a competitive talent market that boasts the country’s highest concentration of entrepreneurs and start-up companies per capita. It is home to six post-secondary institutions (University of Calgary, Mount Royal University, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), Alberta College of Art & Design (ACAD), Bow Valley College and St. Mary’s University) that offer programs in technology, clean energy, manufacturing and other areas that align with market needs.

Investment has also been made to ensure the city’s highly efficient supply chain network is strengthened. Calgary’s investments in dark fiber optic communication networks have resulted in next-generation speed and enhanced service delivery in a digital economy. Connectivity is required in every sector and ensuring that businesses are connected with fibre optic cable is key to their success. Calgary’s transportation and distribution sectors are a catalyst for many other industries including warehousing and logistics, autonomous vehicle testing, drone manufacturing, robotics, and others.

Transportation and the Inland Port

Calgary’s advantage of competitively priced industrial lands and critical infrastructure supports connectivity and access to customers. As the central component of a regional inland port for Western Canada, its access to air, rail, and road travel is integral to the distribution and movement of industrial goods. The city’s geography, including access to the national TransCanada highway systems and CanaMex corridor, allows one day distribution of goods to market for 16 million consumers in Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest. The Calgary International Airport further facilitates the movement of goods and people, and transports 75% of the province’s air cargo shipments.

Calgary’s transportation and distribution sectors are a catalyst for many other industries including warehousing and logistics, autonomous vehicle testing, drone manufacturing, robotics, and others.

This information has no legal status and cannot be used as an official interpretation of the various bylaws, codes and regulations currently in effect. The City of Calgary accepts no responsibility to persons relying solely on this information. Web pages are updated periodically. ​

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