A Stroll in Sunalta
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A Special Place in Calgary
In late 2019, I embarked on a research project called the "Catalyst Fellowship" with Mount Royal University's Institute for Community Prosperity. The fellowship would entail me researching matters related to community sustainability but in a specific community, Sunalta, situated in SW Calgary. I, as a Calgary native, had never actually heard of Sunalta before and was excited about uncovering a new area of the city. Through the months I spent as a research fellow and later, through my time working as the Community Marketing Lead at the Sunalta Community Association, I had not only come to appreciate the physical community, but I was thoroughly amazed at the "sense" of community that existed in its residents, its businesses, its events, and more.
What's so great about Sunalta?
From the moment you exit the train station, you get a strong sense of welcomeness and inclusivity. Whether it's the beautiful murals sprinkled around the community, the bright red community hall often bustling with activity or the friendly local businesses, residents and visitors alike can feel a strong sense of home.
Through my time working at the community association, I learned of the rich cultural diversity of Sunalta's residents. Many new Canadians choose to call Sunalta home and it shows when you attend a community event, such as a movie in the park. I am a first-gen Canadian but if I was a new immigrant, I'd most definitely feel included here.
Community at its core
When shopping in some of the local businesses along 10th Ave SW, you might notice some storefronts carrying a "Proud Sunalta Business" sticker. This is because there is a strong sense of community even with the local businesses! In 2020, some businesses showed their support for their community association by participating in the annual membership drive giveaway and many businesses further sponsor community events such as the Stampede Breakfast. This close collaboration of businesses is not something you always see, which is another reason why I love this community.
You also see a strong sense of community with the communal green spaces. The Sunalta Wildflower Garden is a beautiful green space, maintained by community members where you can have a picnic, stroll and admire the flowers, keep up to date with the community bulletin, or read a book on a bench. Speaking of reading, there's a free little library in the garden! I see this as an important accessibility feature considering the nearest library is a car or train ride away.
Another green space further up 16th Street SW called the Sunalta Cottage School Park offers another bench and free little library.
Getting around
There are many ways of getting to and from the community. Being just to the left of the Beltline allows for a quick walk to some of downtown's businesses. While the community sits just outside the free fare zone, it is home to a large train station offering quick access to the city centre. I believe that it'll be a plus for the community if the free fare zone was extended to Sunalta, thus removing a financial barrier and perhaps motivating residents to engage with the city more.
There is a cycle track on 12th Ave SW that also leads to downtown, offering an active choice for a commute. While Calgary in large part remains quite car-centric (very evident if you observe 10th Ave SW), it's evident that residents have options for getting around in this community. The challenge in my view is how can residents be more motivated to use more active means of transportation as I've seen many cars coming and going even with nice weather.
While the community as a whole is very walkable, however, I've noticed one issue regarding the sidewalk narrowing on the north side of 10th Ave SW as you continue west. A few telephone poles further block much of the already narrowed sidewalk presenting a hazard for people with different mobility needs. This I've observed is not just an issue in Sunalta but many sidewalks downtown.
Homes in the Community
Just like the people that live here, the homes that you find are very diverse from century-old character homes to newly built condos, there's a choice for many. An interesting observation that I've made from my research as a Catalyst Fellow is how the types of homes are almost perfectly divided along 12th Ave SW. Homes to the north of the avenue are mostly condo buildings and homes to the south are primarily detached character homes.
I am ending this blog with a highlight on the amazing Sunalta Community Hall. Run by the Sunalta Community Association, the community hall acts as a social space, a resource hub, a workshop, a place for fitness, a place for ceremony, a place for music, and so much more than what you would expect. What impressed me when I worked there was the community association's strong relationship with the community and how many initiatives are resident-led. In my view, they've truly defined a model in which all community associations should follow.
Check out everything the community association has to offer and maybe pick up a membership!
See you in the next Sunalta Live!
MT