Acadia is arguably one of the best communities in Calgary for raising a family. With an abundance of recreational opportunities and a huge selection of schools within the neighbourhood, growing families will feel right at home in this centrally located community. With McLeod Trail bordering the west side of Acadia, residents have access to the best that Calgary has to offer in just a few minutes. If you were to ask the people of Calgary to name their most family-friendly communities, this area would surely be near the top of their list.
Most of Acadia is residential. The large majority of businesses lie on the western edge of the community along McLeod Trail, one of Calgary’s main roadways. The rest of the area is filled with quiet residential streets and some of the city’s best recreational facilities including arenas and parks. The amounts of single family homes and high density housing are almost equal.
The high density housing consists mostly of duplexes and low rise apartment buildings that suit the quiet feel of the neighbourhood.
Don’t let the residential makeup of Acadia trick you into thinking there’s nowhere to find excitement. Some of the city’s premier entertainment destinations are in this neighbourhood or right at its outer limits. If you’re looking for a good laugh, The Comedy Cave is a fantastic comedy club. See amateurs, local comedians, and touring professionals all on the same stage. Stage West is a renowned dinner theatre with a constantly changing lineup of incredible shows. If you want to grab a drink and do a little dancing, Ranchman’s is the place to go. One of Calgary’s most famous bars, Ranchman’s is one of the city’s hotspots during Stampede time. For an unforgettable day of fun and excitement with the kids, look no further than Laser Quest, one of Canada’s premier laser tag destinations.
Real Estate
Acadia has an almost equal mix of single family homes and multi-unit housing like duplexes, apartments, and condos. The community is very desirable for people looking to buy a home in Calgary. The community is also a popular choice for renters who want the perfect combination of entertainment and family life. Whether you want to rent or to look for a home to invest in, there’s no shortage of options in Acadia.
There are almost no high rise apartment buildings in the area. Most apartment or condo buildings are just three or four floors high, so they keep a low profile among the many single family homes and duplexes. Acadia is a large neighbourhood, and so the selection and availability is among the best in Calgary. You’re sure to find the perfect place to live.
Residents living close to the main bordering roadways of McLeod Trail, Southland Drive, Blackfoot Trail, and Heritage Drive will notice some increased road noise, especially during rush hour. However, most of the housing in Acadia is not along those roads, so noise pollution from traffic is not likely to be much of a concern for most. The greenspaces are kept clean, which helps contribute to the comfortable overall feeling of the community.
Crime Rate
The crime rate in Calgary is lower than in many Canadian cities, and this is very much true for Acadia as well. If you wish to take a look at crimes within a specific area of Calgary, the police maintain a handy crime map for you to view. Safety should not be a major concern for anyone moving to Calgary, regardless of what neighbourhood they choose.
Schools
There are plenty of schools in Acadia that serve the many youngsters growing up in this area of the city. Elementary aged kids will attend Acadia Elementary, junior high students attend David Thompson Junior High, while high school students may well go to Calgary’s largest high school, Lord Beaverbrook. There is also Ecole de la Source, which is a public francophone school for primary and secondary aged kids, as well as Foundations for the Future – a public charter school. There are also several private charter schools in the area as well as schools within the Catholic School Division.
Public Transportation
Acadia is situated very close to two C-Train stations which offer residents quick light rail access to other areas of the city. Southland Station and Heritage Station are just a short walk or bus ride from anywhere in the neighbourhood, and these also make a commute downtown very easy. The bus system also runs through Acadia. With McLeod Trail being one of the main roadways in Calgary, it is very easy to take a bus from there to your destination.
Family Life
Raising a family in Acadia offers a seemingly endless wealth of activities for kids and parents alike. Avenue Magazine says that Acadia is one of the best communities in Calgary for access to recreational opportunities as well as proximity to schools. The community association keeps a regularly updated website that alerts residents to the latest events and get-togethers. The Acadia Aquatic & Fitness Centre is the perfect place for the kids to take swimming lessons or for people of any age to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Sign up for a fitness course or a dance class and take advantage of the wealth of recreation options in the community.
The Acadia Recreation Complex is also a fantastic facility with rinks for hockey and curling, plus much more. And once you have swum, skated, and danced your energy away, you can spend some time relaxing at one of the nearby malls. Southcentre Mall and Chinook Centre Mall are two of Calgary’s largest malls with even more entertainment for people of all ages. The time it takes to raise a family is probably the amount of time you will need to experience everything Acadia has to offer.