Originally appeared in the Calgary Herald, March 21, 2026.
Calgary is on the path to two million people. That milestone will test more than our skyline.
Cranes, construction and new neighbourhoods are visible signs of a city on the move. But the real test of our growth is whether the systems that support people and help them thrive can keep pace.
Housing stability. Youth mental health. Community connection.
Because the strength of Calgary’s future will depend not just on how fast we grow, but on how well we support the people who call this city home. Our city is rich in spirit, full of trailblazers and visionaries who don’t wait for others to activate change. It’s why this is a time for leadership, to ensure we embrace the defining moment of this demographic milestone.
Having grown up in Calgary, I’ve watched the city rise, reset and reinvent itself more than once. What has always defined us is not just how high we build, but how we show up for one another when things get tough. We often talk about infrastructure in terms of housing, transit and utilities. These are essential to a growing city.
But there is another form of infrastructure that will determine whether Calgary remains one of the most livable cities in Canada as it grows: Our social foundation.
In 2024, Calgary ranked among the world’s most livable cities according to the Economist Intelligence Unit. Yet beneath that recognition, warning signs are emerging. Nearly half of Albertans report being just $200 away from not meeting their financial obligations. Across the country, growing pressure on health and social systems has contributed to Canadian cities slipping in global livability rankings.
That fragility is increasingly visible in daily life.
A rent increase can trigger housing instability. A lost shift at work can ripple into food insecurity. A mental health challenge can pull a young person away from school, friendships and opportunity.
In a city approaching two million people, small cracks can widen quickly.
Across Canada, youth are reporting rising levels of anxiety, depression and isolation. Research shows mental health challenges among children and youth have intensified as economic pressures continue to burden families.
Affordability is also reshaping everyday life. For many households, the concern is no longer only about meeting basic needs. It is about long-term stability — the ability to save, to stay housed and to plan for the future.
These pressures are deeply interconnected. Economic well-being affects mental health. Mental health affects belonging. And belonging shapes how people participate in their communities and workplaces.
When communities invest in connection and prevention, they create conditions for hope to take root.
When young people feel connected early, the likelihood of future crises decreases. When families can access help before hardship escalates, challenges are shorter and less costly.
At United Way of Calgary and Area, we work alongside over 100 local agencies, thousands of donors and hundreds of partners across business, government and the community sector to bring people together to solve complex social challenges. Our role strengthens the system that supports people across the community.
That includes aligning funding, convening partners and investing in long-term solutions designed to reduce harm before it escalates. Initiatives such as Community Hubs and Planet Youth Calgary aim to build neighbourhoods where supports are easier to access, and young people are better connected, resilient and able to flourish.
In a rapidly growing city, co-ordination matters as much as capacity.
When organizations operate in isolation, people often move through fragmented systems. When partners align around shared outcomes, duplication can be reduced and support can reach families more effectively.
At the same time, pressures on the social sector are intensifying. Population growth and economic strain are driving increased demand for services. Front-line agencies are navigating heavier workloads and more complex needs while resources remain limited. Yet Calgary has always been defined by collaboration. That spirit is one of our city’s greatest strengths and one reason there is real optimism about our city’s future.
During the 2013 Alberta floods, neighbours filled sandbags side by side. During economic downturns and the pandemic, organizations that do not always sit at the same table came together to respond. That same spirit will be essential as Calgary approaches two million residents.
Because the goal is not simply to grow. It is to grow well.
A strong workforce depends on stable households. Economic participation increases when newcomers feel belonging quickly. Public safety improves when prevention reduces harm before it escalates.
These priorities are not separate agendas. They are interconnected pillars of a thriving city.
Two million residents will not define Calgary’s future.
The strength of the community we build around them will.
Karen Young is the president and CEO of United Way of Calgary and Area.