Calgarians feel good about their quality of life: City

The Calgary skyline is seen on April 27, 2025. (CTV News)

The City of Calgary’s fall survey revealed more Calgarians feel their quality of life is good, according to a survey of nearly 2,500 people.

Seventy-one per cent of people surveyed said their quality of life is good, about five per cent higher than last year’s fall survey.

Nearly half of respondents also said they have trust in the city of Calgary, also up from the same survey last year.

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The top issue identified in the survey was improving infrastructure, traffic and roads, chosen by nearly 39 per cent of respondents, up from the 35 per cent recorded in the fall 2024 survey.

Crime, safety and policing is the second most concern according to 23 per cent of Calgarians, an increase from 16 per cent from 2024.

Nineteen per cent continue to prioritize homelessness, poverty and affordable housing which is up slightly from the 17 per cent from last fall’s survey.

Transit remains a steady concern for 13 per cent of Calgarians.

“Our priorities are Calgarian priorities, and this feedback helps ensure we continue investing in what matters most to the people we are here to serve,” said David Duckworth, the city’s chief administrative officer in a Monday news release.

“Calgary has long been a place where people want to be, which is evident by the ongoing growth our community continues to experience. While Calgary has evolved throughout history — meeting each moment, each challenge and opportunity — one thing has remained constant: we have strived to be a great place to make a living and a great place to make a life.”

Calgarians’ satisfaction with the overall level and quality of city services has rebounded from a low of 61 per cent in spring 2025 to 67 per cent in fall 2025 which suggests service delivery improvements and stabilization are being recognized.

A new measure in this year’s survey found that close to 59 per cent of residents feel the city is focused on their needs and 55 per cent believe input from Calgarians is used in decision-making about city projects and services.

“This alignment between resident priorities and our work is essential,” said Duckworth. “We remain committed to a responsive and data-driven approach — delivering results where they matter most.”

The city’s bi-annual survey is a key tool for understanding Calgarians’ expectations, concerns and real needs. It informs decision-making, tracks performance and ensures transparency and accountability.

“Our research is an essential element of evidence-based decision making and helps us stay connected to the people we serve,” said Krista Ring, manager of web, research and projects, customer service and communications.

“By sharing these results, we demonstrate our commitment to accountability and transparency.”

The fall 2025 survey of Calgarians was conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs from July 30 to August 28, consulting 2,500 Calgarians via telephone.

The survey was conducted using numbers from both cell phones (60 per cent) and landlines (40 per cent) to obtain a random and statistically representative sample of Calgarians with a margin of error +/- two percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Results will be presented to Calgary city council Monday.