Calgary’s Business Improvement Areas bring winter season to life

Calgary’s Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) are welcoming winter and the holiday season with events that invite Calgarians and visitors out to explore our city’s local retail neighbourhoods and support the businesses that help make them distinctive. 

Calgary’s 15 BIAs strengthen our main streets and shopping districts, attract residents and visitors, and contribute to vibrant, resilient and economically strong communities.  

This season, the Kensington BIA is offering a range of holiday events starting with Kickoff to Christmas on Nov. 19, welcoming Calgarians to turn their holiday shopping into a neighbourhood outing that includes meeting Santa (and keep an eye out for the mean green fellow), Christmas tree lighting, live piano music, a petting zoo, free hot chocolate and late-night shopping at more than 20 shops.  

“Christmas in Kensington is a community celebration. It is about bringing people together. It gives Calgarians another way to experience our neighbourhood during the holiday season,” says Gwyneth Midgley, Executive Director, Kensington BIA. “When people attend an event, stop for a coffee, find a gift or discover a new local business, they’re helping support the independent businesses that give Kensington its character. And there's never been a more important time to support local!"  

Holiday events continue in Kensington over five weekends leading up to Christmas with horse-drawn carriage rides back by popular demand on Sundays Nov. 22 and Dec. 20 from 12-3 p.m.  

Calgary’s BIAs know their communities and local businesses best, and that local knowledge is what makes our partnership so valuable,” says Lori Kerr, Manager, Major Partners with The City. “As another holiday season begins, we want to help more Calgarians discover these areas, support local businesses and enjoy the unique experiences they offer throughout the winter.” 

The City partners with BIAs, which are non-profit organizations that work with businesses within geographic areas to improve and beautify their districts, support public spaces, and promote their areas as business and shopping destinations. The City supports BIAs with legislative requirements and governance guidance and expertise, while BIAs bring local knowledge and on-the-ground action to their communities.  

More BIA Winter Events 

• Bowness Holiday Craft Fair, Nov. 14 & 15, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Mainstreet Bowness BIA) 
• Light Up Montgomery Winter Festival, Nov. 15, 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. (Montgomery on the Bow BIA) 
• Kickoff to Christmas in Kensington, Nov. 19, 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. (Kensington BIA) 

The City also leads Support Local,  year‑round work that brings together initiatives that including the annual Calgary Parking Winter Contest and Winter in Calgary, to promote local shopping and reinforce the importance of supporting Calgary‑based businesses. Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas helped launch the Support Local holiday campaign by visiting the Mainstreet Bowness BIA and Montgomery on the Bow BIA last week. Calgarians are invited to keep discovering local shops, experiences and neighbourhoods across the city. Learn more calgary.ca/supportlocal.  

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