W ith Western charm to spare, Calgary has long been a top draw for tourists. But it’s the city’s business- friendly climate and high quality of life that have made it equally appealing for employers and talent the world over. “Calgary is a great place to make a living and a great place to make a life,” affirms Mary Moran, president and CEO of Calgary Economic Development. “For companies, that goes a long way towards making Calgary an ideal location, even for a satellite oper- ation or remote teams.” Part of the Stampede City’s attraction is its thriving business community. Calgary is home to 115 corporate headquarters and boasts the second highest number of head offices in Canada. These include the offices of sector leaders in energy, entertainment, finance, life sciences, manufacturing, tourism and agribusiness, among others. Most notably, the city is host to one of the fastest- growing tech sectors, with veterans and startups alike fueling innov- ation in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, blockchain, Internet of Things, and automation. This growing industry ecosystem has turned Calgary into a hub for collaboration and innovation. Also attractive is that businesses that stake their claim in this Western metropolis can take advantage of the second-lowest commercial property taxes of any major Canadian city. Calgary’s 30.1 per cent total effective tax rate is the fourth-lowest among 111 global cities, including Vancouver and Toronto, which have a 35.3 per cent and 34.1 per cent total effective tax rate respectively, by comparison. Another big plus for Calgary is that there’s plenty of room for newcomers. Economic Development Calgary estimates the city has 11 million square feet of downtown office real estate and nine million square feet of industrial space still up for grabs. “There is an abundance of commercial real estate that’s available and it’s a very affordable place to do business,” says Roy Phelps, chief commercial officer with Quality Move Management, Inc., which has operated in Calgary for over 20 years and assists many organ- izations and their employees moving in and out of the region. “I’ve seen a lot of smaller companies that previously couldn’t afford a downtown core location come to Calgary and be able to upgrade their property and be closer to the action.” Ease of mobility is also a plus. The Calgary International airport serves 140 Canadian and international destinations, facilitating talent movement and opening doors to global opportunities. ACCESS TO TALENT Over 88,000 students attend Calgary’s network of post-secondary institutions, and just over 4,000 of them graduate from STEM-related programs each year. Combined with strong immigration support, REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT THE LURE OF THE STAMPEDE CITY Scenic mountains, a thriving business scene, and a very affordable lifestyle all add to Calgary’s appeal as a favoured destination for global firms and talent By Matthew Bradford 40 PERSPECTIVES Fall 2018