Summary

• Qualico Communities Calgary has broken ground on Bellwether, a new 160-acre mixed-use community in Calgary’s east-side growth corridor.
• Bellwether is designed as a connected, walkable community, featuring a mix of homes, commercial spaces, a central park, a future school site, and everyday amenities.
• The project reflects Qualico’s long-term commitment to respectful development, including environmental stewardship and a land blessing led by Elder Casey Eagle Speaker of the Kainai Nation.

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Calgary, AB – Qualico Communities Calgary broke ground on Bellwether, its newest community on the city’s east side, a key development corridor.

The groundbreaking brought together Qualico employees, development partners, builders, and stakeholders to celebrate the beginning of construction on the 160-acre mixed-use community.

“We’re proud to break ground on Bellwether, the next chapter in Qualico’s 75-year legacy of building better cities,” said Thilo Kaufmann, Vice-President, Qualico Communities Calgary.

“What we’re creating here is more than a neighbourhood. It’s a place where people can live, work, and gather, with a mix of homes, services, and spaces that create a more connected, walkable way of living.”

A vision rooted in connection

Over the years, Qualico Communities has built neighbourhoods across the Southern Alberta region, guided by a commitment to create connected, enduring communities.

Bellwether carries that same vision forward in a part of the city that is positioned within one of Calgary’s most important and evolving growth corridors. Its location will also help strengthen connections between Calgary and neighbouring Chestermere.

At full build-out, the community will include a diverse mix of homes, commercial spaces, a central park, a school site, and amenities designed to support everyday life.

Prior to the groundbreaking, Qualico Communities held a pipe ceremony in June 2025, led by Elder Casey Eagle Speaker from the Kainai Nation, to bless the land in advance of development.

The ceremony, a sacred tradition, included prayers for the land, the people who will help build the community, and the future residents who will call it home, reflecting a shared commitment to moving forward in a thoughtful and respectful way.

“These moments are important in helping us understand the history of the land and the responsibility that comes with it,” said Emily Smith, Director, Marketing & Customer Care, Qualico Communities Calgary. “It was a meaningful experience for our team and partners, and one that continues to guide how we approach Bellwether.”

Looking ahead

The lands that will become Bellwether have evolved over time, from early private ownership in the early 1900s to decades of agricultural use, and more recently, their integration into Calgary’s growing urban landscape.

Environmental stewardship has also been a key consideration in the planning of the community, including the preservation of a significant wetland and the integration of pathways and green spaces.

The groundbreaking highlighted the collaboration behind Bellwether, with appreciation extended to the City of Calgary, builder partners, consultants, contractors, and the many teams involved in bringing the project to this stage.

“Projects like this are made possible through strong partnerships and a shared vision,” said Thilo. “We’re grateful to everyone who has played a role in getting us here.”