Community partners share Calgary's new brand

CALGARY, AB, April 17, 2024 /CNW/ – Calgary community partners come together to share 'Blue Sky City' Calgary Economic Development Report 2024 – Calgary's new brand.

The new brand tells the story Calgary a city of blue ideas and innovation, a place of unexpected opportunities and a place where peoples, countries, cultures and ideas meet. By celebrating its history and diversity Calgaryit is meant to represent all Calgarians.

The Blue Sky City brand also serves as a reference Calgary the sunniest city Canada with 333 solar flares annually.

“We know Calgary a wonderful place to call home. “We consistently rank high in livability, affordability and quality of life, but we haven't really communicated that story to ourselves or to people outside of our city.” Brad Parry, president and CEO of Calgary Economic Development, CEO of Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund. “It's time to tell our story or let others tell us. A strong, authentic and aspirational brand supports long-term growth and unites us around a shared vision for the future.”

Research conducted by Calgary Economic Development and Tourism Calgary found that Calgarians do not feel they are in and out of the city's branding. Alberta was a one-dimensional view of the city. The two organizations are partnering in response City of Calgaryembarked on a process to define a new brand that represents all Calgarians.

The process involved the business community, government, stakeholder communities, indigenous communities, youth groups, non-profit communities and arts groups to create a more inclusive and representative brand for the city. This agreement covers a wide range of people, taking into account age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and geographical location.

A total of 129 organizations across 26 sectors participated in each phase of the brand's work through interviews, workshops, cross-country focus groups and surveys.

“Tourism Calgary works every day to promote our destination to national and international audiences. As a growing city, we wanted to better understand how Calgarians see our city and who our city is to them, and how we can better tell that story together.” Cindy Adi, CEO, Tourism Calgary. “As we move forward, our team will work with our many local business partners and the community to understand how best to bring our city's brand to life.”

“This brand belongs to all Calgarians, and it's a reflection of what Calgarians see as their city and what they're committed to. Our story is about opportunity and the unexpected,” said Parry.

While the organizations have released a new identity, it's only the first step in launching a brand with a logo and other visual elements, and each partner will integrate the new brand into their conversations in the coming weeks and months.

In a Calgary Economic Development report to the community, Parry shared some of the highlights of the past year.

Highlights of 2023

• Calgary's economic development has created or retained more than 7,000 jobs and attracted more $734 million in investments.
• Calgary Economic Development has created more than 253 job-integrated learning opportunities – including 185 opportunities for students in equity groups – and attracted 48 employers. Calgary.
• Calgary Economic Development's EDGE UP program completed its mandate by training 369 graduates, 80 percent of whom are now working in technology or pursuing further education.
• Calgary completed 64 valued venture deals and became the main focus for investment $501 million.
• For every dollar generated by the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF), Calgary caused $11 will return to additional economic activity and stimulate the forecast aggregate $870 million in economic activity.
• By the end of 2023, OCIF has committed $86.2 million 28 projects. These projects have resulted in the creation or preservation of more than 3,300 jobs and the creation or expansion of 630 companies.
• Calgary It won Location of the Year at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and the city has been ranked eighth for the best cities to live and work as a filmmaker.

For more information contact:
Grace Fullerton
Manager, Communications
Cell: 403-880-7040
Email address: (email protected)

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CALGARY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Calgary Economic Development is an opportunity creator that helps spark and fuel Calgary's increase. Our job is to connect people with resources to help them grow their careers or businesses, thrive in new locations or markets, and feel at home in their communities. We manage the economic strategy, Calgary In the new economy with a mandate to the position Calgary to achieve long-term economic success by supporting the expansion, retention and acquisition of companies, capital and talent. We offer a wealth of information to help everyone succeed, and we promote tirelessly Calgaryyear Canada and worldwide. For more information, visit our website at www.calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

SOURCES Calgary Economic Development Ltd.