ABOUT CDA
Who is the Calgary Downtown Association?
The Calgary Downtown Association represents 102 blocks and more than 2500 businesses and property owners in Calgary’s downtown core. We advocate for our members, enhance the downtown environment, and advance initiatives that create a vibrant and economically resilient city centre.
OUR ROLE
The Calgary Downtown Association champions a thriving, vibrant, and economically resilient downtown by advocating for businesses, creating welcoming public spaces, and building partnerships that strengthen Calgary’s urban downtown core.
The CDA is a steward for downtown businesses, residents, and organizations
We advocate for economic vitality and policy
We promote and market downtown
We improve the public realm and physical environment
We collaborate with City and civic partners
We empower community and vibrancy in the downtown core
Treaty 7 Territory Land Acknowledgement
At the meeting of great rivers, also known as confluences, humanity has long found places to gather, reflect, and learn from one another. This land, known today as Canada, has many major river meeting places that carry deep Indigenous histories and meanings.
The Calgary area, where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet, is a place of confluence where the sharing of ideas and opportunities naturally come together.
Indigenous peoples have their own names for this area that have been in use long before settlers named this place Calgary. In the Blackfoot language, it is called Moh-kins-tsis (moe-h-gin-st-sis)( witha soft ‘g’). The Îethka Nakoda Wîcastabi (Ee-yith-ka Na-code-a Wee-chi-staw-bee) First Nations refer to this place as Wicispa Oyade (Wee-chee-spa Oo-yaw-day) and the people of the Tsuut’ina (Soot-tenna) nation call it Guts-ists-I (Goot-sis). The Métis call the Calgary area Otos-kwunee (Oo-tusk-wun-nee).
We appreciate and acknowledge that we are gathered on the ancestral and traditional territory of the Blackfoot Nations who include: the Siksika (Seek-seek-ga), Piikani (bee-gun-nee) and Kainai (Gain-aa) First Nations; the Îethka Nakoda Wîcastabi ((Ee-yith-ka Na-code-a Wee-chi-staw-bee) First Nations comprised of: the Chiniki (Chin-ick-ee), Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations; and the Tsuut’ina (Soot-tenna) First Nation. Calgary is also homeland to the Métis - the Otipemisiwak (Otay-pem-iss-a-wack) - and includes the Nose Hill Métis District and the Elbow Métis District, within the Battle River Territory.
We acknowledge and give gratitude to the many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit who have lived in and cared for these lands for generations and call Calgary home.
External Whistleblower Policy
Calgary Downtown Association (“CDA”) is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards. We do this by conducting our business with maximum integrity and by achieving full compliance will our bylaws, rules and regulations. In line with this commitment, the CDA provides an avenue for its stakeholders, rate payers, and other members of the public to report any concerns they may have about the CDA’s activities and to be assured that they will be protected from reprisal or victimization for reporting their concerns in good faith.