Last week we said we'd roll through all the communities on Calgary's west side, so this week we start with Cougar Ridge. If you're not familiar where Cougar Ridge is in the city, it's located just south of Canada Olympic Park, on the north side of Old Banff Coach Road. Located in Ward 6, on its east you find 69th Street, on its west it is bordered by 101st Street. Established in 2001, it is no longer one of the youngest neighbourhoods to be annexed in this southwest quadrant in the city, however it has lots to offer.
Demographically speaking, it is a neighbourhood filled with young families. According to the last census of 2014, just over 6700 people live in the area, where 30% of that population is under 15 years of age. Only 3% of the inhabitants are over 65 years of age, and it is a community that is still growing in terms of population age, but not in size. It is an English- speaking community where 1% of people living in the area stated they don't speak either French or English. Crime is low in Cougar Ridge, with the most common offence reported as theft from vehicles on the Calgary Police community profile site.
In terms of placement in the city, this neighbourhood's location is extremely attractive and sought after due to its proximity to the mountains, and because a quick jaunt down Old Banff Coach Road and Bow Trail takes you to downtown in excellent time. The C-Train terminal for 69th Street station is also a quick drive away and is also serviced by buses if you don't want to drive at all. Within the area, there are plenty of shops and amenities very close by. Everything you really need is truly on this hill! A Fire Station a short drive away in the neighbouring neighbourhood of Coach Hill also brings comfort and a quick response if needed. Green spaces fill the neighbourhood with many playground zones to let the children play and be outside. Like all communities on the hill, Foothills Hospital or RockyView Hospital are closest in the event of medical urgency.
Cougar Ridge, like so many neighbourhoods on the west side have a variety of schools and places of worship to choose from. Schools representing the private sector are found immediately within walking distance, and kids are bussed or driven to the public sector schools. With so many kids in the area, residents are truly blessed to have the opportunity to decide where to send their kids. Right in the heart of Cougar Ridge is the Waldorf School and the Calgary French & International School, both of which are private. Other private schools in the close vicinity are Webber Academy and Rundle College. In the Calgary Public School district, Rosscarrock School is the designated school for K-6 students in Cougar Ridge and it offers both French and Spanish immersion, however, please refer to the school's website for more information on these immersion programs. There are special considerations given to kids from Cougar Ridge to allow them to attend WildWood School if there are already older siblings there, however, Rosscarrock is the designated school. West Ridge Middle School allows for the intake of kids from Cougar Ridge and covers grades 5-9. In the separate system, St. Joan of Arc is located very close by in West Springs.
In terms of high schools for the public and separate system, Ernest Manning is located a short drive away for the public route, whereas the feeder high school for St. Joan of Arc is either Bishop Carroll or St. Mary's High School. Should your child be athletically gifted, the quick escape out of the city to head west comes in really handy, since the Edge School for Athletes is a short drive down highway 1 heading west.
For places of worship, Cougar Ridge has many to choose from in the area. St. Michael's Catholic Church just down 85th Street is very close, as is the Bethel United Reformed Church, and the New Apostolic Church. A short drive south towards 17th Avenue, there is the Calgary Islamic Centre.
Like most neighbourhoods, residents of Cougar Ridge share an annual levy that is separate from the City to cover expenses that relate to green spaces seen in entrance medians, boulevards, etc. The fee is an annual fee which spans the calendar year and at last reference, it was set at $108.15/year. There is also a community association linked with West Springs, for which membership is optional but valuable. At $25.00/year, individual members enjoy discounted pricing to events such as community ski/ snowboard night at Canada Olympic Park, Learn to Skate programs at WinSport, up to date information on events that relate to kids in the community, discounts to sponsored shops in the area, and more!
To end, Cougar Ridge is a dynamic community that summits the Paskapoo Slopes and the Paskapoo Slopes themselves offer some fun trivia to dazzle your friends with because the sediments underneath the hill are between 62.5 to 58.5 million years old, AND the area was historically used as a buffalo jump to hunt bison by First Nations, similar to what is seen at Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump!
Cougar Ridge, like so many neighbourhoods on the west side have a variety of schools and places of worship to choose from. Schools representing the private sector are found immediately within walking distance, and kids are bussed or driven to the public sector schools. With so many kids in the area, residents are truly blessed to have the opportunity to decide where to send their kids. Right in the heart of Cougar Ridge is the Waldorf School and the Calgary French & International School, both of which are private. Other private schools in the close vicinity are Webber Academy and Rundle College. In the Calgary Public School district, Rosscarrock School is the designated school for K-6 students in Cougar Ridge and it offers both French and Spanish immersion, however, please refer to the school's website for more information on these immersion programs. There are special considerations given to kids from Cougar Ridge to allow them to attend WildWood School if there are already older siblings there, however, Rosscarrock is the designated school. West Ridge Middle School allows for the intake of kids from Cougar Ridge and covers grades 5-9. In the separate system, St. Joan of Arc is located very close by in West Springs.
In terms of high schools for the public and separate system, Ernest Manning is located a short drive away for the public route, whereas the feeder high school for St. Joan of Arc is either Bishop Carroll or St. Mary's High School. Should your child be athletically gifted, the quick escape out of the city to head west comes in really handy, since the Edge School for Athletes is a short drive down highway 1 heading west.
For places of worship, Cougar Ridge has many to choose from in the area. St. Michael's Catholic Church just down 85th Street is very close, as is the Bethel United Reformed Church, and the New Apostolic Church. A short drive south towards 17th Avenue, there is the Calgary Islamic Centre.
Like most neighbourhoods, residents of Cougar Ridge share an annual levy that is separate from the City to cover expenses that relate to green spaces seen in entrance medians, boulevards, etc. The fee is an annual fee which spans the calendar year and at last reference, it was set at $108.15/year. There is also a community association linked with West Springs, for which membership is optional but valuable. At $25.00/year, individual members enjoy discounted pricing to events such as community ski/ snowboard night at Canada Olympic Park, Learn to Skate programs at WinSport, up to date information on events that relate to kids in the community, discounts to sponsored shops in the area, and more!
To end, Cougar Ridge is a dynamic community that summits the Paskapoo Slopes and the Paskapoo Slopes themselves offer some fun trivia to dazzle your friends with because the sediments underneath the hill are between 62.5 to 58.5 million years old, AND the area was historically used as a buffalo jump to hunt bison by First Nations, similar to what is seen at Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump!