Bragg Creek: The Crown Jewel

Bragg Creek offers an escape from the ordinary and rejuvenation to all who call it home. It is the gateway to Kananaskis Country, a 4,200 square kilometre forestry reserve that is home to some of the most pristine, awe-inspiring landscapes in the world. Kananaskis Country is commonly referred to as “God’s Country” because of its stunning beauty; it takes a very special place to earn a reputation of being the “gateway to God’s country,” and Bragg Creek is really that kind of a place.

Although Bragg Creek has long been perceived as one of the most beautiful places on earth, the rare convergence of beauty, location and timing are making it one of the most exciting investment opportunities in Canada.

The famous, world-class beauty comes from three abundant natural resources that literally define the essence of Bragg Creek – the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, which are home to an absolutely dazzling array of flora and fauna, provide the stunning natural backdrop to the gem that is Bragg Creek; the sparkling, crystal clear Elbow River, which provides a third of Albertan’s with fresh water, meanders through the middle of Bragg Creek; and rounding out the beauty is one of the most expansive and pristine forests in the world. The fact that this magazine exists is testament to Bragg Creek’s abundance of wildlife, fresh mountain air, clear running streams, and the infinite number of spectacular untouched vistas.

Located a mere twenty minutes west of Canada’s most economically vibrant city, Bragg Creek is strategically located to welcome an increasing number of people. Calgary is the epicentre of Canada’s vast strength in the hydrocarbon sector; it is Calgary’s intent to become the leading business centre for integrated energy activity in the world, positioning Canada as a global energy superpower. Based on current projections, it is expected that the Calgary region will double in population – to approximately three million people – by 2050. Bragg Creek allows easy access to the growing city: via highway 22X, Bragg Creek is twenty minutes to the south end of Calgary; via highway 8, Bragg Creek is twenty minutes to the west side of Calgary, which allows easy access to the downtown core; and via the Trans-Canada highway (highway 1), Bragg Creek is twenty minutes to the north end of Calgary, which provides easy access to Calgary’s International Airport. In addition to strategic positioning to Calgary, Bragg Creek is directly adjacent to the province’s most prized jewel and only provincial mountain park – Kananaskis Country – a world-class forestry reserve that extends directly into Banff National Park. Kananaskis Country was founded in 1976 by the Honourable Peter Lougheed, the most popular Premier in the history of Alberta, to ensure Albertans would always have a place to recharge their batteries into the future. Lougheed’s own words best describe Kananaskis: “In my extensive travels to various parts of the world, I have been fortunate to have visited many special places, but the most special place of all is Kananaskis Country.” As a further testament to the extraordinary beauty of Kananaskis, when Canada hosted the G8 summit in 2002, Kananaskis was chosen to showcase Canada’s beauty to the world.

Timing is everything. Alberta enjoys one of the best employment rates in Canada and is widely considered by economists to have the greatest growth potential in the country, and one of the best in the world. Calgary is regularly touted as Canada’s economic engine for growth and prosperity, and Canada, overall, is known as one of the safest places in the world to invest. The time to invest in Bragg Creek is now. As a result of the recent infrastructure stimulus program, Bragg Creek has just received funding from the municipal, provincial and federal governments for communal water and sewage infrastructure, and this creates, for the first time, opportunity for larger scale commercial development, thus paving the way for significant investment in the community, which will dramatically increase Bragg Creek’s amenities and appeal. The unparalleled beauty, healthy lifestyle and long-term prosperity that Bragg Creek offers will deliver a very healthy return on investment.

Imagine if this opportunity existed twenty minutes from Vancouver or Toronto thirty years ago! The entire horseshoe shaped Rocky View County, which surrounds Calgary on three sides, is an outstanding investment opportunity – Canada’s golden horseshoe of the 21st century. However, Bragg Creek is, quite literally, a diamond in the rough. Simply put, the unique convergence of Bragg Creek’s beauty, location and timing will fuel investment growth in Bragg Creek for years to come.