2025 Activity Update

Social Media and Community Communication

I hope you’ve noticed our increased communications. We have two new Board members who have brought their personal expertise to bear on the community. If you aren’t already, please sign up for our e-newsletter, Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky.

Social Media Update

ECCA continues to grow its online presence through our Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky accounts, helping us share neighbourhood updates, promote local events, and connect with residents.

  • Instagram (@eau.claire.yyc) remains our primary channel with 540 followers, reaching a minimum viewership of 5000+ views per month. Event-related posts and neighbourhood updates continue to perform particularly well.

  • Facebook (@eau.claire.yyc) currently has 130 followers, where posts about community initiatives and event announcements regularly reach 4000 views per month.

  • Bluesky, (eauclaireyyc.bsky.social) our newest platform, has grown to 54 followers and is helping us reach new audiences interested in local events and downtown Calgary updates.

E-Newsletter Update

  • In 2025 we launched our e-newsletter, “What’s Happening in Eau Claire,” which is a great way to receive a digest of events and activities delivered straight to your inbox. We are currently at just under 100 subscribers with newsletters being sent at minimum once a month and a maximum of once a week during Eau Claire’s most active periods.

  • You can sign up for the newsletter on our website: https://www.eauclaireca.com/

Across all platforms, social media and our newsletter have become an important way for residents to stay informed about River Hall/Prince’s Island Park/Eau Claire Plaza/Lot 6 programming, community events, neighbourhood initiatives, and local businesses in Eau Claire.

Website Update

Our recently revived website is a great place to visit for the timelines of active development projects around Eau Claire and the Upcoming Events calendar.

Green Line

  • The City has launched a Functional Study looking at an elevated LRT option from the new Grand Central, along 10th Avenue and north along 2nd Street.

  • The ECCA strongly opposes the use of 2nd Street and would prefer an alignment along 1st Street SW, by the Harry Hays building.

  • We also oppose the elevated option which will have a significant economic and visual impact to both the downtown core and Eau Claire community.

  • We have long opposed the idea of a tiny stub end from 7th Avenue to Eau Claire – the Eau Claire station should have always been considered the south end of the route from 64th Avenue not the “temporary northern terminus” of the route from Lynwood to 7th Avenue.

  • Prince’s Island should be protected from having a bridge blocking sunlight and adding noise and disturbances from trains. This is one of the best parks in Calgary and the largest in downtown, it needs to be protected.

  • We are baffled that after spending $76 million to improve Eau Claire Plaza, the Promenade and access to Prince’s Island, the City is considering plowing through the area, bisecting the walking route and damaging the wetland area.

  • This will be of on-going concern throughout 2026 and further into the future.

Residential Development

  • ECCA is very excited about residential development in our neighbourhood – now is the time, when office towers don’t appeal to developers, to increase the number of residents here in the smallest community in Calgary.

  • It’s important that such residential development meets the goals of our Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) and fits in with the rest of the community.

  • The City of Calgary has invested heavily over the last five years in the Eau Claire Public Realm, and they, and the taxpayers, have a vested interest in a development of this size and location. We should be united in pursuing quality and legacy over extreme density and developer profit.

  • Quad Real’s proposed development

    • ECCA spent a great deal of time and energy interacting with the developer, City Planning, the Ward 7 office and Downtown Strategy to defend our ARP and our goals for the community. While we weren’t successful in getting everything we want, we did have a significant impact on the eventual changes to the ARP and Land Use that was passed by City Council in September.

    • In January, Quad Real applied for permission to subdivide the lands – ECCA objected on the basis that there was no public consultation and if the lands are being separated, then the City should reacquire ownership of 5th Street.

  • Trico Homes

    • In August of 2025 we met with O2 Designs to learn about this proposed development in the 700 block of 4th Avenue. Trico has submitted a Land Use application to change the designation from high-rise office tower to mixed-use.

    • Their vision is for a primarily residential 10 story tower with commercial at grade (one or two stories).

    • ECCA has supported this application with a request to limit bonus FAR (floor area ratio), basically limit how small the units can be.

  • Office to Residential Conversions

    • These conversions have different rules around development and there is no chance for the Community Association to be involved in any way, but to date the results have been positive.

    • The Hat (formerly Eau Claire I) and The Residences (formerly Eau Claire II) have opened on 3rd Avenue and 5th Street. Both are boutique-style apartments that should add vibrancy to our neighbourhood.

    • The Loft has very recently opened at 744 – 4th Avenue.

    • The Element Hotel, including the Bow & Bend Rooftop, opened at 833 – 4th Avenue SW in 2025.

  • Nursery in Millennium Tower

    • ECCA has no concerns with the proposed day care but objected to their application to take over a large amount of sidewalk for a playground.

EVEnTS

  • Our AGM is coming up on June 25, 2026, at the Sheraton Eau Claire Hotel – please watch for details on the time and join us to share your thoughts and meet our guests, which will include Ward 7 Councillor Myke Atkinson.

  • Our Lobbyfest events continue to be popular with a number of buildings having hosted one in 2024 and 2025.

  • We had a booth at the Grand Re-opening of the Eau Claire Plaza, which included a draw won by a very excited resident.

  • Dos Leches at River Hall has quickly become one of the standout community events in Eau Claire, bringing a vibrant mix of music, culture, and connection to the neighbourhood. The event drew a diverse crowd and created a welcoming, energetic atmosphere that reflects the kind of programming we want to see more of downtown. More broadly, River Hall continues to prove its value as a flexible and inclusive space for community gatherings, from cultural events like Dos Leches to wellness classes and family-friendly activities. With thoughtful programming, it has the potential to become a central hub for bringing people together in meaningful ways.