Our Approach
International Avenue is a vibrant business district with a diverse ethnic composition located on 17th Avenue S.E., from 26 to 61st streets, in Calgary. There is an interesting mix of business representative of the cosmopolitan neighbourhoods surrounding the Avenue. Now known as Calgary's Culinary and Cultural Capital.
It is an area of one-stop shopping with access to a selection of restaurants and grocery stores from around the world, as well as a wide range of other retail goods and services.
Over 425 businesses operate within the zone. Convenient free parking is available throughout.
The Mission of the organization is “to promote, improve and create a more pleasant community in which to shop and live”.
The BRZ is achieving these goals by:
- A maintenance program designed to clean the shopping district
- Promotional/image initiatives
- Special community events
- The completion of an urban design plan and vision – approved at City Council, 2010, International Avenue Area Redevelopment Plan- 2018
- Plans for a sustainable community
- A crime prevention safety plan – adopted
- A pedestrian friendly approved comprehensive transportation policy – approved for funding 2014 and construction of the plan began in 2016. The majority of which was completed in 2018. Unity Park and minor sections to be completed in 2019.
- An implementation strategy
- A comprehensive community economic development plan
- A variety of community partnerships
- A development strategy - Land use changes have been undertaken to simplify the development of the Avenue going forward (as of Dec, 2018).
- An incubation strategy and research for new business concepts
- A co-work hub with gallery space (see EMERGE).
- Responsible for murals and upkeep throughout the zone
- Worked to reduce impacts of poverty from preditory lending(Bill 51)
- Responsible for site amentity upkeep, flowers and banners
Meet the Staff
Alison Karim-McSwiney
Executive Director
Celeste Watamanuk
Administrative Assistant
Norbert Magdziarz
Maintenance & Flowers
Wyatt Carver
Graffiti & Litter Abatement
Dominic Carver
Litter Abatement
Matthew Pike
Avenue Ambassador
Mark Sawdon
Avenue Ambassador
David Carroll
Avenue Ambassador
Sarah Furlong
Avenue Ambassador
Junnut Shilpi
Accounting
The Board of Directors
Chairperson: Gita Boyd-Gita Boyd Associates
Secretary/Treasurer: Syn Amanuel-Selamta Immigration Services
Directors:
Maria Hoover-FUSE 33
Raj Chhoker-Forestri Law
Dr Kulwinder Rajewal-Forest Lane Medical Clinic
Mudhir Mohammed- Nile Supermarket
Thanks to our Friends
International Avenue would like to acknowledge all the wonderful people who've helped us get to where we are today. We couldn't have done all this without the help and support of all our friends! Special Thanks to (in no particular order)
- Malcolm Ho-You
- Dr. Paul Maas
- Professor Robert Kirby
- Colin Chapman
- Syn Ammanuel
- Maria Hoover
- Colin Donohue
- Amelco Electric
- Cst. Sean LaBrie
- Joe Ceci, Alderman and MLA
- Cst. Ira McCumber(R.I.P.)
- Gita Boyd
- Bal Bains
- Doug Lauchlan (R.I.P)
- Rod Courtney (R.I.P)
- Dwayne Smeekle (R.I.P),
- Tung Nguyen (R.I.P)
- Antoine Nguyen
- Dick Roscoe
- East Calgary Rotary
- Diane Danielson
- Andre Chabot
- Rose Lamoureax
- Mike Pierson
- Hein Vu
- Ceclia and David Grimstead
- Martinho Correia
- MACO
- Torrey Swann
- Ray Rehberg (R.I.P.)
- Insp. Dean Young
- Insp. Rob Williams
- Insp. Bev Voros
- Cst. Zain Kelly
- Rick Haddow
- Bill Bruce
- Helma Dahlman
- Dennis Syren (R.I.P)
- Jenny Jenson
- Linda Evans
- Carla Da Costa
- St/Sgt. Brett Markland
- Brenda Cosens
- Manmeet Bhullar (R.I.P), MLA
- Wayne Cao, MLA
- Moe Amery, MLA
- The University of Calgary
- Don Grieg-Enmax
- Ian Henderson
- Gale Reynolds
- Archie Lang
- Brian Leece
- Keith Funk
- Thom Mahler
- Meng Quo Cui
- Insp. Ray Robitaille
- Ken Ng - Calgary Co-op
- Harris Hanson
- Maurice Blain
- Jen Metzler
- Tony Tam
- Raj Chhoker
- Mike Shymka
- Tammy Pomper
- Trudy Tait (R.I.P.)
- Carlos Santos
- Roger Davidson
- Barbara Mclean Stollery
- Bob Holladay
- Z. Rana
- Victor Rampersaud
- Dana Messinger
- Inspector Dale Ruzycki
- Inspector Leah Barber
- Paul Eriksen
- Angie Ewanchuk
- Dean Young
- Randy Kott (R.I.P.)
- Velda Paynter
- Calvin Wong
- Kevin Wick
- John William-Wade
- Henry Nguyen
- Albert Elkadri
- Andrew Marriot
- Fred Litwiniuk
- Kylie Tucker
- Joan Chisolm
- Elaine Stringer
- Howard Kai
- Chris Jennings
- David Thatcher
- Daniel Shimonov
- Frank Schwaier
- Jack Scissons
- Rollie Braun
- Peter Wiseman
- Lynn Englehart
- Gian-Carlo Carra
- Ann Craig
- Ken Alberding
- Michael Brown - CMLC
- Greg Curtis
- Vinay Dey
- Bob Hawkesworth
- Cst. Ray Hostland
- Momentum
- Calgary Immigration Educational Society
- Angelina Rahimi
- Brian Green
- Ken Alberding
- Mukesh Shah