Starts and Completions continue to remain a strong indicators of BILDCR Membership’s ability to mobilize and deliver on demand.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Calgary, Alta. – On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) released its March 2025 Housing Starts and Completions report, highlighting sustained strength in residential construction across the City of Calgary and the Calgary Metropolitan Area.
In 2024, the City of Calgary recorded 20,165 housing starts. In the first quarter of 2025, the city has already seen 4,995 housing starts, representing a 15% increase in year-to-date activity over the same period last year.
This growth trend extends across the broader Calgary Metropolitan Area (CMA)—which includes Airdrie, Chestermere, Cochrane, Foothills County, High River, Rocky View County, Okotoks, and Strathmore—where housing starts are up 16% year-to-date over 2025, according to CMHC data.
"2024 was a milestone year for our industry, marked by record-breaking housing starts, including a notable increase in purpose-built rental housing. This achievement reflects the dedication and collective effort of all involved, including BILD's members and the broader Calgary community. Our members have demonstrated remarkable responsiveness to the growing demand for housing across the Calgary region and have stepped up to the challenge," said Brian Hahn, CEO of BILD Calgary Region (BILDCR).
BILD members recognize the important role municipalities have played in enabling this success.
"We gratefully acknowledge the focus of Calgary region municipalities in collaborating with industry to continue to lower the time and cost barriers to timely, cost-effective additions to housing supply," Hahn added.
Catherine Agar, Chair of the BILD Calgary Region Board of Directors, echoed this sentiment, "Over the past three years, we've seen record breaking housing activity. The CMHC data reflects BILD members' dedication to delivering a range of housing options at an unprecedented pace. This progress is a direct commitment and 'can-do' attitude."
Still, affordability remains a challenge. According to RBC's March 31,2025, Thought Leadership Series on Canadian Housing, the bank's aggregate affordability measure for Calgary sits at 41.5% – down 2.1 percentage point from a year ago, but still above the 38.8% long-term average.
RBC, Assistant Chief Economist, Robert Hogue, the author of the RBC's Thought Leadership Series, will be a featured keynote at BILD Calgary Region's Unlocking Doors: Housing Supply and Affordability Summit, taking place Monday, May 5, 2025, at the BMO Centre in Calgary. The Summit will bring together industry experts, policymakers, municipal leaders and the interested public to rethink conventional approaches and inspire actionable change to address Calgary's housing supply and affordability challenges.
While increasing housing supply is a critical part of the equation, timely planning, zoning, and approval processes are just as essential to bringing new communities to market. Continued cooperation between municipalities and industry will be key to sustaining this momentum.
"To meet the housing needs of a growing population, we need more than just strong construction numbers—we need the right policies and the right infrastructure," said Reid Hendry, Chief Housing Officer, City of Calgary. "That means continuing to action the Home is Here Housing Strategy to enable more supply and choice for all Calgarians and continuing to strengthen partnerships between municipalities and the building industry. The progress we're seeing today is encouraging, and sustained effort and collaboration are essential to keep pace with future growth."
Reid Hendry and his colleague Brenda Desjardin, Director of Building Services, will also be featured speakers at the Housing Summit. They will share insights on policy, planning, and how technology is being leveraged to streamline permitting processes and reduce timelines.
Together, industry and municipal partners are working to deliver new housing faster and more efficiently, relieving pressure in both the ownership and rental markets, and supporting long-term affordability across the Calgary region.
Tickets for the Unlocking Doors: Housing Supply and Affordability Summit are available now at BILDCR.com.
-30-
About BILD Calgary Region
BILD Calgary Region is the trusted voice of the building and land development industry, representing nearly 600 member organizations including builders, developers, professional renovators, suppliers, skilled trades, and consultants. For more information, visit BILDCR.com.
