Tsuut'ina Parkway opens to the public, marks completion of Southwest Calgary Ring Road

A new roadway linking Calgary and Tsuut’ina opened to the public at noon on Thursday with the grand opening of the Tsuut’ina Parkway.

The newly completed segment of road will connect Taza Park in Tsuut’ina Nation with its own road into the southwest Calgary community of Westhills.

It is the final piece of the Ring Road vision that started over 13 years ago, which is a huge milestone for the nation and was a long time coming, said Minor Chief Zachary Manywounds at the opening ceremony along one of the roundabouts, prior to its opening to the public.

“Historically, this area was really important to us because it was a traditional hunting grounds, but we saw the future here in this development path (and) this roadway was one of the more key milestone developments we needed to connect with our neighbours in the city of Calgary,” Manywounds said.

In 2013, an agreement between Tsuut’ina Nation and the Government of Alberta was signed that made the Southwest Calgary Ring Road possible and aimed to connect the whole region while providing the Nation with long-term economic opportunities.

The Tsuut’ina Trail that crosses the area now links Taza Park, Buffalo Run and The Crossing.

Tsuut’ina has had major causeways dividing them from their neighbours and this road provides a new entry point that will help strengthen their relationship with Calgarians and Albertans, Manywounds said.

It will allow everyone better access to their amenities like the Grey Eagle Resort and Casino, the Tsuut’ina Gas Station and Taza Park, he said.

The parkway is very significant as part of the growth and trust building between Calgary and Tsuut’ina, he said.

“It’s going to be able to give a lot of that emotional equity needed because most of Southwest Calgary doesn’t really know about Tsuut’ina and hasn’t for a long time,” Manywounds said. “I think this roadway is going to give them the opportunity to start seeing our people, our evolution and elements of our culture. I think it’s really gonna reshape how (we) work together.”

The east-west connection between Taza Park into the existing community of West Hills, providing better access to residents and business operators in the area and another interface with the City of Calgary, said Taza Development Corporation president James Robertson.

More than 6,500 homes will be part of the community, with families already moving in earlier this year.

Tsuut’ina Parkway will also connect residents to the future Walmart in Taza Park West, slated to be open by 2027.

There is about 470 acres of mixed use development, primarily commercial, in Taza Park, with more businesses ready to open shop in the near future, Robertson said.

“It’s a privilege to work with the Tsuut’ina Nation and they had the vision to turn the challenge of the Ring Road into an opportunity for their people,” he said. “They set aside the land to allow them to develop, prosper and improve their economics and financial independence, and I get to help them get there. It’s a privilege to help them on these big projects. They’re going to take a while, but we’re making milestones (and) progress every year.”