Tsuut'ina Chief Roy Whitney unveiled plans Monday for three major commercial developments that the band says will transform southwest Calgary.

The First Nation has partnered with real estate development company, Canderel, to build three business centres along the planned southwest leg of the ring road.

The planned projects are called Tsuut’ina Park, Tsuut’ina Crossing and Tsuut’ina Centre.

The 500-acre Tsuut’ina Park will be located south of Glenmore Trail, between 37 Street and west of Sarcee Trail. It will focus on entertainment and hospitality to complement the Grey Eagle Resort and Casino and will have space for retail stores.

Tsuut’ina Crossing will be east of the ring road and west of the community of Oakridge. It will cover 360 acres and stretch from just south of Weaselhead Park to Southland Drive. This development will include an innovation and research campus at the north end, built in a park-like setting. The south end will have retail, office, and mixed-use developments with access to trails, parks and open spaces.

The third development, Tsuut’ina Centre, will be located directly south of Bullhead Road and north of Fish Creek Park. The 380 acre development will be the home of a shopping complex.

Tsuut'ina First Nation and Canderel Announce Major Commercial Development

The band says the muli-billion dollar project will have a major, long-term, positive impact on Calgary and the First Nation.

“Tsuut’ina will be home to one of the largest, if not the largest, First Nations developments in Canada. In addition to the financial benefits of rents and property taxes that will come from development, so too will come opportunity,” said Chief Roy Whitney. “The real motivation is to create opportunity and allow future generations to work and flourish right here, at home. Generations of Tsuut’ina people will also be able to receive services, to shop, to learn, to invest their money, time and skill, to apply their trades, and to develop a profession – all while being near their families and their extended Nation family. At home. At Tsuut’ina.”

Mayor Nenshi says the developer is working closely with both the First Nation and the City. He says not only will the project be beneficial to the Tsuut'ina, it will also provide value for Calgarians.

“When you think about this corner of the city and you think about the retail opportunities that are available – you know, there’s no movie theatre particularly nearby, things like that. This thing has the potential to be very valuable and very additive for the community," said Nenshi.

Construction on the developments will begin in the next 2-3 years.

HD Overall Conceptual Plan (Handout)