We’re proud to announce a new partnership between Carya and Astra Group — one that reimagines what belonging can look like in our city.
This first-of-its-kind collaboration in Alberta brings together two organizations with complementary strengths and a shared goal: to respond to Calgary’s evolving social and housing needs.
Astra Group, a Calgary-based developer known for transforming urban spaces, is redeveloping several downtown properties into mixed-market residential communities that combine market and below-market units, expanding access to attainable, accessible housing in the city’s core.
Through this multi-year partnership, Carya will help identify and refer eligible Calgarians to available units through dedicated referral pathways. Space has also been allocated for Carya to provide on-site programs and services tailored to residents’ needs. These may include counselling, community programming, and other social supports — offerings that will be co-developed and refined over the next year to ensure they remain responsive to each building’s residents and community.
Working alongside Astra allows us to bring our social and community expertise into this partnership, creating spaces where people can access not only housing but also the resources and services that foster stability and resiliency. It’s a natural extension of our longstanding commitment to building strong families and communities for generations.
“The partnership between Carya and Astra Group brings together two organizations with shared goals in responding to Calgary’s evolving social and housing needs,” said Paula Telfer, Chief Executive Officer of Carya.
“By pairing Astra Group’s development and housing operations capacity with our deeply rooted community programs, we’re creating spaces where people can access not just housing, but connection, support, and a true sense of home. This project marks the beginning of a new program for Carya — one that allows us to focus on what we do best: connecting Calgarians with the programs and services they need in environments that foster affordable, multi-generational living and a strong sense of community.”
This initiative also highlights what’s possible when the private, non-profit, and government sectors come together with a shared vision for community wellbeing. The housing challenges we face as a city can’t be solved by any one organization alone — they require collaboration, creativity, and trust.
It’s a new model for collaboration, one that focuses not only on building housing, but on building community that is both accessible and affordable. As planning continues into 2026, we look forward to sharing more updates as this important initiative takes shape.
We thank Astra for their commitment to working closely with us in unlocking greatly needed housing for our clients, ushering in a new chapter in Carya’s 115 years of service to Calgarians.
