Calgary Dollars Report
Calgary Dollars Report
KENTA OTANI Good Money Lab (Researcher)
Acknowledgment: This report was written with the support of Gerald Wheatley and Sierra Love of the Calgary Dollars Project
City of Calgary
The Calgary Dollars is a complementary currency circulating in the City of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Calgary is one of the economic and financial hubs for Canada, historically the Canadian oil and gas sectors are clustered in the city. The Calgary Metropolitan Region is estimated to have a growing population of 1.5 million in 2024, while growing year over year through inter-provincial and international migration due to relatively affordable housing and a stable provincial economy.
However, post-COVID, like other Canadian cities, Calgary faces a housing shortage and cost-ofliving crisis.
Arusha Centre
The Calgary Dollars project was created in 1995 by the Arusha Centre and is currently managed by the organization. Arusha Centre is a collectively run grassroots organization that supports social justice and environmental activism through community economic development and community resilience programs. The name Arusha is derived from the Arusha Declaration, drafted in 1967 in Arusha, Tanzania, and guided by democratic and economic justice principles.
Arusha Centre Values
• We value localization; communities, place-based networks of individuals, business and
groups, relationships, engagement and collaboration.
• We value sustainability; human and environmental interrelationships, for a prosperous future
of our communities, future generations, and the Earth.
• We value social justice and are committed to building an equitable society where all life is
respected.
Calgary Dollars
The Calgary Dollars began in 1995 as the Bow Chinook Hours for the Bow Chinook Barter
Community. The name was inspired by the Bow River that runs through the City of Calgary. In
2002, the name changed to the Calgary Dollars; becoming a new project. In 2018, the Calgary
Dollars began using the STRO, Social TRade Organisation, digital payment software, Cyclos 4.
The Calgary Dollars project’s cost of operation in Canadian Dollars (e.g. software cost, employee
salary) is funded by grants and municipal sponsorship by the City of Calgary and other local
institutions.
The Calgary Dollars project also raises money through Calgary Dollars donations. Calgary Dollars
users and businesses can donate Calgary Dollars through the online platform via website or
smartphone application.
Calgary Dollars & Circulation
The Calgary Dollars began circulation as a paper currency system, and become digital currency in
2018. Many of the early adopters of the Calgary Dollars were supporters of the Arusha Centre,
including small business owners. The Calgary Dollar maintains a one-to-one value with the
Canadian Dollar.
The Calgary Dollars are circulated amongst City of Calgary participants. The money supply is used in the Calgary Metropolitan Region through the Calgary Dollars smartphone application. Calgary Dollars are accepted by the City of Calgary, affordable housing associations, community
associations, local businesses, and individuals.
The Calgary Dollars user-to-user payment system can be accessed through the Calgary Dollars
smartphone application.
Calgary Dollars & Money Creation
The digital Calgary Dollars are created by few methods. The Calgary Dollars (C$) have core
methods that are initiated by first time users that are introduced into the ecosystem.
Account Creation
C$15 when a new user fills out an in-take survey.
C$5~C$30 when a new user registers for Calgary Dollars and downloads the smartphone
application at a hosted event.
Posting Advertisements
Users can receive C$5 for the first five advertisements posted on the Calgary Dollars platform. The
maximum is C$25 for this initiation.
Referrals
C$40 is received referring to a new user who completes the account creation intake and posts
their first advertisement.
User Experience Data Collection
C$5 for users that complete an annual follow-up survey about the Calgary Dollars ecosystem.
Affordable Housing Partnerships
Up to C$5000 is distributed to the residents of affordable housing partners in Calgary. The
residents can earn Calgary Dollars through tasks that help with maintenance of their buildings and
communities. The affordable housing partners accept Calgary Dollars towards rent, basic essential
items, and gift cards.
Calgary Dollars & Use Cases
Outlined below are use cases for the Calgary Dollars within the City of Calgary.
• The Calgary Dollar can be used at the Sunnyside Natural Market, a locally owned and
community-based market in Calgary. For a $10 transaction after tax, $8.50 can be paid in
Canadian Dollars, while $1.50 can be paid in Calgary Dollars as they maintain a 15%
acceptance of Calgary Dollars per store purchase.
• In the past, the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Associations’ farmers market offered a 100%
acceptance of Calgary Dollars for certain vegetables and fruits.
• The Norfolk Housing Associations in the City of Calgary accept Calgary Dollars as a portion of
rent. The accepted Calgary Dollars are recirculated back to the residents through community
development initiatives and tasks.
• The City of Calgary Business License can be paid with Calgary Dollars for accepting vendors.
50% of the base fee for the annual Business License can be paid with the Calgary Dollar.
• The Arusha Centre offers the Take Actions Grants for grassroots community and
environmental projects with a distribution of 50% Canadian Dollars and 50% Calgary Dollars.
• A resident of Calgary can potentially sell a used t-shirt and accept 100% Calgary Dollars
through the Calgary Dollars Web and Mobile App.
STRO - Cyclos Payment Software
The Calgary Dollar became a digital currency in 2018. The Cyclos Payment Software, a subsidy of
STRO, manages the digital infrastructure of the Calgary Dollars project. STRO, Social TRade
Organisation, is a Dutch organization founded in 1970 and rooted in raising awareness towards
environmental causes. The organization has focused on developing approaches in the field of
micro-credit financing, the development of small and medium enterprises, and local exchange
systems. By the 2000s, STRO expanded its mandate to focus on digital banking systems
launching the Cyclos Payment Software.
Cyclos 4
Cyclos Payment Software offers Cyclos 4, a digital local currency platform, that is used by the
Calgary Dollars and various local currency projects across the world. Cyclos 4 can be tailored for
various uses, ranging from regional banks, microfinance institutions, remittances, barter systems,
and local currency. Cyclos 4 is a server-side software, and the end users (clients), access the
digital local currency platform through a web browser or Android or Apple application.
Furthermore, Cyclos 4 is written in Java and was developed with the ISO 27002, information
security, Cybersecurity, and privacy protection international standard.
Cyclos 4 System Feature
• User-to-User Payment
• NFC Card Supported
• Pay to QR Code
• Multi-currency, networking, and banking features
• Custom Account Number (including International Bank Account Number IBAN)
• Transaction Fees, Interest Fees, Demurrage Fees, Savings Account & Loans
Cyclos 4 Network & System Configuration
As examined above, a Network Layer can have its community network, currency, and URL while
being isolated and independent from other networks. Network 1 can be connected with Network 2 through a System Layer.
Within Network 1, User, Groups, and Group Set categories can be configured to create different
functions and accessibilities.
Calgary Dollars Front End Design
The Calgary Dollars can be experienced through both a web browser and a smartphone
application developed by Cyclos. The iOS / Android Application utilizes a simple user interface that offers core functions for personal accounts. Features includes, personal account balance, payment with Calgary Dollars to recipient, advertisement page (e.g. used clothing, services, work/volunteer)
and access to a common marketplace to access community services.
The Calgary Dollars smartphone application features a user interface that is utilized by other local currency platforms that are serviced by Cyclos. Many of the services featured are communitybased,
and can range from dog walking, worker cooperative development consulting, house
cleaning, and other domestic support services.
Calgary Dollars Backend Design
Cyclos 4 utilizes 1 application server and 1 database server. This is part of the Calgary Dollars
architecture.
Apache Tomcat 7 is used for the application server layer. It is a lightweight servlet container for
Java Web Development, with functions of a servlet container and web server.
PostgresSQL is utilized as a database server layer. PostgresSQL is a relational database
management system that meets ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) Compliance.
ACID compliance makes Cyclos 4 more sound for financial transactions. Furthermore,
PostgresSQL supports various secure authentication mechanisms, including SHA-256 which is
used in Cyclos 4.
Future of the Calgary Dollars
The Calgary Dollars project aims to be a local trust-based currency that can allow individuals and small businesses to build community trust and support community affordability. The development of a local circular economy is critical, while local exchange and grassroots activism are part of the Calgary Dollars philosophy.
The current Canadian housing and cost-of-living crisis is putting pressures on those who rely on
public services, including affordable public housing. Municipally sponsored complementary and
local currencies may present a stronger case study into the development of social safety net
mechanisms.
Citation and Reference
The Arusha Centre. (n.d.). https://www.arusha.org/
City of Calgary . (2024). CALGARY AND REGION POPULATION OUTLOOK 2024-2029. Calgary , Alberta.
Hidden Stories Production . (2022). Sh*t We Believed – Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Arusha Centre in Calgary [Film]. Canada.
Wheatley, G., Younie, C., Alajlan, H. and McFarlane, E. (2011) ‘Calgary Dollars: Economic
and Social Capital Benefits’ International Journal of Community Currency Research 15 (A) 84‐
<www.ijccr.net> ISSN 1325‐9547
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