Established in 1981 Shawnessy is a relatively new community for southwest Calgary. The borders are James McKevitt Rd to the west, 162nd Avenue S to the south, MacLeod Trail to the east and Shawnessy Boulevard to the north. 3,300 homes made up the community, as of 2012, and 9,385 people live within it. Home prices range from $400,000 to $600,000.

Transit
The community of Shawnessy is serviced by bus routes 11, 12, 15 and 52, meaning it has some of the most extensive public transportation in all of southwest Calgary. It also has its own station for easy CTrain access.

Parks & Recreation
Shawinigan Park is located in the middle of the community, featuring an ice skating rink and a softball field. North is Millcrest Park, east is Sundance Park and south is Spruce Meadows Off-Leash Dog Park. Farther north is the Shawnee Slopes and the Fish Creek Provincial Park, positioning the community of Shawnessy in short proximity to virtually endless outdoor recreational possibilities.

Another hallmark of Shawnessy, perhaps a more prominent one, is its nearness to shops, malls and restaurants. Many southwest Calgary communities are not located this ideally in this respect. For example, the Shawnessy Village Shopping Center is located just south down MacLeod Trail SE; in fact, the village is one of the largest outdoor shopping malls in all of Calgary, including stores like Winners, Canadian Tire, Real Canadian Superstore, Safeway and Home Depot, amongst many others.

Schools
● Samuel M. Shaw School
● Our Lady of Peace Junior High
● Bishop O'Byrne High
● Centennial High

Houses of Worship
● Southview Alliance
● Peace Lutheran
● Trinity Mennonite
● Anglican Church of Canada