Canada-wide, the value of residential permits increased 9.4% from August to $3.2 billion,  a level not seen since September 2008.    Because of this increase on the residential side, total building permits were also up for a second consecutive month.  In the non-residential sector, the value of permits fell 9.1% to $1.9 billion in September.

Source: Statistics Canada

How about Calgary specifically?

The Calgary census metropolitan area recorded one of the largest monthly increases across Canada in the value of building permits during September, said Statistics Canada.

The federal agency reported today that building permit value in the Calgary region rose by 26 per cent from August to $307.3 million.

- Calgary Herald, November 4, 2009

Drilling down to just the residential permit side in Calgary, we can see that it’s rebounding but still not anywhere near previous levels (which is not necessarily a bad thing)

(click to enlarge)

Here is the same chart as above, except going back just 5 years for a closer view:

(click to enlarge)