Trying to identify an envelope paper nest building wasp?

Last week I moved a cinder block in my yard that had tall grass growing around it. Out popped two black and white wasps. I jumped back but my husband put his hand right by them and they did nothing. They were bigger than yellow jackets and looked similar to bold faced wasps. There were only two of them and the nest was an enveloped paper nest about 3/4 size of a tennis ball attached in the cinder block hole. I moved the blocked to the same orientation a bit away from where it was and they went back in it.

Most of the yard is over run with field ants but there are NONE around where these wasps are.

I'm trying to find out what they are, I've looked it up and most paper wasps seem to have exposed "honey comb" nests and this was definitely enclosed and they showed no aggression.

If they really keep ants away how do I encourage more to nest around my house?

Any ideas what they might be? Oh yes, I live in Calgary, Alberta.