Calgary Alberta Canada

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

 

Calgary, also known as “The Stampede City” or “Cowtown”, is the largest city in the province of Alberta. It was founded in 1875, incorporated as a town in 1884 and then incorporated as a city in 1894. In the Calgary Metropolitan Area, there are currently over 1.6 million residents, making it the 4th largest urban area in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, Calgary is the youngest major city in Canada, with 70.2% of its population between the ages of 15 and 64 (2016). 

 

The City of Calgary covers almost 850 square kilometers and can be found just east (about 80 kilometers) of the Rocky Mountains, between the grassland and parkland regions of Alberta. The city is surrounded by beautiful, untouched, resource-rich areas. 

 

Calgary experiences all four of the traditional Canadian seasons. However, thanks to a notable weather event referred to as a ‘Chinook”, it can also experience all four seasons in one day (or so it feels). Winter Chinook winds are warm and dry, and can sometimes cause a temperature change of up to 20℃, often welcomed by the frozen locals. Despite the significantly cold weather that Calgary experiences, it is still the sunniest city in Canada with an average of 333 days (or 2405 hours) of sunshine per year.

 

Calgary holds many different titles, including being recognized as “The Cleanest City in the World”. In order to make this happen, Calgary focuses on five main things including the cleanliness and availability of water, traffic and congestion, air quality and pollution, waste removal and recycling and the sewage systems. 

 

As one of Canada’s major cities, Calgary has a vast selection of high-quality post-secondary education available for residents. The University of Calgary is one of the top-ranked universities in Canada, on many different fronts including sustainability, research and more. Mount Royal University has one of the highest student satisfaction scores, coming in at over 90%. Other post-secondary institutions in the area are The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Alberta College of Art and Design, Bow Valley College and St. Mary’s University. LGO works close with St.Mary’s and is recognized as the top SEO Company in Calgary

 

The Calgary Stampede

 

The Calgary Stampede, also known as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”, is one of Canada’s most widely attended festivals. They have an estimated annual attendance of over 1 million people. It is a 10-day event where you can find a midway, concerts, exhibits, parades, shows and of course the largest rodeo in Canada (also one of the largest rodeos in the world). The first-ever Calgary Stampede was hosted back in 1912 and became an annual event as of 1923. 

 

Professional Sports Teams In Calgary

  • Calgary Flames

The Calgary Flames are one of seven Canadian teams in the NHL. The team was originally founded in 1972 and known as the “Atlanta Flames” until 1980 when the team moved to Calgary. They are a part of the Western Conference, and more specifically the Pacific Division. The Calgary Flames have won five division championships (1986, 1989, 1994, 1995, 2006), three conference titles (1986, 1989,2004) and one Stanley Cup in the year 1989. 

  • Calgary Stampeders

The Calgary Stampeders is one of the nine teams in the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Stampeders are a part of the West Division and compete alongside the BC Lions, Edmonton Elks, Saskatchewan Roughriders, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. They were founded in 1945 and have since won 17 division titles and 8 Grey Cups. 

  • Calgary Roughnecks

The Calgary Roughnecks are one of five Canadian teams in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). They were founded in 2001 and played their first season in 2002, they have since won 4 division titles (2004, 2009, 2014, 2019) and 3 championship titles (2004, 2009, 2019). 

 

Getting to Calgary

 

One of the great things about Calgary is its proximity to other nearby cities and attractions. Here are some of the average travel times it takes to get to popular destinations from Calgary, Alberta. 

 

The Most Popular Places To Visit In Calgary, Alberta

  • The Calgary Zoo

210 St. George’s Drive NE, Calgary, Alberta T2E 7V6

 

With over 119 species and 1,000 animals, the Calgary Zoo has been one of Canada’s most popular destinations for family’s across the country since 1929. Some of the most popular exhibits include Canadian Wilds, Gateway to Asia, Destination Africa and more.

  • The Calgary Tower

101 9 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 1J9

 

The Calgary Tower is an observation tower located in downtown Calgary, it was opened on June 30th, 1968. It stands 191 meters tall and offers panoramic views of the city, in addition to dining and tour opportunities.

  • Canada Olympic Park

88 Canada Olympic Rd SW, Calgary, Alberta T3B 5R5

 

Canada Olympic Park, previously known as Paskapoo Ski Hill is a ski hill and event venue that was formerly used in the 1988 Winter Olympics. Today this space is owned by WinSport and is used year-round for recreational and professional activities. 

  • TELUS Spark Science Centre

220 Saint George’s Drive Northeast, Calgary, Alberta T2E 5T2

 

Calgary’s new science center location was opened on October 29th, 2011. It offers a variety of galleries that have interactive exhibits, educational opportunities and digital media presentations. TELUS Spark Science Centre is one of the best science centers in Alberta, welcoming well over 400,000 visitors a year.

  • Peace Bridge

Off Memorial Drive NW, on the Bow River Pathway

 

Calgary’s iconic Peace Bridge also referred to as “Finger Trap Bridge” is a pedestrian bridge that was designed by a Spanish Architect. It was open for use in March of 2012. The modern red and white bridge crosses the Bow River and reaches a length of 428 ft. 

  • Fort Calgary

750 9 Ave SE, Calgary, Alberta T2G 5E1

 

Fort Calgary is located right at the connection point between Bow River and Elbow River. As a result of its rich and complex history, it was designated as a Canadian National Historic Site in May of 1925. Today it is an important landmark for people to both gather and can learn about history. 

  • Canada’s Sports Hall Of Fame

169 Canada Olympic Rd SW, Calgary, Alberta T3B 6B7

 

This hall of fame and museum is dedicated to sports history, Canadian athletes and other sports heroes. It was established in 1955 and has since inducted more than 700 people into the Hall of Fame including Canadian Icons such as hockey player Bobby Orr and baseball player Larry Walker. 

  • Glenbow Museum

130 9 Ave SE, Calgary, Alberta T2G 0P3

 

The Glenbow Museum is an art, history and culture museum that was established in 1966. There are over 33,000 pieces of artwork at the Glenbow Museum, making it the largest public art collection in Western Canada. Additionally. there are over 18,000 mineral specimens and over 100,000 books. 

  • The Military Museum

4520 Crowchild Trail SW, Calgary, Alberta T2T 5J4

 

This Military Museum is the second-largest military museum in Canada and the largest tri-service museum in Western Canada (Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force). They are committed to commemorating the countless Canadians who served their country through education, history, art and research. 

  • Heritage Park Historical Village

1900 Heritage Dr SW, Calgary, Alberta T2V 2X3

 

Heritage Park Historical Village was opened on July 1st, 1964 and is Canada’s largest living history museum. There are more than 180 unique exhibits located throughout the 127-acre park, all celebrating Western Canadian culture and heritage.

  • Calaway Park

245033 Range Rd 33, Calgary, Alberta T3Z 2E9

 

Calaway Park is the largest outdoor amusement park in Western Canada. When Calaway Park originally opened its doors in 1982, it had 14 rides. This family-friendly park has since grown and now has over 32 rides, 20 food locations, 5 attractions, 24 games and other sources of entertainment.

  • Plus 15 Skyway

245033 Range Rd 33, Calgary, Alberta T3Z 2E9

 

The Plus 15 Skywalk is a truly unique part of Calgary’s downtown. It is one of the largest pedestrian skywalk systems in the world with over 86 bridges and clocking in at a length of over 16 km. It allows pedestrians to walk in a climate-controlled, weather-protected pathway and connect to multiple points throughout Calgary’s downtown. The Plus 15 skyway was named as a result of all the bridges being located an average of 15 feet above the ground.  

 

Popular Parks and Natural Spaces To Visit In Calgary, Alberta

 

  1. Fish Creek Provincial Park – Covering over 13 square kilometers, Fish Creek Provincial Park is the second-largest urban park in Canada. There is over 100 km of trails (paved & gravel) for walking, running and biking. Here you can find the Bow Valley  Ranch Visitor Centre, Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre and the Sikome Aquatic Facility. 

 

  1. The Bow River Pathway– Calgary is proud to have the Bow River running through its urban center. The Bow River is approximately 587 km long and begins in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The Bow River Pathway runs along the shore of the Bow River and is home to over 48 kilometers of trails that are perfect for walking, running, hiking and cycling.

 

  1. Prince Island Park – The Prince Island Park is a large, urban festival park that is highly used and located in downtown Calgary. Some of the events hosted at this park include Calgary’s Canada Day Celebration, Calgary Folk Festival, Heritage Day Celebrations and more. You will also find picnic areas, walking trails, gardens and other seasonal amenities at Prince Island Park.

 

  1. Nosehill Park – Nosehill Park is a municipal park located in the northwest part of Calgary. Created in 1980, it covers over 11 square kilometers of land making it one of the largest urban parks in North America. In fact, it is the fourth-largest urban park in Canada. Here you can enjoy scenic nature views and a diversity of plants and wildlife. 

 

  1. Scotsman’s Hill – Scotsman’s Hill is known for its incredible views of the Calgary skyline. You can also get a great view of the Stampede Grounds, offering a great vantage point for people to watch the rodeo and fireworks. 

 

  1. Edworthy Park Viewpoint – Edworthy Park is located in southwest Calgary and covers about 1.69 square kilometers. At this park, you can find a playground, off-leash dog areas, picnic sites with BBQ and fire pits and more. It is also home to two natural areas including the Douglas Fir Trail and Lawrey Gardens. 

 

  1. Weaselhead Flats – Weaselhead flats is a natural environment park located on the west side of Calgary near the Glenmore Reservoir. It covers 2.37 square kilometers of land and offers a bounty of hiking trails and wildlife, including over 200 species of birds.

Ralph Klein Park & Environmental Education Centre – The Ralph Klein Park is the first park to have been named after a Mayor (former) during his lifetime. Here you can find the Environmental Education Centre, man-made wetlands, playgrounds, trails, picnic areas and more.

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