| During our upcoming ski trip in the Alberta Rockies | | | | August 25-27, 20006; The Calgary Comedy Festival, |
| this March, we'll be visiting Calgary for the first time. | | | | FunnyFest April 28 - May 13, 2006; GlobalFest, which |
| As a matter of fact, it will be our first time in the | | | | is a multi-cultural festival and international fireworks |
| Canadian Rockies ever. We'll have a brief one-day | | | | competition August 17 - 20, 2006; and the Calgary |
| layover in Calgary before we move on to skiing in | | | | Folk Festival, July 27-30, 2006 . |
| Banff and Lake Louise and will try to get a sneak | | | | There is a helpful calender of events on the Tourism |
| peak at Alberta's capital. | | | | Calgary website. |
| To prepare us for our compact discovery of Calgary, | | | | 6. What about restaurants and entertainment / |
| I have talked to Paul Newmarch from Tourism | | | | nightlife areas in Calgary? |
| Calgary to get a lay of the land so to speak, to give | | | | There are a number of dining areas in Calgary, |
| us an overview so we'll be able to explore Canada's | | | | including Stephen Avenue walk (8th Avenue), the |
| New West. | | | | 17th Avenue District, and Kensington. As far as |
| 1. Please provide us with some general information | | | | nightlife, your best bet would be along 17th (web as |
| about Calgary. How large is the city, where is it | | | | above) or there are a few clubs along 1st Street |
| located, what is the weather like? | | | | SW, or 9th Avenue SW, including Mynt Ultralounge |
| According to the civic census, Calgary's population | | | | which was recognized as best new nightclub by |
| was 956,078 in April 2005. Calgary is located in the | | | | enRoute Magazine in 2004. |
| province of Alberta, 145 Km east of Banff, and 250 | | | | 7. Please give us an overview of the performing arts |
| km from the US border. Calgary's average summer | | | | on offer in Calgary. |
| temperature is around 20 degrees Celsius, and in the | | | | Everything from puppetry to the philharmonic, |
| winter, average temperature is -8 Celsius. That said, | | | | Calgary's art scene is growing and thriving. Here is a |
| there is a local saying in Calgary that if you don't like | | | | listing of various performing arts organizations: |
| the weather, wait 5 minutes. | | | | Theatre Calgary |
| 2. How can one get to Calgary and what is the best | | | | Alberta Theatre Projects |
| way of getting around in Calgary? | | | | One Yellow Rabbit (cutting edge theatre) |
| Calgary is accessible along the TransCanada highway, | | | | Vertigo Mystery Theatre |
| or by direct air from a number of cities, including the | | | | Alberta Ballet |
| following: | | | | Calgary Opera |
| Edmonton, Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, Ottawa, | | | | Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra |
| Regina, St. John's, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, | | | | Theatre Junction |
| Victoria, Whitehorse, Winnipeg, Yellownknife. | | | | Loose Moose Theatre (improv) |
| The following US cities have direct connections to | | | | Lunchbox Theatre (longest running lunch time theatre |
| Calgary: | | | | company in the world) |
| Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Ft. Lauderdale, Honolulu, | | | | 8. What are some of the shopping opportunities in |
| Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Maui, Minneapolis, | | | | Calgary? |
| New York (JFK), Orlando, Palm Springs, Phoenix, Salt | | | | The Uptown 17th District (as above) is also a upscale |
| Lake City, San Francisco, and Seattle. | | | | clothing district. As far as unique products from |
| You will find direct flights to Calgary from the | | | | Calgary and area, there is Alberta Boot, Alberta's only |
| following European cities: | | | | western boot manufacturer, Crave Cookies & |
| Frankfurt, London and Manchester. | | | | Cupcakes (they're to die for! ), Chocolaterie Bernard |
| The best way to get around would be to use the | | | | Callebaut , Alberta made art at The Croft or Art |
| Calgary Transit System. Train service is free in the | | | | Central. There are also two large malls - Chinook |
| downtown core, and a one way adult fare is $2.25. | | | | Centre and Market Mall. |
| Otherwise, taxi cabs are available to and from all | | | | 9. What are the outdoor, recreational and sports |
| areas of the city. | | | | opportunities in and around Calgary? |
| 3. Please tell us a bit about Calgary's history. | | | | Calgary has a 635 Km long system of paved |
| Calgary's history as a city began in 1875 when a | | | | pathways on which you can walk, in-line skate or |
| detachment of North West Mounted Police (NWMP) | | | | bike. Many of the pathways are cross-country ski |
| arrived. The NWMP established Fort Calgary at the | | | | accessible during the winter, but more than 95 km is |
| confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers in an area | | | | cleared in winter months. |
| that, at that time, had few permanent inhabitants. | | | | There is also hiking and biking in Fish Creek Provincial |
| Except for local native peoples who used the area | | | | Park, skate boarding at Millennium Park and The |
| for hunting, the only full-time occupants were Sam | | | | Source Skateboard Park which is one of the largest |
| Livingston, a homesteader, and his family. | | | | indoor skate parks in North America, skiing at Canada |
| Calgary was named by NWMP Colonel James Macleod | | | | Olympic Park during the winter, and downhill mountain |
| after Calgary Bay on the Isle of Mull, Scotland. | | | | biking in the summer. There are also a number of |
| (Although there has been much discussion on the | | | | guest ranches where you are able to horseback ride. |
| topic, it is believed Calgary is derived from the Gaelic | | | | Just outside of Calgary in Kananaskis Country, which |
| Cala-ghearridh meaning "bay farm.") | | | | is a 45 to 60 minute drive, there are all sorts of |
| On Nov. 7, 1884, Calgary was officially incorporated | | | | activities, including horseback riding in the mountains, |
| as a town and less than a decade later, on Jan. 1, | | | | hiking, biking, and white water rafting. |
| 1894, the town became a city. Harness-maker | | | | 10. What type of accommodations options are there |
| George Murdoch was the first mayor of Calgary. The | | | | in Calgary? |
| CPR was delivering a continuous supply of settlers to | | | | There are numerous options, from high-end 5 star |
| Calgary by 1885. These new immigrants had an | | | | hotels to bed and breakfasts to hostels to motels. |
| impact on the established ranching life surrounding | | | | The best resource is the Tourism Calgary website's |
| Calgary as they moved on to the range formerly | | | | accommodation search function. |
| inhabited by large herds of cattle. Although the | | | | 11. What are some of the major events and big |
| ranching industry changed significantly after its arrival, | | | | news stories coming up in 2006 and beyond in |
| the presence of the CPR led directly to the | | | | Calgary? |
| importance of the processing and exporting of meat | | | | There are a number of exciting news relating to |
| to Calgary's economy. | | | | Calgary and surrounding areas. |
| 4. Please tell us about some of the major attractions, | | | | Calgary was rated #2 in the world for business |
| museums and galleries in the Calgary area. | | | | travellers by the Economist Magazine. Calgary's |
| Perhaps the best known Calgary attraction is the | | | | transporation, infrastructure and perceived safety |
| Calgary Stampede, a 10-day western extravaganza | | | | were all factors in Calgary's high marks. |
| of rodeo, chuckwagon races, pancake breakfasts, | | | | Lake Louise has once again been named among the |
| square dancing and more. It always kicks off the first | | | | top 50 ski resort in North America by SKI Magazine, |
| Friday of July, this year it runs July 7-16. | | | | along with Vail, Whistler and Jackson Hole. |
| In addition, Calgary is home to Western Canada's | | | | Lonely Planet's Blue List - 618 Things to Do & |
| largest museum, the Glenbow Museum. With | | | | Places to Go in 06-07 has selected the Canadian |
| exhibitions that change twice a year, and a | | | | Rockies as the number 1 Most Spectacular Natural |
| permanent exhibit on the history of some of | | | | Attraction in the World. They also chose Rocky |
| Alberta's first nations people, the Blackfoot, it is an | | | | Mountaineer as number 3 on the Classic Train Trips |
| attraction not to be missed. | | | | list and Banff National Park as number 5 on the Most |
| Calgary is also home to the world renowned Calgary | | | | Extreme Environments list. |
| Zoo. The Zoo has more than 1,000 animals, and the | | | | Here is a brief overview of major events coming up |
| new Destination Africa and Canadian Wilds Exhibits. | | | | in Calgary |
| There is also Canada Olympic Park (one of the host | | | | 2006 |
| sites from the XV Winter Olympic Games), Heritage | | | | World Figure Skating Championships |
| Park, (Canada's largest living historical village), Spruce | | | | Players Championship of the World Curling Tour |
| Meadows, a world famous show-jumping facility, Fort | | | | CIS Women's Volleyball Championships |
| Calgary, the birthplace of the city , the Calgary | | | | World All-round Speed Skating Championships |
| Tower and the Calgary TELUS World of Science, a | | | | 2007 |
| family attraction offering hands-on exhibits. | | | | World Power Lifting Championships |
| In addition, there are numerous art galleries, and live | | | | Alberta Provincial Games - Special Olympics |
| theatre organizations. The best resource for this is [ | | | | 2008 |
| 5. Our readers would like to find out about the | | | | Canadian Gymnastics Championships |
| festivals and special events in Calgary. | | | | Thank you, Paul, for this overview. Now we can start |
| Outside of the Calgary Stampede, there is also the | | | | planning our personal visit of the Heart of the New |
| Calgary Dragon Boat Race & Cultural Festival | | | | West. |