Understand
City Layout and Navigation
Calgary is divided into four quadrants, NE, NW, SE, SW. The dividing line between east and west is Centre Street in the north and roughly Macleod Trail in the south (although in a couple spots it deviates: through downtown and near Chinook Centre, where an actual Centre Street exists, albeit as a collector or local road). The dividing line between north and south is generally the Bow River in the west, and Centre Avenue (north of Memorial Drive) in the east. Addresses proceed outwards from the center of the city; for example, 219 16th Avenue NE is located on 16th Avenue N, between 1st and 2nd Street E.
Deerfoot Trail (Highway 2) running north-south is the only true freeway in Calgary, although certain other roads have sections that alternate between being a true freeway and an at-grade expressway, with plans to become full freeways. Other major roads in the city are often given the street suffix Trail, such as Glenmore Trail, Crowchild Trail and Bow Trail; many of these roads are expressways for most or all of its length and planned to become freeways. Roads with the suffixes Boulevard or Drive are generally the next most major classification. Roads with the suffix Avenue run east-west, and roads with the suffix Street run north-south. Note that the names of small suburban roads usually incorporate the community name; this means that Taralake Garden, Taralea Place, Taralea Mews, Taralea Court, Taralean Grove, Taralea Avenue, Taralea Road, Taralea Blvd, Taralea Heath, and Taralea Green are all separate roads, all in the same community - Taradale. It can be very confusing for tourists and locals alike to navigate an area where the only differences in street names are the abbreviations. If travelling in the suburban communities, have a map or directions and pay attention to exact name.
Calgary has a fairly dense downtown, ringed by inner city neighborhoods laid out on a grid pattern for roughly 30-40 blocks. These inner city districts often have unique characteristics and are worth wandering through, for the visitor with some time to spend in the city. The outer suburbs are a typical sprawl of uniform housing and, except for major shopping, parks and other facilities scattered around, have little interest for the typical visitor.
Climate
Calgary happens to be one of the sunniest places in Canada, but this does not mean that you won't experience extremes in weather. Summers tend to be sunny and often warm, usually accompanied by short, but heavy thunder storms. Winter doesn't tend to be as harsh in Calgary as in other parts of Canada, but -30c (-22f) is a common temperature in January and February, and sometimes in the coldest part of the year for 1 or 2 weeks the temperature can get to -35 or lower. Although the temperatures seem low, the lack of humidity reduces the winter chill. In fact, the Winter in Calgary depends on the prevailing winds more than anything - sometimes a winter will be somewhat similar to Vancouver with constant winds blowing from the west, and other times one will have a full month of below -20. Spring and Autumn is a mixed bag. You can expect snow even as early as September and as late as May (in fact, there have been late May snowstorms several times in the last few years). In fact, on rare occasions, there has been snow even in the summer months (notably August 1992 and July 1999). Because of the sudden change in temperatures, the year seemingly only has two seasons: Winter and Summer. Calgary is blessed to receive relief from winter, in the shape of warm westerly winds called Chinooks. This can raise the temperature by as much as 15 degrees Celsius in the space of a few hours.
Get in
By plane
In addition there are numerous American and International carriers that serve Calgary's airport. Unfortunately, getting in by air from the USA isn't easy if you live just south of Calgary on the American side. In such case, the only routes in are via Seattle, Salt Lake City, Denver, and Minneapolis. There are more flights from further away (e.g. New York, Chicago, Los Angeles), but none closer. If you live in Montana, for example, there's no choice but to drive or make a VERY long detour by air.
From Europe there are non-stop flights from London, Glasgow, Manchester, Paris and Frankfurt. Ottawa-based Zoom Airlines provides discount fares on many direct flights from Europe to Calgary.
The easiest way to leave the airport is by cab or car rental. Cab rides to the city center are about $27 - $30 Canadian. A Sedan Service (limo) is available for $40 CAN. There is a hotel shuttle service that is also available. The cheapist method is by public transport: Bus Route #57 is the only bus that stops regularly at the airport terminal (Arrivals Level, Bus Bay # 20, every 1/2 hour) and will take you to the Whitehorn C-Train (LRT) station. From the Whitehorn station you can go to Downtown (the 202 line to 7th Ave.) The bus/LRT cost $2.25 CAN (exact change) ask for a transfer from the bus driver on entry. Call public transit (403)262-1000, they will assist you if you want to go else where.
By car
This is essentially the prairies; crossing the vast expanses in the comfort of your own vehicle is the main method of transportation. Calgary is just over an hour's drive East of Banff (on the Transcanada highway, #1), and about 3 hours South of Edmonton on highway #2. From the USA side, use the I-15 Fwy. Calgary is about 200 miles (320 km) north of the border. It is likely that you will want to rent a car to explore Calgary and its surroundings.
By bus
By train
Due to service cuts back in 1990, There is currently no VIA RAIL service to Calgary.
Get around
Public Transit
Calgary's public transit system was first established in 1909 as the Calgary Municipal Railway. Since then, it has developed into an efficient, fast, and extensive transit system. In particular, it was significantly built up in preparation for the 1988 Winter Olympics. They have a light rail transit system called the C-Train (LRT) that runs faithfully and frequently. In the downtown core, you can ride the C-Train for 14 city blocks for free, along the length of 7th Avenue. There are three spurs of LRT track meeting in the downtown along 7th Avenue; line 201 starts in the far south (at Somerset-Bridlewood station), travels to the downtown, then exits the downtown to the northwest, travelling to Dalhousie Station. Line 202 starts in the northeast at Whitehorn Station, and travels into the downtown, ending at 10th Avenue Station within the downtown. Trains are marked with the end station they are travelling to; a 'Somerset' train leaves Dalhousie Station, travels south into the downtown, then south to Somerset station (where it turns around to become a 'Dalhousie' train).
Although buses come along somewhat less often, and tend to serve commuters more than tourists, it is still possible to get around to the main places without too much difficulty. Bus routes are numbered, and generally designed to connect with the downtown or with an LRT station. Trains run every 10 minutes (5 minutes or less in rush hour), serving from around 4 AM to 1 AM. Major bus routes may run as early as 5 AM and late as 1 AM, but many more only operate until 8 or 9 PM, or, worse, during rush hours only. Bus frequencies can be as low as one per hour, although 30 minutes is more common.
Transit tickets are $2.25 for adults, and permit 90 minutes of travel connecting to any transit line. It is possible to buy packets of 10 tickets for a flat rate of $19.50 at any convenience store. The C-Train is on the honor system, although inspectors do occasionally check riders for valid tickets, with expensive fines ($150 or more) being charged. Travel on the C-Train in the downtown free fare zone is free of charge.
Information about the Transit System is available on the Calgary Transit Web Page, or by phoning their information line (403)262-1000 from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM, local time.
Bicycle
Calgary has a good network of off-street bike paths, although motorists are sometimes less-than-courteous. Weather is unpredictable, and snowy cycling conditions may occur anytime from September to May. Bike racks are fairly common, especially in shopping areas.
The most heavily travelled bike path (and one worth a recreational ride) are along the Bow and Elbow River, especially the path along the Bow from Crowchild Trail to the Zoo. Another major pathway extends north up the Nose Creek valley, including two places to cross Deerfoot Trail. While there is a pathway that leads to the airport, connecting to it requires crossing an industrial area, which is not recommended for novice cyclists. A pathway map is available online.
Car
Many people can be confused or lost when they first drive around in Calgary. Not because the streets are confusing, but rather because Calgary is laid out into four quadrants (North-East, South-East, South-West and North-West) and the type of road (Street or Avenue) matters in terms of direction (streets go north-south, avenues go east-west). Once you understand the layout of the city, you will find it very easy to navigate.
Calgary is divided into its quadrants at Centre Ave and Centre St. Being north of Centre Ave means you are in the northern quadrants and being east of Centre St means you are in the eastern quadrants. All street and avenue numbers radiate out from centre so being on 17th ave SW is fairly close to centre while being on 52nd St NE is not.
Most of Calgary's roads are numbered, the only time when they are not numbered is when the road is very important (usually called a Trail) or if they are the side streets in some community. The layout of Calgary's roads is rectangular with very few roads that aren't straight.
See
Downtown Calgary
Downtown Office Core: Calgary's dense business area is roughly bounded by 3rd Avenue S (on the north), 9th Avenue S (on the south), 2nd Street East and 9th St W. Many of the buildings are connected via a 16 km (10 mile) long network of elevated walkways and bridges. Most of these walkways are enclosed or covered, allowing pedestrians sheltered travel between downtown buildings. The system, known as the "+15" is the largest of its kind in the world.
Eau Claire/Festival District: A mix of riverside condominiums, unique shopping, restaurants, hotels, and urban parkland make Eau Claire and the Festival District among Calgary's liveliest urban districts. The area, which was developed from reclaimed industrial land fronts the Bow River and sits immediately north of 3rd Avenue S. North of Eau Claire is the picturesque, Prince's Island Park. In the summer, the Festival District can be found crowded with people enjoying the sights and sounds of Eau Claire Festival Market, one of the areas many pubs and restaurants, or a weekend festival. It is also the perfect starting off point for a stroll along one of the many scenic paths along the Bow River or Prince's Island.
Stephen Avenue Walk: This area, which includes the Stephen Avenue pedestrian mall is located south of the Office Core along 8th Avenue S (between 5th Street W and 1st Street E). Stephen Avenue itself forms the heart of downtown Calgary's shopping and retail zone. Immediately adjacent to the outdoor portion of Stephen Avenue is an indoor complex of three shopping malls. The malls, TD Square, Eaton Centre, and Scotia Centre span a number of city blocks. Everything from Gap to high-end retailers and boutiques such as Holt Renfrew and Bang and Olufsen can be found here. The street is also home to a number of galleries, restaurants, pubs, off-beat cinemas, and nightclubs.
Chinatown: Canada's third largest Chinatown is located in the northeast portion of downtown Calgary. It is the heart of Calgary's Asian diaspora, although much of north and east Calgary has a Pacific Rim influence. The area of about a half-dozen blocks is located along Centre Street S, from 4 Ave S (on the south) to the Bow River (on the north). Calgary's Chinatown packs in a dense network of Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese and other Asian restaurants, shops, housing and cultural facilities. The area along Centre Street on the north side of the river almost functions as a loosely organized "second Chinatown" with Chinese-oriented businesses stretching for 20 or more blocks.
Olympic Plaza and the Arts District: The region immediately to the east of Stephen Avenue Walk contains a number of theatres, art galleries, and the Glenbow Museum. It is also home to Olympic Plaza, a large public square in front of city hall.
Other Downtown Districts: Other districts in downtown Calgary include the West End, the East Village, and the Government District. The West End and the East Village are primarily residential and are the focus of a major effort by the City of Calgary to encourage more people to make downtown their home. It is not recommended however, for people to go to the East Village at night. The East Village is home to a number of homeless shelters, and therefore it is not safe to travel alone, or in small groups. The Government District houses the city's Federal Building (the Harry Hays Building), the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, City Hall, and a number of other government offices, including a few international consulates.
Inner City Neighbourhoods
The Beltline and 17th Avenue: 17th Avenue S is Calgary's premiere place to see and be seen. It boasts a large and eclectic variety of restaurants, unique shops, boutiques, and bars. This street is where Calgary parties, most notably becoming the "Red Mile" during the 2004 Stanley Cup (hockey) playoffs, where up to 100,000 cheering fans gathered to celebrate victories by the hometown Flames. While the entirety of the Beltline spans from the Stampede Grounds and Victoria Park on the east to Mount Royal on the west, the dense nightlife on 17th Avenue starts at about 2nd Street W and goes to 15th Street W.
Mission: In many ways, Mission acts as an extension of 17th Avenue. Like the Beltline, it is packed full of interesting restaurants and shops. It does not share 17th Avenue's "late night" reputation, however and it generally lacks the bars and nightclubs. It runs along 4th Street SW from 17th Avenue to 26th Avenue.
Forest Lawn International Avenue: Forest Lawn is known for its diverse culture, with the city's best Vietnamese, Lebanese, and Central American eateries. The nightlife of this area is a place to exercise caution. There are many pawn shops that line the streets, if you're looking for a deal.
Inglewood: Inglewood is Calgary's oldest neighbourhood and the site of the city's original downtown. It is also one of Calgary's most culturally influenced and eclectic areas. Inglewood contains everything from stores targeted at bikers, to unique boutiques, antique stores, galleries, and restaurants. It is not as developed as some of the city's downtown districts, but it is quickly becoming one of the city's most popular "urban chic" neighbourhoods. It lies immediately east of downtown (east of 1st Street E) and is concentrated along 9th Avenue S. Just to the north is the Bow River and the world-famous Calgary Zoo.
Kensington: Kensington is located along the Bow River on the north side of downtown. It is another one of Calgary's notable shopping neighbourhoods, with a somewhat more bohemian feel than 17th Avenue (one particular store specializes Birkenstocks and Futons). It offers a good variety of restaurants, with more of an emphasis on coffee shops than on bars. Kensington runs along Kensington Road NW from 14th St W to 10th St W, and also north along 10th St W to 4 Ave N.
Other interesting inner city neighbourhoods and districts include Bridgeland (1 Ave NE from 7 St to 9 St), a neighborhood with a strong Italian influence and the site of one of the most ambitious urban brownfield redevelopment efforts in the entire world; Mount Royal (south of 17th Avenue, from about 20th Avenue to 30th Avenue), originally built for Canadian Pacific Railway executives and still housing many of Calgary's elite; Marda Loop (east of Crowchild Trail along 33rd Avenue S), which contains a large number of quaint shops, restaurants, and services; and Crescent Heights / Rosedale (Centre St to 9 St W, Crescent Rd to 13 Ave N), combining historic houses with an amazing view of the Downtown from Crescent Rd.
Suburban Attractions
Many attractions are LRT accessible, and the stops have been noted. A rental car is recommended for the less accessible attractions, although buses are usually still possible.
Do
Annual festivals
Learn
Work
Calgary has a strong economy and generally low unemployment, with an economy driven primarily by the Canadian oil industry.
Busking is common in the summertime, along Stephen Avenue downtown at lunch time, near Eau Claire on weekends, and along 17th Avenue at night. Busking permits are available for Stephen Avenue; busking in Eau Claire Market proper is restricted to auditioned performers, ruling this option out. 17th Avenue has potential, if you can deal with drunken hecklers.
One common pick-up spot for day labour is Centre Street south, between 12th and 13th Avenues. Arrive early for black market jobs, especially in the summer (construction) season. There's an abundance of other employment opportunities (http://www.CalgaryEh.ca) as well.
Buy
The city centre is not exactly a outdoor shopper's paradise. There are several shops scattered around the centre but the majority are centred on 8th Ave between 5th Street SW and Centre Street.
Calgary does have several large malls for shopping, most of which are easily reached via transit. Chinook Centre (SW) and Market Mall (NW) are the two largest. Calgary's largest indoor shopping complex is situated downtown, centred on 8th Avenue at 2nd and 3rd Streets SW, where Eaton Centre, TD Square, Scotia Centre and Bankers Hall are all connected by indoor pedestrian walkways. Eau Claire Market is also situated downtown beside the Bow River. Southcentre Mall is located at the interchange of Macleod Trail and Anderson Road, and is a 5 minute walk from the Anderson C-Train LRT station.
Eat
Calgary offers a wide variety of dining options. While Calgary doesn't have a single signature dish, residents are very proud of Alberta Beef, and Calgarians are discerning clients of steakhouses. Speaking of beef, the popular Chinese-Canadian dish of ginger beef was invented in Calgary in the 1970s. Calgary is also home to a very culturally diverse population, with a very wide selection of international restaurants, especially from East and Southeast Asia, and the Mediterranean from Italy through Lebanon. Calgary is, however, generally lacking in decent Mexican food, and the inland location means that a good meal of seafood is sometimes hard to find.
Restaurants in the downtown area are very busy between noon and 1 PM on weekdays due to the lunch crowd of office workers; if you can, try to stagger your lunch to start around 11:15 or 1:30. You'll face much shorter lineups. Buffets are often only prepared once for lunchtime, and visiting a buffet after 12:15 or so will typically be a depressing dining experience.
Budget
Note that Calgary's most abundant ethnic specialty is Vietnamese. Most neighborhoods have at least one Vietnamese noodle shop or Vietnamese sub (banh mi) joint. Some of the other inexpensive options are as follows:
Mid-range
Splurge
Drink
As the original home of the Caesar, Calgary features many bars located throughout the city, although the core is where the trendiest clubs are located. There is also the ever popular 17th Avenue SW, home to the Red Mile.
Calgary features other bars and clubs such as Tequila Nightclub, Tantra, Ceili's Irish Pub, Ranchman's and much more.
Sleep
Stay safe
Although Calgary is generally a very safe place, walking at night should be avoided in the East Village and Victoria Park areas of downtown (generally speaking, this is the area adjacent to the Stampede Grounds and north to the Bow River). However, Calgary is safe by western Canadian standards (with crime rates that are eclipsed by those in cities such as Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Vancouver); and by US standards, Calgary is inestimably safe. Calgary's 2005 murder rate of 2 murders per 100,000 inhabitants was, for example, less than one-tenth the murder rate of Chicago and one-twentieth that of Baltimore. Crime should be the least of visitors' concerns, but always keep your wits about you when the bars close, regardless of the area of town.
Panhandlers and beggars are a common sight in Calgary's downtown core. The majority of them just need to be told 'No' but some can be persistant, yet still harmless. Common sense saves you from a lot of trouble, no matter where you go.
Take care when crossing LRT tracks, as the trains are large, silent, fast and deadly. There are no electrified rails.
Boaters on the Bow River should note the Weir (think "inescapable washing machine"), located downstream of the Calgary Zoo; heed the warning signs. People can and do perish here, strong swimmers among them.
Driving within Calgary can be extremely frustrating during the winter months. This is because despite its lack of heavy snow, temperatures still remain below freezing and thus allow ice to form on many roads. The most dangerous times are when the ice is a clear sheet which resembles the road, and is rightly called "Black Ice".
Get out
Nearby Banff and Jasper are both well-known winter ski areas, and are mountain summer escapes. Kananaskis Country and Canmore are other mountain destinations about an hour car travel away. Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park is a 3-hour drive South of Calgary. Edmonton is the nearest urban, metropolitan centre to the North and host to the world's largest mall and many summer festivals.
Located south and east of Calgary are 2 of Alberta's 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump is a 90 minute drive south of Calgary - it's excellent interpretive centre is open year round. Dinosaur Provincial Park, 2 hours east of Calgary, is a 73 sq km park boasting one of the best dinosaur fossil beds in the world. Additionally the world famous Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, located in Drumheller (90 minutes east of Calgary), houses many palaeontological specimens. South of Calgary (a 45 minute drive) is the Turner Valley Gas Plant National and Provincial Historic Site where you can tour a pioneering gas plant and see how natural gas from Canada's largest gas field was processed prior to WWII.
Cope
Consular Services
A long (unverified) list of embassies and consulates in Canada is available here, or check with your government's foreign affairs department.
In Calgary
Elsewhere
Contact
The area code in Calgary is 403.
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Calgary is the largest city in the province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in a region of foothills and high plains, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies. Calgary is the third largest civic municipality, by population, in Canada. As of the national census 2006, Calgary's population was 988,193. The metropolitan population (CMA) was 1,079,310 in 2006, making Greater Calgary the fifth largest Census Metropolitan Area in the country. Because it is located 300 kilometres (185 mi) due south of Edmonton, statisticians define the narrow, populated region between these cities as the "Calgary-Edmonton Corridor". It is the largest Canadian metropolitan area between Toronto and Vancouver.
A resident of Calgary is known as a Calgarian.
Calgary is well-known as a destination for winter sports and ecotourism with a number of major mountain resorts near the city and metropolitan area. Economic activity in Calgary is mostly centred on the petroleum industry; however, agriculture, tourism, and high-tech industries also contribute to the city's fast economic growth. Calgary also holds many major annual festivals which include the Calgary Stampede, the Folk Music Festival, the Lilac Festival, Wordfest: Banff-Calgary International Writers Festival, One World Festival (GlobalFest), and the second largest Caribbean festival in the country (Carifest). In 1988, Calgary became the first Canadian city to host the Olympic Winter Games and one of the fastest ice skating rinks in the world was built to accommodate these games.
Despite the importance of oil industry to its economic success, Calgary was ranked the World's Cleanest City by Mercer Quality of Living in a survey publised in 2007 by Forbes Magazine
History
First settlement
Before the Calgary area was settled by Europeans, it was inhabited by Pre-Clovis people whose presence has been traced back at least 11,000 years. In 1787 cartographer David Thompson spent the winter with a band of Peigan encamped along the Bow River. He was the first recorded European to visit the area and John Glenn was the first documented European settler in the Calgary Area, in 1873.
The site became a post of the North West Mounted Police (now the RCMP). Originally named Fort Brisebois, after NWMP officer Éphrem-A Brisebois, it was renamed Fort Calgary in 1876 because of questionable conduct on the part of that officer. The NWMP detachment was assigned to protect the western plains from US whiskey traders. Fort Calgary was named by Colonel James Macleod after Calgary (Cala-ghearraidh, Beach of the pasture) on the Isle of Mull, Scotland. When the Canadian Pacific Railway reached the area in 1883 and a rail station was constructed, Calgary began to grow into an important commercial and agricultural centre. The Canadian Pacific Railway headquarters are located in Calgary today. Calgary was officially incorporated as a town in 1884 and elected its first mayor, George Murdoch. In 1894, Calgary became the first city in what was then the Northwest Territories.
The oil boom
Oil was first discovered in Alberta in 1902, but it did not become a significant industry in the province until 1947 when huge reserves of it were discovered. Calgary quickly found itself at the centre of the ensuing oil boom. The city's economy grew when oil prices increased with the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973. The population increased by 254,000 in the seventeen years between 1971 (403,000) and 1988 (657,000) and another 335,000 in the next eighteen years following (to 992,000 in 2006). During these boom years, skyscrapers were constructed at a pace seen by few cities anywhere. The relatively low-rise downtown quickly became dense with tall buildings, a trend that continues to this day.
Calgary's economy was so closely tied to the oil industry that the city's boom peaked with the average annual price of oil in 1981.
The subsequent drop in oil prices and the introduction of the National Energy Program were cited by industry as reasons for a collapse in the oil industry and consequently the overall Calgary economy. The NEP was cancelled in the mid-1980s by the Brian Mulroney federal government. Continued low oil prices, however, prevented a full recovery until the 1990s.
Recent history
With the energy sector employing a huge number of Calgarians, the fallout from the economic slump of the early 1980s was understandably significant. The unemployment rate soared. By the end of the decade, however, the economy was in recovery. Calgary quickly realized that it could not afford to put so much emphasis on oil and gas, and the city has since become much more diverse, both economically and culturally. The period during this recession marked Calgary's transition from a mid-sized and relatively nondescript prairie city into a major cosmopolitan and diverse centre. This transition culminated in February of 1988, when the city hosted the XV Olympic Winter Games. The success of these games essentially put the city on the world stage.
The economy in Calgary and Alberta is now booming, and the region of nearly 1.1 million people is the fastest growing in the country. While the oil and gas industry comprise most of the economy, the city has invested a great deal into other areas. Tourism is perhaps one of the fastest growing industries in the city. Over 3.1 million people now visit the city on an annual basis for its many festivals and attractions, as well as the Calgary Stampede. The nearby mountain resort towns of Banff, Lake Louise, and Canmore are also becoming increasingly popular with tourists, and are bringing people into Calgary as a result. Other modern industries include light manufacturing, high-tech, film, transportation, and services. The city has ranked highly in quality of life surveys: 25th in the 2006 Mercer Quality of Living Survey, and 10th best city to live in according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Despite the oil industries dominance in Alberta's economy, Calgary ranked as the world's cleanest city by Forbes Magazine in 2007.
Climate
Calgary has a semi-arid, highland continental climate with long, dry, but highly variable, winters and short, moderately warm summers (Koppen climate classification BSk, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 3b). The climate is greatly influenced by the city's elevation and close proximity to the Rocky Mountains. Although Calgary's winters can be uncomfortably cold, warm, dry Chinook winds routinely blow into the city from the Pacific Ocean during the winter months, giving Calgarians a break from the cold. These winds have been known to raise the winter temperature by up to 15°C (59°F) in just a few hours, and may last several days. The chinooks are such a common feature of Calgary's winters that only one month (January 1950) has failed to witness a thaw over more than 100 years of weather observations. More than one half of all winter days see the daily maximum rise above 0°C (32°F). Some winter days even approach 20°C (68°F) on occasion.
Calgary is a city of extremes, and temperatures have ranged anywhere from a record low of −45°C (-49°F) in 1893 to a record high of 36°C (97°F) in 1919. Temperatures fall below −30°C (-22°F) on about five days per year, though extreme cold spells usually do not last very long. According to Environment Canada, the average temperature in Calgary ranges from a January daily average of −9°C (16°F) to a July daily average of 16°C (61°F).
As a consequence of Calgary's high elevation and relative dryness, summer evenings can be very cool, the average summer minimum temperature drops to 8°C (46°F), and frosts can occur in any month of the year. Calgary has experienced snowfall even in July and August. Calgary experiences summer daytime temperatures exceeding 30°C (86°F) on an average of four days per year. With an average relative humidity of 55% in the winter and 45% in the summer, Calgary has a semi-arid climate typical of other cities in the Western Great Plains and Canadian Prairies. Unlike cities further east, like Toronto, Montreal, or even Winnipeg, humidity is almost never a factor during the Calgary summer.
The city is among the sunniest in Canada, with 2,405 hours of annual sunshine, on average. Calgary International Airport in the northeastern section of the city receives an average of 413 millimetres (16.2 in) of precipitation annually, with 301 millimetres (11.8 in) of that occurring in the form of rain, and the remaining 112 millimetres (4.4 in) as snow. Most of the precipitation occurs from May to August, with June averaging the most monthly rainfall. In June of 2005, Calgary received 248 millimetres (9.8 in) of precipitation, making it the wettest month in the city's recorded history. Droughts are not uncommon and may occur at any time of the year lasting sometimes for months or even years. Precipitation decreases from west to east; consequently, groves of trees on the western outskirts largely give way to treeless grassland around the eastern city limit.
Calgary averages more than 20 days a year with thunderstorms, with almost all of them occurring in the summer months. Calgary lies on the edge of Alberta's hailstorm alley and is prone to occasional damaging hailstorms. A hailstorm that struck Calgary in September 7, 1991 was one of the most destructive natural disasters in Canadian history, with over $400 million dollars in damage.
Seasons
Culture
Calgary's urban scene has changed considerably since the city has grown. It is also starting to become recognized as one of Canada's most diverse cities. Today, Calgary is a modern cosmopolitan city that still retains much of its traditional culture of hotel saloons, western bars, night clubs, and hockey. Following its revival in the 1990s, Calgary has also become a centre for country music in Canada. As such, it is referred to by some as the "Nashville of the North." Calgary is also home to a thriving all-ages music scene of many genres, including pop, rock, hip-hop, electronic and country.
As a relatively ethnically diverse city, Calgary also has a number of multicultural areas and assets. It has one of the largest Chinatowns in Canada as well as a “Little Italy” in the Bridgeland neighbourhood. Forest Lawn is among the most diverse areas in the city and as such, the area around 17th Avenue SE within the neighbourhood is also known as International Avenue. The district is home to ethnic restaurants and stores.
As the population has grown, and particularly, as the urban density in central Calgary has increased, so too has the vitality of this area. While the city continues to embrace suburbanism, people are beginning to find a wide variety alternatives in the inner city. This has led to significant increases in the popularity of central districts such as 17th Avenue, Kensington, Inglewood, Forest Lawn, Marda Loop and the Mission District. The nightlife and the availability of cultural venues in these areas has gradually begun to evolve as a result.
The Calgary Public Library is a public library network with 17 branches throughout the city, including a large central library.
Calgary is the site of the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, a 4 million cubic foot (113,000 m³) performing arts, culture and community facility. The auditorium is one of two "twin" facilities in the province, the other located in Edmonton, each being locally known as the "Jube." The 2,700-seat auditorium was opened in 1957 and has been host to hundreds of Broadway musical, theatrical, stage and local productions. Annually, over 850,000 visitors frequent the performance space. The Calgary Jube is the resident home of the Alberta Ballet, the Calgary opera, the Kiwanis Music Festival, and the annual civic Remembrance Day Ceremonies. Both auditoriums operate 365 days a year, and are run by the provincial government. Both received major renovations as part of the province's centennial.
Calgary has a thriving festival scene with festivals being held all year round. Some established festivals that attract talent from all over the World are FunnyFest Calgary Comedy Festival and the Folk Music Festival.
Calgary is also home to a number of contemporary and established theatre companies; among them are One Yellow Rabbit, which shares the EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as Theatre Calgary, and Alberta Theatre Projects. There are also many smaller theatre and performing arts companies in the city, such as Vertigo Mystery Theatre and THEATREboom. Calgary was also the birthplace of the improvisational theatre games known as Theatresports. The Calgary International Film Festival is also held in the city annually, as well as the International Festival of Animated Objects.
Calgary is also home to a number of world class marching bands. They include the Calgary Round-Up Band, The Calgary Stetson Show Band, and the two time World Association for Marching Show Bands champions, The Calgary Stampede Showband.Calgary is also the home to the Bishop Grandin Marching Band, which is one of the only remaining high school marching bands in Canada.
The city is home to several museums. The best-known of these, the Glenbow Museum is the largest in western Canada and includes an art gallery. Other major museums include the largest Chinese Cultural Centre in North America, the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame (at Canada Olympic Park), The Military Museums, the Cantos Music Museum and the Aero Space Museum. There are also a number of art galleries in the city and many of them are concentrated along the Stephen Avenue and 17th Avenue corridors. The largest of these is the Art Gallery of Calgary (AGC).
Calgary is home to a number of major annual festivals and events. These include the growing Calgary International Film Festival, the Calgary Folk Music Festival, The Greek Festival, Carifest, Wordfest Banff-Calgary International Writers Festival, the Lilac Festival, GlobalFest, the Calgary Fringe Festival, Summerstock, Expo Latino, and many other cultural and ethnic festivals. Calgary's most well-known event is the Calgary Stampede, which occurs every July. It features an internationally recognized rodeo competition, a midway, stage shows, agricultural competitions, chuck-wagon races, First Nations exhibitions, and pancake breakfasts around the city, among other attractions. It is one of the largest and best-known festivals in Canada. The event has a 93 year history. In 2005, attendance at the 10-day rodeo and exhibition totalled 1,242,928.
The Calgary Herald and the Calgary Sun are the main newspapers in Calgary. Global, Citytv, CTV and CBC television networks have local studios in the city.
Sports and recreation
In large part due to its proximity to the Rocky Mountains, Calgary has traditionally been a popular destination for winter sports. Since hosting the 1988 Winter Olympics, the city has also been home to a number of major winter sporting facilities such as Canada Olympic Park (luge, cross-country skiing, ski jumping, downhill skiing, snowboarding, and some summer sports) and the Olympic Oval (speed skating and hockey). These facilities serve as the primary training venues for a number of competitive athletes.
In the summer, the Bow River is very popular among fly-fishermen. Golfing is also an extremely popular activity for Calgarians and the region has a large number of courses.
The city also has a large number of urban parks including Fish Creek Provincial Park, Nose Hill Park, Bowness Park, Edworthy Park, the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Confederation Park, and Prince's Island Park. Nose Hill Park is the largest municipal park in Canada. Connecting these parks and most of the city's neighbourhoods is one of the most extensive multi-use (walking, bike, rollerblading, etc) path systems in North America.
:Professional sports teams
