Calgary lies in the Bow River Valley between the bold landscape of the RockyMountains and the flat prairie lands of the province of Alberta in western Canada. Calgary is a city of skyscrapers, of energy, agriculture, manufacturing, research and development, and of advanced technology. It is a modern, sophisticated city; a center of commerce and of culture; of youth and vitality.

Calgary is divided into four quadrants instersecting at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers, which meet at right angles in the city center. Center Street runs north to south, and Center Avenue east to west, with all streets laid out in a grid expanding outwards from the center.

The Southwest extends from the boreal forests of Kananaskis Country to the office towers of downtown, and is a mix of residential and business districts. It includes the natural beauty of North Glenmore Reservoir and the fashionable 17th Avenue shopping district. The Southwest is also home to the Fourth Street Restaurant district and the Elbow River, which winds its way from Glenmore Reservoir down through the city center until its rendezvous with the Bow River near Inglewood. The Eau Claire Market and riverfront trails around Prince's Island Park provide a clean and refreshing break from downtown, and are popular lunch spots with downtown office workers.

The Southeast is home to vast oil refineries, fabrication plants and heavy industry, as well as trendy new housing developments and the world famous Spruce Meadows equestrian facilities. Its western boundary is defined by the Macleod Trail Strip, 10 miles of flashing neon, huge nightclubs, malls, hotels and luxury car dealerships. In the north end is the Saddledome and Stampede Grounds, as well as the historic district of Inglewood and the old town-site of Fort Calgary.

Calgary's biggest event of the year is the Stampede, held in early July. For 10 memorable days, the city is populated by cowboys. Some of these are professional rodeo athletes; others are hopeful townspeople in costume.

Population: 905,000.
Time Zone:Mountain Time Zone.

Average Temperatures:

Holidays:

New Year's Day (January 1)
Good Friday (varies)
Easter Monday (varies)
St. George's Day (April 24)
Victoria Day (May 22)
Discovery Day (June 26)
Memorial Day (July 1)
Alberta: Heritage Day (August 7)
Labour Day (September 4)
Thanksgiving (October 9)
Remembrance Day (November 11)
Christmas (December 25)
Boxing Day (December 26).

When to visit:

When to Visit: Calgary has four full seasons, with cool summers (averaging 68F) and winters that can be quite cold (averaging 9 F). The city’s weather is extremely variable: summer days can be hot (95 F) but the city has experienced snow in every month of the year. Occasionally in winter, warm Chinook winds raise the temperature rapidly, almost instantly melting the snow. We think the best time to visit is midsummer to early fall. Take along a warm sweater or a jacket for the evening chill. If you're planning a trip into the mountains, take something for the rain and cold, no matter what time of year. The weather around Banff is especially unpredictable.

Air
Calgary International Airport (YYC) is 9 miles northwest of the city. The ride into downtown takes approximately 20-30 minutes.

Connecting Transportation

Shuttle service is probably the cheapest and easiest way into town. Many hotels provide free shuttles. If yours does not, Shuttle Express runs from the airport to any hotel or private residence, 24 hours a day. Check in at the shuttle counter, located in the main terminal, arrivals level, just outside Canada Customs. Phone 403-509-4799 for reservations.

The Calgary Airporter also offers daily service to 10 downtown hotels every 30 minutes. Daily 6:30 am-11:30 pm. Phone 403-531-3909 for reservations. Information on all shuttles is available at a kiosk in the arrivals area of the airport.

Bus - Phone 403-265-9111.

Car - There are paid parking lots and garages downtown,

Public Transportation

Public transportation is the best way to get around the city, especially during the Calgary Stampede, when roads are jammed. There are two components to the system: the light rail transit (LRT or C-Train) and buses. A single ticket for either the bus or LRT is available at train station concessions or ticket machines. Tickets include unlimited transfers within 90 minutes. Multiticket books are available.

The LRT follows two main routes. One runs from Brentwood in the northwest to Fish Creek in the south. The second line connects Whitehorn, in the northeast, to downtown. Both lines run through the downtown corridor. You can ride for free along the corridor from Olympic Plaza to Eighth Street S.W. The LRT operates Monday-Friday 5:30 am-12:40 am, Saturday 5:45 am-12:40 am, Sunday 6:30 am-midnight. Phone 403-262-1000 for information.

Calgary's bus system is extensive. You can get just about anywhere in the city with one fare, but service outside rush hours or to outlying suburbs can be infrequent, even non-existent on holidays. The bus system also connects various points along the LRT with other areas. To ride the bus you must deposit exact change (Canadian currency only) or have a valid ticket or transfer. Phone 403-974-4000 for schedules.

Taxi
You will find cabs waiting at the airport and at the main hotels downtown, but generally you have to order a cab by phone.

Train
There is no direct passenger train service to Calgary. VIA Rail will get you as close as Edmonton, where connecting bus service can take you to Calgary. Rocky Mountaineer Railtours offers two-day, daylight tours between Vancouver and Banff/Calgary or Jasper.

Events

January

Throughout January: NHL Hockey. The Calgary at the Pengrowth Saddledome 403-777-2177.

The Alberta Ballet performs at the Southern Alberta Jubilee 403-245-4222

Theater. The Alberta Theatre Projects company performs contemporary theater by playwrights from around the world. Martha Cohen Theatre, Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts,403-294-7475,403-294-7402,403-299-8888.

Theater. Theatre Calgary presents a dynamic season of international plays and musicals, 403-294-7440.

Opera. The Calgary Opera performs at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium - 403-262-7286.

The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra presents a season of concerts at Jack Singer Concert Hall, Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts - 403-571-0270.

February

Winterfest. Calgary rekindles its Olympic spirit and celebrates winter with an annual monthlong festival of ice sculptures, dogsled races, snowboarding competitions and other outdoor events. Activities at Olympic Plaza, Prince's Island Park and other locations - 403-543-5480 or 877-543-5480.

Chinese New Year Celebration. All events are free. 403-262-5071. http://www.culturalcentre.ca.

The Calgary Opera performs at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, http://www.calgaryopera.com.

The Alberta Ballet performs at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium,403-245-4222. For tickets, call Ticketmaster at 403-299-8888 or 403-451-8000. http://www.albertaballet.com.

Theater. Theatre Calgary presents a dynamic season of international plays and musicals. For information, call 403-294-7440. For tickets, call 403-294-7447, or Ticketmaster at 403-299-8888. http://www.theatrecalgary.com.

The Calgary Flames heat up the ice at the Pengrowth Saddledome,for information, call 403-777-2177. For tickets, call Ticketmaster at 403-777-0000. http://www.calgaryflames.com.

The Alberta Theatre Projects company performs contemporary theater by playwrights from around the world. Martha Cohen Theatre, Epcor Centre for the Performing Art,403-294-7475. For tickets, call 403-294-7402, or Ticketmaster at 403-299-8888. http://www.atplive.com.

The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra presents a season of concerts at Jack Singer Concert Hall, Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts, 403-571-0270. For tickets, call 403-571-0849, or Ticketmaster at 403-299-8888. http://www.cpo-live.com.

March

Theatre Calgary presents a dynamic season of international plays and musicals. For information, call 403-294-7440

April

The Calgary Opera performs at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, for information, call 403-262-7286.

May

The Alberta Theatre Projects company performs contemporary theater by playwrights from around the world. Martha Cohen Theatre,call 403-294-7475.
July

July 1

Canada Day. Public holiday. Celebrations are held at Fort Calgary, Heritage Park, Prince's Island Park and Olympic Plaza, among other places. Call 403-268-3888 or 403-268-2489 for more information.

September

The Calgary Stampeders play home games at McMahon Stadium, call 403-289-0258, or toll-free 800-667-3267

October

NHL Hockey. The Calgary Flames heat up the ice at the Pengrowth Saddledome, 403-777-2177.

The Calgary Opera performs at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, 403-262-7286. - 403-299-8888.

Calgary and Banff cohost this annual writers festival featuring readings, workshops and other events. Calgary's Uptown Stage and Screen and various other venues in both cities.

Throughout October: CFL Football. The Calgary Stampeders play home games at McMahon Stadium, 403-289-0258, or toll-free 800-667-3267

November

12-14 Nov: Calgary Winter Antique Show. Art, books, furniture and other antiques on display and for sale. Round Up Centre, Stampede Park. For information, call toll-free 800-667-0619.

13 Nov: Santa Parade. Calgary gears up for the holiday season with a parade down Ninth Avenue, and other festivities downtown. For information, call 403-266-5300, or toll-free 800-661-1678

Throughout November: NHL Hockey. The Calgary Flames heat up the ice at the Pengrowth Saddledome, 555 Saddledrome Rise S.E. For information, call 403-777-2177. For tickets, call Ticketmaster at 403-777-0000. Season continues through early April

Throughout November: Theater. The Alberta Theatre Projects company performs contemporary theater by playwrights from around the world. Martha Cohen Theatre, Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts,call 403-294-7475. Call 403-294-7402, or Ticketmaster at 403-299-8888.

December

3-31 Dec: Zoolights! at the Calgary Zoo. The Calgary Zoo dons more than 1.5 million twinkling lights. 1300 Zoo Road N.E. Phone 403-232-9300, or toll-free 800-588-9993.. Continues through 2 January. 

The Calgary Opera performs at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, 403-262-7286. For tickets, call Ticketmaster at 403-299-8888.. Continues through early May 2005Throughout December: NHL Hockey. The Calgary Flames heat up the ice at the Pengrowth Saddledome,call 403-777-2177. For tickets, call Ticketmaster at 403-777-0000.

Theatre Calgary presents a dynamic season of international plays and musicals. Ninth Avenue Southwest and First Street Southeast. For information, call 403-294-7440. For tickets, call 403-294-7447, or Ticketmaster at 403-299-8888.

Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre - 403-262-5071 - The center's replica of the Temple of Heaven’s Hall of Prayers was built by artisans brought from Beijing to duplicate the column details, decorative painting and layered tiles of the original. The facility also contains a museum, a library of Chinese-language books, a gift shop, a restaurant and an herb-and-acupuncture business.

Calgary Tower - Restaurant patrons must pay the fee to ride to the top of the tower. - 403-266-7171. - When the tower was built by Husky Oil in 1968, it was the tallest building in Calgary at 626 ft. Although it no longer holds that distinction, the view from the observation deck or the revolving restaurant, the Panorama Room, is worth a visit. On a clear day, the view of the Rocky Mountains to the west is fantastic. The torch on top of the tower was built for the 1988 Olympic, and is lit for special occasions such as Canada Day celebrations on July 1.

Canada Olympic Park - 403-247-5452 - Admission varies with activities and time of year.

Fort Calgary Historic Park - 403-290-1875 - A replica of the Northwest Mounted Police fort built on this site in 1875. In addition to living-history activities, the park has an interpretive center, and kids can enjoy a treasure hunt, try on period costumes and be fitted with leg and arm cuffs, just as convicts were in the 1800s.

Stephen Avenue Walk - Eighth Avenue from First Street S.E. to Fourth Street S.W. (downtown) - 403-266-5300.
A city treasure, this street (a portion of Eighth Avenue S.W). is famous for its sandstone and terra cotta buildings, which date to the late 1800s and early 1900s. During the past several years, the buildings have undergone substantial restoration, and many of the structures now contain shops, galleries and restaurants. You can pick up a booklet for a self-guided tour at the new City Hall information kiosk on Macleod Trail S.E. at the end of Stephen Avenue.

Aero Space Museum of Calgary - 403-250-3752. - This museum explores the surprisingly varied contributions of western Canada to aviation and space travel.

Calgary Police Service Interpretive Centre - 403-268-4566.

Calgary Science Centre - 403-268-8300 - This museum will interest even the most unscientific minds with its hands-on exhibits, demonstrations, live theater, multimedia productions and planetarium.

Glenbow Museum - 403-268-4100 - Three floors of exhibits and displays about western history and heritage, plus an art gallery with ever-changing displays and traveling exhibits. A permanent exhibition depicts the history and culture of the Blackfoot people. The Museum Shop offers a good selection of books and gifts.

Museum of the Regiments - 403-974-2853 - Largest military museum in western Canada. High-tech displays and exhibits detail Canada's military history, including the exploits of the Northwest Mounted Police. There is an extensive on Canada's role in the Boer War.

Big Rock Brewery - 403-720-3239. - Tours take place at 1:30 pm Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, year-round. Reservations required, adults only Alberta farmers grow some of the highest-quality malt barley in the world, and Calgary's best-known brewery does it proud, producing several excellent varieties. One-hour tours with a tasting at the end, give a look at the brewing process.

Elbow River Inn Casino - 403-266-4355. Toll-free 800-661-1463.

Frank Sisson's Silver Dollar Casino - 403-243-3000 - In addition to the usual table games, slots and keno machines, there are three lounges with big-screen TVs, 40 bowling lanes and frequent live entertainment. Open daily, with slot machines available 10 am-3 am and the rest of the casino operating noon-1 am.