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Calgary

Nestled along the river valley in the foothills of Canada’s Rocky Mountains, Calgary is the gateway to Western Canada. The city is vibrant, clean, and safe and offers visitors everything they want in a vacation: a cosmopolitan city of over 1 million people and spectacular outdoor adventures in the beautiful Canadian wilderness.

Highlights

  • Calgary is most famous for the Calgary Stampede at which cow-boys from all over the world compete for cash prizes.  The Stampede has been called “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”. It is the world’s largest rodeo and one of Canada’s largest annual events
  • Calgary was host to the 1988 Winter Olympic Games.
  • Ranked as one of the cleanest cities in the world by Forbes magazine.
  • Amongst the sunniest cities in Canada with over 2400 hours of sunshine per year.

Location

Calgary is located in the south western region of Alberta.  It is situated on foothills and high plains about 80 kilometres east of the Canadian Rockies. 

Size & Population

Calgary is the third largest city in Canada, by population, and the largest city in the province of Alberta. The city has a population of just over 1 million and there are over 1.2 million in the Calgary metropolitan area.
The total area of Calgary is approximately 726 square kilometres which exceeds the land area of Toronto. With no natural restrictions, it is growing rapidly.

Geography

Calgary is located in the transition zone between the Rocky Mountains and the Canadian Prairies. The downtown elevation is 1,048 meters above sea level.  Near downtown Calgary the Bow River merges with the Elbow River and these river valleys are the only source for natural vegetation in the area. Most other areas are dry and without natural vegetation.

Climate

The climate is generally influenced by the proximity to the Rocky Mountains and the high elevation.  The winters are typically long and cold and have an average temperature of -13°Celsius although it is not uncommon for it to reach -30°Celsius for days at a time. To give Calgarians a break from the cold, dry warm winds (called Chinooks) often blow in from the Pacific Ocean.  At times these Chinooks can raise a winter temperature by up to 15°Celsius in a matter of hours.
During the summer months temperatures can reach up to 30° Celsius but an average temperature is around 16°Celsius.

Attractions & Things to Do

  • Calgary's downtown features an eclectic mix of restaurants and bars, cultural venues, and shopping.
  • Is only a 2.5 hour drive to Banff and only 1 hour to the Kananaskis Valley where an abundance of great hiking trails are available.
  • The Calgary Olympic Park offers daily tours and passes to the Canadian Olympic Hall Of Fame.
  • Spruce Meadows is a famous equestrian ground and has frequent shows.

Explore Other Destinations - Vancouver Island,  Gulf Islands & Sunshine Coast,  Vancouver,  Whistler,  Okanagan,         BC Rockies,  Northern BC Coast,  Northern BC,  Banff & Jasper,