Calgary

Calgary is the largest city in the Canadian province of Alberta. As of 2021, the city had a population of over 1.3 million people, making it the third-largest city in Canada after Toronto and Montreal.

The city is located where the Bow River and the Elbow River meet, in the area between the Rocky Mountain Foothills and the wide, open Canadian Prairies. It lies close to the beautiful Canadian Rockies and is about halfway between Edmonton, the provincial capital, and the Canada–United States border.

Calgary is an important center for many industries, including energy, finance, film, transportation, technology, and tourism. The city has many tall buildings, especially in its downtown area. In 1988, Calgary hosted the Olympic Winter Games, which brought together athletes from around the world to compete in sports like ice hockey and figure skating.

Origin of name

Calgary was named after Calgary Castle in Scotland, a place where Colonel James Macleod, who worked for the North-West Mounted Police, used to spend his summers. He suggested the name when he returned to Canada in 1876 for a place that became known as Fort Calgary.

Local Indigenous peoples called the area “elbow” because of the sharp bend where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. Different Indigenous languages have their own names for the area, all meaning something like “elbow” or “at the elbow.” Recently, there have been efforts to use Indigenous names more often to honor their history and culture.

History

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Calgary history.

Early history

The Calgary area has been home to people for at least 11,000 years. Many groups, including the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy), îyârhe Nakoda, Tsuut’ina, and Métis Nation, Region 3, have lived in the area.

In 1787, David Thompson, a young explorer with the Hudson's Bay Company, spent the winter with a group of Piikani Nation people along the Bow River. He was the first European known to visit the area. John Glenn was the first European settler in Calgary in 1873. In 1875, three priests built a small cabin on the Elbow River.

In the fall of 1875, the site became a post for the North-West Mounted Police to protect the area from traders and the fur trade. The fort was named "Fort Calgary" in 1876.

In 1877, the First Nations gave up their rights to the Fort Calgary area through Treaty 7.

In 1881, the government began offering leases for cattle ranching in Alberta, which led to more people moving to the area. The Canadian Pacific Railway reached Calgary in 1883, which helped the town grow.

Residents wanted to form their own local government. In 1884, a public meeting was held, and a civic committee was formed. In 1884, Calgary became a town, and the first mayor and councillors were elected.

Turmoil in 1885 and 1886 and the "Sandstone City"

The years 1885 and 1886 were difficult for Calgary. In 1885, a councillor was arrested for threatening an officer, leading to public unrest. In 1886, another councillor was charged with corruption, causing more problems.

A fire in 1886 destroyed much of downtown Calgary. After the fire, new buildings were made from sandstone, which was available nearby.

1887 to 1900

Calgary continued to grow in the late 1800s. In 1890, work began on a railway connecting Calgary and Edmonton, which was completed in 1891. In 1892, smallpox arrived in Calgary, leading to a riot against the Chinese community.

In 1894, Calgary became a city. The first mayor of the new city was Wesley Fletcher Orr.

Turn of the 20th century

At the turn of the 20th century, Alberta became a province, with Edmonton as the capital. Calgary focused on education and built a normal school in 1905.

The city continued to grow, with new transportation systems and buildings. The Calgary Stampede began in 1912 as a celebration of western culture.

Early oil and gas

Oil was discovered near Calgary in 1914, marking the start of the oil and gas industry in the city. This brought growth and change to Calgary.

Early politics 1910s to 1940s

Calgary was active in politics during the early 20th century. The city supported workers' rights and was home to the founding meeting of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation in 1932.

1960s to 1970s

In the 1960s and 1970s, Calgary began developing public transportation. The University of Calgary became an independent institution in 1966.

1970s and 1980s: economic boom and bust

The 1970s energy crisis brought growth to Calgary, but the 1980s oil glut caused a recession. Many people lost jobs, and the city's population decreased for the first time.

Olympic legacy

Calgary hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics. The games brought economic benefits to the city after a period of recession.

1990s to present

Calgary's economy grew strongly until 2009, driven by oil prices. The city has also developed in tourism, technology, and other industries.

In 2013, flooding affected the city, leading to evacuations. Calgary has continued to grow, becoming one of Canada's fastest-growing cities, with many new homes being built.

Geography

Calgary is located in southwestern Alberta, close to the Rocky Mountains. It sits where the Bow River and the Elbow River meet, between the Canadian Rockies Foothills and the Canadian Prairies. The city is about 80 km east of the Rocky Mountains, 280 km south of Edmonton, and near the border with the United States.

Two rivers flow through Calgary: the Bow River and the Elbow River. The Bow River is larger and runs from west to south, while the Elbow River flows north until it joins the Bow River near downtown. The city has many neighborhoods, with over 180 different areas to call home. Some parts of Calgary were once separate towns before joining the city.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Calgary

In the 2021 Census of Population by Statistics Canada, the City of Calgary had a population of 1,306,784 people. This was a 5.5% increase from the 2016 population of 1,239,220. The city covers an area of 820.62 km², with a population density of 1,592.4 people per km².

The Calgary census metropolitan area had a population of 1,481,806 in 2021, a 6.4% increase from 2016. This area covers 5,098.68 km², with a density of 290.6 people per km².

In 2021, immigrants—people born outside Canada—made up about one-third of Calgary’s population. The top countries of origin for these immigrants were the Philippines, India, China, and the United Kingdom.

Ethnicity

See also: Demographics of Calgary § City of Calgary

Pan-ethnic groups in Calgary from the 2021 census include:

1. European (55.4%)
2. South Asian (11.0%)
3. Southeast Asian (8.56%)
4. East Asian (8.49%)
5. African (5.47%)
6. Middle Eastern (3.55%)
7. Indigenous (3.20%)
8. Latin American (2.47%)
9. Other (1.89%)

Religion

See also: List of places of worship in Calgary

The 2021 census showed that the main religious groups in Calgary were:

• Christianity (44.5%)
• Irreligion (38.7%)
• Islam (7.4%)
• Sikhism (3.8%)
• Hinduism (2.6%)
• Buddhism (1.6%)
• Judaism (0.5%)
• Indigenous Spirituality (0.1%)
• Other religions (0.8%)

Economy

See also: Economy of Alberta

Calgary is a key city in Canada's oil and gas industry. From 1999 to 2009, its economy grew faster than Canada's overall economy. The city has many jobs, good pay, and low unemployment, helped by rising prices and sales in natural resources.

Calgary has many big oil and gas companies and financial businesses. It is also a center for small businesses and shopping. While oil and gas are still important, the city's economy is changing to include other areas like trade, health care, and construction. Many large companies and offices are based in Calgary, making it a busy place for work.

Arts and culture

Calgary was named one of Canada's cultural capitals in 2012. Many people live in the city's suburbs, but central areas like Kensington and the Beltline are becoming more popular.

Stage

Calgary has a big performing arts place called the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. Opened in 1957, it has hosted many shows and performances. It is home to the Alberta Ballet Company and the Calgary Opera. The city also has many other performance spaces like the Werklund Centre.

Theatre

Calgary has several theatre companies, including One Yellow Rabbit, Theatre Calgary, and Alberta Theatre Projects. The city is where Theatresports began, a type of improvisational theatre.

Music

Every three years, Calgary holds the Honens International Piano Competition. Winners perform with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and receive a large prize. The city has many marching bands and choral groups, such as the Calgary Boys' Choir.

Dance

The Alberta Ballet is Canada's third-largest dance company. Other dance groups include Springboard Performance and Decidedly Jazz Danceworks.

Film and television

Many movies like The Assassination of Jesse James, Brokeback Mountain, and Inception were filmed in Calgary. TV shows such as Fargo and The Last of Us are also filmed here.

Print media

The main newspapers are the Calgary Herald and the Calgary Sun. TV networks like Global, City, CTV, and CBC have studios in the city.

Visual art

Artists and galleries are active in Calgary, with many located downtown and in areas like Inglewood.

Libraries

The Calgary Public Library has 21 branches and is one of the largest in Canada. The new flagship branch, the Calgary Central Library, opened in 2018.

Museums

Calgary has several museums, including the Glenbow Museum, Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, and The Military Museums.

Festivals

Calgary hosts many festivals, such as the Calgary Folk Music Festival, Sled Island music festival, and the famous Calgary Stampede. The Stampede is a big rodeo and exhibition held every July.

Arts education

Calgary has several schools for arts education, including the Alberta University of the Arts and the Mount Royal University Conservatory.

Attractions

Main article: List of attractions and landmarks in Calgary

See also: List of Calgary parks

Downtown Calgary has many interesting places to visit, including restaurants, bars, cultural spots, public squares, and shops. Popular downtown spots are the Calgary Tower, Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, National Music Centre, Calgary Telus Convention Centre, the Chinatown area, Arts Commons, Central Library, St. Patrick's Island, Glenbow Museum, the Art Gallery of Calgary (AGC), Olympic Plaza, the Calgary Stampede grounds, and military museums. Shopping areas include the Core Centre, Stephen Avenue, and the Eau Claire Market. The Peace Bridge crosses the Bow River in downtown.

Other attractions in Calgary include Heritage Park Historical Village, which shows life in Alberta before 1914 with old vehicles like a steam train, paddle steamer, and electric streetcar. Just west of the city is Calaway Park, a big outdoor family amusement park. The city also has Canada Olympic Park and Spruce Meadows. There are many large shopping areas in the city, such as Chinook Centre, Southcentre Mall, Westhills, Signal Hill, South Trail Crossing, Deerfoot Meadows, Market Mall, Sunridge Mall, CrossIron Mills, and New Horizon Mall.

Sports and recreation

Main article: Sport in Calgary

Calgary has many parks for people to enjoy, covering about 8,000 hectares. Some well-known parks include Fish Creek Provincial Park, Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Bowness Park, Edworthy Park, Confederation Park, Prince's Island Park, Nose Hill Park, and Central Memorial Park. Nose Hill Park is one of the largest city parks in Canada, and Central Memorial Park is the oldest, dating back to 1911. An extensive network of paths connects these parks and neighborhoods.

Because of its closeness to the Rocky Mountains, Calgary is a favorite place for winter sports. After hosting the 1988 Winter Olympics, the city built many top sports facilities, such as Canada Olympic Park and the Olympic Oval. These are used for training by many athletes and for activities like skiing, snowboarding, and ice hockey. In summer, the Bow River is popular for rafting and fishing, and there are many golf courses. Calgary’s sports teams, like the Calgary Flames and Calgary Stampeders, have exciting rivalries with teams from Edmonton.

Government

The city of Calgary is an important business center, with many people working in jobs that involve offices and professional services. The city has many oil and gas companies, which helped shape its political history.

Calgary is run by a city council with a mayor and fourteen councillors, all elected every four years. The council makes decisions for the city based on laws from the Alberta government.

Calgary has representatives in provincial, federal, and local governments. In recent years, different political parties have had support in the city.

The city has had a presence of the Canadian military since the early 1900s, with various units and bases contributing to its history and culture.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Main articles: Transportation in Calgary and CTrain

See also: List of airports in the Calgary area

Public transit

Calgary Transit offers many ways to get around the city. You can use buses, special fast buses called bus rapid transit (BRT), and a train system called light rail transit (LRT). The train system, known as the CTrain, was one of the first in North America. It has two lines with many stops and lots of tracks. The CTrain uses clean energy from the wind to run. There are plans for a new train line called the Green Line, which will be the biggest building project in Calgary’s history.

Airports

Calgary International Airport is a busy place where many people and things come and go. It helps connect Calgary to many places around the world. The airport is close to beautiful natural areas like Banff National Park and the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks. You can fly non-stop to many cities in Canada, the United States, Europe, Central America, and Asia. There is also another airport called Calgary/Springbank Airport that handles smaller planes and special flights like aerial firefighting planes.

Pedestrian and cycling

Calgary has lots of paths for walking and biking. These paths cover many kilometers and help people move around without cars. There are also special streets just for bikes and many places to park your bike. Even in cold weather, many people in Calgary enjoy biking. The Peace Bridge is a special path that lets people walk or bike across a river to get to the city center.

Skyway

Calgary has many indoor bridges that connect tall buildings in the city center. These bridges, called the +15, keep people safe from very cold weather when they are going from one building to another.

Roads and highways

Calgary is where many important roads cross. These roads help people and goods move all over Canada. One big road called Stoney Trail goes around the city. Another busy road is Deerfoot Trail, which many people use every day. The streets in Calgary are organized in a grid, making it easier to find your way around.

Rail

Calgary is an important place for moving goods by train. There are plans for new train lines that will connect Calgary to other cities, including a very fast train to Edmonton. In the past, Calgary had trains that went across Canada, but those trains no longer stop here. Now, there are special tour trains that still run to Calgary.

Water infrastructure

Calgary gets its water from two big treatment plants. These plants clean the water from rivers and send it to homes and buildings all over the city. This helps make sure that more than a million people have clean water to use.

Health care

Main article: Health care in Calgary

Calgary has many hospitals and medical centers to help people stay healthy. There are four big hospitals for adults and one special hospital for children, called the Alberta Children's Hospital. These hospitals have many beds and employ lots of people. There are also special centers for treating diseases like cancer and heart problems. Many doctors and researchers work together to find new ways to help people stay healthy.

Education

Primary and secondary

In the school year of 2011–2012, about 100,000 students went to 221 schools in Calgary’s main public school system. Together with students in special programs, the total reached around 104,000. About 43,000 more students went to 95 schools in the separate Catholic school system. Calgary also has a French language school for the local Francophone community, several public charter schools, and many private schools. One special school in Calgary is the National Sport School, made just for athletes aiming for the Olympics. The oldest school still open in Calgary is St. Mary’s High School.

Post-secondary

Calgary’s biggest university is the University of Calgary, with around 34,000 students. Another big school is Mount Royal University, which has over 14,000 students and offers many different degrees. SAIT Polytechnic also has more than 14,000 students and focuses on hands-on learning and training. Athabasca University offers classes that students can take from far away. Other schools in Calgary include the Alberta University of the Arts, Ambrose University, Bow Valley College, and St. Mary’s University. There are also many private colleges and institutes in the city.

Media

Main article: Media in Calgary

Calgary has several daily newspapers, such as the Calgary Herald and the Calgary Sun. The city is also the sixth largest television market in Canada, with stations like CICT 2 (Global), CFCN 4 (CTV), and others. Calgary has many radio stations, including ones for First Nations and the Asian Canadian community.

Broadcasts from the United States come from Spokane, Washington.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Calgary

Calgary is a special place where many famous people were born or grew up. The city has produced artists, athletes, and leaders who are known around the world. You can learn more about them in the list of people from Calgary.

International relations

The City of Calgary has partnerships with six other cities around the world to help with trade, culture, and education.

Calgary is one of nine Canadian cities that work together in a group called the New York City Global Partners, Inc. This group started in 2006.