Browsing Calgary
The Aero Space Museum offers an up-close look at Calgary's place in aviation history through WWI and WWII aviation memorabilia and military aircraft displays, including a Lancaster, a Sopwith Tri-Plane, and a Harvard Mark IV. Biographies of many colorful Albertan aviators are also featured, including Willie McKnight, who boasted 16 victories in WWII and Eleanor Bailey, who was one of the first female pilots to take to the skies.
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Located at the Martha Cohen Theatre in the Center for Performing Arts, ATP was founded in 1972 and was originally a forum for Canadian Playwriting. Although the Project still adheres to that mandate, it has extended to include international works. The theater seats 450 people, loosely based on a "theater in the round" design so that you are never very far from the action on stage. Check the Web site for current productions and performance times. Ticket prices vary.
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The Art Mode Gallery is located on the corner of 17th Avenue and 4th Street South West, just out of the downtown core. Like its Ottawa predecessor, this art gallery offers both Canadian and international artists that have been established in the art scene for some time. Along with contemporary paintings and artwork, The Art Mode Gallery also offers Inuit sculptures as well as beautiful sculptures of horses and life in the West. This particular gallery also offers appraisals by appointment only, and they welcome inquiries at their email address.
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Located on the banks of the Bow River, this beautiful and serene monastery is the residence of several monks and the spiritual center of Calgary's orthodox Buddhist community. The monastery represents a branch of the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association, and hosts daily sutra recitations, lectures, and meditation sessions. Education is a key focus of this association, and free lectures are offered with translations into Cantonese, Vietnamese, and English where necessary. There is also a Sunday school for children and a discussion group for youth. All activities are open to the public. Contact the monastery for schedules.
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It's hard to imagine that a golf course could provide sufficient inspiration for an artist to paint nothing else, but the work of Willy Underhill defies the imagined limits of the setting. Exploring the striking contrasts between the manicured greens of the courses and the untamed landscape surrounding them, his paintings can be found among a collection of approximately 100 prints and originals in the gallery. Much of the gallery's artwork depicts British Columbia's spectacular mountain ranges and coastal fjords. Wildlife paintings by national favorite Robert Bateman can also be found here. The Avenida displays paintings by Canadian artists only, and strives to support the local artistic community.
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A scenic day-use and picnic area, Big Hills Springs Provincial Park is best known for its waterfalls, which cascade over a series of rocky terraces in a lush landscape of shrubs and grasses. The falls flow year-round and are an excellent spot to view wildlife, hike, picnic, or just take in the scenery. The park was once the site of a fish hatchery and has some claim to historical significance as the site of Alberta's first creamery, although scant evidence remains of these activities today. The four day-use sites do not provide fire pits or water hookups, but toilets and water are available.
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Just like the large rock near Okotoks, just south of Calgary, for which it is named, Big Rock Brewery is a unique feature of Alberta. Brewed under the Reinheitsgebot, the strict Bavarian Purity Law of 1516, the brewery's beers all only have four ingredients: malted barley, hops, yeast, and water. Because Alberta produces some of the finest two-row barley for brewing in the world, the beers made here are truly a local product. The brewery boasts that it is one of the most modern in North America and offers informative tours to back up its claim, complete with the chance to taste four different beers after checking out the brewing facilities and learning about the brewing process.
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Alberta's first "eco-park" is a fascinating hands-on classroom where you can learn about the natural environment right in the heart of Calgary. Bow Habitat Station consists of an interpretive Visitor's Center, the Sam Livingstone Fish Hatchery, and the Pearce Estate Park Interpretive Wetland. The Visitor's Center provides an informative array of interactive exhibits, displays, and tours of the working trout hatchery, one of the largest and most important enclosed fish hatcheries in North America. You can watch the process as more than 3 million fish are raised from eggs to fry to fingerlings before being used to stock public waters. Signs and interpretive trails provide fascinating insights into the environment in the wetland area.
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On any mild winter day, the frozen lagoon in this park is filled with skaters. An open expanse of ice with smaller tributaries that wind off out of view, the man-made lagoon is great for youngsters just learning to skate, or others who need to burn some energy. A fire burning in the on-ice pit warms chilled hands. Canoes, foot-powered watercraft rentals, a miniature train ride, mini-golf, carnival rides, a kiddie spray pool, playground and sports fields are all available in the summer.
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The hamlet of Bragg Creek provides convenient access to the Bragg Creek Provincial Park, home to some of the many recreational opportunities and beautiful Rocky Mountain scenery that Kananaskis country is famous for. Gateway to the Elbow Valley area and thousands of square miles of some of the most spectacular scenery in Canada, Bragg Creek is a great base for outdoor activities; whether you like to hike, camp, fish, ride horses, or ski, the Elbow Valley has something for you. The Elbow River is also a paddler's paradise for rafting, kayaking, and canoeing.
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Although not as large as Disneyland, Calaway Park offers more than enough fun attractions to keep youngsters happy and active for a full day. The vaguely Flintstones-style theme park offers rides to suit all ages, with a special area just for toddlers. A corkscrew rollercoaster, log flume ride, bumper cars, boats, and several other whirling, twirling, and plunging attractions make kids squeal with delight, and their parents turn green.
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Explore Chinese/Canadian history and culture, right in the heart of the fascinating Chinatown area. The Centre consists of a museum, Chinese library and a school, as well as the Emperor Seafood Restaurant and more. You can also shop in the Arts and Crafts Store, which carries imported Oriental items. The building itself is of particular interest, standing out amongst the crowd with its impressive roof. The interior design is also intricate—both were completed in September 1992 by artists from Beijing.
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The goal of the Calgary Farmer's Market is to reconnect urban residents with the high quality food products produced by Alberta's small farmers. With over 80 merchants specializing in fresh, local produce, cheese and dairy products, meats, and artisan baked goods, the market provides a wonderful venue to taste fine locally produced food, shop for high quality local specialties, and learn about healthy cooking and eating. If you are interested in a getting a taste of Canada's heartland, make a stop at the Farmer's Market.
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Although some of downtown Calgary's office towers are actually taller, the Calgary Tower remains the city's most distinctive landmark. Officially opened in 1968, it remains a popular visitor attraction, providing a panoramic view of the mountains to the west and the surrounding foothills and prairie. On the observation deck there is access to binoculars, multimedia information kiosks and the thrilling Glass Floor Experience. The dining room rotates, allowing visitors the chance to relax with a meal while viewing the entire city from their window-side tables at the Panorama Dining Room. Tops Grill, located above the observation deck, is open seasonally and offers a light menu.
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Ranked as one of the top ten zoos in North America, the Calgary Zoo is the perfect place to take your kids to mingle amongst the animals. The zoo has over 1200 animals, mammals, amphibians, arachnids, and fish, so you're sure to have an adventurous day exploring the wild and exotic animals of foreign lands. The animals include everything from the Grevy's Zebra, featured in the new Destination Africa exhibit, to the Stegosaurus in the Prehistoric Park, to the Wood Bison hanging out in the Canadian Wilds area. You're kids are guaranteed to have fun, while also learning about animals in the world and how humans can help preserve their existence.
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These facilities are used both by high-performance winter athletes, by ordinary, adventurous Calgarians, and by lots of visitors. The bobsled track immortalized by four crazed Jamaican sledders continues to be used for World Cup events. The downhill ski slope is a popular entry-level spot for skiers, while the half-pipe area crawls with local snowboarders. The park also offers chairlift rides, ski jump towers, bobsled rides, luge rides, a mountain teahouse, and guided tours and much more. Come summer and the park is full of cross-country and downhill mountain bike racers. Inside the main COP building there is a restaurant/bar and the Olympic Hall of Fame and Museum.
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Located between Calgary and the spectacular national parks of the Canadian Rockies, Cochrane is a cattle town that is proud of its Western flavor and heritage. The charming shops and restaurants around Main Street certainly celebrate the Western ranching culture that makes the town distinctive, but there is also an artistic side to Cochrane that is evident in the numerous galleries around town. The town, with its sweeping views of the foothills and mountains and its location on the Bow River less than an hour from Banff, makes a convenient base for outdoor activities.
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This stunningly peaceful park is one of the city's most beautiful green spaces. Large shade trees tower over a slow moving stream, and pathways cross over arched bridges and along the foot of a dozen rolling hills. There are picnic tables, cross-country ski trails, tennis courts and playgrounds. Still, aside from the wedding parties that come here on Saturdays for photos, visitors always feel as if they have the park to themselves. It is a mystery why this park isn't packed on sunny days, but the regulars are not complaining.
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Unleash your kids' creative energy with a visit to the Creative Kids Museum at the TELUS World of Science. In addition to five innovative exhibit areas that engage children with hands-on, interactive activities, the museum also offers programs and performances. One exhibit area recreates the Alberta landscape and allows kids to crawl inside caves and over dramatic rock formations, while another focuses on perception and reality with a number of amazing sensory illusions. Still others focus on giving kids the chance to express themselves by creating art, theater, and music.
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Calgary's largest indoor/outdoor market is a feast for the senses. In addition to a farmer's market that showcases both fresh produce straight from local farms and an array of fine foods from around the world, the Crossroad's Market includes an antiques market and a flea market. A rich mixture of food, art, and culture that reflects the multicultural flavor of the Calgary area, the market even has its own theater, with performances by the resident Loose Moose Theater Company.
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The course is located just south of Calgary's city limits and is set above, over and often along ranchland coulees—mini valleys carved by ancient creeks and rivers. Trees are sparse, with the challenge instead being rolling terrain and well-protected landing areas and greens. The course plays anywhere from 5,600 to 6,900 yards, with a slope rating as high as 130. The club is considered one of the better public tests in the area.
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Danziger Designer Glass Studios offers beautiful upscale glass ensembles for the home, office or cottage. Each item is unique and hand-designed and range from the very simple to the extremely complex. Danziger can design an entire building made of glass, or just the façade. They make furniture, cupboards, and even wall cabinets made out of every type of glass imaginable, using a number of mixed media and colors. A visit to this elegant store will make you think twice the next time you're thinking of choosing plain old wood.
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When a cold north wind is howling and the mid-winter temperature is too frigid, this downtown greenhouse is a welcome oasis of greenery and warmth. Alberta's largest indoor garden, the 2.5 acres under glass and above a shopping mall, are a showcase for some 20,000 local and tropical plants, fountains, waterfalls, reflecting pools stocked with carp, wooden bridges, and a small playground where harried parents can let their children loose. No admission charge at any time and access is from numerous points within TD Square.
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This small gallery located in downtown Calgary is named after its owner, Diana, who is well versed in art by both renowned local and international artists. Past featured artists include Phillip Craig and Zhong-Ru Huang. Katerina Mertikas, whose work has been reproduced on many of Unicef's cards, is frequently showcased, as well. Be sure to look beyond the featured artist and explore the diverse selection at the back of the gallery.
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Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, Dinosaur Provincial Park is located two hours east of Calgary in an otherworldly landscape that seems a million light years removed from the high alpine environment to its west. Once a lush sub-tropical area on the shores of an inland sea, the area was populated by turtles, crocodiles, and sharks--and was a popular place for dinosaurs to hunt, mate, and die. Today, the area is a spectacular desert badland full of bizarrely beautiful rock formations known as Hoodoos, as well as an amazing concentration of dinosaur bones and fossils. The park has an informative visitor's center, a theater, a bookstore, and 126 campsites with shower and laundry facilities. The Royal Tyrrell Museum Field Station features nearly complete skeletons of a number of dinosaurs, which never fail to impress budding paleontologists of all ages.
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Located at the northern edge of downtown, the market is home to numerous restaurants and theaters. You'll also discover a unique selection of retailers not usually seen in suburban malls, including specialty stores dedicated to children's and women's clothing, and imported art and handicrafts. Several cafes are available in the market proper, while several others, including the Hard Rock Cafe, Joey Tomato's Kitchen, and the tiny 1886 Cafe, are in the immediate vicinity. Other features include an IMAX theater and Cinescape, a multi-screen first-run movie theater and entertainment arcade.
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Located at the base of an escarpment created by an ancient and much mightier Bow River, this natural area is just 15 minutes from downtown's office towers. Picnic and playground areas are suitable for families or larger groups, and a running/cycling path tracks closely to the river. The big attraction is the Douglas Fir Trail, a reasonably short but strenuous hike up and down a series of steps and walkways placed between the bases of beautiful, towering fir trees.
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The Firefighters Museum is devoted to Calgary's fire-fighting history. The museum is managed by retired firefighters, offering a personal glimpse into the lives of past firefighters with over three thousand fascinating artifacts. Perfect for school trips and family outings, the museum houses artifacts such as thirteen fire trucks, including three classics that were purchased by the City of Calgary in 1929. These trucks are in impeccable shape, with gleaming brass and silver-plated fire nozzles. Over four hundred restored photographs, including the only known photo of the Calgary riot of 1917, are also on exhibit. The museum is located in the City's southeast section.
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Canada's largest urban park stretches some 20 kilometers from the T'suu Tina Reserve at 37th Street to the Bow River's banks in the east, covering much of the southern breadth of the city and dividing established and newer suburbs. Running along shallow, winding Fish Creek, the park is a labyrinth of walking and cycling paths, peppered by groves of mature trees and open meadows. The park features no organized recreational grounds, with day usage intended instead for walking, cycling, blading or picnicking, although tobogganing is popular in the winter. Stables are at one end of the park, and at the far east and south end is the man-made Lake Sikome beach and swimming area. In between are endless acres of largely unspoiled land, where visitors often spot deer or beaver. Archaeological work indicates the Fish Creek valley has been used extensively by humans for more than 2,000 years. To protect this unique area, the province declared it a park in 1975. The Fish Creek Environmental Learning Center, at the west end of the park, is intended primarily for school groups. At the east end, the Bow Valley Ranch Visitor Center, a small bakery cafe, and a more upscale sit-down restaurant, dubbed The Ranch, greet visitors.
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This center gives visitors a hands-on look at early Calgary life. Fort Calgary lies on 40 acres of riverside park. The interpretive center reconstructs the original 1875 fort, a facility Mounties built after being dispatched from the settled East to protect early settlers, and to stop the culturally devastating whiskey trade. Visitors can grab a bite of chow, or indeed a shot of whiskey, at the on-site restaurant.
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With a 50-stall driving range housed in a large waterproof dome and a short game practice facility to complement its 6494-yard 18-hole golf course, Fox Hollow provides a unique year-round golfing venue. Deerfoot Creek meanders through the course, adding to the challenge of the course, which is usually one of the first courses to open in spring and one of the last to close as winter approaches. Lessons are available for all levels, and the course also has a restaurant and pro-shop.
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Gainsborough Galleries stocks a lot of artwork that is representational of Alberta and the Prairies. While the works offered are definitely not cheap, the high caliber makes them likely to become treasured heirlooms. They carry beautiful bronze sculptures of buffaloes and cowboys as well as a number of wooden sculptures of cattle and horses. There is also an array of Alberta prints depicting local and regional mountain themes and scenes, as well as a number of interesting landscape paintings.
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This great little art gallery offers interesting international artwork and designs. They also offer some cool and functional treasures from the Orient. Some of these include beautiful silver chopsticks, hand painted silk scarves, and tiny hand thrown, hand painted rice bowls. Towards the back of the shop, you will find a gallery that is dedicated to elegant and original hand-painted prints from Korea and abroad. The attention to detail alone makes a trip to this gallery worthwhile.
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One of Canada's great museums, and Western Canada's largest, this treasure trove houses artifacts of the West, dating back to the first white settlers of the 1800s and the history of the area's First Nations. Along with permanent displays, a variety of temporary exhibitions is also presented. Visitors also enjoy an art gallery and archives on site.
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This church is constructed of locally-quarried sandstone, a material which ages to a gentle and almost soft beige color. Only four churches in Calgary were built of sandstone, and this is the oldest, dating from 1905. The church is reputed to have the finest pipe organ in Calgary, and can seat up to 1200 persons. The stained-glass windows are particularly magnificent as they reflect off of the stone walls.
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An equestrian center with a truly Western spirit, Griffin Valley Ranch is located right on the Cowboy Trail near Cochrane and Calgary. With 4,500 acres of beautiful rolling hills, forests, streams, and valleys, the ranch also boasts stunning views of the Canadian Rockies from the tops of its ridges. If you are an experienced rider, you can acquire a membership allowing you to take unguided rides through the ranch. Anyone can join in the fun on trail rides and wagon rides, however. The ranch has picnic facilities in addition to its restaurant, and rustic accommodations in cabins, teepees, and covered wagons are also available.
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A sample viewing of this small gallery, which features work by artists living in Alberta, found several dozen paintings primarily featuring the sky and landscapes of the countryside around Calgary. Paintings of the violent snow and hail storms, common in the region, were particularly striking. Several abstract works and one or two pieces of sculpture were also on exhibit. Appointments can be booked to discuss works privately with the proprietors or artists.
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Canada's largest living historical village is divided into a pioneer Northwest Mounted Police outpost and a 1910 Main Street. The latter has a working antique amusement park, with rides that are safe even for small children. Other attractions include a working full-scale locomotive thundering through the park, and on nearby Glenmore Reservoir, a vintage double-decker sternwheeler ship that takes visitors on lake cruises. Shops and restaurants are plentiful in the park, including a turn-of-the-century bakery. All park staff work in costume and character. Call or check Web site for admission prices.
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Ranked among the Top 25 golf courses in the country, this beautiful beast of a course is open to the public but adopts the "country club for a day" approach to service; golfers are pampered from the moment they pull into the parking lot. Players are sent out over two of the three nines, with 18 holes winding through the Pine Creek coulee, and another nine built up top the 'Desert Nine'. This is Calgary's most expensive public course, but few golfers question the fees given the quality and challenge of the play.
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West Canada has more to it than just the warm, Chinook winds. Arrive at this ranch, about 20 miles outside Calgary to store up memories of fun-filled days in the wild. Right from an airport pickup to rich, satisfying BBQ meals, the hosts aspire to make your trip a success. A day at the ranch begins with a breakfast spread that prepares guests for a plethora of vigorous activities. Saddle up for a half-day trail ride over marvelous, rolling greens, or grab a rod and try your luck at the numerous fishing spots. It doesn't matter if you are a novice—the horses are well-trained to carry you about. Meals are taken by campfires, to be followed by long walks around the creek while observing the wranglers in action, or playing games with other guests. For those eager for some pampering after a day with the stable-hands, an outdoor hot tub offers respite. At the end of the day, one can't help but want to stay on, which is why the hosts have come up with all-inclusive packages to suit your needs. Check out the website for more details.
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A safe haven for birds in a wooded area along the Bow River, the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary is a city park and a federally protected bird sanctuary located on the migratory routes of a number of bird species. The 80-acre sanctuary, off-limits to dogs and bicycles, is a lovely place for humans to find some peace and quiet as well. Yellow-rumped, Orange-crowned, and Wilson's warblers are just some of the more than 250 bird species that can be found here. The Nature Center here is low key and keeps the focus at the sanctuary where it belongs, on the birds and the peaceful forest surroundings.
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Feeling a little blue? Or are you seeing red? The owners of Kaleidoscope believe that colors in fact affect everything in our lives, from our moods to our relationships. Aside from the beautiful kaleidoscopes that you will find throughout the shop; there is also a full wall of gifts and accessories organized by color, each with its own meaning. There are also beautiful, colorful handmade mugs, and plates and glassware.
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Just try to be bored in this place. Kart World features Go Karts, an 18 hole computerized miniature golf course (it plays pranks on players at every hole), bumper boats (perfect fun for hot days), and a black-lit maze for Lazer Tag. There is also a picnic area, a video arcade and a snack bar. Kart World is happy to book parties for large groups, including corporate and birthday parties, and barbecues are available on request. This is a perfect venue for children and the childish.
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A shopping and entertainment area located just north of the Bow River and downtown Calgary, Kensington is a revitalized commercial center that has been a locus of Calgary society and culture ever since Natives used the area as a hunting ground hundreds of years ago. The area is technically located in the Hillhurst and Sunnyside neighborhoods but has a distinct flair and bohemian spirit that is all its own. Although its old barbershops and grocery stores have now been converted to modern high-end boutiques, trendy restaurants, coffee shops, and pubs, Kensington still retains an artistic, urbane spirit that make it an ideal place to spend an afternoon taking in the scene and relaxing.
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Keystone Art Gallery is tucked away on the second floor of Art Central two blocks away from the Calgary Tower and the Glenbow Museum and only one block away from the Telus Convention Centre in the heart of the downtown core of Calgary. In addition to artworks on display, the gallery has a custom framing business with over 1,000 unique styles of frames to chose from. The gallery regularly hosts exhibitions from both local, national, and international artists. Artists who display their work at the gallery range from fresh art student graduates to established artists in the community.
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The Loose Moose Theatre Company which was formed in 1977, has an international reputation for innovation and excellence in improvisational theatre. Techniques for training and presenting improvisation which have been created by founding Artistic Director Keith Johnstone, and developed at Loose Moose are currently used worldwide. Each summer since 1989 performers, directors and writers have attended the Loose Moose International Improvisation School for a two week intensive workshop in improvisation. The Loose Moose produces over two hundred performances a year including children's theatre, Mainstage plays, late night comedy, and of course improvisation performances.
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At the turn of the century, this Renaissance Revival building began as the Calgary Normal School, but these days, government opponents would likely suggest the place is anything but normal. The refurbished old school block in downtown Calgary is now the Southern Alberta government centre, an office for the premier and his ministers when they do business away from the provincial capital three hours north in Edmonton. The structure also serves as a conference centre for the provincial government and office space for some Calgary-based civil servants. The building was made a historic site in 1982, a rare heritage monument in a downtown forested with modern office towers. Tours of the centre are available and are free of charge.
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The Naval Museum of Alberta exists to "perpetuate the memory of men and women who have served in the Royal Canadian Navy" since its inception in 1910. The facility is Canada's second largest naval museum and has been operating in Calgary since 1988. A number of interesting and exciting things are on exhibition, including three beautifully restored RCN fighter aircrafts, intricate ship models, several gun mountings and a working periscope, which is always popular with the kids. Unique gifts are available in the gift shop: books, pins, badges and clothing. The museum offers special tours for schools, groups or individuals at exceptional rates.
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Located on the University of Calgary campus, the Nickle Arts Museum is one of the forerunners to modern art. The Nickle is known for mounting provocative exhibitions as well as informative programs, run and taught by University students. The museum opened in 1979 through a generous donation by Mr. Samuel C. Nickle, whose vision was to supply provocative contemporary art for public viewing that was accessible to everyone. Since September 1996, The Nickle Arts Museum has also been the focal point for providing university students with theoretical knowledge and practical experience in the Cultural and Heritage sector. The Nickle Arts Museum works with other departments at the University to promote learning, research, and discovery.
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The south end of Crowchild Trail or 37th Street SW brings motorists and cyclists to the long stretch of grass and trees that make up this park along the raised north shore of the Glenmore Reservoir. From the high bluffs overlooking the backed-up waters of the Elbow River, which supplies drinking water to the city's south end, visitors can look over the reservoir waters at small sailboats, kayaks and canoes. At the east end, the competitive Calgary Canoe and Rowing Club resides, whose athletes are regularly on the waters building their strength and skill. Looking west, visitors get an unobstructed view of the Canadian Rockies, over the brush and flats of the still-wild Weaselhead Natural Area. Endless grass on which to lay a blanket down and several proper picnic areas are perfect places to enjoy a meal. Public washrooms and numerous parking areas are available. The park is joined to the massive Calgary pathway system, enabling people on foot or wheels to travel hours in either direction. Within the park, the path is split into a paved walking path and a separate cycling/blading path. Paths encircle the reservoir, joining North Glenmore Park to
South Glenmore Park.
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From here, the view of Calgary is incomparable. It requires a bit of effort to hike the kilometer up the gentle slope to the top of the hill, but once there, the reward is a 360-degree view spanning the Rocky Mountains, with the skyscrapers of downtown rising out of the Bow River Valley and the prairie stretching off to the east. The surrounding long-grass prairie offers glimpses of the local wildlife, as numerous deer, jackrabbits, and the red-tailed hawk call it home. Take the train from downtown to the Brentwood station, then hike up Charleswood Avenue to the park gates.
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The site of the 1988 Olympic Winter Games long-track speedskating competitions continues to be a solid attraction for several reasons: The massive silvery-white roof that covers this huge building on the University of Calgary campus is an engineering and architectural marvel; a strong sense of sports history pervades the building and the actual events seem only yesterday, with little changed; and the facility remains the fastest speedskating track on the planet, with records routinely and repeatedly shattered here at World Cup competitions staged each year. Several national teams, including Canada's, train here, offering fans a chance to have very close brushes with skating's elite. The track is regularly open to the public for skating on regular skates or on rental speed skates, though novices will spend most of their time on their bottoms!
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During the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, this city square was the focal point of much of the event, including most of the medal ceremonies and laser and fireworks displays. Tens of thousands of people jammed into the square on any given evening. The square looks much as it did then and is now the focal point for many civic events, particularly for welcoming successful athletes home from recent Olympic Games. The large area in front of the stage is now a wading pool in the summer and flooded for ice skating in the winter.
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This stunning railway hotel has been a Calgary landmark and institution for almost a century. Despite its years, it is still considered one of the best hotels in the city. Royalty stay here, as did the top dignitaries during the 1988 Olympics. The hotel has retained much of the oak, marble, and crystal grandeur of its early days and remains deeply steeped in history in its public areas. The hotel also offers cozy lounges and one of the finer restaurants in the city, the Rimrock Room.
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This well-known and respected art gallery is in the heart of downtown Calgary and housed in a prestigious building that caters to upscale purveyors of modern art. You will find works here by celebrated Canadian artists but you will also find whimsical pieces like the "tribute to motorcycles" and "motorcycle culture" that gently pokes fun at itself. There is also a large section devoted to Alberta themes by Alberta artists including paintings, sculptures and modern works of art.
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Seating over 17,000, Calgary's Pengrowth Saddledome has a bit of something for everyone, from professional hockey to concerts, rodeos, circuses, conventions, and more. The Saddledome is home to the NHL's Calgary Flames, the WHL's Calgary Hitmen and the NLL's (National Lacrosse League) Calgary Roughnecks. For business or pleasure, take in a game luxuriously in the Super Suites or the Seminole Executive Club. The Telus Conference Centre also offers state-of-the-art facilities. Enjoy happy hour specials prior to games and concerts at Dutton's Canadian Lounge or take in great views at the Saddleroom Restaurant. Pengrowth Saddledome has been home to such notable events as the 1988 Olympic Winter Games, the NHL Entry Draft, and the Canadian Country Music Awards.
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Statistics say that Prince's Island is one of the most used urban parks in North America. Come here on a sunny day and you will not doubt it. Way back when, the Island was used to catch felled trees floating down the Bow River from logging projects upstream. Now this bit of serenity in downtown serves as a favorite venue for joggers, football tossers, family picnics, flocks of Canada Geese, buskers, Shakespearean actors and nearly every major festival that Calgary hosts. This is also a great place for a quiet paddle down the river.
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Here's your opportunity to catch cars racing away. Choose from drag racing, demo derby, mini stock and loads more – there's something for every racing fan. Race City Speedway also offers contemporary private suites, so that you can enjoy the action in absolute comfort. You can even volunteer and be part of the action close and upfront. Don't forget to ask about the special weekend rates and group discounts when you come. It also offers the perfect gift for a racing fan - a gift certificate, which is usable for tickets, at the restaurant as well as the gift shop. Race-themed birthday parties can also be organized.
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Kensington is adored for its hip shops and cafes, but if you are looking for something a little more tranquil nearby, visit this urban park. Riley Park features vast expanses of green space (perfect for throwing around a football or just lying in the sun), a cricket pitch, picnic tables, a refreshment stand, playgrounds and well-tended flower gardens. On sunny days children find excitement in the popular wading pool, splashing around with the neighborhood kids while parents and baby-sitters watch on.
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One of the richest repositories of fossils, dinosaur skeletons, and paleontology knowledge anywhere, the Royal Tyrrell Museum's location in the heart of Alberta's otherworldly badlands only adds to its appeal. The bio-diversity of the prehistoric world is well represented in the exhibits, which go beyond documenting the story of dinosaurs by using fossils of mammals and amphibious animals to give a complete picture of the early stages of evolution. During the summer months, take part in educational programming including Fossil Casting, guided hikes, day camps and much more.
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Unspoiled park and grassland line the south side of Calgary's Glenmore Reservoir. A walking and cycling path runs along the bluff above the shoreline as part of a 16 kilometer circuit around the
north and south park. Tennis courts and a playground are available, too, but the primary attraction is the set of docks of a small, city-run sailing school. On weekends, landlubbers can rent sailboats and take to the water. Walking or cycling leads into the largely-wild Weaselhead Natural Area, where lucky visitors can catch a glimpse at such wildlife as beavers, deer and various breeds of waterfowl.
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All forms of art, such as musicals, ballets, plays, and concerts have been performed at the grand Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. This state-of-the art auditorium annually welcomes national as well as international artists and also hosts the Calgary Opera and Alberta ballet. School graduations, community galas, trade shows, and other special events are its other offerings.
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Bring the kids to Calgary International Airport for high-tech educational fun. This interactive museum is an excellent destination for families interested in the final frontier. Exhibits include motion and flight simulators, space shuttle and control tower models, and, perhaps most exciting of all, a piece of moonrock on loan from NASA. Whether you need something to entertain the kids while waiting for a flight, or if you're looking for a unique birthday party venue, SpacePort is great fun.
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Speargrass Golf Course is a beautifully manicured course on the Bow River. The course caters to golfers of all abilities, with four different teeing grounds at each hole. Using a golf cart is required, and you can drive your cart directly to your ball in the fairway and the immediate rough, reducing the time required to play 18 holes to an average of just four and a half hours. Tall grass around each green, water hazards, and a few tricky sand traps are among the obstacles that challenge you to play your best. The course is unique in that both the front nine and the back nine each have three par three holes, three par four holes, and three par five holes.
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Dramatic shifts in elevation, a natural setting, and the occasional wildlife sighting make this a scenic and memorable course. The fifth, sixth, and seventh holes on the front nine, together known as the "devil's triad," are particularly challenging because of the wild shifts in elevation, making careful club selection critical. The back nine is a distinct contrast, characterized by rolling terrain and several water features. The course was designed to be environmentally friendly and in harmony with its natural surroundings, and the atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious.
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One of the world's great equestrian facilities is located in the rolling ranch lands just south of Calgary's city limits. Built and maintained by the Southern family, this sprawling site is now home to some of the world's top show-jumping events. The facilities are also a year-round attraction for horse-lovers and aspiring competitive riders. Competition occurs on six different grass rings, including the main venue that pulls in more than 30,000 spectators for events. Four major competitions take place during the season, the biggest in mid-September. Event admission varies; visiting at other times is free.
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Best known as the home of the world famous Calgary Stampede, Stampede Park actually hosts a wide variety of events throughout the year, from concerts by international pop stars to hockey games to rodeos and stock shows. It is the annual Calgary Stampede, however, that has put both Stampede Park and Calgary on the map. The story of Stampede Park begins in 1889, when a local agricultural society bought 94 acres of land at the current location of the park for an agricultural show. The land became the location of the Calgary Exhibition, an annual fair designed to showcase the city's culture and technological accomplishments. By 1912, the Exhibition faced financial problems and its backers were searching for something to revitalize and reinvigorate the event. Enter Guy Weadick, a Wild West character and visionary, who had a vision of a giant gathering of cowboy culture in Calgary that would even outshine the Buffalo Bill's famous Wild West Extravaganza. Weadick convinced the Exhibition backers to allow him to use the Exhibition grounds and to back the event financially, and "The Stampede" was born. A Calgary institution ever since, the Stampede is a Mecca for North American cowboy and Western culture, ten days filled with championship rodeos, wagon races, horse races, agricultural shows, and celebrations of cowboy life.
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The sandstone buildings along downtown's Stephen Avenue were constructed after a fire in 1886 destroyed much of the neighborhood. Several of those historic buildings fell victim to developers' wrecking balls, but the few that remain are worthy of an afternoon stroll during which you can revel in their architecture. Check out the Old City Hall, the Hudson's Bay Company and the old Bank of Montreal Building, which now houses a vast music store. Along the way you can indulge in the diversions offered by many popular shops and restaurants.
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With winter dominating the Calgary climate scene, summer sport enthusiasts are often forced to retreat indoors. This rock gym offers year-round climbing for those wintry days when the real mountains are just too cold. The Stronghold boasts over 15,000 square feet of climbing including bouldering caves and 30 climbing walls of varying difficulties. The facility comes complete with showers, change rooms, and equipment rentals. The qualified staff also offers a range of instruction for adults, youth, and corporate groups.
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Calgary's major convention center has had a major facelift and expansion. The expanded facility has a combined total of 82,000 square feet of exhibit space, three pre-function areas, 23 breakout rooms and a 20,000-square-foot ballroom. Upgraded to host larger, more demanding shows, the renewed center is wired with fiber optic cable. The center is directly attached to the famed Glenbow Museum and also to a Marriott hotel. The center is directly connected to city hall and the city's major performing arts center by pedestrian bridges.
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This science and technology learning center attracts many visitors for its notable Discovery Dome Theatre, a huge dome screen equipped with digital sound. There is a series of exhibitions for children, with plenty of hands-on learning stations. A food kiosk and a science-oriented gift shop round out the experience.
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Explore Western Canada's largest military museum as you re-live tragedy to triumph, tyranny to liberation, and commitment to sacrifice of the men and women of Southern Alberta. The Military Museums is a nationally acclaimed facility dedicated to educating the general public, in particular youth, about Canada's military history. We offer research facilities in partnership with the University of Calgary, educational programming, a lecture series, temporary and permanent exhibitions, family events as well as boardroom, theatre, and Queen Elizabeth II atrium facilities. In November of 2007, The Military Museums will re-open a new and expanded dynamic 107,000 square foot museum that will be the largest of the 68 military museums owned by DND in Canada. Moving in will be a relocated Naval Museum of Alberta, a new Air Force Museum, an expanded military history and Strategic Studies center of excellence, an expanded archives area, an art gallery, and a large technology-based Discovery Room.
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A shopping and dining district in the heart of Calgary, Uptown 17th Avenue is home to over 200 locally-owned boutiques, a number of restaurants offering tastes from all over the world, pleasant tree-lined pedestrian walkways and lovely Tomkins Park. Whether you are looking to spend an afternoon window shopping, pampering yourself in one of the area's luxurious spas or salons, or dining at one of the district's delicious restaurants, you are sure to find something in the 17th Avenue area to meet your needs. The area's nightlife is lively; this is the place to go if you are seeking live music and a big night on the town.
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Built in 1951, this theater is Calgary's best example of Art Deco architecture. The newly revamped interior contains the Uptown Stage for live performances, and the historic Uptown Screen for first run art-house films. Patrons usually arrive early to browse the visual art gallery and imbibe at the lobby bar. Movies show nightly, with weekend matinees and regular midnight shows rounding out the offering. As a treat, short Canadian films precede each feature.
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This gallery contains many spectacular examples of Western Canadian art. From watercolor and oil paintings of the prairies and Rocky Mountains, to pricey Inuit soapstone carvings of high Arctic polar bears and seals, the art at this gallery celebrates the landscape and peoples of Canada. The show floor contains hundreds of works, making it difficult to leave for fear of missing something further on of more interest.
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Located just 30 minutes west of Calgary in the scenic foothills of Bragg Creek, there are lush fairways mingling with a pine and spruce forest, open meadows, and a 12-acre lake at the Wintergreen Golf and Country Club. This 18-hole, championship-level golf course features a gentle, hilly terrain and over 100 feet of vertical relief. In addition to the ball-hungry lake, ponds, streams, and thick stands of trees sprinkled across the landscape make this par 72 course both challenging and beautiful.
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