The City of Calgary
Calgary is located in the southern portion of the Province of Alberta at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers in a region of foothills and prairie approximately 50 miles east of the Canadian Rockies. With a population of approximately 1.2 million, the city covers a land area of 288 square miles and has an average elevation of 3,500 feet above sea level, The climate is influenced by the elevation and the city's proximity to the Rocky Mountains. Summer days are generally warm while nights are cool. Winter weather can be uncomfortably cold but respite is often provided by warm “Chinook” winds blowing in from over the mountains.
The city's origin goes back to 1875 when Fort Calgary was established by the Northwest Mounted Police ( now the Royal Canadian Mounted Police ). Colonel James McLeod named the fort “Calgary” after his home in Scotland. When construction of the transcontinental Canadian Pacific Railway ( with Lord Strathcona playing a key role ) reached the area in 1883, Calgary began to grow as a commercial and agricultural centre. In 1884 the population had reached 4,000 and Calgary was officially proclaimed a city. By 1912 the city's population had grown to 47,000. In that year, the Calgary Stampede was first held as a small agricultural exhibition and rodeo. Over the ensuing years the Stampede, which takes place during a two week period in July, has grown into “the greatest outdoor show on earth” attracting an attendance in excess of one million visitors annually.
Oil was first discovered in Alberta in 1902 but it did not become a significant industry in the province until 1947. Calgary became and continues to be the primary administrative and corporate office base for Canada's petroleum industry. Fueled by a series of oil booms, Calgary went from a mid-size, relatively nondescript prairie city to the cosmopolitan and diverse centre of today. A signature event in this transition occurred when Calgary gained prominence on the world stage through successfully hosting the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Sport is an integral component of the fabric of life in Calgary The city's two principal professional sports teams, the Flames of the National Hockey League and the Stampeders of the Canadian Football League, have substantial and enthusiastic fan support. In addition, there is a high level of participation in a wide variety of recreational sporting activities. Golf is very popular in the summer as attested to by the more than 50 courses in and around Calgary. In winter, skiing is enjoyed by many at a number of easily accessible venues, including Canada Olympic Park within the city and world-class facilities in nearby Banff National Park. Curling participation appears to have stabilized following a decline from the zenith of its popularity in the 1960s and 70s. Interest at that time was generated in part by the success of the Ron Northcott led local team which won six Alberta, three Canadian and three world titles. Presently, there are eight curling rinks in Calgary and the same number in neighbouring communities
We trust you will enjoy your visit to Calgary and its renowned western hospitality.