Calgary, Alberta, is a city that beautifully blends the charm of the past with the vibrancy of the present. As the largest city in Alberta and the third-largest city in Canada, Calgary is a bustling metropolis with a rich history and a thriving economy.
The name "Calgary" traces its roots back to Calgary Castle on the Isle of Mull in Scotland. Colonel James Macleod, the Commissioner of the North-West Mounted Police, suggested the name after spending summers at the castle. The Scottish Calgary originates from Old Norse words, "kald" and "gart," meaning "cold" and "garden."
The Indigenous peoples of Southern Alberta refer to the Calgary area as "elbow," referencing the sharp bend made by the Bow River and the Elbow River. The area is also known by various names in different Indigenous languages, reflecting its rich settler presence.
The Calgary area has been inhabited for at least 11,000 years, with multiple First Nations, including the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy), îyârhe Nakoda, the Tsuutʼina peoples, and Métis Nation, Region 3, calling it home. The first recorded European to visit the area was David Thompson, a 17-year-old cartographer with the Hudson's Bay Company, in 1787.
In 1875, the North-West Mounted Police established a post in the area, which later became Fort Calgary. The city continued to grow with the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1883 and the establishment of the Calgary Herald in the same year.
The late 1880s were a tumultuous time for Calgary, with political unrest and a devastating fire in 1886. However, the city rebounded, with a bylaw requiring all large downtown buildings to be built with sandstone, earning Calgary the nickname "Sandstone City."
The late 19th century saw Calgary continue to expand, with real estate speculation driving growth. The city's population grew rapidly, and by 1892, Calgary had reached present-day Seventeenth Avenue.
The turn of the century brought questions of provincehood to the forefront in Calgary. Although the city was not chosen as the capital of the newly proclaimed province of Alberta in 1905, it continued to grow and develop, with the establishment of the University of Calgary in 1966.
The discovery of the Turner Valley oilfield in 1914 marked the beginning of the oil and gas age in Calgary. The city would wait until 1947 for the Leduc No. 1 discovery to definitively shift Calgary to an oil and gas city.
Calgary is located at the transition zone between the Canadian Rockies foothills and the Canadian Prairies. The city lies within the foothills of the Parkland Natural Region and the Grasslands Natural Region. Two rivers, the Bow River and the Elbow River, and two creeks, Nose Creek and Fish Creek, run through the city.
Calgary offers a mix of cultural venues, public squares, shopping areas, and restaurants. Downtown attractions include the Calgary Tower, Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, National Music Centre, Telus Convention Centre, and the Glenbow Museum. The city is also home to the Heritage Park Historical Village, Canada Olympic Park, and Spruce Meadows.
Whether you're a history buff, a nature lover, or a city explorer, Calgary, Alberta, has something to offer everyone. Discover the charm and vibrancy of this city as you explore its rich history and thriving present.
