Calgary, Alberta — Activities
Calgary Culture
Critics often characterize Calgary as an oil-driven cowboy town, inferior to Edmonton (its provincial rival) in matters of high culture such as theater or literature. But cowboy culture is culture nonetheless and in Calgary its roots run deep. The Calgary Stampede dates back as far as 1912 and the event continues to attract thousand of visitors to this most emphatic celebration of all things cowboy. So Western is the flavor of Calgary that the city and its surroundings have also been used in the filming of numerous Western movies, including Dustin Hoffman's Little Big Man (1970) and Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven (1992).
Tickets for most cultural attractions can be purchased through Ticketmaster Canada (tel: (403) 777 0000; www.ticketmaster.ca). Events listings can be found in the Friday edition of the Calgary Herald (www.calgaryherald.com), in WHERE magazine (www.wherecalgary.com) and in the free FFWD Weekly (www.ffwdweekly.com).
Music
Epcor Center for Performing Arts
The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (offering classical music, popular symphonic music and a children's program) performs at the Epcor Center for the Performing Arts. It's a modern arts complex, with five performance spaces at the heart of Calgary's cultural district. The complex is also home to Theater Calgary, as well as a variety of cultural festivals and competitions.
205 Eighth Avenue SE
Tel: (403) 294 7455.
Website: www.epcorcenter.org
Calgary Public Library
Between September and April, classical, jazz and contemporary music concerts are held at noon at the Calgary Public Library.
616 Macleod Trail SE
Tel: (403) 260 2600.
Website: www.calgarypubliclibrary.com
Opera
Southern Jubilee Auditorium
The Calgary Opera and Alberta Ballet Company both perform at the Southern Jubilee Auditorium.
1415 14th Avenue NW
Tel: (403) 297 8000.
Website: www.jubileeauditorium.com
Theater
Lunchbox Theater
Theater in a more informal setting is offered by Lunchbox Theater, a theater company which performs short plays for the lunchtime business crowd at Bow Valley Square, 205 Fifth Avenue SW, and claims to be the longest-running lunchtime theater company in the world.
Tel: (403) 265 4292.
Website: www.lunchboxtheater.com
Calgary Tours
Walking tours
Creative Journeys is one of several operators offering walking tours of the city center.
Tel: (403) 272 5653.
Website: www.creativejourneys.com
Bus tours
ExploreRockies.com operates bus tours of the city center. The tours last three hours, with daily departures from specified local hotels. Brewster also runs full-day excursions to Banff, Lake Louise and the Columbia Ice Fields.
Tel: (403) 760 6934 or 1 800 760 6934.
Website: www.explorerockies.com
Minivan tours
Lone Wolf Tours provides three- to 14-day group and individual minivan tours in southern Alberta and the Canadian Rockies, taking in wildlife such as deer, elk and (occasionally) bears. Tours can include hiking, horse riding, boat cruises and glacier excursions.
Tel: (403) 246 9586.
Weebsite: www.lonewolftours.ca
