Special Feature
Calgary, exploring the wide open spaces of the Canadian West
Only a few years ago Calgary was a city of cowboys peppered with ranches, enlivened by its famous rodeo and dominated by the nearby Rocky Mountains. After the boom of the 1988 Olympics and the rise in power of a flourishing oil industry, it has become Canada’s third city with just over one million citizens. It is now renowned for its lifestyle and active policy in favour of protecting nature. Lively, cultural, gastronomic, this is a place that goes beyond simple tourism. Calgary is also home to a well known university with over 30,000 students.
The city has a festive, welcoming feel to it. All year long, it moves to the music of the Canadian west and knows how to woo lovers of hiking, golf and sport fishing. It’s the natural entry point for Banff National Park, where unique tours go in search of the brown bear and ancient glaciers.
Discover the Olympic Park where in 1988, the world was entertained by competitive ski-jumping, bobsleigh and tobogganing. Still in use today, it welcomes elite athletes who come to train side by side with sporting thrill seekers. In summer, if you’re brave, you can test the indoor toboggan run. It’s completely safe but very exciting. Take the time to enjoy a hot chocolate at the Olympic bar or have a break on the terrace, where all the Calgary’s sporting set hang out!
Revisit the past at Heritage Park, a recreation of early 20th century Calgary. Here you’ll find it all, from the blacksmith to the baker through the railway station or even the post office. A faithful reconstruction where actors in period dress entertain the crowds. Popular on weekends, Heritage Park is on the bank of a stretch of water that an old dawn ship enables you to discover.
1900 Heritage Dr SW. Tel: + (1) 403-268-8501 - www.heritagepark.ca
Dine at Sky 360, the most impressive restaurant in town, and with good reason as it is located at the top of Calgary Tower, 190 metres above ground. The rich menu is a blend of western Canadian cooking and Californian nouvelle cuisine. A delicious experience although quite expensive. Try the regional salmon and trout, smoked or in sauce.
101 9th Ave. S.W., Tel: + (1) 403-508-5822 - www.sky360.ca
Enjoy a drink at the Raw Bar in the Hotel Arts, the city’s most design-conscious bar which plays on colours and forms to create a unique identity. Oversized armchairs, swaying ceilings, and other quirky details are the backdrop for sampling the cocktail of the moment: the French 75, a mix of sweet wine and champagne, with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Heavenly.
119 12th Ave. S.W., Tel: + (1) 403-206-9565 - www.hotelarts.ca
Admire The Weiss Gallery, collaboration between gifted designer James Mc Intyre and the artist Barry Weiss. Nearly 20 Canadian artists in this gallery enable us to discover local young talent. Special exhibitions punctuate a schedule largely devoted to contemporary art.
1021 6th St. S.W., Tel: + (1) 403-262-1880 - www.theweissgallery.com
Leave Calgary and head for The U Ranch, a site that retraces the history of Canadian cowboys. It’s located 90km from Calgary city centre, at the foot of the Rockies in a park of 148 hectares, which from 1882 to 1952 was the largest farming area in Canada. Today it has become a historical site with exhibitions, “pioneers’ tales” evenings, and “lasso” sessions where you can learn how to control a calf.
The Bar U Ranch is managed by Parks Canada Longview - T0L 1H0 –
www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/ab/baru/index.aspx
► For more information on Oil Sands Technologies Conference, wich takes place in Calgary, click here.
► To discover all the trade shows served by AIR FRANCE KLM, click here.
Useful addresses
To discover
Shop at Shed and discover modern pieces made entirely of recycled materials. The designers work with anything they can lay their hands on, from shoes to old handbags through to everyday objects (plates, computers or old books). There are also Freitag wallets from Zurich, made from truck tarpaulins or used bicycle inner tubes, and stainless steel jewellery created by local celebrity Karen Konzuk.
1022 17th Ave. S.W., Tel: + (1) 403-245-1702
Treat your taste buds at Ferocious Grape, the most famous wine and alcohol store in the city. There you’ll find local and Canadian tipples such as ice wines from the Niagara Falls, as well as a sumptuous selection of wine from northern California. There are also themed workshops and sessions on how to taste the best wine that North America has to offer.
833 10th Ave. S.W., Tel: + (1) 403-457-0099, www.theferociousgrape.com
Forget your jet lag at The Spa Ritual, the most relaxing address in Calgary. Inspired by Southeast Asia, the centre offers various treatments such as a lemongrass manicure, a bamboo massage and much more. For more information contact:
106 Crowfoot Terrace N.W.,
Tel: + (1) 403-547-9558, www.thesparitual.com
Stroll through Stephen Avenue Mall (8th Avenue, between First Street South East and Third Street South West) which groups together some of the best brands in town. Here everything is made for shopping, from the street decoration (sculptures, signs) to chic boutiques located in brick or stone buildings, with unique industrial architecture. Also not to be missed, is the Alberta Hotel which houses a restaurant and fashion boutique.
Buy a hat at Smithbilt Hats, the legendary factory that dresses the heads of Canadian cowboys. There’s a unique choice of hats with two edges, some resembling those worn by the Canadian Mounties. Famous all over the world, they even rival the celebrated headgear of the Texans.
1103 12th Street Southeast Calgary,
Tel : + (1) 403-244-9131, www.smithbilthats.com
Sample a twice baked soufflé made with Moonstruck White Grace cheese and leeks, at Blink Restaurant & Bar where chef Andrew Richardson proposes an innovative menu. There’s a mix of vegetarian dishes and extraordinary meat offerings such as Spring Creek beef fillet or Peking style duck. Unique and surprising.
111 8th Ave. S.W., Tel: + (1) 403-263-5330, www.blinkcalgary.com
