☀️ 1. Calgary is the Sunniest Major City in Canada
Calgary boasts over 2,300 hours of sunshine each year, making it the sunniest major city in Canada. With approximately 333 sunny days annually, it's a dream location for those who love clear skies and outdoor activities.
🎪 2. Home of the Calgary Stampede – “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”
Every July, over 1.4 million people flock to Calgary for the Calgary Stampede, a 10-day rodeo and exhibition that celebrates the city’s Western heritage. Visitors love the pancake breakfasts, chuckwagon races, and live concerts.
❄️ 3. Chinook Winds Can Raise Temperatures in Hours
Calgary’s unique Chinook winds are warm, dry winds that can raise the temperature by 10–15°C in just a few hours, even in the middle of winter. It’s one of the city’s most talked-about weather phenomena.
🏒 4. Calgary Hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics
In 1988, Calgary became the first Canadian city to host the Winter Olympics, drawing over 1,400 athletes from around the world. Olympic venues like Canada Olympic Park are still in use today for recreation and training.
🏙 5. World’s Largest Skywalk System – The +15
Calgary’s Plus 15 (or +15) is a network of elevated indoor walkways that span more than 16 kilometers and connect over 130 buildings downtown. It helps Calgarians stay warm during the winter while commuting.
🐿 6. Black Squirrels Call Calgary Home
A quirky fact: Calgary’s population of black (eastern grey) squirrels originated from a small group that escaped from the Calgary Zoo in the 1930s. They've since become a common sight around the city.
🌐 7. One of Canada’s Most Diverse Cities
Calgary is one of the most culturally diverse cities in Canada. Over 33% of residents were born outside the country, and more than 120 languages are spoken. This cultural mosaic adds richness to the city’s food, arts, and community events.
📈 8. Calgary Ranks High in Global Livability
Calgary frequently ranks among the world’s most livable cities, including top placements in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Livability Index. It's also known as one of the cleanest cities in the world, thanks to its green spaces and waste management systems.
📸 9. The Calgary Tower Offers 360° Views
A favorite among tourists, the Calgary Tower stands 191 meters tall and offers stunning 360-degree views of downtown Calgary, the Rocky Mountains, and the Bow River Valley.
🦫 10. Alberta’s Groundhog: Balzac Billy
Just outside Calgary, Balzac Billy is Alberta’s famous weather-predicting groundhog. Every February 2nd, people gather for a Groundhog Day forecast to see if spring will come early.
🎶 11. Calgary’s Music Scene is Award-Winning
Artists like Tate McRae, Jann Arden, and Feist all have roots in Calgary. The city also hosts the Calgary Folk Music Festival, attracting over 50,000 fans each summer to Prince’s Island Park.
