Calgary is situated on the Elbow and Bow Rivers in the Eastern Foothills of the Rocky Mountains and has a population of 1,000,000. It is the centre of the Canadian oil industry and home to many corporate head offices. Because of its proximity to the Rocky Mountains, it is also a major tourist centre.
Calgary International Airport provides easy access to all parts of the world. The Trans-Canada highway runs through the city and the major recreational areas of the Rocky Mountains - Banff, Jasper, and Yoho National Parks - are within easy driving distance. The spectacular "Badlands" area of Alberta, including Dinosaur Provincial Park, is located about 2 hours drive east of the city. Alberta boasts three World Heritage Sites: Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, situated near Fort McLeod, Dinosaur Provincial Park, and Banff National Park. The Waterton/Glacier Peace Parks are 3 hours drive south of Calgary.
Among Calgary’s facilities are four hospitals (all affiliated with the University Medical School) including a children’s hospital soon to become part of the U of C Campus, a zoo, a science centre, a convention centre, a large public auditorium, and The Centre for the Performing Arts which is home to three professional theatre companies and The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Stampede Park, the venue of the Calgary Stampede, contains a racecourse, a number of exhibition halls and the Saddledome (home of the Calgary Flames professional hockey team). Calgary Public Library is one of, if not the largest, public library system in the country. 16 branches serve most areas of the city (3 new branches will be opening over the next three or four years).
There are many parks in the city ranging from small formal gardens to large natural areas with walking, jogging, cycling, and cross-country skiing trails. Other sports facilities are available throughout the city at community and city operated centres as well as at the University.
Calgary has a highly variable climate. Summers are usually warm and bright with long days and short nights. Autumns are sunny and pleasant, but early snowstorms of short duration are not unknown. Winter temperatures can drop to -40C, with or without strong winds. However, Chinooks (strong warm winds from the west) can raise the temperature from bitter cold to well above freezing in a matter of hours. Thanks to the Chinooks, it is not unusual to have long periods with little, if any, snow cover and Calgary's annual snowfall is low in comparison to most other parts of Canada. Spring, again, is unpredictable. Warm sunny weather can prevail in March and snowstorms can occur in May. Calgary does enjoy some of the sunniest weather in Canada; even in the middle of winter the sky is clear, and this, combined with the low humidity and sensible clothing, helps make even the coldest weather bearable.
For more information about our city, please see www.calgary.ca, the municipal government's website. This site has many useful links such as Calgary Transit, By-laws, Affordable Housing, Parks and Recreation, Community Services Directory etc.