Calgary
City with a Swagger
To the west of Calgary, the horizon is dominated by the snow-capped peaks and forested slopes of the Canadian Rockies. To the east, stretching as far as the eye can see, is a vast, grass-covered plain where herds of buffalo once roamed. This is cattle country, and the city's cowboy heritage, symbolized by a white Stetson, is proudly displayed wherever you go. Each summer the city hosts a rodeo extravaganza called the Calgary Stampede. Even the sports arena has a roof shaped like a giant saddle.Things are done on a grand scale in Calgary, in keeping with the panorama of majestic mountains, golden plains and big prairie sky. Calgary is a city with a swagger. In the space of a century it has grown from a western railway town set among cattle ranches into one of Canada's most vibrant cities. Prosperity came with the discovery of oil. Calgary boomed in the 1960s and 70s as oil companies established head offices downtown. The population doubled between 1959 and 1979; today there are around 750,000 inhabitants.
The movie industry also thrives in Calgary, its skyline posing as Metropolis in the Superman pictures. The surrounding area has played a star part in numerous films, including Little Big Man.Calgary stepped onto the world stage when it hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics. It is a city of endless outdoor recreation. There are more than 40 golf courses, set in meandering river valleys or against a glorious mountain backdrop. In winter, you can sit on the city's doorstep, fix on your skis and glide straight downhill at Canada Olympic Park. The Olympic Alpine Ski events were held further west in Kananaskis Country, and Banff National Park is the site of several world-class ski resorts. City parks and riverside pathways are used by cross-country skiers in winter, cyclists and walkers in summer.
