Calgary
Calgary is the largest city in Alberta. It is at the confluence of the Bow River and the Elbow River, in the transitional area between the Rocky Mountain Foothills and the Canadian Prairies, about 80 km east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies. Calgary's economy includes energy, financial services, film, transportation, technology and tourism; Greater Calgary has Canada's second-largest number of corporate head offices, and Downtown Calgary has more skyscrapers than any other municipality in Western Canada. In 2022, Calgary was ranked alongside Zürich as the third most livable city in the world, ranking first in Canada and North America. In 1988, it became the first Canadian city to host the Olympic Winter Games.
Typical weather
1981–presentCity Rhythm
measuredOpening hours, by kind of place
median across mapped venuesVital absurdities
measured · the Anti-AwardsSame time system
by rhythmWhat to do each season
4winter
cold, dry and highly variable; openmeteo mean −8.0 to −6.0 °C (Wikipedia January avg −7.6 °C); the driest months (Jan-Feb 0.5-0.6 mm/day); the chinook winds cause 'wild and unpredictable temperature swings' (extreme low −45 °C)
- the chinook season — warm foehn winds can lift winter temperatures tens of degrees in hours; the +15 skywalk and indoor network keep downtown usable
- the lowest tourist density outside the Stampede off-season; the winter-sports training season at Canada Olympic Park
spring
variable; openmeteo mean −2.2 to 8.9 °C; the snowmelt and warming; chinook variability persists
- the unstable spring — the snow retreats; the start of the Rockies hiking/climbing season approaches
summer
warm and the wettest; openmeteo mean 12.9-16.4 °C (Jul warmest 16.4; long daylight at this latitude); the wettest month Jun (3.5 mm/day); the Calgary Stampede (July)
- the Calgary Stampede (July) — 'one of the largest festivals in Canada'; the Bow River rafting and the festival season
- the long summer daylight; the Rockies at their most accessible
autumn
cooling and dry; openmeteo mean −3.3 to 10.4 °C; the clear comfortable window before winter; the larch-turn in the mountains
- the film-festival / folk-festival autumn cluster and the clearest Rockies views; the shoulder season
What it is known for
Important moments in a year
Calgary Stampede
- the Calgary Stampede — 'one of the largest festivals in Canada', a 10-day rodeo and exhibition (~1.24M attendance)
- the city's defining civic moment; 'The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth'
1988 Winter Olympics
- Calgary became the first Canadian city to host the Olympic Winter Games
- legacy venues: Canada Olympic Park, the Olympic Oval, the Saddledome
On the record
source-trackedCalgary experiences a monsoon-influenced humid continental climate (Köppen Dwb) … closely bordering a cold semi-arid climate (BSk). The city has warm, wet summers and cold, dry, but highly variable winters.
Winters in Calgary are lengthy and cold, with wild and unpredictable temperature swings due to the chinook winds.
The highest temperature ever recorded was 36.7 °C on August 10, 2018. The lowest temperature ever recorded was −45.0 °C on February 4, 1893.
Calgary's best-known event is the Calgary Stampede … one of the largest festivals in Canada, with a 2005 attendance of 1,242,928 at the 10-day rodeo and exhibition.
Calgary is home to 87% of Canada's oil and natural gas producers and 66% of coal producers.
In 2022, Calgary was ranked alongside Zürich as the third most livable city in the world, ranking first in Canada and in North America.
In 1988, it became the first Canadian city to host the Olympic Winter Games.
The CTrain … is North America's second busiest LRT system, carrying 270,000 passengers per weekday. It is North America's first and only rapid transit system to run on 100% renewable, wind-generated energy.
Calgary is about 80 kilometres east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies. [The airport] serves as the primary gateway into Banff National Park, located 90 minutes west.
Downtown Calgary has more skyscrapers than any other municipality in Western Canada.
Spanning over 1,000 km, Calgary [has one of the largest urban pathway and cycling networks].
The method behind this atlas — 196 pp. Not published yet.