Walk This Way: Exploring Calgary on Foot, Part 1

The Municipal Building, Public Art, Olympic Plaza, and the Calgary Stampede

Thursday, August 3, 2023 ~ We flirted with the Canadian border during the summer of 2023 with our North Dakota and Minnesota camping adventures. Finally in August, we took a 13-hour, 770-mile drive to Calgary, Alberta to enjoy a bus tour of the Canadian Rockies.

A couple of fun facts about Canada: The US/Canadian 5,000-mile border is the longest undefended border in the world, and Canada is the second largest country in the world (in terms of land mass) with Russia being first.

Upon arriving, we checked into the hotel where our tour would start the next evening. After searching “must see” things to do while in Calgary, we booked a downtown walking tour, then had a good night’s sleep after the long drive.

Approaching downtown Calgary the next day, we weren’t sure if it was smoky from the Canadian wildfires or just overcast.

The tour met at the Calgary Municipal Building. In front of the building is the temporary Indian Residential School Memorial Project, to honor the survivors of those schools. The Pope toured parts of Canada in 2022 and offered apologies for the Catholic Church’s involvement.

Leo the Lion sits outside the Municipal building. Leo was one of four lions to grace the Centre Street Bridge from 1916-1999. By 1999, they were deteriorating. Leo was the best of the four so they recast four new lions (from Leo) to take their place.

Rocky is a popular sculpture in the Municipal building (check out the fun sign). The tour guide said it’s common to hear a “Moose on the loose” alert over the radio when they are found wandering into neighborhoods.

Public art is everywhere, even on the sidewalks. This is part of the “Creative Wayfinding Mural” connecting the downtown core and East Village.

Groundhogs are a terrible problem in Calgary, and this playful art installation kind of looks like whack-a-mole.

Beautiful flowers are everywhere.

Olympic Plaza, where the medal ceremonies took place during the 1988 Winter Olympics, which was known for Eddie the Eagle and the Jamaican bobsled team.

The Calgary Tower peeking up over the Burns Building. Pat Burns was a rancher who made his fortune in the meat packing business. He started the Calgary Stampede in 1912.

A 10-day event billing itself as the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” the Calgary Stampede is attended by more than 1 million people every year. “By the Banks of the Bow,” is an iconic symbol for the Calgary Stampede.

Next up, learn about “The Famous Five,” check out the Blue Bridge, and Chihuly glass chandeliers.