What is Calgary?

Calgary is Alberta's largest city and the third-largest city metropolitan area in Canada, with a population of about 1.31 million in the city and about 1.6 million in the Census Metropolitan Area. The city is in southern Alberta about 80 kilometres east of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, at the confluence of the Bow River and the Elbow River. Calgary was incorporated as a town in 1884 and as a city on January 1, 1894.

The city was founded as a North-West Mounted Police post in 1875, called Fort Brisebois (after Inspector Ephrem-A. Brisebois of the NWMP) before being renamed Fort Calgary in 1876. The name comes from Calgary on the Isle of Mull in Scotland (gaelic Cala-ghearraidh, 'beach of the meadow'), the home of NWMP Colonel James Macleod. The Canadian Pacific Railway main line reached Calgary in August 1883, accelerating the town's growth as the centre of southern Alberta cattle ranching. The Stoney Nakoda, Tsuut'ina, Kainai, Piikani, and Siksika First Nations of Treaty 7 (1877) and the Metis Nation hold traditional and treaty territory in the area.

Calgary's economy is anchored by the oil and gas sector. The city is the head office location for Suncor Energy, Imperial Oil, Canadian Natural Resources Limited, Cenovus Energy, Enbridge, TC Energy, Pembina Pipeline, and many other Canadian energy companies. Calgary's downtown skyline includes the Bow Tower (236 metres, completed 2012), Brookfield Place (247 metres, completed 2017), and the Calgary Tower (191 metres, opened 1968 to celebrate Canada's centennial). The city also hosts strong transportation, agribusiness, finance, and technology sectors.

Calgary hosted the 1988 Winter Olympic Games (February 13 to 28, 1988), the first Olympic Games held in Canada. The Olympic Plaza, the Olympic Oval indoor speed-skating arena (still used for Olympic-class training), Canada Olympic Park (with bobsled and luge tracks), and the Nakiska ski hill remain Olympic legacy facilities. The Calgary Stampede, held annually since 1912 in early to mid July, is the largest rodeo in the world and draws more than 1.2 million visitors. Calgary's other major attractions include the Glenbow Museum, Heritage Park Historical Village, the Calgary Zoo (one of the largest in Canada), and Prince's Island Park. The Calgary Flames of the NHL, Calgary Stampeders of the CFL, and Cavalry FC of the Canadian Premier League play in the city. The city's chinook winds (warm dry winds descending the Rockies) can raise winter temperatures by 20 degrees Celsius within hours and produce the distinctive Chinook Arch cloud.