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Calgary, Canada
Photo: Thank you for visiting my page from Canada, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Northwest Calgary is in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Kensington, which surrounds the intersection of Kensington Road and 10 Street NW across the Louise Bridge from downtown (in the neighbourhoods of Hillhurst and Sunnyside), offers an inner-city experience with many independent shops, restaurants and pubs. Montgomery and Bowness are former towns that amalgamated with Calgary in the 1960s, but still have a small-town feel; both communities are along Bowness Road with Montgomery on the north/east side of the Bow River, and Bowness on the west/south side of the Bow River (north of 16 Ave NW/Trans-Canada Highway).
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Started in 1944 as the Calgary branch of the University of Alberta, founded in 1908, prior to being instituted into a separate, autonomous university in 1966. It is composed of 14 faculties and over 85 research institutes and centres. The architecture is defined by a combination of Brutalist and Postmodern buildings spread across campus, most of them built between 1960 and 1980. In 2016, the campus finished repurposing and renovating the Canadian Natural Resources Limited Engineering Complex in the Schulich School of Engineering. In 2017, the university started on rehabilitating the aging MacKimmie Complex.
SAIT
A polytechnic institute; established in 1916, it is Calgary's second oldest post-secondary institution and Canada's first publicly funded technical institute.
formerly Alberta College of Art + Design (ACAD)
Publicly funded art and design university. Formerly part of SAIT, it gained autonomy in 1985 and was renamed in 2019.
Bowness Park is along the Bow River between Stoney Trail and 85 St NW. A shallow lagoon runs along the along the park's southern edge, a favourite spot for paddle boating in the summer and ice skating in the winter. Bowness Park is highly used for picnicking and accessing the Bow River.
Confederation Park 160 hectares (400 acres) between the neighbourhoods of Mount Pleasant, Capitol Hill, Collingwood and Highland Park. 10 Street NW bisects the park from north to south. The park has picnic tables, toboggan hills, cycle paths, tennis courts and baseball diamonds. Adjacent to the park is the Confederation Golf Course. In winter the golf course is open for cross-country skiing and the park hosts the Lions Club Christmas Light Display in December and January.
One of the largest municipal parks in North America, and the second-largest park in Calgary after Fish Creek Provincial Park. This is a beautiful surviving chunk of prairie and some wooded coulees, offering sweeping views over Downtown, NE Calgary including the airport, and west to the Rockies. A place to retreat from city life and enjoy nature, you may encounter deer, porcupines, coyotes, ravens, butterflies and bees. There are many kilometres of hiking and biking trails. Although large sections of the park are off-leash areas, on a few occasions coyotes have attacked and killed dogs in the park.
This park offers a pleasant walk, along with popular views of Downtown Calgary.
Canada Olympic Park / Winter Sport Institute at Canada Olympic Park
Take a tour of the site of the 1988 Winter Olympics, which includes going to the top of the ski jump for a fantastic view. Four runs are available for your skiing pleasure during the winter months, and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame museum is open year-round. The halfpipe and rail park are frequented by some very talented skiers and snowboarders, making for interesting viewing. The COP hosts Canada's first bobsleigh track and you can pay to take a bobsleigh ride in winter. There is also a summer "luge" run (Skyline Luge) and a zipline runs from the top of the ski jump tower.
Home to Canada's highest sporting honour, celebrating a community of Honoured Members, 657 to date, that inspire Canadians in sport and life. Fully accessible.
Western Canada's largest amusement park, roughly 15 minutes west of Calgary. Gate admission pays for all rides; games, food cost extra.
Home venue of the Calgary Stampeders (CFL) and University of Calgary Dinos football teams, as well as Calgary Wild FC of the Northern Super League in women's soccer. Occasionally used as an outdoor concert venue.
A covered speed skating oval, built for the 1988 Winter Olympics, it is the official designated training centre for Speed Skate Canada and the Canadian National Speed Skating team. When not hosting hockey games and speed skating competitions, The Oval is open to public skating, family day events, and the Calgary Science Fair.
Farm featuring interactive kids' activities, including pony rides & goat milking, plus picnic spots.
Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium is a 2,500-seat performing arts, culture and community facility and home to Calgary Opera, Alberta Ballet, and the annual Canadian Legion Remembrance Day Ceremonies. It is next to the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) and the Alberta College of Art and Design (ACAD).
Calgary's local Canadian Football League (CFL) team, and the 2018 holders of the Grey Cup (league champions). CFL plays 3 down football with only 20 seconds between plays, so watching a CFL game is quite different to watching an NFL game.
Varsity athletics. Ice hockey (men's & women's teams), field hockey (women), Canadian football (men), basketball (men & women), rugby (women), soccer (men's & women's), swimming, track & field/x-country, volleyball (men & women), wrestling.
Varsity athletics. Ice hockey (men's & women's teams), basketball (men & women), soccer (men & women), volleyball (men & women).
A classic 1950s diner in Bowness. Serves burger combos, sandwiches, donairs, and milkshakes.
Basic indoor seating, lots of options on those poutine fries.
A hidden gem, Bake Chef serves delicious, high-quality Vietnamese subs and bread rolls at amazing prices. A favourite among University of Calgary students and the winner of a "Best Restaurant in Mac Hall" survey conducted by writers at The Gauntlet - the University of Calgary's student newspaper.
Southern BBQ; reservations accepted Friday-Sunday.
Chianti
Regional Italian restaurant chain. Appetizers, soup, salad, pasta, seafood, veal, chicken. Lunch menu and takeout available. Mains $6–24.
Canadian; locally produced and organic ingredients whenever possible.
BBQ joint with rustic decor serves up Texas-style brisket & ribs, plus whiskey cocktails.
Best known for Alberta steaks and tasty pizzas.
Sidewalk Citizen
Café/deli with good homemade sandwiches, salads, pastries and cakes. The roasted veg on sourdough is delicious and enormous. The deli side sells all the makings of a good picnic (cheeses, olives, fruit, cured meats, posh nibbles...)
The fine dining restaurant at Calgary's Relais et Chateaux hotel.
Rotisserie dishes are their specialty.
Caribbean cuisine. By 7PM Friday, most tables are reserved.
Jimmy's A & A Mediterranean Deli
This corner store and deli is known for serving up some of the biggest, drippiest, tastiest shawarmas in town, as well as other Mediterranean delights. A few tables outside.
Locally famous for their hot meat pies ($3 each), Bon Ton also has a selection of cold salads and hot ready-to-eat meat dishes, all prepared in-house. Worth a visit just to see their butchers hard at work in their bow ties and bright blue aprons.
Local drive-inn, serves burgers and fries.
This is the original location of one of the longest-running fast food institutions in Calgary (opened 1958). Chicken On The Way delivers wonderful deep-fried chicken, french fries and corn fritters, at a fair price. This is an old-school joint; no frills, nothing fancy, and none of that new-fangled low-fat junk. The dining space here is two picnic tables next to busy 14th St. But it's still hands-down the best fried chicken in the city. A meal runs in the $8-10 range. There are other locations in Mackenzie Towne, Macleod Trail (in Brick Plaza), Forest Lawn, and Temple; these locations have tables so that you can dine in.
Butter chicken and daal soup are offered every day. Samosas, rice, breads, kababs, pakoras, raita, chutneys, and desserts are also on the menu every day. In addition, two vegetarian and two non-vegetarian main dishes are featured each day; phone to ask what is available that day. Most dishes are not prepared very spicy-hot. Take out only.
Great place to head for a pint of almost any brew you can think of, sometimes with a touch of Irish.
Pub near McMahon Stadium (home of the Calgary Stampeders, the local Canadian Football League team) and the university uampus. As a result the prices are great and it's an excellent place to enjoy a game or head to after class.
Local, independent coffee shop that is also a social enterprise supporting low income producers in Columbia; second location in Crossroads Market.
Local, independent coffee shop; second location at 2502 Capitol Hill Cres NW.
This warm and welcoming tea house near Memorial Drive has an extensive tea library, along with friendly service and an outdoor patio that is open during the warmer months.
A cozy and welcoming board game cafe on Kensington Rd with an extensive variety of board games. Serves non-alcoholic drinks, alcoholic drinks, and some cafe appetizers.
formerly Royal Wayne Motor Inn
Discounts for CAA/AAA, CARP/AARP, military, government, seniors (60+). ID required for discounts.
Mostly large rooms with ensuites and kitchenettes. On-site pool and gym. Free continental breakfast
On the U of C campus in northwestern Calgary. Offers 81 Euro-style hotel rooms and 15 one-bedroom suites year round. These rooms were built to be hotel rooms for the university hospitality management program, and have never been student residences. The Alma Seasonal Residence program also has hundreds of apartments and student dorm rooms from early May to late August. Access to on-campus services like fitness facilities, laundry, parking, cafeterias.
On the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) campus in southwestern Calgary (address is for the administrative office, not the residences). May only be available in summer months.
32-room boutique motel, modern decor. Free amenities include wi-fi, phone calls, parking and breakfast.
Pet friendly, 100% non-smoking. Breakfast, parking, laundromat.
Across from the world-class Canada Olympic Park (COP), right along the Trans-Canada Highway.
Across from the world-class Canada Olympic Park (COP), right along the Trans-Canada Highway
formerly Kensington Riverside Inn
Boutique hotel in Kensington, just across the river from downtown, with an amazing exterior display of "Whoville" from The Grinch who Stole Christmas during the holidays.
15-minute walk to Dalhousie LRT (tram) Station, simple healthy breakfast, non-smoking, no pets.
Wheelchair ramp at rear entrance. 15-min bus ride to Dalhousie LRT (tram) Station. River valley view. Western breakfast. Long stays available in winter months.
Open Victoria Day weekend (late May) to Labour Day (early Sept). Next to Calaway Park amusement park near Trans-Canada Hwy west of Calgary. Hookup types: power, water & sewer; power only; no hookups. All sewer hookups require rigid hose connector to campground receptacles. Gates locked from 10PM-6AM, Stampede Week locked midnight-6AM. No campfires, no charcoal BBQs. Pets welcome, day kennel services at campground for fee.
(formerly Calgary West KOA)
Open from April 15 to October 15. Take Valley Ridge Boulevard/Crestmont Boulevard exit from Hwy 1 (Trans-Canada Hwy) on west edge of Calgary. Hookup types available: 120 sites with power, water, & sewer; 120 sites power & water; 80 no hookups. 20 & 30 amps available. Some pull-through sites. Pet-friendly. Campfires prohibited by city bylaw. Free shuttle to Calgary Transit bus stop at Canada Olympic Park; express shuttle to Stampede grounds during Stampede Week.
Centred on 10 Street NW and Kensington Road NW, Kensington is home to art galleries, fashion retailers, and antiques. It is somewhat more upscale than, say, Stephen Avenue Walk or Inglewood, but not in a snobby way.
CF Market Mall
One of the largest malls (by area) in Calgary, it is near the University of Calgary. It has a playground inside for pre-schoolers.
Small mall along the Trans-Canada Hwy (16 Ave NW). It opened in 1958 and was Calgary's first shopping mall.
Over 60 retail shops and services.
RioCan Beacon Hill
Large outdoor shopping centre (power centre).
Crowfoot is a very large outdoor shopping centre (power centre) in NW Calgary.
Large outdoor shopping centre (power centre).
The small community of Bearspaw in Rocky View County is a few minutes west of the Calgary city limits.
By CTrain
Northwest Calgary is served by the CTrain Red Line, part of the light rail transit system operated by Calgary Transit.
By bus
Northwest Calgary is connected to other parts of the city by Calgary Transit. The following routes are good ways to get in and around:
By car
Northwest Calgary is the region most influenced by topography, with the Bow River and eastern extent of the foothills causing streets to depart from the traditional grid and limited connections to…
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