Based on its population of around 770,000 people,
Calgary is the sixth largest city in Canada and the largest on the Trans-Canada Highway between Vancouver and Toronto. Calgary is located in the Rocky Mountain foothills of Western Canada, in the province of Alberta.
We're at 51°03' north latitude, 114°05' west longitude.
In terms of geographical area, it's a big city -- 702.23 square kilometres -- but an excellent system of expressways makes it easy to get around.
Or you can take public transit. Each weekday about 155,000 people ride a Calgary Transit bus or light-rail train. A bus stop is only a five-minute walk from most homes. Statistics Canada figures show that Calgary is one of the safest cities in Canada.
Calgary's 1,119-member police service is a leader in community-based policing operating out of five district offices, substations and storefront areas. In a life-threatening emergency help is immediately available from Emergency Medical Services. In 1996, the 187 paramedics and 35 emergency medical technicians answered more than 47,214 calls. At least 18 ambulances are on duty at any time. Fires are only a part of the emergencies handled by 966 firefighters stationed at 29 strategically placed fire halls. Of the 27,000 calls in 1995, only 2,833 were for fires. Forty per cent were medical responses in co-operation with EMS staff.
You can jog, cycle or roller-blade along 284 kilometres of paved pathways throughout the city and along its two rivers, the Bow and the Elbow. Or you can relax in 7,290 hectares of parks and green spaces in more than 2,600 locations.
Feeling competitive? There are 175 tennis courts, 338 ball diamonds and 322 soccer/football fields, 33 public and community arenas, nine toboggan hills, 11 cross-country skiing areas and lots of hiking trails. There are 12 indoor and 10 outdoor swimming, pools as well as the world-class Lindsay Park Sports Centre. You can sail on the Glenmore Reservoir or wander in
the nearby Weaselhead natural area.
To exercise your brain go to Canada's busiest public library. More than 1.8 million printed materials and 200,000 CDs, tapes, films etc. were borrowed during five million visits in 1995.
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Population according to civic census taken in April of each year.
| Year | Population | % Increase |
|---|
| 1990 |
692,885 |
3.2 |
| 1991 |
708,593 |
2.3 |
| 1992 |
717,133 |
1.2 |
| 1993 |
727,719 |
1.5 |
| 1994 |
738,184 |
1.4 |
| 1995 |
749,073 |
1.5 |
| 1996 |
768,082 |
1.0 |
Population projections calculated by Calgary city hall.
| Year | Population | % Increase |
|---|
| 1996 |
757,300 |
1.2 |
| 1997 |
766,100 |
1.2 |
| 1998 |
774,600 |
1.1 |
| 1999 |
783,000 |
1.1 |
| 2000 |
789,441 |
1.1 |
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Any trivia buff who's lived in Calgary for a while
has probably heard -- and repeated -- the story of how the city got its name way back in 1876: North West Mounted Police Col. James Macleod deemed it appropriate because "Calgary" means "clear running water" in Gaelic. Alas, the oft-told story is only half right.
Macleod did indeed suggest "Calgary" but not because of any
special Gaelic meaning. Instead, the name comes from Calgary Bay, on the Isle of Mull off the west coast of Scotland. Records show Macleod visited the scenic bay -- which served as a natural harbor for shiploads of destitute refugees bound for North America in the early 1800s -- and remembered it during his distinguished policing career in Canada.
According to the Glenbow Museum, Calgary Bay was originally called Cala-ghearridh, which translates in Gaelic to "bay-side pasture." The spelling evolved over centuries to become "Calligourie," then "Calligory" and eventually Calgary. Calgary Bay remains a remote but beautiful place surrounded by white sand, black rock and heather-covered hills. The only remaining buildings are two seaside cottages and Calgary House, the same
small castle Macleod visited more than a century ago. -- Jeff Adams, Calgary Herald
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Head Offices
Calgary ranks second to Toronto as the country's preferred head office location and attracted the following companies recently:
1996: CP Rail System: Railway relocated head office from Montreal
1996: Shoppers Drug Mart: Distribution hub for Western Canada
1996: Unifirst Canada: Laundry and uniforms relocated
1995: Suncor Inc.: Oil and gas producer relocated head office
1995: Shaw Communications: Cable television company moved head office
1995: Ryder Scott: Petroleum engineers relocated from Houston
1995: Duncan & Craig: New law firm
1995: Osler Hoskins: Opened new Calgary law office
1995: Merrill Lynch: Broker opened another office
1995: Newcrest Capital: Broker opened new Calgary office
1995: Griffith McBurny: Broker opened Calgary office
1995: Mercantile Exchange Corporation: Currency exchange opened new office
1995: Mountain Minerals: Moved head office from Vancouver
1995: Northern Telecom: New manufacturing facility
1995: DowElanco Canada Ltd.: Agricultural chemicals research and development
1995: Wesco Storage: Distribution for Campbells Food
1994: Greenfield Plastics Ltd.: Manufacturer of injection moulded plastic goods
1994: Supply Chain Management: Distribution for Wal-Mart opened in Calgary
1993: Numac Oil & Gas Ltd.: Relocated head office from Edmonton
1993: H & R Block: Tax return specialist relocated head office from Mississauga
1993: Computing Devices Canada: Manufacturer of defence products
1992: Beaver Lumber: Warehouse to serve its 87 stores across Western Canada
1992: National Energy Board: Relocated head office from Ottawa
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Professional Scene
Where business people gather:
Calgary Petroleum Club
319 5th Ave. S.W.
269-7981
Calgary Chamber of Commerce: Commerce Club
517 Centre St. S.
750-0411
Ranchmen's Club
710 13th Ave. S.W.
228-3885
The 400 Club
710 4th Ave. S.W.
265-9660
Calgary Professional Club
217 7th Ave. S.W.
263-1940
Fitness Clubs
Places to make downtown connections:
Bankers Hall Club
315 8th Ave. S.W.
237-501
Eau Claire YMCA
101 3rd St. S.W.
269-6701
YWCA
320 5th Ave.
232-1577
Fountain Park Club
Gulf Canada Square
401 9th Ave. S.W.
262-4277
Heaven's Fitness
738 11th Ave. S.W.
263-3113
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Unemployment Rates:
1990 . . . . . . . . . . . 7.5 per cent
1991 . . . . . . . . . . . 8.7 per cent
1992 . . . . . . . . . . . 10.3 per cent
1993 . . . . . . . . . . . 10.5 per cent
1994 . . . . . . . . . . . 9.4 per cent
1995 . . . . . . . . . . . 8.1 per cent
1996 . . . . . . . . . . . 6.9 per cent
Source: Calgary Economic Development Authority
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Major Employers:
Public Sector
The City of Calgary: 12,000 employees
Calgary Board of Education: 10,317
Government of Canada: 5,000
Foothills Hospital: 4,400
University of Calgary: 4,000
Private Sector
Calgary Cooperative Association Ltd. : 3,500 employees
Telus Limited: 2,566
Northern Telecom: 2,500
Nova Corporation: 2,400
Amoco Canada Petroleum Co.: 2,000
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Calgary Airport
Calgary International Airport, the fourth busiest in Canada behind Toronto,
Vancouver and Montreal, was recently named in the top 10 airports in the
world and the best in Canada.
The airport landed in eighth place in an International Air Transport Association
survey of 43 major airports in Europe, North America, the Middle East and
the Asia-Pacific region. Passengers were asked to rate airports for facilities
and services, including comfort of waiting areas, staff friendliness and
city-to-airport transportation.
Airlines
Air B.C. 265-9555
Air France 1-800-667-2747
Continental 1-800-525-0280
United 1-800-241-6522
Air Canada 265-9555
Canadian Airlines 235-1161
Delta 1-800-221-1212
Lufthansa 1-800-563-5954
American Airlines 1-800-433-7300
Northwest Airlines 1-800-225-2525
Westjet Airlines 250-5839
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