University of Calgary

About Calgary

Live in a great city.

Calgary is the heart of the new west. We’ve got a young, vibrant population. We’re the centre of western Canadian commerce.

We border a recreational Valhalla – the Rocky Mountains. You’ll get to experience all this and more as a University of Calgary student.

Experience the Rockies

A majestic playground lies an hour-and-a-half drive west from Calgary. Nothing can compare to Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, and the opportunities for adventure are endless. During the winter, hit the slopes and push your limits on some of the most vertical hills in the world and take advantage of the fact that most of Alberta’s major ski resorts offer special rates to students.

You can also enjoy the splendor of the outdoors by snowshoeing or cross-country skiing through hundreds of trails in the backcountry. During the shoulder seasons in autumn and spring, you can get out to the mountains to enjoy canoeing, kayaking, alpine scrambling, horseback riding, mountain biking and more.

Where else can you can summit a mountain in the afternoon and be back on campus to celebrate your accomplishments the same evening? If you want it, the Rockies have it.


Best
... place to shop for clothes: Market Mall because it’s close to campus (you could walk there) and the stores are great – there’s something for everyone.
... coffee shop: Higher Ground in Kensington. It’s easy to get to, a great place to have an awesome cup of coffee and study.
... local getaway: The Calgary Zoo. Who doesn’t love elephants? It’s open all year round, and has cool things to see over the winter (like Zoo lights)!
... place to let loose: 17th Avenue. You know the restaurants, coffee joints and pubs are good when they’re busy even in the winter.
... outdoor festival: You can’t pick just one! The lilac Festival, Global Fest, the Folk Festival, AfrikaDey, the Sun and Salsa Festival…
... eats off campus: Tubby Dog on 17th Avenue. Best hot dogs ever! Don’t laugh until you’ve tried one.
... place to snowboard: Sunshine. It has the best snow that lasts forever (meaning you can hit the slopes well into April), and it’s only an hour from Calgary.
... hiking trail: Chester Lake in Kananaskis. It’s a great trail that you can use any time of the year for hiking and snowshoeing. You can also scramble up and over the Fortress if you dare.
... arts festival: One Yellow Rabbit’s High Performance Rodeo (runs in January). There’s something for everyone to see.
... place to get a thrill: The bobsleigh/luge at COP.
... sport to watch you didn’t know about before: The Calgary Roughnecks. Lacrosse is fun and cheap to watch, and the atmosphere during games is always amazing.
... place to get fresh air: Walking, jogging or biking on the city’s network of paths. We’ve got some of the best in Canada!
... neighborhood to take a stroll: Mission (4th St SW between 17th Ave and the Elbow River) for its shops, restaurants, sights and sounds.
... place to check out live music: Broken City. Great atmosphere and sweet place to check out both established and up-and-coming bands.
... place for cheap groceries: The Farmer’s Market. A lot of the food is locally produced (within 100 miles) and the prepared foods are great to buy and take home to freeze for quick meals.
... way to spend a lazy afternoon: floating down the Bow River during the summer and early fall.
... outdoor adventure: dog-sledding in Canmore. You have to try this at least once while you’re at the U of C!
... daytrip: Drumheller (about 2 hours from Calgary) to hike the Badlands and satisfy your inner dino-geek at the Royal Tyrell Museum.
Complete 'Best of Calgary' List

An Economic Powerhouse

One look at Calgary’s downtown skyline tells you that we’re an economic powerhouse. With many big-name companies calling Calgary their home, and many more with bustling satellite offices here, we’re one of the most economically dynamic cities in the world. When you choose to attend the U of C, you will place yourself right in the middle of one of the hottest job markets in the country. We see thousands of our students downtown for their co-op or internship placements, and many U of C grads find positions in the thriving job market. Opportunity is the name of the game– come make your mark in Calgary.

Work hard, Play hard

All work and no play? Not in Calgary. There’s a multitude of things to do within our city limits.

Calgary’s city life is youthful, vibrant and never sleeps. Visit our famous 17th Avenue district for world-class shopping, eating and festivities. The Red Mile is a must during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, no matter who you’re cheering for. Calgary’s Stampede Grounds are also in the area, where everyone is an honorary cowboy/girl during the world famous Calgary Stampede. Get your boots on and head down in July for the rodeo, corn dogs, exhibits and more things to do than you can say “yahoo!” at. If you prefer more of an indie crowd, head over to Kensington or Inglewood – both districts offer a myriad of coffee shops, boutique shopping, good eats and a lively atmosphere any time of year.

While downtown Calgary is the centre of commerce for the city, there’s more to it than high-rises and office buildings. Navigate your way through trendy shopping centres, and head down to the performing arts district by Olympic Plaza. Take a night off to see some big name acts and local companies in action, such as Alberta Theatre Projects or the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.

You can also get a taste of the Olympics 10 minutes from campus at Canada Olympic Park. Stop by this world-class facility and snowboard on COP’s famous halfpipe during the winter, or tune up your downhill or cross-country skiing skills before you hit the mountains. If you feel the need for speed, try your hand at bobsleighing or the luge. COP also offers a number of summer activities including mountain biking and their brand new zipline. And don’t miss Screamfest during Halloween if you enjoy a good fright (trust us, these people know how to scare).

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