10 Fun Facts About Calgary You Should Know

Top 10 Interesting Facts About Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is a growing city with a lot to offer: an ever-expanding cultural scene, stunning natural landscapes, and continued urbanization are just a few things that make it an exciting place to be, no matter the circumstances. And, with a rich and storied history, there are several fun facts about Calgary to pique the interest of residents and visitors alike.

While most people recognize Calgary for its world-renowned Stampede and its proximity to the majestic Rocky Mountains, this dynamic city holds numerous fascinating secrets that have shaped its unique identity in North America. From being one of the cleanest and most livable cities in the world to its convenient downtown skywalk network that keeps workers warm during winters, below we explore several fun and interesting facts about Calgary, Alberta, that make it a truly unique place to live and visit!

Quick Facts About Calgary

1. Booming population: Calgary's booming growth makes it one of Canada's fastest-expanding cities.
2. King of rodeos: The Calgary Stampede is the world's biggest rodeo, attracting over a million visitors yearly.
3. Cow-town: Calgary’s nickname “cow-town” stems from its historical Western settler and agricultural roots.
4. Culturally rich: Over 120 languages are spoken in Calgary, showcasing its remarkable cultural diversity.
5. Great place to live: Calgary ranks among the world's most livable cities due to its high quality of life.
6. Sunny ways: With 333 sunny days annually, Calgary is Canada's sunshine capital.
7. Clean streets: Calgary stands out globally for its exceptional urban cleanliness.
8. Chinook weather: Chinook winds can raise Calgary's winter temperatures by 20°C in hours.
9. Downtown walkway: The city's +15 Skywalk is the world's largest elevated indoor walkway system.
10. Famous dish: Calgary's Silver Inn Restaurant created the now-famous ginger beef dish.

#1 - Calgary Has a Booming Population

One of the most fascinating facts about Calgary is its remarkable population growth, past and present. From a frontier town in the late 1800s, today the city has transformed into a major metropolitan hub, with its population surging from about 400,000 in 1971 to nearly 1.5 million residents in 2024. This phenomenal growth rate has consistently ranked Calgary among Canada's fastest-growing cities, as people flock to the city in search of new opportunities and to enjoy what it has to offer.

Both interprovincial and international migration play key roles in driving Calgary’s population growth. The city's robust economy, underpinned by the energy, tech, finance, and transportation sectors, has attracted people from across Canada and around the world. Between 2022 and 2023, for example, the city’s population boomed upwards by 100,000, from 1.4 million to 1.5 million, respectively – an annual growth rate of 6.2 per cent!

The city has continuously grown its boundaries to accommodate a rising population, with new communities developing in almost all directions, including new mixed-use redevelopments in the inner city regions. With the municipality projecting its population will reach nearly 1.61 million by 2029, this vibrant city's growth story continues to shape its position as one of Canada's most important economic centres.

#2 - Calgary is Home to the World’s Largest Rodeo

The Calgary Stampede, also known as the "Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth," stands as an impressive testament to the city's Western heritage and cultural roots. Since its inception in 1912, when it was on for a few days and attracted 80,000 visitors to a city of just 40,000 people, the Stampede has grown into a spectacular 10-day event that now welcomes well over one million visitors every year.

Some interesting facts about the Calgary Stampede’s sheer size and scale today. The Stampede:

• Employs more than 1,500 people year-round
• Hires an additional 3,500 seasonal workers
• Relies on over 3,000 dedicated volunteers across 29 different committees
• Is hosted on grounds spanning nearly 210 acres
• Involves more than 7,500 animals during the event, including 600 chuckwagon horses
• Its 2024 rodeo competition featured six main events with a stunning $1.85 million in prize money.

The Stampede's social and cultural impacts cannot be understated. Hosted in the Calgary’s downtown Beltline community, more than 200,000 pancakes are served at local breakfasts throughout the city which serves to connect Calgarians. The event's economic impact is equally impressive; a 2019 analysis estimated its annual contribution to the local economy at $540 million, with more than half of that generated during the 10-day festival in July!

#3 - Calgary is Often Called “Cow-Town”

Calgary’s nickname "Cow-Town" stems from its historic role as the centre of Canada's cattle industry in the late 1800s. When the Canadian Pacific Railway arrived in 1883, the municipality became a crucial livestock transportation hub. The surrounding prairies were ideal for ranching, and by 1885, tens of thousands of cattle were grazing in the foothills and south up to the American border.

A fascinating fact about Calgary's Western roots centres on the "Big Four" business men - Patrick Burns, George Lane, A.E. Cross, and A.J. McLean, who established Calgary as the heart of Canada's ranching industry. Pat Burns built an empire encompassing over 700,000 acres of ranch land and multiple meat-packing plants, helping transform Calgary into a major beef processing center. These four business magnates also were largely responsible for funding the initial years of the Stampede, and today are honoured by the Big Four building on the ground.

Calgary's cow-town identity has an enduring influence on the city's character. From Western-style architecture like the Bankers Hall Towers (the tops of which are supposed to look like dual cowboy hats) to various annual activities and events celebrating Western culture, the city proudly embraces its roots. The nickname "Cow-Town" remains a proud reminder of Calgary's Western heritage and its continuing role as a hub for Canada's agricultural sector.

#4 - Calgary is a Highly Diverse & Culturally Rich City

A celebrated fact about Calgary is that it ranks as the third most diverse major city in Canada with over 240 different ethnic origins represented throughout its population. Approximately 28% of Calgarians are foreign-born, a significant increase from 25% just a decade ago, which has transformed the city into a vibrant and culturally rich metropolitan hub where people from all over the world bring their cuisines --- reflected in its highly diverse restaurant scene.

Calgary's multicultural makeup has resulted in a large linguistic diversity, with over 165 languages spoken across the city. Among the most spoken non-English languages include:

• Punjabi - 13%
• Tagalog (Filipino) - 10%
• Cantonese - 10%
• Mandarin - 10%

…creating a rich cultural environment where multiple communities thrive.

Calgary's cultural vibrancy is reflected in its year-round festival calendar, showcasing the city's diverse heritage. From the GlobalFest International Fireworks Festival celebrating different cultural traditions to the Calgary Folk Music Festival featuring global artists, the city hosts dozens of multicultural celebrations every year.

#5 - Calgary is One of the Most Livable Cities Globally

One of the most impressive facts about Calgary is its consistent ranking as one of the world's most livable cities, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Global Liveability Index. This prestigious index evaluates cities based on several indicators including stability, healthcare, culture, environment, education, and infrastructure, with Calgary securing a top 10 position for more than a decade.

The city’s performance in the most recent 2024 EIU rankings was exceptional, placing fifth out of 173 global cities, up two spots year-over-year --- outranking places such as London, New York, and Paris. Calgary consistently receives near-perfect scores in several categories, particularly in healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

As one of only three North American cities that typically rank in the global top ten, Calgary's combination of urban amenities, a clean environment, low crime rates, and robust economy helps it compete with the world's most renowned metropolitans on indexes like the EIU Livability Survey.

#6 - Calgary is One of the Sunniest Cities in Canada

Calgary is Canada's sunniest major city, averaging 2,396 hours of sunshine annually. This translates to approximately 333 days of sunshine per year! Even during winter, locals enjoy tons of sun thanks to the warm Chinook winds that can sometimes bring clear skies and moderate temperatures.

Fact is that Calgary’s consistent sunshine contributes to the active use of more than 1,000 kilometers of regional trails and 96 km of paved pathways – one of the largest urban pathway networks in North America. The city’s sunny ways have also made it a leader in solar energy adoption, contributing to sustainability initiatives at large.

Calgary’s sunny disposition also has a positive impact on its social scene, where you’ll find a thriving patio restaurant industry and numerous outdoor festivals and events throughout the year. This abundance of sunshine helps explain why Calgary consistently ranks among the happiest and most livable cities in Canada.

#7 - Calgary is One of the Cleanest Cities Worldwide

Imagine living in one of the cleanest cities worldwide? This fascinating fact about Calgary stands out: it consistently ranks among the top five cleanest cities globally (3rd) alongside Denmark (1st), Singapore (2nd), Helsinki (4th), and Auckland (5th), according to the global consultancy Mercer Eco-City. The evaluation considers multiple factors including air quality, water drinkability, waste removal, and overall public sanitation standards.

The city's remarkable commitment to cleanliness is demonstrated through its comprehensive waste management system. The blue, black, and green cart program processes over 225,000 tonnes of recyclable materials annually and has helped Calgarians recycle more than 785 million kilograms of material over 13 years to date. The city’s state-of-the-art water treatment facilities provide reliable drinking water quality to its 1.5 million residents.

Calgary maintains exceptional standards of cleanliness throughout its communities and green spaces. From Prince's Island Park to Fish Creek Provincial Park, the municipality’s commitment to maintaining its green spaces and preserving their environments make it a standout example of how a clean city should look like.

#8 - Calgary’s Chinook Winds Can Warm Up a Winter’s Day

The dramatic temperature swings caused by Chinook winds represent one of the most remarkable natural phenomena in Calgary. Fact is, these warm, dry winds sweep down the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, raising temperatures by up to 20°C in hours. During winter, Calgary experiences 15 to 25 Chinooks, each creating stunning arch-shaped clouds across the sky.

Chinooks occur when warm Pacific Ocean air hits the cool air of the Rockies, rising and then cooling, causing precipitation. As this dry air descends the mountain’s eastern slopes, it creates powerful warm winds through adiabatic warming, transforming cold winter air into spring-like conditions.

For Calgary and nearby towns, these Chinook-driven temperature swings provide welcome relief from winter's chilly grip. In a city where temperatures often plunge below -20°C, these "winter breaks" can last hours or even days, allowing Calgarians to shed their heavy clothing and enjoy outdoor activities that would otherwise be impossible during the cold season.

#9 - Calgary’s Beloved +15 Indoor Walkway Network

Calgary’s +15 network is a unique feature of Calgary not seen in many other major cities worldwide. Named for its height of 15 feet above street level, it is the world's largest elevated skywalk, spanning 18 kilometres and connecting more than 100 downtown buildings. Its cozy, fully air-conditioned and heated passageways allow pedestrians to navigate the downtown area indoors.

Construction began in 1970, starting with a single bridge at the Calgary Tower and eventually expanding to today's network of 86 bridges. The system now serves approximately 62,000 people each weekday, providing climate-controlled access between offices, shopping centres, and hotels during the frigid winter months and hot summer days.

Fact is, Calgary’s +15 has become an integral part of an urban lifestyle, even connecting to some select downtown condominium projects. Along its pathways you’ll find artisan-style shops, food vendors, and art displays to enjoy at your leisure. The innovative system has proven so successful that new downtown buildings are specifically designed to incorporate new bridge connections, making it essential to the city's downtown infrastructure.

#10 - Ginger Beef Was Invented in Calgary

Ginger beef – a crispy, sweet, and spicy dish found in Calgary's Chinese restaurants – was invented here in the 1970s by Chef George Wong of the Silver Inn Restaurant, and is one of the reasons why Calgary is famous. He noticed Western customers loved crispy, sweet flavours, so he adapted a Northern Chinese beef dish into what would become a Canadian-Chinese classic.

Regarding interesting facts about Calgary, who knew the city would be the birthplace of an iconic fusion dish like ginger beef. Surprising, isn’t it? The recipe is simple but effective: beef strips are coated in cornstarch, deep-fried until crispy, then tossed in a ginger-garlic sauce with carrots and sweet-spicy elements.

Unfortunately, today the Silver Inn Restaurant has permanently closed. But not to worry, almost every other Chinese restaurant in the city has adopted the Ginger Beef dish to cater to the tastebuds of their Western customers.

Fun Facts About Calgary: More to Come

These fascinating facts about Calgary paint a picture of a city that's truly one-of-a-kind. From its massive population boom and world-famous Stampede to its surprisingly sunny disposition and unique +15 skywalk system, Calgary continues to surprise both visitors and locals alike. Whether you're warming up during a magical Chinook wind, enjoying some authentic Calgary-invented ginger beef, or simply appreciating being in one of the world's cleanest and most livable cities, there's something special around every corner of cow-town.

If you’re thinking about relocating to Calgary or would like to know more about homes for sale in the city, please don’t hesitate to contact Cody and Jordan with the Calgaryism Real Estate Team. As born-and-raised Calgarians, we specialize in helping people move to our wonderful city and would love the opportunity to discuss your goals with you!