Hello, beautiful people of Calgary!
This Sunday is the summer solstice — the longest day of the year. In Calgary, the sun's up for 16 hours and 36 minutes. We have earned this.
It's also the busiest Sunday of the year — Father's Day and National Indigenous Peoples Day on the same date. Sled Island takes over 30+ venues from Wednesday through Sunday, and Spruce Meadows pulls a Canadian-rock double with Sam Roberts Band on Friday and Barenaked Ladies on Saturday.
In THE 403: a goat-antelope-muskox-moose hybrid is about to make its Canadian zoo debut, and the Green Line is finally something you can see from the road. Plus a Lab-Basset mix named Bruno who needs a minute to warm up, and a southeast detached to price-guess.
Let's get to it.
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The City reopened its downtown office conversion program with $25 million on the table.
The City will help pay to turn empty office buildings into housing, hotels, student dorms, or life-sciences labs. Applications are open until July 27. The program has already funded 21 conversions across 2.68 million square feet — 2,667 new homes, a 226-room hotel, and a hostel are on the way. The new round raises the hotel rate to $75 per square foot of office space converted and adds co-living and cultural spaces to the eligible list. Read the announcement
Stampede is adding a four-storey patio on the midway.
The Corona Skydeck sits four floors up on the North Infield building, with a view across the grounds. The ticket gets you into Stampede Park plus unlimited chef bites, soft drinks and juice. A decent setup if you were already planning to spend the day there. Stampede runs July 3 to 12. See the details
The zoo is about to debut a species you've definitely never seen in Canada.
The Sichuan takin is basically a goat crossed with an antelope, a muskox and a moose. Native to the mountains of central and western China. Big nose to warm cold air, oily coat to shed snow. Four of them are coming to the Wilder Institute's new Asian Highlands habitat, which opens in July as the first phase of the zoo's Imagine Asia redevelopment. Read about the takin
The outdoor pools are open again.
Bowview, Forest Lawn and Highwood opened June 8. Millican-Ogden and Stanley Park opened June 13. The City's wading pools — Bowness, Prairie Winds and Riley — open around Father's Day and run 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for the rest of summer. Wading pools are free. Outdoor pools are pay-what-you-can. See the locations
The Green Line is finally something you can see from the road.
Most of the visible work is in the southeast, between Shepard Station and the Bow River crossing. Four projects are on track to finish this year: the Ogden Road realignment, the 78 Avenue LRT Bridge, the Blackfoot Trail LRT Bridge near Crossroads Market, and the 114 Avenue and Barlow Trail piling work. The elevated guideway at 114 and Barlow starts going up this summer — the first piece that will actually look like LRT from your car. Opening day is still 2031, but it's no longer just a plan on paper. See the construction map
Meet Bruno — five years and nine months old, 73 pounds, and built about a foot lower to the ground than the Labrador half of his ancestry would suggest. He's a Lab / Basset Hound mix, which is exactly the unlikely combination it sounds like.
He's reserved with new people and prefers to take meetings on his own timeline — give him a minute, let him approach, hand over a treat or two, and the charming, affectionate dog underneath comes out. After that, he'll happily romp around the yard on his very capable short legs before circling back for some serious scritches. Shelter staff have a fitness-and-supplements plan in mind; Basset arthritis is in the cards down the line, and keeping him fit and trim is the play.
The fine print: adult-only home (no kids), no cats, only dog in the house with potential for dog friends down the line. He's got a history of food-guarding, so dinner is solo.
How to adopt: Visit the Calgary Humane Society. See his profile
Last week, 46.7% of you got it right. The answer was $1,999,900, on a quiet inner-city street in Ramsay.
This week we're trading the inner-city character home for something a lot more practical. The listing is a tidy 1981 detached in one of Calgary's more affordable southeast pockets, on a street with playgrounds and a community school in walking range.
Take a good look at the photos and cast your vote. Bonus points if you can guess the neighbourhood (just hit reply and shoot us an email with your guess).
Tuesday, June 16
Come From Away at Theatre Calgary | The Broadway musical about Gander, Newfoundland after 9/11. Max Bell Theatre, 7:30 p.m. Tickets
Sled Island Opening Party + Poster Show Launch at SpanicArts | The five-day festival's kickoff. 5:00 p.m. Details
Wednesday, June 17
Sled Island Day One — 30+ venues citywide | The first full night of music: Palehound at Dickens, feeble little horse, Sweeping Promises and more spread across the core. Runs through Sunday. Schedule
Calgary Surge vs. Brampton Honey Badgers at WinSport | CEBL basketball. The Surge are back at home after a road trip. 7:30 p.m. Tickets
Hillhurst Sunnyside Farmers' Market | The midweek outdoor market. 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Details
Thursday, June 18
Bridgeland-Riverside Farmers Market — season opener | The Thursday market is back outside the BRCA Hall, with 30+ vendors, food trucks, live music, and kids' activities. Runs Thursdays through October 1. 917 Centre Ave NE, 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Details
Hot Dogs and Hot Takes on History at The Confluence | The talk on how volunteerism became one of Calgary's defining traits, and why the model that built the city is showing some cracks. 750 9 Ave SE, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets
Friday, June 19
Sam Roberts Band at Spruce Meadows Equi-Plex | Two-decade Canadian rock catalogue in the indoor concert venue at Spruce Meadows. Doors 5:30 p.m., show 7:00 p.m. Tickets
Cool Choir presents: From Then to Ten Charity Extravaganza | The 400-voice choir's 10th anniversary show with special guests Paul Brandt and Martin Kerr, MC'd by Angela Kokott. Proceeds go to four local charities. Jack Singer Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m. Tickets
Saturday, June 20
Calgary Stampeders vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders at McMahon Stadium | The Labour Day rivalry's June chapter. Battle of the Prairies. 5:00 p.m. kickoff. Tickets
Barenaked Ladies at Spruce Meadows Equi-Plex | The lone all-ages indoor concert of the Live & Intimate series at Spruce Meadows. 7:00 p.m. Tickets
Ne-Yo & Akon — Nights Like This Tour at Scotiabank Saddledome | Two 2000s R&B and pop hitmakers on one bill. 8:00 p.m. Tickets
Wings and Wheels at the Hangar Flight Museum | The Father's Day weekend tradition — vintage aircraft, classic cars, a kid-friendly tarmac. Runs through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Details
Father's Day Weekend Car Show at Lougheed House | The Stampede City Model-A Ford Club brings their collection to the lawn, with a pop-up exhibit on the Lougheed family's own automobiles inside. Details
Medieval & Geek Fest at the Danish Club | Live medieval combat demos, the Southern Alberta LEGO Builders, a medieval dance lesson, a kids' interactive zone, and a market. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tickets
Aspen Crossing Father's Day Train | A 2.5-hour scenic rail run with BBQ and cold beer, an hour east of the city. Saturday departs 5:00 p.m., Sunday departs 11:00 a.m. Details
Sunday, June 21
Walk for Reconciliation — National Indigenous Peoples Day | The signature event of the weekend, from the Harry Hays Building to The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland. 8:30 a.m. to noon. Details
OHSOTO'KINO at Studio Bell | National Indigenous Peoples Day programming at the National Music Centre — Indigenous voices in music across the building, included with regular admission. 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Details
Heritage Park National Indigenous Peoples Day Pow Wow | Drumming, dancing, and traditional cooking demonstrations across the park. Free for Indigenous attendees, regular admission otherwise. Details
Heritage Park Father's Day Brunch | Carving-station gammon, Belgian waffles, eggs Benedict, a seafood platter, dessert table, and then a full day on the steam train, midway and Gasoline Alley Museum. Sittings at 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Advance reservation required. Reserve
The Military Museums — Father's Day | T-72 and Leopard tank tours, an outdoor obstacle course, weapons handling, a Meet a Serving Soldier session, beer garden, and camo face painting. 4520 Crowchild Trail SW, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Details
Monday, June 22
JazzYYC Summer Festival opens | Calgary's annual jazz festival kicks off a week of shows across the city, anchored by venues on the Music Mile. Schedule
Want your event to be featured? Hit reply and send us the details. If it's cool, we'll share it with Calgary.
Tom Phillips & The DTs (Honky-Tonk Tuesdays) | The Blues Can | Tue, 8:00 p.m. Details
Steve Pineo Band | The Blues Can | Tue, 8:00 p.m. Details
Punk Rock Bingo | Ship & Anchor | Tue, 7:00 p.m. Details
Calgary Songsmith | Gravity Espresso | Tue, 7:00 p.m. Details
Peter & The Wolves | The Blues Can | Wed, 8:00 p.m. Details
Open Mic | Ironwood Stage | Wed, 7:00 p.m. Details
mzukulu | Gravity Espresso | Wed, 6:30 p.m. Details
Brian Byrne (Acoustic Duo) | The Blues Can | Thu, 8:00 p.m. Details
Cyrus Jordan & His Band | Ironwood Stage | Thu, 8:00 p.m. Details
Cat Tyler | Gravity Espresso | Thu, 6:30 p.m. Details
Sydney Mae w/ Backyard Betties & Ron McNeill | King Eddy | Thu, 7:30 p.m. Details
Tom Phillips (Lunchtime) | The Blues Can | Fri, noon Details
Mark Sadlier Brown (Happy Hour) | The Blues Can | Fri, 5:00 p.m. Details
Mike Clark Band | The Blues Can | Fri, 9:00 p.m. Details
Mike MacKenzie Band Album Release Show | Ironwood Stage | Fri, 8:00 p.m. Get tickets
Jannelle Lecomte | Gravity Espresso | Fri, 6:30 p.m. Details
Acoustic Afternoons with CELIN | King Eddy | Sat, 11:30 a.m. Details
Tom Phillips & The DTs | Ironwood Stage | Sat, 2:00 p.m. Details
Saturday Afternoon Jam with Mike Clark | The Blues Can | Sat, 3:00 p.m. Details
Devin Foster and Adrienne Levay | Gravity Espresso | Sat, 6:30 p.m. Details
Steve Pineo | The Blues Can | Sat, 9:00 p.m. Details
Nic Vans @ Common Saturdays | Commonwealth Bar | Sat, 10:00 p.m. Details
Hippocratic Oath Big Band | Ironwood Stage | Sun, 2:00 p.m. Details
Sunday Jazz Jam with The Streamline Quartet | Gravity Espresso | Sun, 2:00 p.m. Details
Tim Leacock (Father's Day Lunchtime) | The Blues Can | Sun, noon Details
Gamer Sundays | Dickens Pub | Sun, noon Details
Sunday Afternoon Jam | The Blues Can | Sun, 3:00 p.m. Details
Sunday Night Blues Jam | The Blues Can | Sun, 8:00 p.m. Details
Have a great week.
P.S. Forward this to someone who refuses to use the self-checkout lane.