The library breaks a record & Calgary is on Netflix

Hello beautiful people of Calgary,

Hope your week is going great so far. We are here as usual with a set of updates about the city—not the least of which is our special love for libraries.

This week's Monday poll revealed that 43.9% of you think that Calgary indeed has changed lately and it's not as friendly as it used to be. Oh wow, that is definitely a wake-up call and we probably have got to do something about that. I don't know, should we create our own manifesto? A "Calgary-like" behavior set that we nicely uphold for ourselves and the people around us?

By the way, the growth rate of this newsletter has been incredible and we have just crossed 3,000 people. We are less than two months old, so hitting that number is incredible. A huge part of that is thanks to you sharing this with your friends and family. One of the most clicked links in this email is "share," so thank you!

On that note, I was thinking: should we start a referral program with shoutouts and cool prizes? Let's vote?

Should we start a referral program?

Thank you for being an awesome Calgarian who loves the lineup of updates, events, live music, and silly jokes that we send twice a week.

Let's get to it.

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The Library is the coolest place in town. We read a lot last year. The Calgary Public Library just released its 2025 stats, and they are massive. Calgarians checked out a record-breaking 17.5 million items last year. While digital downloads are high (6.5 million), we still prefer the real thing—11 million physical books left the shelves. It turns out we also really need printers; the library handled 2.5 million print jobs in 2025. Read the full report

Future leaders wanted at City Hall. Applications are now open for "She Governs," a program that gives young women and gender-diverse youth (Grades 9–12) a seat at the table. Selected students will spend March 13 at City Hall debating policy and acting as City Council for the day. It is a rare chance to see how the sausage gets made municipally. You have until February 6 to apply. Apply here

Calgary defends its tech title. For the second year in a row, our city ranked #1 in North America for tech job growth. The latest data shows our tech workforce has grown by over 61% since 2021, now employing nearly 65,000 people. We are beating out major hubs across the continent, mostly because we have the talent and (somewhat) affordable office space. If you work in tech, pat yourself on the back. See the numbers

Spot the Calgary Tower on Netflix. The new K-drama Can This Love Be Translated? just dropped on Netflix, and the background might look familiar. The production spent weeks filming here and in the Rockies last year. While the lead actors (Kim Seon-ho and Go Youn-jung) are the main draw, we are watching just to point at the screen every time we see Banff or the downtown skyline. See the locations

Zoo volunteer applications open soon. If you want to spend your spring weekends at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, get your application ready. Recruitment for adult volunteers (18+) opens on February 2. These spots tend to go fast, so set a reminder if you want to help out with visitor engagement or special events this season. Check the details

The Esker Foundation

The Esker Foundation is a privately funded contemporary art gallery in Inglewood, and admission is always free. The gallery sits on the fourth floor, offering expansive views of both the artwork and the Calgary skyline.

At street level, they operate Project Space. This window-front exhibition area on 9th Ave can be viewed from the sidewalk at any time of day, effectively bringing the art straight to the public.

This Friday (Jan 23), they are hosting the Winter 2026 opening reception from 6–9 p.m. You can see Anthony Cudahy’s metronome yawned in the main gallery and Kristine Zingeler’s work in the street-level windows.

Where: 1011 9 Ave SE (4th Floor & Street Level)

When: Winter Opening Reception is Friday, Jan 23, 6–9 p.m. (Regular hours: Wed–Sun). Plan your visit

This is Kiwi. She is an 11-month-old Plott Hound mix with a name that fits her zest for life perfectly. Weighing in at 57 pounds, Kiwi is the definition of a "ball of energy."

She absolutely loves people and thrives on play, so she needs a home that can keep up with her need for exercise and mental challenges (and treats, obviously). She has lived with children and other dogs before, though she gets very excited when she spots a canine friend on walks. She has also lived with cats, provided the introductions are slow and steady.

If you are looking for an active companion who is ready to run, play, and learn, Kiwi is waiting for you.

How to adopt: Visit the Calgary Humane Society or book an appointment online. See her profile

Thursday, Jan 22

Shoresy Winter Classic | The cast of the hit show Shoresy plays a "real" game against Flames alumni at the Dome. Puck drop is 7:00 p.m. Get tickets
Goblin: Gala | A High Performance Rodeo special. Get tickets
Calgary RV Adventure Sale & Show | The massive RV show kicks off at the BMO Centre. It runs all weekend if you need to browse motorhomes. Get tickets
Dean Lewis: The Epilogue Tour | The Aussie singer-songwriter hits the stage at the Grey Eagle Event Centre. Get tickets

Friday, Jan 23

Flames vs. Capitals | Friday night hockey at the Saddledome. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m. Get tickets
CPO: It Takes Two | The Calgary Phil performs a symphonic collaboration at the Jack Singer Concert Hall. Get tickets
Shad: 20th Anniversary Tour | The Canadian hip-hop icon plays an intimate show at Commonwealth Bar. Get tickets
Juliet: A Revenge Comedy | The High Performance Rodeo continues with this witty retaking of the classic tragedy at Arts Commons. Get tickets
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels | It’s the final weekend to catch this musical comedy by Front Row Centre Players at the Pumphouse Theatre. Get tickets

Saturday, Jan 24

Hitmen vs. Regina Pats | It’s "Superhero Night" at the Dome. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m. Get tickets
Kate Stevens | The local soul/jazz powerhouse performs a headline set at Festival Hall. Get tickets
HPR: Words in Progress | Hear new stories hot off the printer at this reading series at the Big Secret Theatre. See lineup
Curbi | High-energy house music takes over The Palace Theatre. Free entry before 10:30 p.m. with RSVP. RSVP here

Sunday, Jan 25

Flames vs. Ducks | An early 6:00 p.m. game to wrap up the weekend. Get tickets
University District Winter Pop-Up | A free afternoon of ice carving, skating, and s'mores at the UD rinks from 1–4 p.m. Details
Rare Beauties | The final performance of this contemporary dance piece by DJD at the High Performance Rodeo. Get tickets

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