Culture of Alberta

The landscape of Alberta is stereotypically characterized by oil and cowboys and bears the moniker of “Texas of the north.” However, there is much more to Alberta’s culture than the clichés.

At 5.3 million square feet, West Edmonton Mall is the largest shopping mall in North America. It has more than 800 stores, two hotels, a waterpark, is accredited as a zoo and more. About 80.8 million people visit the mall annually, ranking it to be Alberta’s greatest tourist attraction.

The Calgary Stampede is a 10-day festival, rodeo, and exhibition that attracts visitors from all over the world. You will see many people all decked out in cowboy hats, boots, plaid shirts, and jeans.

Calgary was host to the ’88 Winter Olympic Games, with 57 countries participating.

Calgary offers an abundance of cultural experiences for all its visitor’s from its family friend events famous around the world to smaller but non the less popular events showcasing Calgary’s unique minorities and events stemming from their native lands. This is due to it’s large population reaching over 1 million and more than 120 languages spoken in the city causing it’s culture to be continually evolving and developing alongside it’s people.

Calgary’s Indigenous

There are three major First Nations communities in the Calgary area: Tsuut’ina Nation, Stoney Nakoda Nation, and Siksika Nation. Their population grew between 1996-76 grew 76% due to migration from rural areas leading to an explosion in birth rates. They play a significant role in political, social, and economic landscape as Calgarians

Canada Day In 1867 Canada became independent from the British. On July 1, Canada celebrates Independence Day throughout the country.

Calgary Stampede

The Stampede is known internationally as the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth” People come from around the world to compete in the 10 day rodeo. The Championship day winner will win 1,000,000$. Visitors come from all decked out in cowboy hats, jeans and boots ready for a two-stepping Ye-Haw good time!

Dragon Boat Festival

Stemmed by a 2000 year old Chinese Legend. Dragon Boat racing is still very active in Calgarian Culture. Brining in over 4000+ spectators and an abundance of excitement and cultural experiences. It is a free event put on by Calgary each summer at the beginning of August.

The Fringe Festivals

The city of Edmonton puts on the largest and longest running fringe festival in North America. It performances can and do feature almost every form of art and entertainment almost every form of art and entertainment .

Ice on Whyte Festival

Is a winter ice carving festival put on each year for local artists to show case talent, providing a fun and family friendly event available for all to come and see. It is a free interactive event put on in Calgary.

Alberta Beet Fest

The Alberta Beer Festivals have evolved events over the years to continue to demonstrate the unique distilling process available through Calgary’s culture

Canada is home to many different locations that suit a film’s need for the best landscape available. These films were not completely filmed in Canada but had at least one scene that was done on Canadian soil. Some of these films are quite well known such as Titanic, Superman 2, and 300.

Canada also has a large TV presence and has many popular shows that were either written, filmed by or filmed in Canada. Murdoch Mysteries is a highly rated Canadian TV show that is a murder mystery type of show that takes place in the early 1900s. Another Canadian show that many people are fond of in Called Letterkenny which is a very stereotypical small-town Canadian show.

Film animation is also very big in Canada and many shows intended for a younger audience are made here. A popular one for teenagers in call 6teen. Another one that many people can remember from their childhood would be Babar which features a family of elephants.

The film “Film The Revenant” starring Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed in several locations in Alberta, Canada, locations such as Bow Valley just west of Calgary Alberta. Parts of the film “Inception“ and “The Bourne Legacy” were also filmed in Kananaskis Country.

Indigenous People of Calgary

https://calgary.ca/CSPS/CNS/Pages/First-Nations-Metis-and-Inuit-Peoples/First-Nations-Metis-Inuit-Peoples.aspx

Calgary Stampede

https://www.calgarystampede.com

Dragon Boat Racing https://www.todocanada.ca/city/calgary/event/calgary-dragon-boat-festival/

Fringe Festival

https://www.calgaryfringe.ca/show-listing