By Sarah Sussman
As Canada prepares for its massive 150th birthday, there's no better time to celebrate our great country and everything that makes it special. Whether you’re looking to nosh on some poutine, enjoy the great Canadian outdoors or explore Canadian history, here are the most Canadian ways to celebrate Canada in the Calgary area. [Photo credit: http://istockphoto.com/tulissidesign]
In honour of Canada 150, get out of town and take in the magnificence of the great Canadian outdoors. Head to the Northern Rockies, Kananaskis or the Canadian Badlands for gorgeous views, Canadian wildlife, outdoor activities and more. Doesn’t a canoe paddle around the Kananaskis Lakes sound like an ideal way to ring in Canada 150?
For all your outdoor needs, head over to Mountain Equipment Co-op, a quintessential Canadian outdoors store founded in 1971. A lifetime membership costs $5, and one per cent of all sales go to support the Canadian outdoor community.
If you want to enjoy nature without having to leave the city, take some time to enjoy Canada’s nature and wildlife from within city limits. Take a stroll through the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and Nature Centre to sneak a peek at some of the 270 species of birds, 21 species of mammals and 347 species of plants that have been spotted in the centre’s parks and surrounding areas over the years.
One of the most Canadian ways to celebrate our country is by brushing up on Canadian history and culture. Calgary has several museums and learning centres dedicated to teaching Canadians the rich and comprehensive history of their country.
The Glenbow Museum has an extensive offering of exhibits about First Nations, Alberta art and more. On Canada Day, the Glenbow features a full day of special programming that includes First Nations gallery tours, hands-on activities with museum artifacts and the creation of a massive Canadian flag-inspired mosaic.
For a family-friendly learning experience, take a trip back in time to Heritage Park, a living historical museum that explores Canadian history from 1860 all the way through to 1950. If you’ve always wanted to find out more about the Canadian military, visit the Military Museums. The facility is the largest tri-service museum in Western Canada and the second largest military museum in the country. For a more casual Canadian military history, head over to the Royal Canadian Legion. The Legion is staffed by people who have served as military, mounties, police and more, and it’s a great place to meet the men and women who’ve fought for and protected our great nation.
For Canadian music aficionados, make sure to stop by the National Music Centre to immerse yourself in the rich and diverse history of Canadian music. As Canada celebrates its 150th birthday, the National Music Centre celebrates its first anniversary at its new location at Studio Bell with free admission and a variety of attractions.
Make sure to tune in to CJSW 90.9 FM – the local University of Calgary-based community radio station – to enjoy some of the finest homegrown Canadian music. CJSW is operated by seven staff members and hundreds of local volunteers and is a hotbed for discovering new music.
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Discover more of Calgary for Canada 150:
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If there’s one thing that Canadians love, it’s good old Canadian hockey and sporting. A hub for sports lovers and patriotic Canadians alike, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame is a museum and learning centre located at WinSport Canada Olympic Park. Test-run your skills as a sports journalist, try out a ski jump simulator and visit the most sacred spot in the facility – the Sport Chek Hockey Gallery – to learn everything you ever wanted to know about the good ol’ hockey game.
If you want to get your family in on the action, head to the Joseph Kryczka Arena in Southland Leisure Centre, which offers skating and hockey programming for youth year-round.
Canada’s culinary A-list superstar, poutine is a French-Canadian dish consisting of French fries and cheese curds doused in salty, rib-sticking gravy. If your digestive system can handle it, celebrate Canada by devouring as many poutines as you can.
Start things off at OEB with The Soul in A Bowl, a delicious breakfast variation on poutine. Then, head to Naina’s Kitchen to craft a custom poutine made with regionally-sourced Hutterite potatoes and house-made gravy. Then temporarily escape to the Canadian East Coast at Briggs Kitchen + Bar, which serves a lobster-filled twist on the dish called Newf’s Poutine.
If you want to discover a local hidden gem, Alberta King of Subs serves up one of the city’s most authentic poutines. Finish your poutine journey off at the The Big Cheese, a popular 17th Avenue late-night eatery that specializes in all things gravy, fries and cheese with dozens of different poutine variations.
We live in a great country, and there's no better time to celebrate its 150th birthday than by immersing yourself in the history, culture and – of course – food that has made Canada the great nation it is today. Happy Canada 150!
