Calgary is Alberta’s largest city, a fast-growing foothills metropolis of about 1.6 million people in 2025 (metro around 1.8 million), sitting where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet on the edge of the Canadian Rockies. Founded around Fort Calgary in 1875 and incorporated as a town in 1884 (becoming a city in 1894), it’s best known for its energy-industry roots, big-sky prairie culture and the Calgary Stampede, founded in 1912 and still one of the city’s signature annual events. Key sights include the Calgary Tower and downtown skyline, the Glenbow Museum and Studio Bell (National Music Centre), the riverfront pathways and parks (especially Prince’s Island Park), and the Calgary Zoo; for views and day trips, Banff and Kananaskis are close enough for an easy escape into the mountains. Getting around is straightforward via the CTrain light rail and a walkable central core, with Calgary International Airport (YYC) to the northeast for flights.
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