Calgary is a city in the province of Alberta, Canada. It is situated in the south of the province, in a region of foothills and high plains, approximately 80 km east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies. As of 2005, the estimated metropolitan population (CMA) was 1,060,300 (see Calgary Region). Calgary is the largest city in Alberta and the third largest city (proper), by population, in Canada. It serves as the hub of the fifth largest Census Metropolitan Area in the country. It is located within the relatively densely populated "Calgary-Edmonton Corridor". It is the largest Canadian metropolitan area between Toronto and Vancouver. A resident of Calgary is known as a Calgarian.
Calgary is well-known as a destination for winter sports and ecotourism with a number of major mountain resorts near the city and metropolitan area. Calgary's economy is largely centred on the petroleum industry (see oilpatch), with agriculture, tourism, and the high-tech industries contributing to the city's rapid economic growth. Calgary now has the second highest concentration of head offices in Canada. Calgary also holds many major annual festivals, including the Calgary Stampede, the Folk Music Festival, the Lilac Festival, and the second largest Caribbean festival in the country (Carifest). Calgary was the first Canadian city to host The Olympic Winter Games (1988). |
