fbpx

KidsKonnect

Calgary Facts & Worksheets

Calgary is the largest city in Alberta, Canada, and the most extensive metro area in the three Prairie Provinces.

Search for Worksheets

Worksheets /Social Studies /Geography /Calgary Facts & Worksheets
Premium
Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version   Download sample

Calgary is the largest city in Alberta, Canada, and the most extensive metro area in the three Prairie Provinces. The city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a metropolitan population of 1,481,806 as of 2021, making it Canada’s third-largest city and fifth-largest metro region.

See the fact file below for more information on Calgary, Alberta, or you can download our 25-page Calgary, Alberta worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

  • Calgary has come a long way since the North West Mounted Police erected the fort in 1875.
  • However, before Europeans landed in Calgary, it was the territory of the Blackfoot people, whose existence can be traced back 11,000 years.
  • The first Europeans were recorded in 1787, and by 1860, residents were arriving to hunt buffalo and sell illegal alcohol.
  • To halt shady alcohol selling, Canada’s first prime minister dispatched a squadron of Mounties to enforce the law and prepare the prairie for immigration.
  • Fort Calgary, a peaceful little trading post, was born. With the introduction of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1883, the population began to grow. Calgary was incorporated as a city the following year.
  • But it was 1914 that changed Calgary forever: oil was discovered in the Turner Valley, 35 kilometers (22 miles) southwest of the city.
  • Calgary transformed overnight into a boomtown, luring settlers and investors and generating tremendous quantities of money.
  • Additional oil discoveries continued to fuel growth throughout the century, and Calgary became the administrative hub for the Canadian oil industry.
  • However, as oil prices fell in the early 1980s, the city’s economic fortunes and unemployment rose. Calgary did not recover until the late 1980s.
  • Calgary’s successful staging of the XV Olympic Winter Games in 1988 cemented the city’s reputation.
  • Calgary’s population boom has continued into the twenty-first century, as has the city’s tremendous urban sprawl. Construction companies have struggled to keep up with the demand for new suburban housing, resulting in the proliferation of identical subdivisions.
  • However, shifting oil prices have made Calgary realize that it cannot rely solely on its natural resources, and the city is diversifying into manufacturing, transportation, and information technology industries.

BRIEF GEOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND

  • Calgary is situated at the crossroads of the Canadian Rockies foothills and the Canadian Prairies; its location is relatively hilly. 
  • Calgary’s downtown elevation is roughly 1,048 meters (3,440 feet) above sea level, and the airport elevation is 1,083 meters. The city proper has a land area of 721 square kilometers (278 square miles) (as of 2001), which is more extensive than Toronto and New York City.
  • The city is divided into two sections by two main rivers. 
  • The Bow River is the largest, flowing from west to south. The Elbow River flows north from the south and meets the Bow River near downtown. Because the region’s climate is mainly dry, dense vegetation exists naturally only in river valleys and on a few north-facing slopes.

CLIMATE

  • Calgary has a semi-arid, highland continental climate with long, dry winters that are variable and short, pleasantly warm summers.
  • Calgary experienced harsh temperatures, with a record low of 45°C (-49°F) in 1893 and a record high of 36°C (97°F) in 1919. Temperatures drop below 30°C (-22°F) around five days per year, though these cold spells are usually brief. According to Environment Canada, the daily average temperature in Calgary ranges from 9°C (16°F) in January to 16°C (61°F) in July.
  • Summer evenings in Calgary may be exceedingly frigid due to the city’s high elevation and relative dryness; the average summer minimum temperature drops to 8°C (46°F), and frosts can occur anytime.
  • With an average of 2,405 hours of sunshine each year, the city is one of the sunniest in Canada.
  • Thunderstorms occur more than 20 days yearly in Calgary, nearly entirely during summer. Calgary is located on the outskirts of Alberta’s hailstorm alley and is subject to destructive hailstorms occasionally. 
  • A hailstorm that hit Calgary on September 7, 1991, was one of the most devastating natural catastrophes in Canadian history, causing more than $400 million in damage.

PEOPLE AND CULTURE

DEMOGRAPHICS

  • In 2006, the Calgary Census Metropolitan Area had a population of slightly more than 1.1 million, and the Calgary Economic Region had a population of somewhat less than 1.17 million. 
  • On July 25, 2006, the 1,000,000th Calgarian was born, and the census revealed that the population was growing at a rate of approximately 98 people per day. 
  • This date was determined solely by assumption and statistical approximation and only included children born to Calgarian parents. 
  • In 2006, net migration was 25,794 people per year, a significant increase from 12,117 in 2005.
  • The majority of Calgarians claim to be of European heritage. This group accounts for 79% of the population (688,465 people). 
  • Another 2.3% of the population (19,765 persons) is Aboriginal. Furthermore, the city is home to a sizable number of people from visible minority groups. 
  • Chinese: 51,540 or 5.9%, South Asian: 37,370 or 4.2%, Filipino: 16,245 or 1.9%, Black Canadian: 13,370 or 1.5%, Latin American: 8,525 or 1.0%, and many others are among these groups.

CULTURE

  • The Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium (The Jube), a 4 million cubic foot (113,000 m3) performing arts, cultural, and community venue, is located in Calgary. Since its inception in 1957, the 2,700-seat theater has hosted hundreds of Broadway musicals and theatrical, stage, and local plays. The Alberta Ballet, the Calgary Opera, the Kiwanis Music Festival, and the yearly civic Remembrance Day Ceremonies are all held at the Calgary Jube.
  • Calgary has also emerged as an important center for country music in Canada. It is known as the “Nashville of the North” and is home to a booming all-ages music scene that includes pop, rock, hip-hop, electronic, and country music. 
  • As a reasonably ethnically varied city, Calgary offers many multicultural regions and assets. It is home to one of Canada’s largest Chinatowns and a “Little Italy” in the Bridgeland district.
  • You can find several museums, such as the Glenbow Museum, the most well-known of these is the largest in Western Canada and contains an art gallery. Several notable annual festivals and events take place in Calgary. 
  • The Calgary Stampede, which takes place in July, is the city’s most well-known event. It includes, among other things, an internationally recognized rodeo competition, a midway, stage events, agricultural competitions, chuck wagon races, First Nations exhibitions, and pancake breakfasts across the city.

LANDMARKS

Calgary Courts Centre

The Calgary Courts Centre is one of the world’s largest courthouses, not just in North America.

Dragon City Mall

Dragon City Mall is a cultural gem in downtown Calgary, close to the Chinese Cultural Centre and Eau Claire Market. A wide variety of oriental food and drink is available here, as well as everything from comic book stores to fine custom jewelers.

Lougheed House

  • Lougheed House is one of Calgary’s oldest historical structures, with an incredible story.
  • The Lougheed Family received important state visitors on many occasions in the early days, hosting large social gatherings at their sandstone mansion.
  • Lougheed House, which has stood for a century, is a testament to its legacy, which has lasted for decades. 

Bow Tower

  • Bow Tower is one of the newest Calgary landmarks there is.
  • Emporis, the world’s leading building and construction database, recently named this spectacular office the top corporate building in the world for 2013. 

Calgary Tower

  • Calgary Tower is one of the city’s most well-known landmarks.
  • Calgary Tower, originally known as the Husky Tower, was a collaboration between Husky Oil and Marathon Realty.
  • Whether for fine dining at the rotating Sky 360 restaurant or sightseeing, ascending to the top of this tower is an unforgettable experience.

Calgary, Alberta Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Calgary, Alberta, across 25 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Calgary, Alberta, the largest city in Alberta, Canada, and the most extensive metro area in the three Prairie Provinces.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Calgary, Alberta Facts
  2. Do you know?
  3. Living in Calgary
  4. Calgarian History
  5. Cowtown City
  6. City’s Pride
  7. The 1988 Winter Olympics
  8. Landmarks
  9. City Trademark
  10. River Sections
  11. Calgary has-

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Calgary so important?

Boasting a stunning mountain backdrop and extensive oil exploration and ranching history, Calgary stands out as the financial core for western Canada’s burgeoning oil & gas industry. In addition to its inspiring natural beauty and fascinating past, it is one of the most recognizable cities in Canada.

What was Calgary called initially?

In 1875, the North-West Mounted Police founded a post unofficially known as Fort Brisebois at Calgary’s site. Subsequently, in 1876, they officially named it after an area on Scotland’s Isle of Mull – Fort Calgary.

What is a popular food in Calgary?

Alberta proudly boasts of its Seven Signature Foods, which include: beef, bison, Saskatoon berries, Red Fife wheat, canola oil honey, and root vegetables. Not only do these fantastic foods embody the spirit of Alberta’s people, but they also provide flavor to their regional cuisine!

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

Link will appear as Calgary Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, December 15, 2022

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

Related Resources