Information

Calgary at a glance

A century ago, Calgary was a sleepy little town with a Wild West pedigree and rural roots. Fast forward to today and 'Cowtown' has transformed into the heart of the New West. Situated on the edge of the foothills, with views of the mountains and plenty of flatland to expand into, Calgary has become one of the fastest growing cities in Canada.

Calgary Fast Facts

1. Population

978,027 inhabitants (2010)

2. Currency

Name: Canadian Dollar
Code: CAD
Symbol: C$

For up to date currency conversion rates please go to http://www.xe.com/

3. Electrical Plugs

Flat blade electrical plugs for 15 amps at 125 volts

4. Time Zones

UTC/GMT -7 hours

5. Visa Requirements

If you are not sure as to whether or not you will require a visa to travel to Canada http://canada.visahq.com/ has a list of countries requirements as well as detailed information about the Canadian consulate in each country around the world.

6. Weather forecasts

For up-to-date weather forecasts for your trip to Montreal the following link provides both °C and °F for your preference CLICK HERE as well as extended forecast.

7. Maps

To make Montreal easier for you to navigate, the following link has a facility for you to print region maps & street maps with accuracy http://mtlmap.com/

Getting Around

Public transport in Calgary is efficient and clean. You can choose from the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) rail system, also known as the C-Train, and ordinary buses. One fare entitles you to transfer to other buses or C-Trains. The C-Train is free in the downtown area along 7th Ave, between 10th St SW and 3rd St SE. If you’re going further or need a transfer, buy your ticket from a machine on the C-Train platform. Most of the buses run at 15- to 30-minute intervals daily. There is no late-night service. The C-Train and bus fare per single/day is $2.25/6.75.

For a cab, call Checker Cabs (403-299-9999) or Yellow Cab (403-974-1111). Fares are $3 for the first 150m, then $0.20 for each additional 150m.

Attractions

Split into four quadrants with a grid-style street pattern in its inner core, the city makes for relatively easy navigation of its unique districts and neighbourhoods. Calgary's first community, Inglewood, located just east of downtown, was established at the end of the 19th century and is now home to numerous shops and restaurants housed in turn-of-the-century edifices. On the north side of the Bow River and within walking distance to downtown, Kensington is another trendy district offering shopping, dining, cosy cafes and entertaining summer street festivals.

For more information on sites and attractions in Calgary please click here for a full list

This information was sourced from the following websites:

http://www.viarail.ca/en
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/
http://www.discovercalgary.com/