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host,Meetings&ConventionsCalgaryManagingDirectorPeter Gregus, gave us an assignment: At the end of our trip, we were to sharewith the group one impression the city hadmade on us. As we walked back to our hotel in the early evening, hats
on heads, we happened upon a crowd that had gathered along the street. They were waiting to cheer the motorcade carrying PrinceWilliamand Kate, whoseNorth American trip included the Stampede.AsKate passed by, I sawher flash a smile as broad andwhite as her Calgary Stetson.
Breakfast of Champions We had another Royals-sighting opportunity the fol- lowing morning at the Fairmont Palliser, where we
enjoyed a hearty breakfast in the grand lobby and Crystal Ball- room—pancake breakfasts are a Stampede tradition—while watching the parade that officially kicks off the Stampede. Next, we took a 15-minute drive away from the Stampede
activity to Canada Olympic Park (www.winsportcanada.ca), site of theXVOlympicWinterGames and gateway to themag- nificentRockyMountains.The park functions as amultipurpose competition, training, and recreation area for year-round use by athletes, the public, and groups, and continually develops and adds to itsworld-class facilities. Following a tour of the facilities and a sneak peek at figure-
skatingOlympic hopefuls perfecting their axel jumps,we headed uphill for own adrenaline rush: ziplining with the Calgary sky- line in viewin the valley below. Having braved that, I was ready for lunch. Chef Michael
Noble’s yummymonthly burger inspiration at the nearby gour- met-casual NOtaBLE Restaurant (www.notablerestaurant works.ca) fit the bill.
Off to the Races That evening,we strolled the carnival grounds at Stam- pede Park (http://venues.calgarystampede.com)
SMART FOLKS: When it comes to Canadian cities with the highest number of residents with postgraduate degrees, Calgary comes in second, after Ottawa.
NO ONE-HORSE TOWN: The chuckwagon races are among the most popular events in the Stampede,while the bright, modern Calgary TELUS Convention Centre has an elemental attraction all its own. The facility is recognized by BOMA for its environmental leadership in energy efficiency, recy- cling,water conservation, and waste management.
beforewalkingover tothe InfieldSuites (http://premiumseating .calgarystampede.com/infield-suites/guide) to watch the RangelandDerby Chuckwagon races up close.While the horse teams and wagons thundered exhilaratingly nearby, we experi- encedWestern hospitality at its best—taking in the actionwhile seated comfortably in a luxury suite, munching on local cui- sine, and sipping Caesars, a Calgary invention that puts a twist on the BloodyMary. I returned to my hotel room to find a note fromMeetings
&ConventionsCalgarywaiting forme. “Goodnight, cowgirl,” it read. “Sweet dreams.”
Final Day Saturday morning, we made our way to the Calgary Zoo (www.calgaryzoo.com), just east of the city’s
downtown and partly situated on St.George’s Island in theBow River. The zoo, which is accessible via light rail, by car, and by bicycle and footpath,was among the first inCanada, and organ- izes its extensive animal exhibits by geographic region. It’s a lovely enclave with unique venues for groups, includ-
ing theEssoAuditorium, SafariLodge,Bar-B-ZooTent, and new, sustainably builtENMAXConservatory—wherewe enjoyed a delicious breakfast adjacent to a butterfly garden.We listened to a brief presentation on shipping logistics fromMendelssohn EventLogistics, and participated in a team-building activity that also taught us about primate behavior. All thewhile, a peacock perched outside, high above a ledge on the floor-to-ceilingwin- dow, observed our goings-on and occasionally graced us with a display of his feathers.
ALL FIRED UP: The Calgary Fire of 1886 razed 14 buildings. To prevent that kind of destruction fromhappening again, city officials drafted a law that all large downtown buildings were to be built with sandstone.
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