special section Innovative Centers and Unique Venues
Calgary TELUS Convention Centre
An eco-minded convention center in an equally eco-minded city
Planning a green meeting or convention at the epicenter of Canada’s oil and gas indus- try may seem like an oxymoron, but Calgary, Alberta — Canada’s leading energy city — is much more eco-aware than visitors might expect. In fact, Calgary, the third-largest city in Canada, was ranked as the No. 1 “Eco-City” on Mercer’s 2010 Quality of Living Survey. Meeting venues and hotel properties
across Calgary have also been recognized by the Green Key Eco-Rating Program, a gradu- ated rating system designed to identify hotels, motels, and resorts committed to improving environmental performance. In addition, the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre (CTCC) has earned Level 3 certification from Building Owners and Managers Association Interna- tional (BOMA) for environmental leadership. According to BOMA, “buildings at this level of certification have higher performance and
demonstrate excellence in management, and typically have been managing with energy and environmental performance in mind for several years. Management in these build- ings is usually forward-thinking, with flexibil- ity to pursue environmental initiatives.” Environmentally friendly practices have
been a foundation of operating standards at the CTCC for more than 25 years. Build- ing systems, ofice equipment, and low-flow water fixtures are used for optimum energy eficiency. Renewable “green” power is pur- chased, and extensive recycling and waste- reduction programs have been implemented across the entire facility. Green cleaning and recycled paper products are also used when- ever possible, and every effort is made to choose suppliers who use environmentally friendly products and procedures. Calgary makes sustainability a top prior-
ity at the municipal level as well. The City of Calgary was the first municipality in North America to achieve corporate-wide ISO 14001 certification, which addresses environmen- tal-management systems across all opera- tions. In 2006, the World Leadership Forum awarded Calgary its World Leadership Award in the environment category, recognizing the city’s dedication to enhancing, protecting, and respecting the environment. Calgary is also the proud home of the first transit sys- tem in North America to achieve ISO 14001 certification, and Calgary Transit’s light-rail system runs entirely on electricity generated by wind turbines.
Well-connected The 122,000-square-foot Calgary TELUS Convention Centre is directly connected to a plethora of restaurants, shops, hotels, and attractions in Calgary’s downtown core via 10 miles of indoor walkways.