Downtown Calgary’s Back to Style is Back!
Calgary, AB (September 6, 2011). Due to the overwhelming success last year, our September campaign is back for 2011. Downtown Calgary is hosting Back to Style September 6 – 30, highlighting all the stylish shopping; entertainment and dining you can only find downtown, your original destination. There are lots of great events and experiences plus we’ll be giving away $1000s in stylish prizes!
“Keep your eyes open this September as you walk around the downtown core. Who knows what great style event you will see and what type of pampering you will receive!” explains Caralyn Macdonald, Marketing and Communications Manager. “Downtown is an exciting place to be this September and it is the city’s original destination for culture plus an amazing variety of unique stores and restaurants.”
Enjoy your first week back after the long weekend by listening to music of Blues Smythe on the Trolley Stage on Thursday, and be spotted shopping in the CORE on Saturday and Sunday between 11am to 2pm and you could win $200 in Couture Cash at a surprise retailer. One person selected each day. Look for our bright pink shirts!
Next weeks events include:
· Street Style Photo Gallery – Vote for downtown’s most stylish ,
Our style hunter will be on the streets to shoot photos of stylish Calgarians. Will you be one of them?
· The Downtown Style Van
Look for our very pink Style Van on the Stephen Avenue Walk lunch hour. The van will host makeovers from The Bay, Hollywood costume displays from the Glenbow Museum’s “Cut! Costume and Cinema” exhibition, fashion tips from Studio Gorgeous, and more.
· Art on the Walk
Glenbow hits the streets with this collaborative art project! Try your and in creating abstract art. The art and skill behind abstract painting is best understood when you try it firsthand!
· Thursday Live Music
From 11:30am to 1pm on the Stephen Avenue Walk you’ll hear live music from Shannon Shade on the Trolley Stage.
· Instant Shopping Sprees at The CORE, TD Square, Holt Renfrew
Be spotted shopping in the CORE on Saturday and Sunday between 1pm to 5pm and you could win $200 in Couture Cash at a surprise retailer. Look for our bright pink shirts. One person selected each day.
· Dining Deals – Get exclusive offers from top downtown restaurants
Follow us on Twitter to get exclusive short time offers.
· Get Gorgeous @ HOME breakfast
Come experience Calgary's very own "live" style show with stylist Karen Judge (Studio Gorgeous) and the delicious food of Home Tasting Room
· Plus Theatre season openings and new exhibit openings.
Look for more details on Back to Style events at www.downtowncalgary.com/back-to-style and on the Downtown Calgary Facebook page.
Calgary Downtown Association Rewards those who foster Vitality in the Downtown Core.
April 27, 2011 (Calgary, AB). The Calgary Downtown Association (CDA), at its Annual General Meeting held earlier today presented the annual Downtown Vitality Awards.
These awards are given annually to businesses and organizations in recognition of significant achievements in enhancing the vitality of Downtown Calgary, as a premiere place to work, live and play.
The recipients help to meet the CDA’s mission to champion a vital, prosperous, attractive and livable downtown community for everyone to enjoy.
“Each year, the CDA recognizes individuals, teams and corporations who go the extra mile in terms of making our downtown a better place for our ratepayers, their employees, citizens of Calgary, visitors to our beautiful city and indeed, generations to come.” States Jim Doyle, Chair, Calgary Downtown Association, “We look to acknowledge those whose actions align with the vision of the CDA of vibrancy through safety, cleanliness, beauty, and excitement. “
2010 Vitality Awards Recipients:
Improvements in Downtown Safety – Constable Mark Kane, Calgary Police Service
Constable Kane has played a leadership role in the success of crime reduction and improved planning foe the late night economy in downtown Calgary.
Beautifying the Downtown - Jamieson Place – Bentall LP
In Jamieson Place, the downtown has not only seen a truly beautiful addition to the skyline, but a number of wonderful pieces of art by Dennis Oppenheim and Dale Chilhouli, plus a spectacular Winter Garden.
Beautifying the Downtown - Joe Farad’s Do Ra Me Fa Sol La Si Do – Sieben Family, PennWest, Stampede Public Art Committee
The Stampede Public Art Committee is focused on providing beautiful art installations as part of the Stampede Art Trail. With the generous financial support of the Siebens Family, and PennWest Energy, the committee commissioned artist Joe Fafard to create the wonderful family of horses located at the new Calgary Court House Park.
Increasing Downtown Vibrancy – SNOWBLOWER, High Performance Rodeo
This internationally recognized festival brings performers from around the world to light up nearly every venue in the downtown with theatre, dance and music. IN 2010, they created the first outdoor dance party called Snowblower, which was free to the public and drew 1,000’s to Olympic Plaza in January.
Community Integration and Vibrancy – Heritage Tours, TransAlta Retirees Group
The TransAlta Retirees Group hosts regular tours of the historic buildings in downtown, helping to educate our children, citizens and visitors about Calgary’s vibrant history.
Streetscape Improvements and Environmental Stewardship – Riverwalk, Calgary Municipal Lands Corporation
The Riverwalk is a wonderful amenity for everyone in Calgary, and the reclamation of the riverbank has a very positive environmental impact. This project is a significant investment in the inner city and the healthy lifestyles we aspire to.
Streetscape Improvements – Olympic Plaza Temporary Art Installations, Parks 100 year celebration
The City of Calgary Parks Department celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2010 in many wonderful ways but one that resonated very well with people downtown were the temporary art installations in Olympic Plaza.
Community Partnerships – Community Gardens, Standard Life Assurance Company of Canada
Standard Life embraced our community garden initiative and involved their staff and tenants in the Standard Life Building by growing seedlings, planting and caring for a group of planters on the +15 at their location
Urban Design Excellence – Fifth and Fifth, GWL Reality Advisors, Kasian Architecture
The redevelopment of Fifth and Fifth building started out with a wonderful modern, clean design, and has resulted in a significant improvement to the public realm from the sidewalk through to the building exterior, the lighting and the lobby.
Urban Design Excellence – Hotel Le Germain , Groupe Germain Hospitality
There is a lot of focus being directed to multipurpose buildings and increased density in the inner city. A wonderful example of a successful implementation and a great addition to the downtown is Hotel Le Germain, complete with residential, hotel, office, and commercial space.
Heritage Preservation – Fashion Central, Encorp Management
Fashions Central, on Stephen Avenue Walk, completed in 2010, combines a number of buildings in an elegant and hip fashion. It brings out the very best in the historical bones of the buildings with a modern feel and provides a unique retail experience.
New banners update special places in and around the centre city
Calgary, AB (May 20, 2010) - New banners along Barclay Parade (3 Street S.W.) were installed in partnership with the Calgary Downtown Association (CDA) with this being the first time that this location has been part of the downtown banner program. The theme of the project is “GROWTH” and ties in with Park’s 100th anniversary this year. The Barclay Parade banners symbolize growth of a city and growth of a garden. The objective is to provide a sense of place and connection between the popular Stephen Avenue Walk and Eau Claire Festival Market
Installing these colourful banners is the first step in making Barclay Parade a vibrant gateway linking the commercial core to the river and positioning Barclay as a key art walk of the downtown area.
"We are very happy with the colourful banners that were installed along Barclay Parade over the last couple of days, they add further color and vibrancy to our urban environment." states Maggie Schofield, Executive Director, Calgary Downtown Association, "this is yet another step in revitalizing this area and complements the community gardens and stone sculptures situated along the sidewalks."
These brightly coloured banners are designed by local artist, Tara Griffiths, in the style of the Japanese art of Shibori. Shibori, which means to bind, is the fabric cousin of the well-known Japanese paper art of Origami. These paired banners will progress through five basic designs from simple to complex and five different colors from Citrus Orange near 9th Avenue to deep blue as you walk down Barclay Parade from Stephen Avenue Walk to Eau Claire Festival.
Seven of the bridges into downtown, as well as Barclay Parade and Olympic Plaza will be updated throughout May and June, with the installations to showcase local artists work and contribute to a more vibrant downtown
"The goal is to provide a unique opportunity for local artists to display their work, while at the same time create inviting places for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers in and around the centre city," says David Down, Coordinator, Centre City Development and Heritage at The City.
In 2010, the Downtown Banner Program will celebrate two Centennials - Calgary Parks and Calgary Chinatown, with unique banner series for each by renowned local artists. In addition to Barclay Parade, artists will create new banners to celebrate Aboriginal month in Olympic Plaza, and to recall 135 years of history at Fort Calgary.
Calgary Downtown Association Rewards those who Foster Vitality in the Downtown Core
Calgary, AB (May 6, 2010) -
The Calgary Downtown Association (CDA), at its Annual General Meeting held earlier today recognized individuals and organizations who have helped to make the downtown a vital place to be by presenting them annual Vitality Awards.
The recipients of the CDA’s annual awards compliment the Calgary’s Downtown Association’s mission to champion a vital, prosperous, attractive and livable downtown community for everyone to enjoy. Due to the large number of great initiatives undertaken in 2009, eleven awards were given out.
“Each year, the CDA recognizes individuals, teams and corporations for going the extra mile to make the downtown a better place for the workers, citizens of Calgary, visitors and in many cases, generations to come.” States Jim Doyle, Chair, Calgary Downtown Association, “We look to acknowledge those whose vision parallels the vision of the CDA of vibrancy, through safety, cleanliness, beauty, and excitement. “
2009 Vitality Awards Recipients:
· Advocacy of the Downtown – Mayor Dave Bronconnier
Mayor Bronconnier has consistently shown leadership and support for creating a vibrant, safe and healthy downtown.
· Improvements to downtown safety in 2009 - Calgary Police Service, District 1
2009 culminated a multi-year focus from District 1 with 66 Beat Officers, resulting in crime statistics dropping significantly over the previous year.
· Increasing downtown vibrancy in 2009 with the Grey Cup Festival – The Grey Cup Festival Committee
This event brought free and family friendly events to the downtown core with vibrancy at all times of the day and night, and generated significant revenues for hotels, retailers and restaurants in downtown Calgary.
· Downtown Communication – The Calgary Herald
As one of Canada’s the top papers, the Calgary Herald provides high levels of coverage of business and events in the downtown area.
· Community Integration and Vibrancy – Aboriginal First Nations Conference
Last summer was an extremely important one to the First Nations population of Canada. With the election of a new leader for the first time in many years more than 3300 delegates descended on downtown Calgary. They shared their culture with the Calgary community through their artisans on Stephen Avenue Walk and the Pow Wow at Olympic Plaza.
· Beautifying the Downtown – John Torode “The Root”
This sculpture located on the corner of 8th Street and 8th Avenue was installed without any reciprocal benefit from the City, but purely for the benefit of the community.
· Beautifying the Downtown through Public Art – Brookfield Properties Corporation
New public art installation on the corner of 9th Avenue and 2nd Street outside the new Bankers Court building brings vitality to that corner and has quickly become a landmark.
· Revitalizing the Streetscape at Gulf Canada Square – Great West Life Reality Advisors
The new gardens and pedestrian environment has proven to be an inviting place to walk and pause for workers and visitors alike. In addition, many creative environmental applications were used the project.
· Enhancing Streetscape – Holt Renfrew
The new Holt Renfrew building makes a positive impact to the street through their street lighting and engaging window displays.
· +15 Vibrancy – Yale Properties
The +15 network in the downtown provides many different experiences, and those areas that provide great services and atmospheres are real destinations. The +15 at the 333 5th Avenue Building has succeeded in doing just that.
· Increasing Vibrancy and Community Integration – Harvard Property Management
Event space for events is always at a premium, especially for not-for-profit organizations. By offering their large spaces for over 55 community groups last year at no cost, positioned the Eau Claire as an accessible and vibrant location.
Calgary Gets Ready for the
Ten Tastiest Days of the Year
Calgary, AB (March 1, 2010) - Dine Out Calgary, presented by American Express, is back and bigger than ever. From March 5th to 14th the city's top chefs present new three-course dining experiences.
This is an once-in-a-year opportunity to sample innovative, creative dining options at value prices in over 90 of Calgary's best restaurants in the heart of the city.
For the ninth year in a row, patrons can enjoy a pre-set Chef's menu with price options for lunch at $15.00 or $25.00 per person and for dinner at $25.00 or $35.00 per person plus the Gourmet Dine Out Package, which includes a beverage pairing, at $85.00 per person.
Dine Out Calgary is also pleased to present Dine with John Gilchrist. Enjoy specially prepared menus and informative and engaging conversation with the noted food author, Calgary Herald food writer and CBC restaurant critic for two exclusive lunches and one exclusive dinner engagement. Tickets are only $40.00 per person for lunch and $50.00 per person for dinner.
"We hope this year's Dine Out Calgary promotion with the affordable lunch and dinner options will entice Calgarians to explore the inner core", states Maggie Schofield, Executive Director, Calgary Downtown Association. "With over 90 restaurants to date, there will truly be something for every taste."
For a complete listing of the participating restaurants and to purchase tickets to the special Dine with John Gilchrist Series, please go to www.dineoutcalgary.com
When you use your American Express Card at participating restaurants during Dine out Calgary American Express will donate 5% of purchases charged to American Express Cards, up to a total donation of $40,000* to Food Banks Canada. Food Banks Canada supports a national network of regional and community food banks across Canada, providing much needed food for individuals and families.
For more information, please contact:
Caralyn Macdonald
Marketing and Communication Manager
Downtown Calgary
403 215 1567
caralynm@downtowncalgary.com
