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“Pic of the Week”, April 2, 2021: St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Red Deer

The small prairie city of Red Deer is not a place one would expect to find great architecture, but St. Mary’s Catholic Church is a notable and interesting exception.
The design of this church was the first project of Canadian architect, Douglas Cardinal. Born and raised in Red Deer, Mr. Cardinal is Metis. Today Cardinal is best known for designing the memorable Museum of Civilization in Ottawa and the Museum of the American Indian in Washington DC.
Planning for the church’s construction began in 1964 and it was completed in 1968. The entire structure is curved — the walls, roofline, even the roof. There are no windows — light enters …
Apr 1, 2021
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.All Trips / Alberta / Central Canada / North America
Prince’s Island: A popular Urban Park in Calgary

One of the most popular places in Calgary during the (all too few) warm summer months is Prince’s Island Park. The park occupies an island in the Bow River and is situated immediately north of downtown Calgary. It’s open from sunrise to sunset (5 am to 11 pm). Several pedestrian bridges provide park access from downtown.
Prince’s Island Park was named after Peter Prince, who moved from Quebec to Calgary in 1886. Mr. Prince founded the Eau Claire Lumber Mill, and formed the Calgary Water Power Company to provide hydroelectricity to the city. Prince’s Island Park was developed as a community park after the Prince family sold the land to the city in 1947, resulting in the development of a …
Tagged Bow River, Calgary, Park, Prince's Island Park
“Pic of the Week”, February 19, 2021: Education is the new Buffalo, Calgary

I was intrigued by this work of art, created by Lionel Peyachew, which is prominently displayed in Calgary’s new Central Library.
Historically the key to survival on the prairies was a successful buffalo hunt. Today the key to success is a good education. Peyachew has used welded steel letters and numbers to construct a an icon that combines past and present tools for survival.
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge, right arrow to advance slideshow)
Feb 18, 2021
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.All Trips / Alberta / Car Culture / Central Canada / North America
Great Cars along the Highway: 1935 Ford Pickup

Came across this lovely souped-up Ford Pickup in Calgary — and in one of my favorite colors.
Hard to believe it’s almost 85 years old. Powered by a 302cc V8, it was popular when it was made and still a very desirable collectible.
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge, right arrow to advance slideshow)
.All Trips / Alberta / Central Canada / North America

I’d come across a “tractor pull” that was part of weekly series of events …
Tractor Pull in Markerville, Alberta

One of my stops when visiting rural Alberta was the village of Markerville, a farming community built by Icelandic immigrants northwest of Calgary. Markerville has a popular ice cream shop, which was the main reason I visited. While I was enjoying my scoop of chocolate ice cream, I heard an announcer’s voice echoing in the distance. I couldn’t understand what was being said, but had to find out what was going on.
I walked over the pedestrian bridge across the Red Deer River and was surprised to find a colorful collection of tractors in the town’s baseball field, with a scattering of antique cars and other farm equipment.

A gathering of old tractors, Markerville
I’d come across a “tractor pull” that was part of weekly series of events …
Tagged Markerville, tractor, tractor pull
“Pic of the Week”, December 25, 2020: Some Scenes from Central Alberta

The terrain of Alberta is mostly that of the great Canadian prairies. It’s where farms on gently rolling hills yield vast crops of canola, wheat and beef. It’s where lots of oil is pumped from the ground — part of the rich dinosaur heritage of the region.
This past summer I spent several days driving around the central part of the province, between the major cities of Calgary and Edmonton, exploring small towns and destinations I’d not yet seen. Here’s a sampler of what that’s like:
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge, right arrow to advance slideshow)
Dec 24, 2020
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.All Trips / Alberta / Central Canada / North America
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Calgary’s New Central Library

Calgary’s new Central Library is located on the eastern edge of downtown. It opened about two years ago on Nov 1, 2018, replacing the existing library branch in Downtown Calgary. As you can see, the exterior of the building uses textured and clear glass panes in an effective manner.
The building is considered a new landmark in the city and has been a popular destination, with visitation so far at about 2,000,000 people per year.
The city had begun planning for a new library in 2004 and contracted with architectural firms Snøhetta (an international/Norwegian firm) and Dialog (a Canadian firm). Their design features an oval shape with a large central skylight and a spacious central four-story atrium.

Central Atrium, Downtown Calgary Library
Tagged Calgary Central Library