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Calgarian Will Ferguson Wins Stephen Leacock Award for Beyond Belfast

A couple weeks ago, Will Ferguson's new book was awarded the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour. The book follows his 2-month hike along the Ulster Way in Northern Ireland, his mishaps, as well as the country's "history and religious strife – but in a very funny fashion."

It's Ferguson's 3rd Leacock Award, who is also the author of "Hitching Rides with Buddha," an account of his journey hitchhiking the length of Japan following the blooming of the sakura - it's a great read for anyone interested in Japan, sakura, or hitchhiking.

Check out Ferguson's website here:
No, Actually Here

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Calgary in the Movies

Here's a list of some big movies filmed, at least in part, in and around Calgary:


Exit Wounds (Calgary and Edmonton)
I'll be Home for Christmas (Canmore)
Waydowntown (filmed in the downtown core, throughout the +15 system)
Cool Runnings (showing lots of Canada Olympic Park)
Doctor Zhivago (Alberta railroads)
Superman I and III (you can catch a quick shot of the LRT in III)
Brokeback Mountain (Calgary and Fort MacLeod)
Snow Day (Calgary and Edmonton)
Shanghai Noon (Calgary, Drumheller, Others)
Unforgiven (Calgary, Drumheller, Others)
Rat Race (Calgary and Drumheller)
Dances with Wolves (Throughout Alberta)
The Edge (Canmore, Edmonton)
Legends of the Fall

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Upcoming Festivals

There are a number of little festivals coming up this week to end the month of May:

Otafest (May 21-23) - Celebrating Japanese otaku (or nerdiness). At the University of Calgary check out the growing festival for Japanese anime.

Otafest 2010

The Calgary International Children's Festival (May 25-29) - A great and long-standing festival for kids, with all kinds of activities and performances.

Calgary International Children's Festival

Calgary International Beerfest (May 28-29) - Sample beers in the Big 4 Building on the Stampede grounds!

Calgary International Beerfest

Calgary Ukrainian Festival (May 29-30) - Experience some Calgary Ukrainian culture at this 2-day festival, held at the Triwood Community Centre.

Calgary Ukrainian Festival

The Lilac Festival (May 30) - From 10-6 on Sunday the 30th, 4th St. will fill up with all kinds of street performances and vendors.

The Lilac Festival

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Banff World TV Festival


Currently the Banff World TV Festival is going on in Banff, Alberta. It's quite a big festival, bringing a bunch of celebrities to the area from TV, film and new media industries. There are all kinds of events, including courses, project pitching, awards, parties, and screenings.

Some highlights so far:

- Will Shatner gets a lifetime achievement award.
- Ricky Gervais wins a comedy award.
- The Alberta Culture Minister has called Canadian TV 'crap'.

Check it out!
Banff TV Festival

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Bus Travel in Alberta

Sebastian was recently at the Edmonton Greyhound bus station, and discovered it was one of the dodgiest he'd seen in Canada; small, poor, and with ridiculously stringent security. The actually bus trip to Calgary was all right though, and cheaply priced. If you're looking for something less dodgy though, and a bit more upscale, the Red Arrow company also provides bus service, particularly for the oil types make the trip between city centres.

Greyhound
Red Arrow

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Factoid: Popular Variant of Ginger Beef Made in Calgary


While ginger beef existed earlier in China, and even San Francisco in the 1960s, a popular variant was invented by Peter Mang of Calgary's Yum Yum Tree. It was really popular in the 80s and 90s, but can still be found in many Calgarian Chinese restaurants.

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Shakespeare in the Park Begins!


Head down to Prince's Island Park to check out 3 classic works by Shakespeare, including the world premiere of the newly discovered work "Double Falsehood"...I haven't followed too closely about the authentication of the play, but it's certainly a rare experience for the theatre-goers! The other two productions being put on by the Mount Royal company are Othello and Much Ado About Nothing.

For more info, Click Here!

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Calgary Folk Fest

The Calgary Folk Fest starts this Thursday, and runs until the end of the weekend. This year's festival features artists from 14 different countries, including the Avett Brothers, Roberta Flack, Man Man, Laura Marling, St. Vincent, Stars, the Swell Season, Timber Timbre and Frank Turner. Like Shakespeare in the Park, the festival will take place on Prince's Island.

For tickets, passes, and information, visit the festival's website!

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Greenpeace Displays Banner on Calgary Tower

Greenpeace hung a banner stating "Separate Oil and State" from the Calgary Tower.

Check out the article here.

Post a reply to let us know what you think about it.

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Early August Festivals


Tons of festival this month happening in Calgary - Check out what's on:


Blues Fest
Aug 2-8
Check it out!

The Fringe Festival
Jul 30th-Aug 7th
Check it out!

Afrikadey
Prince's Island Park
Aug 9-14
Check it out!

Taste of Calgary
Eau Claire Market
Aug 12-15
Check it out!

Chinatown Street Festival
Aug 14th, 2010
Check it out!

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New Exhibit at the Calgary Art Gallery

The Calgary Art Gallery is hosting a neat exhibition for the next month or so entitled Mixed Signals Artists consider masculinity in sports. Check it out!

Artists include Matthew Barney, Mark Bradford, Marcelino Gonçalves, Lyle Ashton Harris, Brian Jungen, Kurt Kauper, Shaun El C. Leonardo, Kori Newkirk, Catherine Opie, Paul Pfeiffer, Marco Rios, Collier Schorr, Joe Sola, Sam Taylor-Wood, Hank Willis Thomas

The Calgary Art Gallery

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CRRRaZy about lawnbowling?! Check out the Stanley Park Lawn Bowling Club!

Stanley Park Lawn Bowling Club

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Upcoming Concerts in Calgary

Here's a few concerts to look out for this month in Calgary.

Stompin' Tom Connors
Aug 14
at the Jubilee Auditorium

Saxophonist Kenny G
Aug 16
at the Jubilee Auditorium

Michael Buble
Aug 17 to Aug 18
at the Pengrowth Saddledome

Sarah Harmer
Aug 19
at the Jack Singer Concert Hall

Boris (from Japan)
Aug 19
at the Republik

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Calgary Communities

If you're interested in reading up on some of Calgary's top neighbourhoods, check out this article in Avenue Magazine (a local Calgary magazine, featuring articles on restaurants, culture, and events in the city). They've given a ranking for Calgary's top communities, based on Calgarians' opinions, and written about them. Elboya comes in at number 1 for its park, 100 year-old trees and accessibility.

The article also ranks the top 5 communities for Friendliness, Pedestrian-Friendliness, Safety, Curb Appeal, and Parks & Rec.

Check it out: Calgary's Best Neighbourhoods

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Calgary's Improv Festival Keeps on Growing

The Calgary Improv Festival has started, and will run until Oct. 3rd. Canadian comedian Colin Mochrie will be hosting. I (Sebastian) remember checking out improv at the Loose Moose ages ago, and even participating in a high school improv festival there. There was nothing this big around then though...it's become really popular in Calgary. Check it out!

Calgary Improv Festival

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September 25th - Light the Night

This is a fundraising event for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s of Canada. It's a walk that will be taking place at Eau Claire Market where participants carry illuminated balloons - supporters have red balloons, and patients/survivors will have white. It takes place at twilight...Should be really pretty!

Light the Night

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Avatar Director James Cameron Opposing Oil Sands Development

The latest news about the Alberta oilsands has Canadian film director James Cameron adding his voice. The issue is becoming more and more well known, as campaigns for and against development continue to expand.

Cameron, on Premiere Ed Stelmach's invitation, toured the oil sands, and has stated he will be lending his support to raise awareness about the issue. He's not against development, but states it needs to be done right and that current projects should be halted.

Read the full article here.

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All About Naheed Nenshi

A week ago, Calgarians voted in Naheed Nenshi to the mayoral office. He won with 40% of the vote. 53% of Calgarians turned out to vote - great numbers for a municipal election. Nenshi, 38, is credited with bringing out the youth vote, particularly through the use of social media. His win makes him the first Muslim mayor in a major Canadian city,

Nenshi graduated from the University of Calgary and Harvard. He comes from a business background, but served as chairman for Calgary's Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts. It will be interesting to see what change he brings to the city. Top priorities for him include budget and transport issues.

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Christmas is Coming to Calgary!

As the weather cools, people are starting to light up their houses with Christmas displays, and soon many of Calgary's parks will be decorated with Christmas lights. Check out the starter kit for some locations.

Also, this Saturday you can check out Christmas in Inglewood for horse-drawn sleighs, and the Great Christmas Tree Quest, where groups will hunt for Christmas trees to decorate them later on.

Check it out here:
Christmas in Inglewood

You can also see this website below, which maps out different areas in Calgary with Christmas lights.

Lighten Up Calgary

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Uprising at Downstage Theatre

In the mood for some politically charged theatre? Check out Downstage Theatre's Uprising Festival, from November 19th to 27th. The 2nd annual festival will be showcasing three shows, as well as a reading from the winner of their national playwriting competition.

Check it out here!

You can also check out this article in FFWD about the festival.