LGBTQ+ Facts
Calgary is known to be welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community and has many things for visitors and locals to do. It has a strong queer community, even though it is mainly spread out through the city.
Even though there is no gaybourhood or gay village, LGBTQ+ travelers should still feel comfortable venturing through Calgary safely.
The main areas around Calgary that are LGBTQ+-friendly are the city center (Downtown, the Beltline, 17th Avenue SW, 4th Street SW, and the East Village) and feature restaurants, shopping, and more.
Some LGBTQ+ resources and events include:
Mental Health in Calgary, Alberta
In Alberta, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for children and youth, as recorded by a report from Children First Canada. The information was based on 2018 research by the University of Calgary’s O’Brien Institute of Public Health.
This report determined the ten most severe threats to the mental and physical wellbeing of children in Canada. These include accidents and preventable injuries, suicide, depression, anxiety, child abuse, poverty, and infant mortality.
In addition, kids in Alberta are ending up in emergency rooms more after self-harming behavior. The Alberta Health Services (AHS) has also found a 20% increase in the number of kids and youth wanting to access mental health support.
Finding mental health care for children and youth is essential in Canada. If you know a young person who requires mental health care in Calgary, many options are available. You can check out our psychologists for kids page at LGBTQ and ALL to find a top qualified professional and/or treatment option in your area.
Top Features in Calgary, Alberta
Calgary is a cosmopolitan city in Alberta known for its skyscrapers and being the hub of Canada’s oil industry. This city’s nickname is “Cowtown” due to its Western heritage and culture showcased in the Calgary Stampede, a famous annual rodeo, exhibition, and festival that takes place every July.
Other attractions and events:
- The Calgary Central Library
- WinSport
- Olympic Plaza
- Chinook Blast
- ZOOLIGHTS
- The Calgary Tower
- Studio Bell
- The Calgary Zoo
Facts
- There are more days of sunshine in Calgary than any other big Canadian city: 333 days per year.
- The median age of people in Calgarians is only 37.2 years.
- Calgary is considered the third most diverse major city in Canada, with more than 120 languages spoken.
- Calgary’s size is 848 square kilometers (or 327 square miles).
- People in Calgary are passionate about their community; Albertans hold the second-highest national volunteer rate at 55%.
History/Data
Calgary was first incorporated as a town in 1884 and as a city a decade later, before the province of Alberta was created in 1905. In 1884, Calgary had only a few hundred settlers, but by 1891, the population had increased to 3,876 residents.
Calgary is found on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy) and the people of the Treaty 7 area in Southern Alberta. The City of Calgary is also home to Region 3, the Métis Nation of Alberta.
In 2021, the metro area population of Calgary was 1,581,000 residents, a 2.2% increase since the year before.