Calgary Citizen Newsletter Tuesday July 4

Good morning, there!

Vacation season is upon us and despite economic uncertainty, Canadians are still looking to travel, but in cost-effective ways with 74% looking to hit the open roads instead of boarding crowded flights, according to a new GoRVing Canada report. In Alberta, many travellers plan to rest easy and affordable with 60% of travellers looking to spend less on accommodations to offset the effects of inflation.

👀 In today's edition:

• Calgary woman is pitching to win

• Lake Louise wildfire evacuation

• On a mission armed with a song

Today’s read time: Approx. 4 minutes

QUICK POLL

WORTH KNOWING

⛅ Today: High 19C, Low 7C. See the 7-day forecast.

🚗 Driving today? Check the current traffic situation, and find the city’s traffic report and road closures.

⚠️ Here’s the current smoke forecast / check Calgary wildfire and fire restrictions and the Alberta Wildfire Dashboard.

Want to advertise your business, event, or restaurant to 35,000+ engaged locals? Contact our team today.

COMMUNITY

Pitching to win: Calgary woman is once again playing for Team Canada at Canada Cup

One pitch at a time, Calgary’s Morgan Rackel hopes to lead the national team to victory at the annual Canada Cup. The Canada Cup International Softball Championship takes place in Surrey, BC from July 7 to 16. Rackel has played on Team Canada since 2019. In 2020, she made her Olympic debut in Tokyo, winning the bronze medal as an alternate. Before that, she helped win silver in 2019 at the Pan American Games. Now she’s back wearing the maple leaf, pitching in the Canada Cup.

Local support: Rackel appreciates the continuous support from her community in Calgary. She highlights one community member who during COVID lent her his warehouse to practice pitching in.

Giving back: When she can, Rackel likes to give back to her alumni organization, the Calgary Kaizen. She hopes to be a role model for the young girls coming up through the system.

We spoke with Rackel about her softball journey and her dreams.

Related Story

Need to know

🌪️ An Alberta woman describes fleeing her home that was destroyed in Didsbury’s devastating tornado. (CBC)

🔥 Hundreds of people have been displaced by a forest fire that ignited a Lake Louise housing complex. (City News)

💔 Family and friends are mourning a 19-year-old bull rider who died during a weekend rodeo event. (Herald)

🏥 A six-year-old girl is in serious condition after two dogs attacked her over the weekend. (Global)

🚓 A 20-year-old man has been charged with murdering his mother in what police are calling an “incredibly tragic incident” for the family. (Sun)

🚒 “Not unusual”: Alberta recorded 56 new wildfires over the Canada Day long weekend. (Journal)

❤️ Nominate a newcomer who has enriched the province through community service for the Alberta Newcomer Recognition Awards by July 31.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

A photo in the newspaper inspired a Calgary woman to write a song for Ukraine, now she’s on a mission to raise money for the relief effort

After the invasion of Ukraine, Calgary singer/songwriter Carolyn Harley was inspired to write a song after seeing a photo in the newspaper of an ordinary man from Ukraine heading off to war. She wrote “Ordinary Man – A Song For Ukraine” to explore the reality of a man going to war. Since its release, Harley has started a $10 donation challenge to raise money for Ukraine relief. Together, she believes the community can make a difference and she hopes her song will inspire people to donate to the effort.

We caught up with Harley to chat about her song and ongoing fundraiser.

Things to do

🎟️ National Music Centre: Studio Bell is now open seven days a week as the NMC is launching a series of self-guided audio tours, which kick off with Bonus Tracks: Randy Bachman on July 6.

🎟️ High Tea at the Zoo: A full day of summer fun, enjoy treats and snacks while sipping on tea and taking in the views of the gardens and flowers at the zoo. Available July 4 and other select dates.

🎟️ Blue Jay Sessions: Prairie Paradise: Join a special outdoor edition of Blue Jay Sessions featuring eight artists at The Prairie Emporium on July 5.

🎟️ Fluor Rope Square: Every morning kicks off with a pancake breakfast paired with marching bands, dancers, singers, fiddlers, and more! All entertainment and activities are free and will take place at the Olympic Plaza on July 8, and then from July 10 to 15.

Have an event suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

Where to eat & drink

🍴 Class Clown Hamburgers: This brand new burger shop quietly opened on 4th Street and its affordable $13 burgers are to die for!

🍴 Brouhaha: Looking for the perfect brunch spot? Grab a brunch platter for two, enjoy mimosas, or indulge in signature scrambles at this breakfast and lunch restaurant!

🍴 Clay Pot Asian Food Kitchen: Get ready to indulge in dishes like grilled and braised pork spare ribs, beef tartare, and shrimp cracker nachos that'll knock your socks off at this new restaurant.

🍴 Arirang Hotdog: This joint serves up delicious Korean-inspired handmade hotdogs that are a must-try for anyone looking for a unique and flavorful food experience.

Have a food or drink suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

Local specials

💸 Calgary Stampede: Save at the Stampede by going to your nearest Costco. For $39.99 buy $50 worth of Stampede Bucks to redeem on the grounds.

💸 My Favorite Ice Cream Shoppe: Are you a pianist that loves ice cream? Well, at My Favourite Ice Cream Shoppe, you can play the piano inside for just 10 minutes to receive a free scoop of ice cream!

💸 Vietnam Palace: Until July 16 receive one free spring roll or chicken, beef, or pork skewer with any order of $15 or more.

💸 Greta: Get all kinds of deals at Greta, but best of all get three hours of unlimited gaming for only $20 during happy hour, which is Tuesday to Saturday from 3 to 6pm.

Know of any hot specials or deals? Message us and we might share it!

That’s it! Thanks for reading. If you have a hot story tip you want to share, feel free to reply back anytime.

We’ll see you back here on Thursday, same time, same place 🫡

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