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Over half of you are excited about the Calgary Stampede—read on to learn about the kickoff event. Many readers are also looking forward to Pride celebrations, boating, family visits, and enjoying music and theatre festivals.

👀 In today's edition:

• Two Calgary MLAs launch bid to revive PC party

• Teens charged after Canada Day assault in Chestermere

• Calgary city council approves 36% pay raise for chief administrator

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WORTH KNOWING

☀️ Today: High 31C, Low 16C. See the 7-day forecast.

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

QUICK POLL

Calgary Stampede 2025 kicks off with music, food, and excitement

The Calgary Stampede kicked off Friday with its famous opening parade, filling downtown streets with colour and energy. Thousands gathered to watch more than 100 groups, from marching bands to horseback riders, travel through the city. Country star Shania Twain led the parade as the marshal, making a memorable return to this special role.

Inside Stampede Park, visitors can enjoy a fresh lineup of tasty treats, including sushi-style nori tacos, lobster tornado rolls, and even wagyu poutine topped with truffles and a quail egg. Music fans won’t be disappointed either, with performances from artists like Tenille Townes, Jade Eagleson, Khalid, Simple Plan, and Diplo, plus a special show featuring Shania Twain and local favourite Devon Cole.

Alongside the concerts and food, the classic rodeo events, chuckwagon races, and cultural gatherings such as the First Nations Powwow are in full swing. With more than 150 artists performing across nine stages, the Stampede promises 10 days full of Calgary spirit and excitement, with organizers expecting attendance to top one million visitors again this year.

Need to know

🏛️ Two independent Calgary MLAs officially launched a bid to revive Alberta’s Progressive Conservative Party.

🚔 Two teens, aged 13 and 15, were charged after RCMP say a woman was swarmed and assaulted by a group of youths at a Chestermere park on Canada Day.

💔 The body of a 16-year-old girl was discovered inside an abandoned vehicle in southern Alberta, prompting an RCMP investigation.

🎉 Thousands lined the streets for the 2025 Calgary Stampede Parade, which featured marching bands, floats, and western flair. Check out photos from the event.

🎟️ A Calgary woman lost hundreds of dollars after her StubHub account was likely hacked and her concert tickets were sold for just $2.48 each.

🚨 Calgary police asked the public for help locating a 50-year-old man who was reported missing from the Huntington Hills area on Friday.

🩺 A nurse practitioner shared a personal story about navigating Alberta’s strained health-care system while trying to provide patient care.

🐄 A CBC columnist explored the cultural and economic significance of the Calgary Stampede as it kicked off for 2025.

💼 Calgary city council approved a 36% increase to the top end of the chief administrative officer’s pay band following a closed-door vote.

🤠 Yeehaw! Stampede season is here, and the CORE is getting you into the spirit with the CORE Midway! Until July 13, enjoy a jam-packed schedule filled with daily activations, entertainment, giveaways, games, and more!*

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Stampede spirit starts with mentorship

Currently, 82% of the youth on our waitlist are waiting for a male mentor.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is Calgary’s mentoring charity. If you can give just one hour a week, you could help a young person grow in confidence, friendship, and hope.

Be the difference in a youth’s life.

BUMP Festival returns to transform Calgary’s streets with new murals and events

Though still a few weeks away, the ninth annual BUMP Festival is already generating excitement as it prepares to bring vibrant new murals and urban art experiences to Calgary from August 1 to 18, 2025. Spanning the Beltline, Downtown, and Crescent Heights, this year’s festival features a diverse lineup of Canadian and international artists, including muralists from Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, and Morocco. Their work will explore themes of memory, identity, and community, transforming city walls into living canvases.

Beyond murals, BUMP 2025 offers a range of events designed to engage Calgarians in conversations about public space and culture. Highlights include the two-day Urban Art Conference on monuments and memory, a lively graffiti jam and block party, free guided mural tours, and a festival-closing street party featuring DJs, punk shows, skate culture, and more. These events invite people to experience the city as a place of collaboration and creativity.

Since 2017, BUMP has commissioned over 400 public artworks, helping to redefine Calgary’s urban landscape. The 2025 festival continues this tradition by embracing bold design and civic dialogue to build a city that reflects the diverse voices and stories of its residents.

Where to eat and drink

🍴 High Line Brewing: Situated in Calgary's Inglewood neighbourhood, this brewery offers a diverse selection of 19 house-made beers—including gluten-free and non-alcoholic options—alongside inventive highballs and locally-sourced gourmet hot dogs, all within a vibrant, community-focused setting.

🍴 Flores and Pine: Nestled in Bearspaw, this elevated casual restaurant and event space offers a chef-crafted menu featuring locally sourced ingredients, wood-fired grilled dishes, and seasonal specialties, all within a welcoming atmosphere ideal for both intimate gatherings and milestone celebrations.

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

Things to do

🎟️ Washed Ashore: This summer, the zoo presents a striking art exhibit featuring 15 large-scale sculptures crafted from marine debris collected along Pacific Ocean beaches, highlighting the urgent issue of ocean pollution and its impact on marine wildlife.

🎟️ Inglewood Bird Sanctuary: Immerse yourself in nature by embarking on a self-guided 1.5km walk through a serene 36-hectare wildlife reserve, where you can observe over 270 bird species and explore diverse ecosystems along the Bow River.

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

That’s it!

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