Millions of visitors made Alberta Parks their happy place this year

Advertise | Sign Up

Good morning !

If you've been thinking about adding a pet to the family, Calgary Humane Society is making it easier this month with its Home for the Holidays campaign, featuring a "Choose Your Own Adoption Fee" to help more than 200 animals find homes. From furry friends to constitutional debates and student innovators, here's what's happening around Calgary this week.

👀 In today's edition:

• Premier says courts shouldn't gatekeep independence votes

• Historic Beltline building gets budget boost

• Calgary students compete for innovation cash

Get your story told! Promote your business, event, or restaurant in front of 30,000+ engaged locals! Contact our team today.

WORTH KNOWING

☀️ Today: High -3C, Low -9C. 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.

QUICK POLL

Millions of visitors made Alberta Parks their happy place this year

Summer and fall have come and gone, the snow has arrived, and it's time to look back at what turned out to be a banner year for Alberta's provincial parks.

More than 280,000 summer camping reservations were made in 2025—a seven per cent jump from last year and the highest level since 2021. Millions of visitors hit the trails, paddled the lakes, and soaked in the wilderness across Alberta's 305 parks.

"It's been a fantastic year for Alberta Parks, and the numbers make it clear that demand for outdoor experiences continues to grow in our province," said Todd Loewen, Minister of Forestry and Parks.

Bow Valley and Peter Lougheed Provincial Parks in Kananaskis Country topped the popularity charts, followed by Aspen Beach, Cypress Hills, and Pigeon Lake. Whether backcountry camping under the stars or cozying up in comfort campsites, there was something for everyone.

Behind the scenes, Alberta Parks staff connected with more than half a million visitors throughout the season, sharing tips and leading programs. They delivered over 3,000 interpretive programs with a visitor satisfaction rate of nearly 97 per cent.

While 81 per cent of campers were Albertans, the parks proudly hosted visitors from 59 different countries, reflecting the global appeal of the province's natural beauty.

A new notification feature on the online reservation platform launched in 2025, making it easier to snag high-demand campsites. The free tool was used more than 54,000 times and resulted in 13,000 additional reservations.

The province also introduced a camping discount for Alberta seniors at over 140 campgrounds this spring. More than 34,000 camper nights were booked using the 25 per cent discount, with Miquelon Lake Provincial Park in central Alberta being the most popular destination.

As winter settles in, Alberta's parks are shifting gears to become a top destination for cold-weather recreation, offering 530 individual campsites at 13 year-round campgrounds. Winter activities include downhill skiing at Hidden Valley Ski Resort in Cypress Hills, cross-country skiing on over 65 kilometres of trails at Canmore Nordic Centre, and ice skating across the province.

Need to know

⚖️ Premier Danielle Smith said courts shouldn't be gatekeepers on constitutional questions like independence referendums, responding after a judge ruled a separatist referendum would violate the Charter and questioning the UCP's proposed legislation to change referendum rules mid-process.

📊 Alberta led the country in job growth in November with 29,000 new positions added, dropping the unemployment rate from 7.8 per cent to 6.5 per cent, though economists warn the upward trend may be short-lived due to modest hiring forecasts.

🎅 About 200 Calgarians braved wind chills around -25 to participate in the 35th annual Santa Shuffle Fun Run & Elf Walk, raising $10,000 for Salvation Army programs supporting the city's most vulnerable population.

🏛️ The vacant Old YWCA building in the Beltline received $1 million in Calgary's 2026 budget for a scoping report to assess the nearly 115-year-old structure's condition and determine repair costs after sitting empty for more than two months.

💡 Bow Valley College students pitched digital innovation ideas at Platform Calgary's Indie Ignition Accelerator competition for a share of $54,000 in prizes, with concepts ranging from video games to interactive learning tools for realistic training solutions.

🔬 Calgary high school student Anie Udofia became one of 30 worldwide semifinalists in the Breakthrough Junior Challenge for her research on organoids—tiny lab-grown mini organs that could revolutionize medical treatments—and is competing for $400,000 in prizes.

👀 One person was rushed to hospital in non-life-threatening condition after a vehicle crashed into a Calgary CTrain on 7 Avenue SW Saturday afternoon, temporarily halting service until around 3 PM.

More than 200 furry friends are hoping for a home this holiday season

Calgary Humane Society is running its annual Home for the Holidays adoption campaign throughout December, hoping to find loving homes for more than 200 animals.

The campaign features a special "Choose Your Own Adoption Fee" initiative designed to remove financial barriers and help more animals leave kennels for the comfort of a home.

"Every single adoption creates a ripple effect—changing the life of the animal going home today, and opening critical space for the next one who urgently needs our help," said Carrie Fritz, Executive Director at Calgary Humane Society.

Throughout the month, staff and volunteers at the shelter (4455 110 Ave SE) are available to help find the perfect match for potential adopters.

Community members who aren't ready to adopt can still help by sharing adoption profiles on social media, encouraging friends and family to visit the shelter, or donating to support animal welfare.

Where to eat and drink

🍴 4th Spot Kitchen & Bar: This family-owned Mount Pleasant restaurant has been serving casual favourites made from quality ingredients since 2011, with owner Bil Schwalm committed to providing a terrific and memorable experience to every guest with fresh, made-to-order food.

🍴 Starbelly: This SE Calgary open kitchen restaurant invites diners to cozy around the kitchen bar or book the private dining room for an intimate culinary adventure featuring a rotating seasonal menu of locally sourced ingredients, upscale comfort dishes, and a temperature-controlled wine room.

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

Things to do

🎟️ Miracle on First Street Christmas Bar: Proof Cocktail Bar transforms into an over-the-top Christmas extravaganza from now until December 24, serving festive cocktails and food in a holiday-themed atmosphere daily from 2 PM to late, with no cover charge and wheelchair accessibility.

🎟️ Merry & Matter: Spark Science Centre celebrates the holidays from now until January 4 with twinkling lights, hands-on science experiences, the immersive Goodnight Moon digital gallery, the new Extreme Sports exhibition, festive treats, and cozy spaces perfect for family photos, all included with general admission or membership.

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

That’s it!

Thanks for reading today. If you found something interesting, please forward this email to another Calgarian and tell them to sign up!

And before you go, we’d love to know…

We’ll see you back here on Tuesdays and Thursdays, same time, same place!