Road Trips from Calgary - North

Road Trips from Calgary - South

Calgaryism's top festival choices for spring and summer 2015:

• When - Sunday, May 31st, 2015, 10:00am to 6:00pm


• Where - 4th Street SW btw 13th Ave S - Elbow Drive


• Cost - free

With over 100,000 visitors every year, the 4th Street Lilac Festival is one of the most popular spring events around. Brimming with countless food vendors, street buskers, live bands, artisan shops and friendly faces, this festival is one not to miss. Get to the restaurant street side patios early to watch from the sidelines if walking lots isn't your thing.

• When - May 28th to June 7th, 2015


• Where - multiple venues


• Cost -20.00 a show per person

If you like laughing and having a good time, then the FunnyFest Calgary Comedy Festival should be on your list of things to do this May / June. You are guaranteed to be walking away after whichever show you attend with sore ribs from laughing so much.

• When - June 24th to June 28th, 2015


• Where - multiple venues


• Cost -50.00 to349.00

The Sled Island Music Festival is one of the biggest and most eclectic music festivals on all year in Calgary. See any of the 250 plus bands performing you like, and then some more with a great selection of ticket options. Events are held at several top-notch venues around YYC, mostly in the inner city and downtown areas.

• When - July 27th to August 2nd, 2015


• Where - Shaw Millennium Park


• Cost -30.00 to129.00

Do you love the blues, maybe some jazz or perhaps that genre in between? If so, then you'll be pleased when you visit the Calgary Bluesfest this summer, a world class event featuring talents from a handful of international countries. Seven days of non-stop music will be played over its four days of duration - now that's some bang for your buck!

• When - July 17th to July 19th, 2015


• Where - Olympic Plaza (downtown)


• Cost - Free

Fiestaval Latino Festival is one of the biggest multicultural arts / entertainment celebrations there is in YYC with a focus on the rich and diverse cultures of Latin America. There are lots of things to do and see at Fiestaval including shopping at vendors, enjoying live music and entertainment plus much more.

• When - July 3rd to July 12th, 2015


• Where - Stampede Grounds


• Cost -10.00 to20.00

The Calgary Stampede, dubbed "the greatest outdoor show on Earth", is one of the best and most celebrated summer festivals in YYC. If you choose to visit just one of these spring or summer festivals listed, this should be the one! Keep a heads up for the new food vendors in 2015, you may just find a new stampeding favourite!

• When - July 23rd to July 26th, 2015


• Where - Festival Hall


• Cost -25.00 to169.00

The Folk Music Festival showcases some of the most unique music genres out there - performed by over 70 artists from 14 different countries - making this summer event one not to miss regardless if you are into the folk genres or not.

• When - to be announced


• Where - Chinatown


• Cost - free

Sample tasty Chinese cuisines, play a game of traditional Mah-Jong, watch performers work miracles as dragon dancers, shop a variety of wares and more at the Chinatown Street Festival in Chinatown. This event is typically held in late July or early August so keep an eye open for the actual date to be announced!

• When - Saturday, August 1st, 2015, 10:00am to 5:00pm


• Where - Inglewood


• Cost - free

What the Sun & Salsa Festival is to Kensington, Lilac Festival to the beltline, Marda Gras to Marda Loop is what the Inglewood Sunfest is to Inglewood; a community event celebrating its diversity through music, food, entertainment and more. Inglewood's connectivity to East Village and RiverWalk makes it an event easily accessible via the river pathways.

• When - Sunday, August 9th, 2015


• Where - Marda Loop


• Cost - free

Marda Gras is similar to Inglewood Sunfest when it comes to having a variety of food vendors, live entertainment, shopping and all the rest that goes with. But then and again, Inglewood and Marda Loop are two Business Revitalization Zones with many different things to see and do, and plus, it's the weekend after Sunfest, so why not go to both!?

• When - August 20th to August 29th, 2015


• Where - Elliston Park


• Cost -7.50 to75.00

GlobalFest is a world-class, international and multicultural fireworks festival held later in summer. During the nine day event, visitors can buy tickets to a number of shows with a theme that represents a particular country of the world. One thing I love about GlobalFest is the tents where you can learn about different cultures and their traditions from all over the world. Let's not forget about the heaps of artisan shops, unique food vendors and everything else offered by this awesome festival event.

• When - August 28th to August 30th, 2015


• Where - Princes Island Park


• Cost -10.00 to35.00

Expo Latino is another summer celebration of Latin culture similar to Fiestaval Latino Festival when it comes to having live music and entertainment, food vendors and artisan shops to fancy. Lots of differences between the two also exist, like the location for example, with Expo Latino being held in one of Calgary's finest spots for outdoor summer activities - Princes Island Park. Check it out!

• When - August 7th & August 8th, 2015


• Where - Fort Calgary


• Cost -150 to250+

Chasing Summer, Western Canada's largest outdoor music festival, is only a few months away. With electronic dance music headliners like DJ Tiesto, Afrojack, Dash Berlin, Kaskade, Tritonal and many more headliners from around the world, this is one event that EDM lovers don't want to miss.

Where is the Sun & Salsa Festival on our list? Well, unfortunately the highly popular event has been cancelled this year due to the construction of Kensington by Bucci and Lido, two new condominium developments that will help to revitalize the BRZ's streetscapes.

Are you looking for more of the best local activities, events, restaurants and everything else to do with this wonderful city of ours? If so, hit us up at Calgaryism on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and stay updated via live social media feed today - it's that easy. We hope to see you there!

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WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. - A woman who surprised a grizzly while hiking up remote mountains in British Columbia's Interior had no time to protect herself or prevent the bear attack, a conservation officer said.

The bear lunged at the woman and bit her, breaking her arm in a "chance encounter" on Friday, said Len Butler of B.C.'s Conservation Officer Service.

The bear was just trying to protect itself as it happened upon the woman and her boyfriend, he added.

"They hiked along a trail, they were in some of the open meadows and there was a small little pass to go up through," said Butler.

"It was so quick. They did nothing wrong."

The incident occurred about mid-afternoon while the pair from Williams Lake, B.C., was ascending in the Big Slide Mountain Area near the community of Horsefly, in the province's Cariboo region.

It was a blustery day, meaning winds were diffusing the hikers' scents and obstructing the crunch of their boots along the foliage, said Butler.

The couple emerged upon a knoll about the same time the animal arrived from the opposite direction uphill.

The bear and hikers were only about seven to nine metres apart when they spotted each other.

"They kind of starred at each other for a second, then the bear bluff-charged and stopped," Butler said. "Then the bear lunged at the female, grabbed her arm, threw her to the side and the bear then just immediately ran off into the trees."

Butler described the bear's reaction as standard and said it took the path of least resistance to escape.

He said the woman, in her mid-20s, had bear spray holstered to her hip but simply couldn't respond fast enough.

"It's more of a surprise — shock value probably for both."

The pair hiked about an hour back down the mountain before driving two more hours to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, B.C., where the woman was treated.

B.C. Interior Health released a statement on behalf of the couple.

"As you can imagine, the experience was startling, terrifying and one that caused physical injury," said the statement issued by the woman named River and her boyfriend Evan, who declined to publicize their last names.

"Being outdoor enthusiasts, we both accept the risks of exploring beautiful British Columbia and we don't want this very rare experience to deter anyone from enjoying the great outdoors.

"Just ensure you are prepared in case of any unexpected emergency, as we know this saved our lives."

Conservation officers retraced the couple's path to the location of the attack. They closed the file and noted no sign of the bear remained in the area, said Butler.

Surprise bear attacks are fairly common across the B.C. backcountry, he said, and bears may be out in higher numbers because there is fresh vegetation for feeding and mating season is just ending.

— Written by Tamsyn Burgmann in Vancouver

Follow @TamsynBurgmann on Twitter

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"Pendula" by Nancy Lee and Kiran Bhumber from Nancy Lee on Vimeo.

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VANCOUVER - "This is the place you really want to run through," advises my soft-spoken hiking partner, stepping up our already brisk pace on a rare stretch of nearly flat ground. "You save about 20 seconds, which can be a lot."

These aren't the words I'm expecting to hear from the 73-year-old retiree who's graciously welcomed me on one of his early-morning treks up Vancouver's notorious Grouse Grind.

Terry Byrne is no ordinary septuagenarian. He holds the second-place record for most ascents of the well-known trail — not to mention a commanding first place in his age category — having made nearly 1,700 trips up the infamously gruelling 2.9-kilometre mountainside trek.

The Grind, as it's known locally, is a popular but demanding trail located right on the city's back doorstep.

It's 6:30 a.m. and Byrne's showing me the ropes on tackling the more than 2,800 strenuous steps to the summit.

Freshly cut yellow cedar stairs and railings — the most recent addition to the trail — infuse the crisp morning air with a sharp, delicious aroma, while the guttural thrumming of the hike's namesake bird pulses out on occasion from the undergrowth.

Peering at the verdant canopy held up by towering old-growth trees, I'm momentarily distracted and slip on a loose stone, which, along with jutting roots and the occasional set of wooden stairs, makes up most of the route.

"Cadence," Byrne offers, red-capped head bobbing with each stride. "You've got to keep one, two, one, two. And know if you do this steady you'll be there in an hour."

By "there" he means the Grouse Mountain chalet. It's the end point for Grinders — a colloquial term for the hike's tight-knit community of regulars. Many of them — Byrne included — enjoy flashing cards at timer stations at the trail's beginning and end to record their speed and total number of treks. Today is hike number 1,695 for the energetic old-timer, who genially refers to his punishing pastime, launched about a decade ago, as nothing more than "a walk in the park."

But the Grind, sometimes called Mother Nature's Stairmaster, is a formidable exercise that can spell serious trouble for the unprepared. Metro Vancouver estimates up to half-a-million people tackle the trail annually through its May-to-October season, with 25 to 30 evacuations taking place during that time. Reasons for emergency responses range from sprained ankles to fatalities, such as a mid-hike heart attack that claimed the life of a 55-year-old man earlier this month.

Still, the Grind has never been more popular, drawing thousands of locals and visitors alike with its easy access to B.C.'s stunning outdoors.

"(It's) just the majesty of being amongst these trees," Byrne muses as he hauls himself up what has quickly become a nearly 45-degree incline.

"There are trees over here that are 500 years old — big monsters, as wide as this trail," he says, extending his sinewy arms to their full reach.

I wheeze at him in what I hope comes across as thoughtful agreement.

The tops of railings and the occasional section of otherwise grizzled bark on trail-side trees are polished smooth through years of caresses by sweat-sodden hands.

Suddenly we break through the foliage and squint into the glaring sunshine at the trail's end. Byrne pulls ahead in his bright blue sneakers and prances up the steps at the chalet's base, where he flashes his card at the timer station.

An expansive view of the Lower Mainland greets us, with Vancouver's glut of gleaming downtown highrises bordering the enclave of green that is Stanley Park, appearing small at our 1,127-metre vantage. The ocean is a sparkling sheet of electric tinsel reaching across to Vancouver Island, which is visible through nebulous wisps of cloud.

As we make our way to the gondola that will take us back down to the base of the Grind, Byrne is already talking about hiking up again.

"I plan to do the grind about twice today," he says, boyish eagerness painted on his face. "It might be three. It just depends how (I) feel.

"I could go all day, actually," he adds, grinning.

Of that, I have absolutely no doubt. After all, he has a record to defend.

———

If You Go...

Consult Grouse Mountain's website for information on the Grouse Grind.

Follow @gwomand on Twitter.

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MONTREAL - Air Canada and WestJet are taking their domestic rivalry to London with both companies now adding flights to Gatwick Airport next year.

The country's largest carrier, which already flies to Heathrow Airport from eight Canadian cities, announced Thursday it will add flights from Toronto to Gatwick on its leisure subsidiary Rouge next summer.

Benjamin Smith, president of passenger airlines, boasted that Air Canada (TSX:AC) will be the only Canadian carrier servicing multiple airports in the London area.

"Air Canada Rouge is ideally-suited to serve London-Gatwick, with its focus on leisure travel and provide easy access to southern London," he said in a news release.

The move comes several days after Calgary-based WestJet (TSX:WJA) said Gatwick would be its first transatlantic destination for its wide-body Boeing 767s. That service is slated to start next spring but the originating airports haven't been disclosed.

Bob Cummings, executive vice-president commercial for WestJet, said last week the planes will allow service to England from anywhere in Canada and to other international destinations. The Canadian airports will be determined this summer, he said.

WestJet currently uses its Boeing 737 planes to Dublin, Ireland from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, and to Glasgow, Scotland, from Halifax.

Canada's largest domestic airlines fiercely battle on fares and other charges. They both introduced checked bag fees around the same time. As WestJet expanded its Encore regional service, Air Canada has moved some Jazz-operated Q400s to similar routes.

Air Canada also said Thursday that it will introduce year-round service on its mainline carrier between Montreal and Lyon, France. The airline will service the country's second-largest city, along with Paris and Air Canada Rouge flights to Nice.

Montreal airport authority president James Cherry said the flights to Lyon supports Trudeau International Airport as a hub to French-speaking Europe.

Air Canada said it will operate up to five times weekly to Lyon beginning next June and seven times weekly to Gatwick starting in May.

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Down the road | Solar storm running on high last night! #aurora #longexposure #beautiful #nature #nightscape #lightpainting #slowshutter #explorekamloops #totescanadian #britishcolumbia #canada #explorebc #astrophotography #northernlights #instagood #gorgeous #green #photooftheday #road #sky

A photo posted by Cody Roy (@coderroy) on Jun 8, 2015 at 1:20pm PDT

Sky Arch | Starting to get more into stitching, this a panoramic from a couple weeks back. I think I may have a night sky addiction - this is my fix

A photo posted by Cody Roy (@coderroy) on Jun 25, 2015 at 11:10am PDT

Summer Solstice Aurora | Last nights Aurora chase down was less successful then the night previous. Cloud cover and a drive up highway 24 proved unsuccessful on our hunt down. Hopefully tonight provides clear skies for the predicted storm!

A photo posted by Cody Roy (@coderroy) on Jun 23, 2015 at 12:25pm PDT

North Star! Noticed the Northern lights? #stars #startrail #northstar #polaris #northernstar #north #trails #astrophotography #nightphotography #nightscape #rayphotography #canon #7dmkii #canon_photos #canoncameras #canon_cameras #vancouverisland #britishcolumbia #canada #auroraborealis #northernlights

A photo posted by Ray Pandez (@_ray518_) on Jun 25, 2015 at 12:41pm PDT

Starry Night Sky Last night while waiting for Aurora Borealis! #stars #nightphotography #astrophotography #nightscape #rayphotography #canon #7dmkii #interstellar #canon_cameras #canon_photos #canoncameras #vancouverisland #britishcolumbia #canada

A photo posted by Ray Pandez (@_ray518_) on Jun 23, 2015 at 1:32pm PDT

Aurora Borealis #rayphotography #stars #northernlights #auroraborealis #lightpainting #canon #7dmkii #canon_photos #canon_cameras #canoncameras #nature #vancouverisland #britishcolumbia #canada

A photo posted by Ray Pandez (@_ray518_) on Jun 23, 2015 at 11:29pm PDT

Starry Night Sky Last night while waiting for Aurora Borealis! #stars #nightphotography #astrophotography #nightscape #rayphotography #canon #7dmkii #interstellar #canon_cameras #canon_photos #canoncameras #vancouverisland #britishcolumbia #canada

A photo posted by Ray Pandez (@_ray518_) on Jun 23, 2015 at 1:32pm PDT

Good morning from @HelloBC! Here's last night's time-lapse from the St Mary River @KootenayRockies #ExploreBC. Now off to Kaslo!

A video posted by Matt Glastonbury (@mattglastonbury) on Jun 25, 2015 at 8:56am PDT

Just a casual Tuesday night on top of a mountain with a mini display of the northern lights. #FernieStoke @tourismfernie @ferniefix @hellobc @kootenayrockies @kootenaymountainculture #destinationbc #hellobc #kootenays #kootenaylife #bcakyard #fire #mountain #camping #kootenayrockies

A photo posted by Raven Eye Photography (@raveneyephotography) on Jun 24, 2015 at 8:52am PDT

#jsdeonphotography #startrails #auroraborealis #northernlights #astrophotography #naturephotography #nightscenery #beautiful #picoftheday #photooftheday #bestoftheday #huffpostgram #huffpostbc #ExploreBC #ExploreCanada #vandiary #vancitybuzz #vancitylove #ilovebc #beautifulbc #instadaily #instagood #instalike #longexposure #longexpo_kings #amazing_longexpo #igs_group #igs_group #ig_canada #canon_photos #canon_photography

A photo posted by JS Deon (@jsdeon) on Jun 24, 2015 at 7:48pm PDT

When the Northern Lights are on point, but you got cloud cover. #northernlights #auroraborealis #aurora #lights #night #whistler #ichoosewhistler#whistlerunfiltered #gowhistler #bc #britishcolumbia #beautifulbc #summer #canada #silhouette #onpoint

A photo posted by Josh Eising (@josheising) on Jun 25, 2015 at 12:15am PDT

Dancing in the Dark ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Another magnetic storm is in town and this time it's all over the news. Dozens of astrophotographers make the trip up to the cove to catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis. This was a strong storm and it did not disappoint. The northern lights danced in the night sky and reflected off the Howe Sound. Captured this morning at Porteau Cove 1:30am 06-23-2015 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #Auroraborealis #NorthernLights #PorteauCove #Squamish Lillooet⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

A photo posted by VANCOUVER BC CANADA Michael (@seaside_signs) on Jun 23, 2015 at 7:48pm PDT

24 hours ago, it was this magical!!! Glad that I read the article from #vancitybuzz and decided to go out no matter what! Totally worth it!! #aurora #sky_captures #northernlights #vancouver #pnw #explorebc #longexposure #nightphotography #night_shooterz #landscape_captures #rsa_sky #rsa_nature #imagesofcanada #huffpostbc #vivavancity #VanSun360 #GlobalNews #porteaucove #vancouverisawesome #waycoolshots #worldcaptures #tourcanada #totescanadian #TheCanadianCollective #invcm #irox_skyline #outdoorvancouver #Snapshot_Canada #hellobc

A photo posted by Haroon Bux (@haroonbux) on Jun 24, 2015 at 12:49am PDT

My first time seeing/photographing the northern lights. Taken last night at Burnaby Mountain #northernlights #aurora #auroraborealis #vancity #burnaby #vancitybuzz #stars #sky #hellobc #canadiancreatives #enjoycanada #burnabymountain #beautifulbc

A photo posted by Clare (@clareefish) on Jun 23, 2015 at 10:43am PDT

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