Think outside the convention center and plan a gathering at one of these four stand-out locations.
You’ve picked the perfect host city for your event. Now comes the search for the perfect venue, which traditionally begins with the city’s convention center and one of its major, nearby hotels, right? In Calgary, you have much more to choose from. You can of course go the traditional route—the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre and the BMO Centre are top notch—but Alberta’s biggest city is also home to an amazing variety of off-site venues that are well-worth the extra planning. Here are four that should be on your radar.
Calgary Central Library
Acting as an artful bridge between downtown and the East Village, the Calgary Central Library is a stunning building with a mosaic-like glass exterior and an entrance inspired by the arched clouds of Alberta’s Chinook winds. Its organic, modern design and light-filled spaces are ideal for intimate meetings and presentations as well as large-scale private events. Its location right above a light rail line also makes it incredibly accessible from almost anywhere in the city. Host an elegant gala beneath the soaring ceilings in the Shaikh Family Welcome Gallery, have your keynote speaker address your attendees in the Patricia A. Whelan Performance Hall or plan for brainstorming sessions in one of the Library’s private meeting rooms. You can even livestream your own event podcast from one of the free multimedia creative studios.
Studio Bell
Live music runs through the veins of this city, and Studio Bell makes it easy for your attendees to soak it all in. Plan an interactive musical experience for your group (think sing-a-longs in a vocal booth or playing acoustic instruments in the Unplugged exhibit), take an inspiring tour of the museum or host an after-hours cocktail party on one of Calgary’s best rooftop patios. This highly functional space also offers five private meeting rooms where you can take care of business, and six stunning event spaces where your attendees can gather for an unforgettable, music-filled evening.
Arts Commons
Located in the Olympic Plaza Cultural District and occupying a full city block, Arts Commons is a six-level, multi-venue arts complex that’s home to a variety of creative event spaces with room for 60 to 1,700 guests. Ideal for think-outside-the-box workshops, screenings, presentations, conferences and receptions, the venue offers the flexibility and space you need to plan large-scale, off-site events with a creative twist.
Heritage Park Historical Village
Set on 127 acres of parkland on the banks of the Glenmore Reservoir, Heritage Park Historical Village transports visitors back in time to the wild, wild West. Perfect for team-building retreats, seminars and private events, you can arrange for scavenger hunts through the street of a historic western town, amaze attendees with a Wild West Gunfight or authentic rodeo, and so much more. Think a reception in a Victorian hotel complete with an authentic saloon, dinner in an elegant 1920s railroad car or cocktail hour surrounded by vintage automobiles and conversation-starting antique memorabilia.
Let Meetings + Conventions Calgary help you find the perfect venue for your next event.