When it comes to some of the world’s most famous cities, some big names that come to mind may include Paris, New York, London, L.A., and many others from across the world. Diving deeper into Canada specifically, people may think of Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver. However, in recent decades, Calgary seems to be on the rise when it comes to exposure not only in Canada, but far beyond. Let’s take a look at some factors that have been putting Calgary on the map, including film and television, sports, and music.
Film & Television: Shooting locations + Dwayne Johnson
In one of my recent articles, entitled “Did You Know: These Movies & TV Shows Were Filmed In Alberta”, I wrote about exactly what the title would lead you to believe. The article highlights some notable cast members from each TV show/movie, in addition to the exact area of filming and some other cool information. That article can give you some knowledge surrounding some of Calgary and Alberta’s biggest entertainment projects over the past few decades, and illustrates how the region is making a name for itself in the film industry.
In terms of a more current event, the most recent episode of the NBC sitcom Young Rock highlights Calgary’s involvement in the life of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. In 1995, Dwayne Johnson played for the Calgary Stampeders. His stint in the CFL wasn’t lengthy, but his initial dream was actually to be a pro football player, eventually in the NFL. However, the Calgary Stampeders decided to cut The Rock from the team. At the time, his “dreams were crushed”, in Johnson’s words. But in spite of that, he returned to Calgary almost 20 years later – this time, to film a movie as one of the stars of Jumanji: The Next Level. So, in a way, Hollywood can thank Calgary for The Rock, and everything he’s contributed to the film industry as a result of his football dreams not working out at the hands of the Stampeders.
Sports: The Calgary Flames
Anyone who has been watching the Calgary Flames for a long time knows that it has been full of ups and downs. So far, this season has been one of the ups. The year is far from over, and there’s no telling how things could play out come playoff time – but the team is looking stronger than it has been in a long time. An analysis of their roster, current standpoint and overall build could go on for pages, but I’ll make it fairly quick. The Flames’ top line of Johnny Gaudreau, Elias Lindholm, and Matthew Tkachuk has statistically been one of the best lines in the entire National Hockey League – with Gaudreau currently having the 4th most points in the entire NHL this season. In terms of depth, it seems as though the team has little to no weaknesses. Players from all lines contribute by bringing physicality, IQ, and defensive skill to enhance the offensive star power mentioned above. Jacob Markstrom, Calgary’s starting goaltender, has been among the best in the league – solving past goaltending issues and establishing himself as a potential candidate for the Vezina Trophy which is awarded to the best goaltender in the league.
Another impressive factor has been their adaptability – after losing former captain Mark Giordano to the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL expansion draft, the Calgary Flames have bounced back in a couple of different ways. Despite the loss of their top defenseman and former Norris Trophy winner, the Flames have been solid on the defensive end. In addition to their performance on the ice, the now captain-less team has found leadership from players like Matthew Tkachuk, Sean Monahan, and Mikael Backlund, who are three of the team’s current alternate captains. However, what is arguably their most significant sign of flexibility was their response to a coaching change that occurred just over a year ago. The team had gone through multiple coaching changes over the span of a couple of years, but the hiring of Coach Darryl Sutter was one of the best things that could happen for the Flames. Sutter has history in Calgary and success as a coach in the NHL – he coached the Flames to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2004 and coached the 2014 L.A. Kings to a Stanley Cup Victory a decade later. Tyler Toffoli, Calgary’s biggest recent acquisition, played for Sutter on that cup-winning team, and players like Milan Lucic have also played for Sutter at different points in their careers. In Sutter’s words, he has “unfinished business” in Calgary and is looking to accomplish what they fell short of in ‘04. The team chemistry is looking great – in addition to players that have been in Calgary for a long time, even the new guy has connections with several players on the team. Overall, the team seems to be as well-rounded as possible. Currently sitting at the very top of the Pacific Division, the Calgary Flames seek to win their first playoff series since 2015, make their first finals run since 2004, and ultimately win their first Stanley Cup since 1989. The dreams are big, and there is no guarantee that they will accomplish all of those feats, so the playoff success will have to come step by step. Regardless of what happens, Flames fans are excited to see how far the team can go this year, and the team’s success so far in the season has been drawing attention to the city as a whole. No matter what happens in the postseason, the Calgary Flames are making a name for themselves in the world of sports.
Music: Tate McRae
Finally, let’s look at a Calgarian music artist who is already having a very successful career. Tate McRae, a former student at Western Canada High School, is only 18 years old and is releasing her debut studio album on March 25th, 2022. Many of her songs, including “You Broke Me First”, “That Way”, and several more have already made her famous on a large scale. In the year 2020, McRae was the youngest musician featured on Forbes’ 30 under 30 list. She has been nominated for many awards, including “The New Artist of 2021” at the People’s Choice Awards, in addition to winning a few others. In the upcoming 2022 Juno Awards, Tate McRae is nominated for two awards as well. Although her career is just starting out, she has already established herself as one of the best young artists and is putting Calgary on the map in the world of music.
