Calgary/Northeast

Northeast Calgary is a district in Calgary. The Northeast is full of variety: upstart breweries spicing up faceless warehouses, a Ukrainian Orthodox cathedral standing beside new concrete and glass condos, a shining mosque dome overlooking the airport, and cookie-cutter housing and prefab concrete spreading as far as the eye can see.

Understand
Close to downtown, the neighbourhoods of Bridgeland and Crescent Heights, are older, more historic, more bougie, and are very walkable by Calgary standards. Here is where you hear stories of the early immigrants and witness a new wave of gentrification. It's the home of St. Vladimir's, many seniors' residences, the Italian supermarket, and trendy eateries and coffeeshops where the staff invariably wear a denim apron. The Bow River is close by with opportunities for recreation and plenty of scenic vistas for strolls and cycling, and St. George's Island park provides a striking example of contemporary art and architecture intersecting with nature.

Further away from downtown is a much younger city perhaps best symbolized by Calgary's mayor elected in 2010 (and re-elected in 2013, and 2016), Naheed Nenshi. An Ismaili Muslim and the son of immigrants from Tanzania of Indian heritage, the Northeast is his home. Many Calgarians here have a similar story of coming from other countries, weaving their many cultures and languages into the city. Physically, this part of the Northeast is generic suburban sprawl punctuated by massive big-box stores, albeit with the twist of more businesses catering to many different diaspora and immigrant communities. Bring a car.

The Calgary International Airport is also located in the Northeast.

By CTrain
Northeast Calgary is serviced by the CTrain Blue Line, part of the light rail transit system operated by Calgary Transit. Leaving downtown, it travels down the centre of Memorial Drive and 36 Street NE terminating at Saddletowne station. Stops of interest include (from west to east):
 * Calgary Zoo: near the Zoo and Telus Spark (science centre)
 * Rundle: near Sunridge Mall
 * McKnight-Westwinds: transit hub with bus connection to the Calgary International Airport (route #100).

By bus
Northeast Calgary is connected to other parts of the city by Calgary Transit. The following routes are good ways to get in and around:


 * MAX Orange (#303): express bus with limited stops; runs down 16 Avenue NE (west of 36 Street NE), connecting Northwest Calgary with Saddletowne CTrain station.
 * #300 (BRT): express bus with limited stops; runs down Centre Street and 96 Avenue NE, connecting City Centre with the Calgary International Airport.
 * #301 (BRT): express bus with limited stops; runs down Centre Street/Harvest Hills Blvd, connecting City Centre with North Pointe Park & Ride (Harvest Hills Blvd & Country Village Way NE).
 * #3: runs down Centre Street south of 78 Avenue N, connecting to City Centre.
 * #4: northbound from City Centre along Edmonton Trail and 4 Street NE, continues into Northwest Calgary and returns to City Centre (reverse of #5).
 * #5: southbound from Northwest Calgary along 4 Street NE and Edmonton Trail, continues to City Centre (reverse of #4).
 * #19: runs down 16 Avenue NE (west of Russet Road), connecting Northwest Calgary with Rundle CTrain station.
 * #23: runs down 52 Street NE/Falconridge Blvd
 * #100: connects McKnight-Westwinds CTrain station with the Calgary International Airport and North Pointe Park & Ride.

By car
Calgary's two major highways, Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) and Highway 2 (Queen Elizabeth II Highway) intersect in Northeast Calgary. Stoney Trail (Highway 201), Calgary's ring road, connects to other regions of the city.

Deerfoot Trail (Highway 2), is the main north-south freeway through Calgary, and during off-peak times is the best way from Southeast Calgary and Southwest Calgary. Memorial Drive provides access to the City Centre from Deerfoot Trail, with Edmonton Trail and Centre Street serve as good alternative routes. Memorial Drive, 16 Avenue NE (Highway 1), McKnight Boulevard, Beddington Trail, and Country Hills Boulevard are major routes that connect to Northwest Calgary.

Cafés
Starbucks and Tim Horton's are everywhere in Calgary. If you're looking for something different, try one of these.



Sleep
As the Northeast hosts the Airport, there are plenty of chain hotels all throughout. If you are seeking more character in your stay, consider looking in Bridgeland, Crescent Heights, or Downtown.