Essential Calgary Magazine 2018 | Page 10

From the Editor THE CITY OF MANY FACES Calgary is currently at a cultural crossroads. On one side lies our identity as Cowtown, a Wild West outpost dominated by oil, denim and a friendly small-town hospitality. On the other, a fresh take on Calgary as a hub of technology and innovation, a city of limitless possibilities and artisanal coffee bars. For example, ask a Calgarian about steak and you’ll often hear protestations that Calgary is more than just the old stereotype of a meat ‘n’ potatoes kind of place. While it’s true that there’s incredibly diverse options available on the city’s menus—including outstanding vegetarian cuisine—our reputation as a steak town is certainly not unfounded. But why should we have to choose one or the other? If ever there was a city in which an old-school steakhouse (Vintage Chophouse) and a veggie-focused tapas bar (Ten Foot Henry) can stand side-by-side and both prosper, Calgary is it. The same principle applies to the Calgary Stampede and the Calgary Folk Music Festival, or downtown’s skyscrapers and the natural beauty of the city’s parkland. The truth is, Calgary can have it both ways. The key to maintaining and evolving our identity lies in our ability to celebrate what makes us unique. That’s what this issue of Essential is for—unlocking the door to our city’s exclusive treasures so visitors can get a true taste of what Calgary life is really all about. Whether your time here is long or short, I welcome you into our home and our lives and encourage you to seek out the parts of Calgary that can be found nowhere else in the world. RACHAEL FREY, Editor From Les Clefs d’Or On behalf of Les Clefs d’Or Canada and the concierge of the Alberta Region, it is my pleasure to welcome you to Calgary and to this issue of Essential magazine. Les Clefs d’Or is an international association of more than 4,000 concierge professionals in over 50 countries worldwide. We are dedicated to achieving exceptional service by connecting, educating and inspiring members to constantly exceed expectations. Our purpose is to be an ambassador for you and ensure you have a memorable experience within our hotel, our city and our region. A Les Clefs d’Or concierge does not just have a job, we have a lifestyle. Every day we live our motto “In Service through Friendship” and work tirelessly to create lasting relationships with local vendors, chefs, boutique shops and attractions. As you travel, look for our “Golden Keys”; we can be found in many of Alberta’s best hotels located in Calgary, Kananaskis, Banff, Jasper and Edmonton. Calgary is a vibrant city and famous for its world-class hospitality. Being the gateway to the Canadian Rockies, it is also a very popular and busy city. Whether you need the best table in a full restaurant, a pair of tickets to a sold-out show, a special gift arranged or an urgent errand run, a Les Clefs d’Or concierge is here to help you. In partnership with the publishers of Where, our concierge can open doors and help you find the very best of Calgary. We are your key to everything! To learn more about Les Clefs d’Or, or to find the nearest member concierge, please check out our website at www.lesclefsdorcanada.org or follow us on social media on Twitter and Instagram at @ABlesclefsdor or Facebook.com/ABlesclefsdor In Service Through Friendship, DON MOONEY, Vice President, Les Clefs d’Or Canada Guest Relations Manager & VIP Concierge, The Fairmont Banff Springs 10   THE ESSENTIAL CALGARY 2018 EDITOR Rachael Frey ART DIRECTOR + PRODUCTION MANAGER Veronica Cowan ASSOCIATE EDITOR Silvia Pikal FASHION EDITOR Leah Van Loon EDITORIAL INTERNS Hanna Deeves, Michaela Ritchie PUBLISHER Brian French ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Nadine Benoit, Andy Robinson SALES + CIRCULATION COORDINATOR Kipling West ESSENTIAL Calgary is published by St. Joseph Media 206, 1201 - 5 St SW Calgary, Alberta T2R 0Y6 T: 403-299-1888 F: 403-299-1899 E: [email protected] www.where.ca WHERE CANADA GROUP PUBLISHER Jonathan Harris NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER Catherine Lenihan DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL OPERATIONS Sheldon Sawchuk SENIOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT MANAGER Eugene Brukson PROJECT + SALES COORDINATOR Lindsay Thomson HR AND PAYROLL COORDINATOR Lisa Alli CREDIT MANAGER Carmen Greene COLLECTION SPECIALISTS Ruth Muirhead, Patricia Tsoporis SENIOR ACCOUNTANT Chris Douglas ST. JOSEPH COMMUNICATIONS, MEDIA GROUP CHAIRMAN Tony Gagliano PRESIDENT Douglas Kelly GENERAL MANAGER + VP FINANCE Karl Percy VP STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT Duncan Clark VP PRODUCTION + CONSUMER MARKETING Darlene Storey VP RESEARCH Clarence Poirier CONTROLLER Dora Brenndorfer SENIOR MANAGER, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY JP Timmerman No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publis