Calgary
The first thing I did in Calgary was buy myself a big hat – yeehaw! I’m not sure it really helped me to blend in with the locals, but it kept the sun off my pale Scottish skin.
Our flight from the UK landed in early afternoon, so despite feeling as though we’d been awake for hours more than was natural (we had) we decided to see a bit of the place. The Stampede was about to begin, so it was buzzing. First, we went up the Calgary Tower for great views and a turn on the scary glass floor.
After that, we took a wee wander round town, enjoying some of its more quirky aspects.
My favourite, which will come as no surprise to those who know of my interest in women’s history, was the “Women are Persons!” or “Famous Five” monument (link has more information about the sculpture).
Wikipedia explains the background thus:
The Famous Five … were five Alberta women who asked the Supreme Court of Canada to answer the question, “Does the word ‘Persons’ in Section 24 of the British North America Act, 1867, include female persons?” in the case Edwards v. Canada (Attorney General). The five women, Emily Murphy, Irene Marryat Parlby, Nellie Mooney McClung, Louise Crummy McKinney and Henrietta Muir Edwards, created a petition to ask this question. They sought to have women legally considered persons so that women could be appointed to the Senate. The petition was filed on August 27, 1927, and on 24 April 1928, Canada’s Supreme Court summarized its unanimous decision that women are not such “persons”.
Fortunately sense prevailed the following year, which reduced the sense of outrage I was feeling a little – that, and the waves of tiredness which were now washing over me. An early dinner and an early night called. The next day, we battled our way through the Stampede crowds to collect our car and set off for the mountains.
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
Looks like you had some good times~! 🙂
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We did, thank you!
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Oh! Really? Women aren’t persons?
Anabel, than what are we????? I have a personality crush right now!
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Some kind of sub-species obviously! Just think – this was at the same time as your New Woman.
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Hell hath no fury like a woman who is told that she is not a person 😀.
Love John’s pictures of Calgary!
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This definitely made my jaw drop – and my blood boil!
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Calgary looks like a lot of fun! You look great in the hat, by the way.
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Thank you! Yes, Calgary seemed like somewhere that would be worth staying a day or two, though not at Stampede time, I’m really not into that.
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Hoping to go to this part of the world next year Anabel so looking forward to your upcoming posts too!
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Ooh, lucky you!
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I too love the hat … although I think it would look seriously out of place here on the streets of Toronto 😉
I’ve never been to the Stampede and haven’t been to Calgary since I was a teenager. Calgary is such a great jumping off point for adventures in the mountains. I’m looking forward to getting back there at some point on the Trans-Canada Trail.
Hope you had a great trip!
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Thanks Joanne, we did! I haven’t ventured out in the hat in Glasgow either. Apart from anything else, it would disintegrate….
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oh these are lovely memories of Calgary . . all I can remember when i went years and years ago was the struggle to find the shops to replace a broken suitcase!
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We enjoyed Calgary, despite the jet lag. I think a full day there would have been good so maybe if we go again we’ll factor that in.
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The guy on the right looks like Kim carrying some kind of warhead in a suitcase!
Nice hat. Intetesting fleur de lys motif on the band.
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Scary thought!
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I’m looking forward to hearing more about the trip! I’ve only been to Calgary once, and that was mostly a quick drive through the city, as I was attempting to get to a wedding in Montana at the time. I would like to go back up that way to see more of the Canadian Rockies.
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The Rockies are awesome. Slightly less awesome than the last time we visited because of the smoke from the fires in BC but it would be selfish to complain about that!
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On the plus side, smoke is like nature’s way of softening photos – mine always look better with a bit of a haze.
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I LOVE that hat, Anabel! 😉 Looks so good on you!
I have never been there. I like the street arts. And appreciate the story of the Famous Five. I always feel that I owe those women a big thanks. 😉
Have a wonderful day.
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Thank you! I was quite pleased with myself in it. Yes, we owe a lot to women like these. I wonder if I would have had the same courage.
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