Calgary: A Stroll Along The Bow River
Recently we have gotten into the habit of visiting my brother-in-law who lives in Eau Claire, (one of Calgary’s upscale downtown neighbourhoods) after dinner so we can stroll along the nearby Bow River Promenade and Prince’s Island Park – along with thousands of others!
Backstory:
I was a member of the citizen’s advisory committee in the late ‘90s that created the redevelopment plan for Prince’s Island Park and the Bow River Promenade at Eau Claire. One of our main goals was to create a public space that was not only able to accommodate festivals for 10,000 people in the summer, but to also create a place for a multitude of passive activities year round for existing and future residents.
Since then, that plan has been implemented and updated with various projects like the controversial Santiago Calatrava pedestrian bridge, a beautiful delta park and public artwork along with perhaps the world’s longest benches - part of a flood prevention program.
I am happy to say that 25 years later, the results have exceeded my expectations, as thousands of Calgarians, both those living nearby and others like us from inner-city neighbourhoods flock to the area for a stroll - mornings, afternoon and evenings (especially in the summer).
Some of us like to arrive at the Island by raft.
What to see?
While the main promenade has separate designated pathways for pedestrians and cyclists/scooters, it still can be chaos with people of ages and backgrounds strolling with children and dogs. However, you can easily get off the pathway for a more serene experience, if that is what you prefer. There is a small sculpture walk and even a wetlands area where you will find yourself alone. There is also a fun children’s playground for families to enjoy. You can even try your hand at fly fishing if you wish; the Bow River is one of the world’s best fly-fishing rivers.
But what I like best is that you can actually walk to the river’s edge and stick your feet in the water or even wade in if you like, but beware - the glacier fed river is cold and the current is stronger than you think. In comparison, most European rivers, in the middle of the cities are more like canals with concrete walls at their edges. I also love how the Bow River’s water changes color with the seasons - there are times it is so shallow you think you could walk across it and other times it is moving so fast you wouldn’t dream of wading in.
One of the fun things to do is to sit on the shore and watch the rafters and paddlers go by. Over the past 25+ years, floating The Bow has become a very popular Calgary summer tradition.
New to the Louise Bridge there is an area where you can sit and watch people river surfing.
The Island is also home to a small sculpture trail.
At the eastern edge of the island is a wetlands that is home to beaver. You may also see Osprey and Bald Eagles fishing in the river.
And of course, Prince’s Island hosts one of Calgary’s flagship festivals – Calgary International Folk Festival. The Island becomes a magical place for that weekend when 10,000 folkies chill and listen to music from around the world under the canopy of the majestic cotton wood trees.
If you are into fine dining, you must experience River Café, one of Canada’s best restaurants with a focus on Western Canadian cuisine. Here are some sample menu items - Haidi Gwaii Halibut, Yukon Arctic Char, Northfork Bison Ribeye, Highwood Crossing Wild Boar Belly. The patio on the lagoon is perhaps one of the romantic dining spots in the city. FYI: You can order a picnic basket from River Café and have a private picnic anywhere in the park.
River Cafe patio
The Delta Garden on the south side of The Peace Bridge is a great place to sit and people watch. It is also home to a unique public artwork by Caitland R.C. Brown and Wayne Garrett. It consists of 12,000 brass “survey monuments” embedded into the pathway. Each has an inscription on it, collected from a survey of Calgarians who were asked “where are you going and where do you want to be?” I love to bend down and read a few of them every time I am there.
Short History of Prince’s Island
Prince’s Island is named after Peter Prince, Manager of the Eau Claire Lumber Mill that operated on the island from 1886 to 1944. Some accounts have the Island as being no more than a shifting gravel bar while others suggest it was in fact not an island, but a peninsula in the river until the company dug a channel (now the lagoon) to get logs from Kananaskis to their sawmill on the banks of the river, thereby creating an island. However, a late 19th century map of Calgary shows Prince’s Island as a much smaller, but distinct island.
In 1889, Prince formed the Calgary Water Power Company to supply electricity to the town for streetlights. At first, steam-generated by burning sawdust powered the Mill, until in 1893 the first hydroelectric plant was built near the east end of the lagoon.
It wasn’t until 1947 that the City of Calgary purchased the land from the Prince family and created a park. Today, Prince’s Island is one of the premiere urban parks in North America.
A view of The Bow River in 1893 with Prince’s Island and Eau Claire Lumber Mill. (Courtesy of University of Calgary’s Special Collections).
A view of Prince’s Island today. You can’t see the island for the trees. The lumber mill is gone and replaces by office and residential towers.
Let’s take a virtual stroll….
Last Word
Prince’s Island and Promenade are part of 12 km Bow River Walk that extends from Edworthy Park to Harvie Passage. It is one of North America’s best pedestrian experiences, with just the right mix of nature and made-made features. If you are visiting Calgary is is a must see.