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Congratulations to Luke Scanlon, who won the “early bird” prize in our Calgary’s Parks ‘n’ Paths Photo Contest! As his prize, we’re sending him 4 Adult Daily Lift Tickets for skiing and riding on “Canada’s Best Snow” at Sunshine Village Ski & Snowboard Resort.

The daily lift tickets are valid for the rest of this winter’s ski season (through May 21, 2018). Skiing in the spring means longer ski days and more Vitamin D! It’s worth buying a ticket for this great experience!

Thanks to everyone who has entered the Calgary’s Parks ‘n’ Paths Photo Contest already. It’s not too late to enter the contest for the chance to win one of several other prizes! Our Calgary Photo Contest is open until 11:59 pm MST, May 1, 2018.

We’re offering a bonus “early bird” prize to contestants in our Calgary’s Parks ‘n’ Paths Photo Contest! We’ll be giving away 4 Adult Daily Lift Tickets for skiing and riding on “Canada’s Best Snow” at Sunshine Village Ski & Snowboard Resort. Submit a photo (or several!) by 11:59 PM MST on Saturday, March 31 to be entered in the draw.

The daily lift tickets are valid for the rest of this winter’s ski season (through May 21, 2018). There’s still plenty of powder on the slopes, and skiing in the spring means you’ll also get to enjoy longer ski days and more Vitamin D!

Click here to enter the photo contest. Simply submit a photo taken in one of Calgary’s parks or on one of its paths, add include a description and your contact information. Since the winner will be chosen from a random draw, everyone will have a chance to win – no outstanding photographic talent required.

This June riders will rev their engines in the “Motorcycle Ride for Dad” to raise money to fight prostate cancer. This year’s ride takes place on June 16, 2018. The festivities include an escort by the Calgary Police Service, a live and silent auction, door prizes, awards, and a BBQ. Riders will depart from the parking lot of First Alliance Church in Calgary. The scenic ride will conclude at Springbank Park for All Seasons Community Centre.

The funds from the ride will go to both research and education, including the Man Van that offers a free Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test throughout Calgary to men over 40 years old. Over the past 10 years, $200,000 raised by riders has been used for awareness programs, (including the free testing). Riders have also raised half a million dollars which has gone to research grants at the Prostate Cancer Center.

Read the press release below for more details on the ride and to learn how you can contribute, even if you don’t have a motorcycle!

Ride for Dad 2018 press release

June 7, 2017: Anthony Mauriks (left) owner of the Norseman Outdoor Specialist in Calgary presents a $500 gift certificate to Moe Haimour (right), winner of our 2016-2017 Experience Calgary’s Parks ‘n’ Paths Reader Photo Contest.

After the presentation, Anthony shows Moe a display of the light weight backpacking gear that comes in at only 5.5 kg! Technology has had a huge impact on hiking equipment and clothing over the past 5 years.

Big shout out to the good folks at Norseman Outdoor Specialist for their contest sponsorship, and to Moe and all of our readers who entered this photo contest. Keep flashing!#ExperienceOurParks

We’re pleased to announce the winners of our 2016-2017 Calgary’s Parks ‘n’ Paths Photo Contest! Our contestants entered photos of both serene parks and lovely urban paths. We had a number of great entries and our judges couldn’t limit themselves to just two winners. They’ve also selected a third place prize winner, too!

First place goes to Moe Haimour, who submitted “A Crown Fit for a King.” This photo depicts an ethereal scene of a buck at sunset in Fish Creek Park. Moe will receive a $500 gift certificate to Norseman Outdoor Specialist.

Second place goes to Jeremy Klager for his entry “Harvest at Glenbow Ranch.” This richly colored photo gives an expansive view of land and sky as seen at this beautiful park. Jeremy’s prize is a Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino and Rockies Heli Canada getaway. It includes 2 Night’s Accommodation & Buffet dinner for 2 people, Continental breakfast, $200 gift certificate for a heli tour.

Third place goes to Nicholas Taff for his picture “Two Owls.” He captured two great horned owls intensely staring at him from a tree in Fish Creek Park. Nicholas will receive two $100 gift certificates for Rocky Mountain River Guides, with a total value of $200.

Thank you again to everyone who participated! Visit www.experiencetravelguides.com/contests/ to keep updated on all the photo contests that we’ll be offering this year. Right now you can enter our Dino Trails Selfie Contest. Simply submit a dinosaur-themed selfie from your Facebook, instagram, or Twitter account for a chance to win a Grand Prairie Escape! You don’t have to have amazing photography skills or the latest and greatest phone camera. All entries are eligible to win the prize!

The Calgary’s Parks ‘n’ Paths Photo Contest closes on Saturday, May 20 at 11:59 PM MST. That leaves just a few more days to submit photos you’ve snapped along the many paths in Calgary or in the beautiful city parks. You don’t want to miss out on the chance to win the Photo Contest prizes! We’re giving away the following:

Grand prize: $500 gift certificate to Norseman Outdoor Specialist

Second Place Prize: Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino and Rockies Heli Canada getaway: 2 Night’s Accommodation & Buffet dinner for 2 people, Continental breakfast, $200 gift certificate for a heli tour

We’ll be getting spring-like temperatures in Calgary this weekend and may see some sunshine, too, making it a good weekend to get outdoors. Enjoy the spring weather and remember to take some photos of your urban excursions!

“Enjoying the paths” – entry by Christine van Hal

Calgary is known as a walking city, and it’s hard to not whip out your camera when you’re in many of it’s urban parks. To learn more about some of Calgary’s best walking locations along over 500 km of paved pathways, attend the presentation “Discover Calgary’s Best Walks with author Lori Beattie.” This visual presentation will focus on the very best walks in Calgary. You’ll discover the benefits of this walking city, like meeting your neighbors and experiencing the fresh air and nature. You’ll also learn about Lori’s Walk 150 initiative to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday.

Whether you hit the trails before or after Lori’s presentation, make sure to bring your camera with you. Submit your photos to our 2016-2017 Calgary’s Parks ‘n’ Paths Photo Contest. The contest closes on May 20. Entry is free, and you can submit an unlimited number of photos you’ve taken in Calgary’s parks or on Calgary’s paths. Our sponsors are offering amazing prizes.

• Grand prize: $500 gift certificate to Norseman Outdoor Specialist
• Second Place Prize: Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino and Rockies Heli Canada getaway: 2 Night’s Accommodation & Buffet dinner for 2 people, Continental breakfast, $200 gift certificate for a heli tour

“Quiet Time Together in Fish Creek Park” entry by Terry Ruddell

If you’re looking for additional photo content opportunities, then you’ll want to enter the 3rd Annual Friends of Fish Creek Photography Contest as well. Each contestant can enter up to 10 photos, which must all be taken in Fish Creek Provincial Park. As the second largest urban park in Canada, Fish Creek Provincial Park is a popular location for walking and is also full of photo ops.

Categories for the FOFC Photography Contest include wildlife, macro (close up shots), black and white, and landscape. Vistek will be giving away some wonderful prizes! All proceeds will directly support the Friends’ stewardship and educational activities in Fish Creek Provincial Park. Click here for more details and to enter.

Kananaskis Outfitters is the perfect place to go for winter sports instruction! Their classes include cross country skiing and snowshoe tours. Cross country ski lessons are offered every Sunday and December 27th & 30th. Each two hour class covers the basics, making the class great for beginners and anyone wanting to become more proficient at skiing. The techniques you’ll learn will help you maximize your time on the trails and enjoy it to its fullest. Click here for more details and to book a cross-country skiing tour.

Snowshoe tours are offered every Sunday as well as December 24th and 31st. The tours take place from 10 am – 2 pm. If you participate, you will get to enjoy walking on top of the winter snow (instead of trudging through it). As you walk through peaceful snow covered forests, your guide will share the history of the Kananaskis Valley. You’ll learn how different species survive the cold winters. Click here for more details and to book a snowshoe tour.

Kananaskis Outfitters also aids winter sports enthusiasts by sponsoring several of our winter trail maps. They sponsor the Peter Lougheed Cross Country Ski Trail Map, the Kananaskis Snowshoe Trail Map, and the Ribbon Creek Cross Country Ski Trail Map. Grab a map (or access online) before you hit the trails to ensure that you know where you’re headed and how to get there. And make sure to sign up for classes if you need a confidence boost in your skiing or snowshoeing technique!

Do you love Fish Creek Provincial Park? Or are you interested in beginning to explore it next year? Then mark your calendars for a couple of dates in January.

First, a 12 week winter birding course starts Monday, January 9, 2017. Participants will learn about the variety of bird species in Fish Creek Provincial Park and other natural areas in Calgary. The birds will actually be easier to see during the winter months since there will be fewer leaves on the trees and birds are often present in flocks in the cold months. You can choose the class day and time from several options, including Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings, as well as Sunday afternoons. Click here for more info and to register.

The Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society Annual General Meeting takes place on Wednesday, January 25, beginning at 7:00 pm. (Registration begins at 6:30 pm.) This is a great opportunity to have your voice heard, learn more about Fish Creek Provincial Park, and discover ways that you can contribute to this special park.

The 2017 Fish Creek Speaker Series program will debut on January 26. The 2017 program will be combined with the Alberta Parks and Protected Areas Slideshow series. On January 26 Alison Cole, Visitor Experience Coordinator for the East-Central Portion of Alberta Parks, provide a photographic tour of some of the most interesting protected areas of the east-central portion of the province. She’ll share numerous opportunities in lesser-known provincial parks for both nature and outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Admission is free for FOFC members and $5 for non-members. Refreshments will be available on a first come, first served basis. Click here for more information about the program.

Also remember that any contributions to the Friends of Fish Creek before midnight on December 31 will help reduce your income tax and sustain Fish Creek Provincial Park.

We are truly excited by the recent announcement by the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau regarding their name change to Experience Scottsdale.

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2016/09/21/scottsdale-convention-visitors-bureau-is-now.html

In 2005, when I first thought of publishing a visitor’s guide to the mountain national parks in western Canada, I sat at the feet of the manager of a very important Visitor Information Centre.  He told me what travellers wanted to know and suggested ways on how to present that material.

As I chewed on what I had learned, the word Experience just naturally came to mind.  As the vision of our traveller’s guide came into focus, the only logical title became apparent to us: Experience the Mountain Parks.

We have published Experience the Mountain Parks each spring now for 11 years. Along the way, we have received hundreds of testimonials from not only our readers, but also the front line staff whose job it is to counsel travellers in the region. Here is just one example:

We are having a such a busy summer in our centre. Our main building itself is having over a thousand visitors every day. And as you might know already, Experience the Mountain Parks is the most popular brochure to visitors of all time. We have just used the last box of two of your magazines. Please send us more Experience the Mountain Parks and Experience the Cowboy Trail when you have a chance. They both go really fast.

Thank you always,
Traveling Counselors
(Travel Alberta Canmore Visitor Information Centre)

Over the past 2-3 years, we have started to notice that some of the communities in western Canada are starting to realize the value of the word Experience, because they are starting to use it in the titles of their brochures. However, I’m not so sure that they fully understand what is needed in a guide in order to truly help the reader enhance their experience.

In 2017, we will launch our 4^th magazine to be titled Experience the Dinosaur Trails. It will be modelled, like its sister Publications, Experience the Cowboy Trails and Experience Calgary’s Parks ‘n’ Paths upon the foundation of success first built with Experience the Mountain Parks.

For more information, please visit www.cmiPublishing.ca.