Calgary City View: Between Prairies and Rockies
Originally from Quebec, Micheline is incredibly spontaneous and has beautifully retained a fresh, enthusiastic spirit. Life truly abounds at the Calgary City View Bed and Breakfast, where you immediately feel welcomed and entirely at ease. A dedicated nurse for many years, Micheline has traveled the globe—from Alaska to Brazil, passing through Europe and Malaysia. She deeply loves challenges and takes them on with great success.
Her villa, perched atop a small hill, is magnificently located, offering sweeping views of both the downtown skyscrapers and the stunning Rocky Mountains, which lie about a two-hour drive away. Flooded with natural light from large bay windows and free of excessive decor, the home radiates a cozy, lived-in feel. The computer sits open and connected in the living room, and a beautiful grand piano quickly catches my eye. Outside, a magnificent sunset rolling in from the Rockies bathes the plains and the city in golden light. Just opposite lies the famous Stampede grounds, where legendary rodeos take place.
Alongside her son, Eric, Micheline frequently goes for rides on their massive Harley-Davidson-style motorcycles. Eric works at the upscale Hyatt hotel downtown. Calgary vividly reminds me of Tucson, Arizona—a city experiencing explosive growth, dotted with modern buildings and surrounded by vast, open flatlands. The weather here is almost always sunny and pleasant, a sharp contrast to Vancouver's frequent rains and Quebec's long, snowy winters.
Near the city center, Chinatown stands out as the liveliest district, and it was through here that we first entered Calgary. Mr. Dobie To, whom we met shortly after our arrival, courteously directed us to the bustling Dragon City Plaza. There, on the third floor, we accessed a vibrant Chinese cultural center to check our emails.
After navigating the maze of this shopping center—which felt like it had been transported straight out of Hong Kong—we serendipitously crossed paths with Patricia Lam. As the vice-president of the Hoy Sun Association of Calgary, she helps unite immigrants from Hong Kong and China. Despite it being past closing time, she graciously allowed us to use the computers.
Bragg Creek, a picturesque village nestled southwest of Calgary, is an absolute paradise for hiking and fly fishing. The valley, defined by sweeping prairies, dense woods, and a winding river, completely immerses visitors in the rugged atmosphere of early pioneers and gold seekers. Standing there, one wonders: should they have pushed forward with their wagons or finally settled down? After enduring grueling miles and endless hardships across the great plains, the settlers must have been at their wits' end—only to be confronted by the towering Rocky Mountains, the final, formidable obstacle before reaching the Pacific Ocean.
In those days, the Tsuu T'ina First Nation remained firmly in control of the land, bison roamed by the tens of thousands, and coexistence among the various tribes was harmonious. Today, the Tsuu T'ina reside on designated 'Native Land' reserves. Upon reaching adulthood, they receive a payout of $60,000 CAD—often seen as guilt money from the government, which sadly does little to change their underlying reality.
Driving along, the contrast is striking: to the right of the road lies modern Canada, where construction is booming and expanding endlessly; to the left lies the reserve, where everything seems suspended in a permanent state of waiting. Straight ahead stretches the road to Banff, nestled high in the Rockies—a bustling, picturesque tourist town largely developed with Japanese investments. This same scenic route will eventually lead us to Revelstoke and the charming Green Gables Loft B&B, run by the wonderful Gundy Baty.
Calgary City View B&B, Micheline Boisvert, Calgary, Alberta, Canada -
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