The beating heart of the city

Situated close to City Hall in downtown Calgary and occupying an entire block, the Plaza was built before the Games with the aim of bringing the event closer to locals and visitors, both during the Games and after.

It was designed to accommodate 60,000 people and comprises fountains, a wading pool, an amphitheatre, gardens, a large stage and Calgary’s only refrigerated outdoor ice rink. It also boasts the “Legacy Wall” (alternatively known as the Wall of Champions), which features plaques commemorating medal winners from the Games.

The CAD 5.6 million invested in the Plaza’s construction was provided partly by a cost-sharing agreement between the City of Calgary and the Organising Committee, and partly by donations from 20,000 local residents. In contributing CAD 19.88 each, they had their name and a message inscribed on the bricks used in the construction of the wall.

The Plaza is also where the city’s ice hockey fans flock to celebrate the achievements of its National Hockey League (NHL) team the Calgary Flames, which is fitting considering the inspiration for its construction. When City of Calgary officials attended the XIV Olympic Winter Games in Sarajevo four years earlier, they were so impressed by the sight of Jurij Franko celebrating his giant slalom silver medal with thousands of locals in one of the city’s plazas that they decided to build one of their own.

The Plaza is a venue for major public events such as the city’s New Year’s Eve and Canada Day celebrations and its annual Gay Pride March. It also hosts Calgary’s main Christmas market and a number of art, craft and food festivals.