20 things to do in Calgary this week: January 14 to 17

Keep the fun going with our checklist of 20 things to do in Calgary from Monday, January 14 to Thursday, January 17. Check out Calgary Esports League, Ice Magic Festival, and more.

Monday, January 14

Founders Calgary Vol. 04: Marketing + Social Good

What: To shine a light on the struggles and support the movers and the shakers in our community, HELCIM and The Ace Class have collaborated to present Founders, a curated series designed for entrepreneurs by entrepreneurs. From idea to execution, Founders will showcase first-hand insight of the highs and lows that go along with running your own show. Expect panel discussions with industry leaders and seasoned entrepreneurs with plenty of time for Q&A so you can fire off those burning questions.

When: Monday, January 14, 2018
Time: 7 to 9 pm
Where: Work Nicer Roxbury – 200, 1006-11th Avenue SW, Calgary
Tickets: Online, $15-$100

Craft Cellars Presents Ian MacLeod Distillers

What: Join Craft Cellars for a premium tasting event with Ian MacLeod Distillers and special guest Gordon Dundas. Gordon has been working in the whisky industry directly for over 14 years. Since 2003 he has worked on the international publication Whisky Magazine, gaining incredible insights and knowledge of the whisky industry.

When: Monday, January 14, 2019
Time: 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Where: Craft Cellars – 1345 32 Avenue Northeast, Calgary
Tickets: Online, $30

We Were Children Film Screening

What: We Were Children is a 2012 Canadian documentary film about the experiences of First Nations children in the Canadian Indian residential school system. The film recounts the experiences of two residential school survivors: Lyna Hart, who was sent to the Guy Hill Residential School in Manitoba at the age of four, and Glen Anaquod, who was sent to the Lebret Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan. We Were Children combines interviews with the two with dramatic recreations of their experiences. The evening will include a film showing followed by a talking circle.

When: Monday, January 14, 2019
Time: 7 to 9:30 pm
Where: Dining Centre – University of Calgary Blue Room (access via stairs by Unicard Office 108), Calgary
Tickets: Online, Free

Lunch and Learn: Sustainable Water Management

What: The Calgary City Chapter of Engineers Without Borders welcomes Dr. Hayashi, Professor of Geoscience, and the Canada Research Chair in Physical Hydrology, at the University of Calgary. He will discuss his research and Project on Reducing the Uncertainty in Groundwater Availability and Its Sensitivity to Land-Use and Climate. This event is free to attend, but attendees must RSVP. Refreshments will be provided but please bring your own lunch.

When: Monday, January 14, 2018
Time: 11:45 am to 1 pm
Where: The Bow – 500 Center Street SE, Calgary
Tickets: Online, Free

Tuesday, January 15

Calgary Esports League Exhibition Event

What: Calgary’s new Esports league is hosting an exhibition event at Telus Spark for the first time ever. The Calgary Esports League will allow players to show their skills in games like League of Legends, Overwatch, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and Tekken 7. If you’re interested in checking out the event but don’t feel like playing, you can purchase a spectator ticket for $15 that will allow you to watch all the different games and matches being played.

When: Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Time: 6 to 10 pm
Where: Telus Spark — 220 St Georges Drive NE, Calgary
More Info: Online

Empower Me

What: Empower Me is an energy conservation and behaviour change program aimed at members of diverse, multilingual communities. It is a peer-to-peer program, delivered in communities, and in language. Empower Me helps communities understand energy bills to help save energy, save money, and increase the comfort and safety of their homes. Learn energy conservation tips, how to lower your energy bills, how to read and understand energy bills, home safety tips and advice, and more.

When: Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Time: 6 to 8 pm
Where: Judith Umbach Library – Program Room 6617 Centre Street North, Calgary
Tickets: Online, Free

Sansei: The Storyteller

What: Through an engaging blend of dance, spoken word, and loads of humour, Mark Kunji Ikeda weaves a tale that is both illuminating and profoundly personal. Sansei: The Storyteller offers Ikeda’s observations about the internment, his own discovery of where he came from, and how Japanese Canadians found peace.

When: Monday, January 14 to Saturday, January 26, 2019
Time: Various times
Where: Lunchbox Theatre – 160 – 115 9th Ave SE, Calgary
Tickets: Online

John Kuby’s No Quit in Me

What: John Kuby’s inspirational memoir of his wild ride with tongue cancer reveals what it is like to experience the initial fear and then the trauma of radiation and chemotherapy and the challenges of adapting to their life-altering effects while getting back to normal. John’s book launch event will include a short talk about his experience and the growing concern for the growing number of baby boomers, especially men, experiencing head and neck cancers, as well as the need for immunization of boys for HPV virus. He will do a selected reading, a Q&A, and sign books. Refreshments included.

When: Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Time: 7 pm
Where: Shelf Life Books – 1302 4 St SW # 100, Calgary
Admission: Free

Print(ed) Word: The Salon Series – Kate Baillies & Weyman Chan

What: This free event is the first of 12 in a series of talks to take place each month. Every month, a different artist-writer pair and their collaborative artist books included in Print(ed) Word, on permanent display at Calgary’s new Central Library will be highlighted. Join artist Kate Baillies and poet Weyman Chan as they discuss their collaborative artist book, ISOBARS.

When: Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Time: 7 to 8 pm
Where: Central Library – Level 4 – Simons-Harvie Community Reading Room – 800 3 St SE, Calgary
Admission: Free

Wednesday, January 16

Ice Magic Festival Banff 2019

What: The Ice Magic Festival in Banff is like nothing you’ve ever seen before. Running 12 days long from January 16 to 27, the Ice Magic Festival hosts 10 teams of two in a competition to create the most stunningly shiny work of frozen art. The artwork will then be on display until the end of the festival on January 27, accompanied by live DJs and nighttime lighting displays. Snowshoeing, skiing, ice skating, and sleigh riding could also fill your days – while you aren’t sitting cozily by the fire, that is – as Banff is home to many great wintertime activities.

When: Wednesday, January 16 to Sunday, January 27, 2019
Time: Times vary, check schedule for details
Where: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise – 111 Lake Louise Drive, Lake Louise
Tickets: Online, $9.99 (tickets only needed for weekend days, weekdays are free to attend)

Calgary Flames vs Buffalo Sabres

What: The Flames take on the Sabres at Scotiabank Saddledome.

When: Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Time: 7:30 pm
Where: Scotiabank Saddledome – 555 Saddledome Rise SE
Tickets: Online

Media Lab Meetup

What: Have a drink, enjoy some food, and talk with some of the amazing creators of Calgary: filmmakers, actors, podcasters, videomakers, musicians, and more. The first Media Lab Meetup of the year will be more casual, with the purpose being to meet other creatives and to start building fruitful relationships. Also bring your ideas about possible future Meetups and what you’d like to see.

When: Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Time: 6:30 to 9 pm
Where: Upper Deck Public House – 1104 6 Avenue Southwest #201, Calgary
Tickets: Online, Free

This Is That: The Farewell Tour

What: This Is That Live – Hosts Pat Kelly and Peter Oldring offer audiences a brand new version of their hit touring live show for the 2018 season.The show is in two acts: The first half is a mix of the duo performing new and fan-favourite material from their award winning radio show. In the second half, they turn the writing responsibilities over to the audience and improvise brand new stories on the spot.

When: Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Time: Doors 7 pm, show 8 pm
Where: Jack Singer Concert Hall at Arts Commons – 205 8th Avenue SE, Calgary
Tickets: Online, $27-$48

KONGOS

What: South African American rockers KONGO bring their 1929 Tour to Calgary with special guests Fitness.

When: Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Time: Doors 7 pm, show 8 pm
Where: Commonwealth Bar & Stage – 731 10 Avenue Southwest, Calgary
Tickets: Online

Thursday, January 17

High Performance Rodeo

What: The High Performance Rodeo, Calgary’s International Festival of the Arts, is an annual festival that animates the city in January with an array of live performances from around the world. Featuring theatre, music, dance, and multidisciplinary art, ‘The Rodeo’ is a showcase of the best in contemporary performance.

When: Now to January 27, 2019
Time: Various times
Where: Various venues
Tickets: Online

Mystery Town Tours

What: Mystery Town Tours operates just like the escape rooms that we all know and love (though sometimes really, really hate), but the twist is that you’re not actually trying to escape anything. You’ll actually be following clues throughout the town, receiving information via phone, and replying with your answers to the mysteries presented throughout the day. And it could be a full day, at that, as tours can range from 90 minutes to a full afternoon of adventuring around the town.

When: Available for registration now
Time: One to five hours
Where: Calgary, Canmore, Banff, Cochrane, Edmonton, and Fort McMurray in Alberta, and Vancouver and Victoria in BC
Tickets: Ranges from $49 to $99 per group, with groups ranging from two to four people

The Tiny Comedy Show

What: The Tiny Comedy Show returns to Scarpetta Italian Eatery in Inglewood. Featuring headliner Adam Delorey and MC Paul Kuster, with performances from Austin Lonneberg, Joey Arruda, David Humphrey, Kelsey B. Funk, Don Filipchuk and featuring Victoria Banner. This month’s show includes a fundraiser to support the great work and volunteers of the Calgary Food Bank.

When: Thursday, January 17, 2019
Time: 8 to 9:30 pm
Where: Scarpetta Italian Eatery – 1003 9 Avenue Southeast, Calgary
Tickets: Online, $8

RAW Artists Calgary present Reflect

What: An evening full of live performances, runway shows, live hair and make-up, accessory design and visual art displays. Support over 70 local artists and see the vast talent that exists in Calgary.

When: Thursday, January 17, 2019
Time: 7 pm to 1 am
Where: Marquee Beer Market & Stage – 4630 MacLeod Trail South, Calgary
Tickets: Online

Calgary MS Whisky Festival

What: Sample some of the world’s finest whiskies and raise a glass to end multiple sclerosis. Mix and mingle with whisky lovers and industry experts while roaming the room, tasting from over 100 whiskies from more than 35 different vendors.

When: Thursday, January 17, 2019
Time: 7 to 10 pm
Where: Arts Commons – 205 8th Avenue SE, Calgary
Tickets: Online

See also

• A massive glow party is coming to Calgary this January
• Calgary now has an 'outdoor escape room' that can last a full afternoon
• Telus Spark hosting its first Calgary Esports League event in January