labour
One common pick-up spot for day labour is Centre Street south, between 12th and 13th Avenues. Arrive early for black market jobs, especially in the summer construction season. There's an abundance of other employment opportunities (http://www.calgaryeh.ca) as well.
volunteer
Calgary is a city with a strong volunteer spirit, which was embraced during the 1988 Winter Olympics and continues to be a foundation of the community. Volunteering is a great way to meet people in any city you visit. If you are unable to find a volunteer opportunity on your own, try Volunteer Calgary (http://www.volunteercalga...) or Single Volunteers of Calgary (http://www.singlevoluntee...).
Busking
Is common in the summertime, along stephen avenue downtown at lunch time, near eau claire on weekends, and along 17th avenue at night. busking permits (http://www.downtowncalgar...) are available for stephen avenue; busking in eau claire market proper is restricted to auditioned performers, ruling this option out. 17th avenue has potential, if you can deal with drunken hecklers.
Calaway Park
(http://www.calawaypark.com/). western canada's largest amusement park is located just west of calgary's city limits on highway 1.
Performing arts
Loose Moose Theatre
One of the originators of, and international leaders in, short-form improvisation and Theatresports think Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Loose Moose does improv weekly, as well as the occasional original children's show or comedy.
EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts
205 8th avenue s.e. adjacent to olympic plaza, +1 403 294-7455, (http://www.epcorcentre.org/). the epicentre of calgary's theatre scene, the epcor centre hosts the three best-known professional theatre groups; the conservative theatre calgary (http://www.theatrecalgary.com/), the more adventurous alberta theatre projects atp (http://www.atplive.com/in...), and the downright avant-garde one yellow rabbit perfomance theatre oyr (http://www.oyr.org/). the facility has two additional theatres, so other companies often produce shows here. of special note are two festivals held by the resident companies; oyr's high performance rodeo runs for january and provides a wildly eclectic mix of performing arts and performance art while atp's playrites runs from february into early march and focuses on new works. $10-60.
Stage West Dinner Theatre
Offers unchallenging, tried-and-true shows, along with a generic buffet dinner.
Theatre Junction
Offers a slate of highly contemporary theatre and performing arts, and the venue also hosts music.
Pumphouse Theatre
Two theatres contained inside a historic brick waterworks building play host to a large part of Calgary's semi-pro and community theatre scene, with new productions here every week.
Lunchbox Theatre
This unique theatre company produces exclusively one-act plays, during the weekday noon lunch hour. Typically lighter fare suitable for a downtown corporate crowd.
Vertigo Theatre
is dedicated to producing mystery plays, ranging from musicals to straight-up whodunnits. A second studio theatre frequently hosts other companies.
Jubilations Dinner Theatre
Similar to Stage West, with more of a focus on parodies of popular television shows.
Calgary has developed a fairly vibrant theatre scene including both professional and amateur theatre. The two daily newspapers provide some theatre coverage, but the best coverage and listings are found in free weekly Fast Forward magazine (http://www.ffwdweekly.com/).
Spectator sports
Calgary Stampede
(http://www.calgary-stampe...). yearly, july. for ten days the whole city goes western! billed as "the greatest outdoor show on earth", the festival has events all around the city, but the highlights are the rodeo and chuckwagon races which boast the world's richest prizes.
Calgary Roughnecks
(http://www.calgaryroughne...). yearly, january to may. calgary's national lacrosse league team were champions cup winners in 2004 and 2009. the sport is fast, rough and tough. features loud music throughout and a great experience. prices range from $15-60.
Calgary Hitmen
(http://www.hitmenhockey.com/). yearly, september to may. calgary's junior hockey team play in the western hockey league and at the saddledome when the flames are not in town. junior hockey serves as a feeder league for the nhl. usually as fun as the flames, but cheaper!! prices range from $15-40.
Calgary Flames Hockey Club
(http://www.calgaryflames.com/). yearly, october to june. calgary's nhl team is a consistent playoff contender in recent years, and tickets may be hard to come by. expect a great atmosphere and game if you're lucky enough to get tickets. price range from $40-$200
Calgary Stampeders Football Club
(http://www.stampeders.com/). yearly, june to november. calgary's cfl football team is another city sports attraction. the cfl plays 3 down football, with only 20 seconds between plays, so watching a cfl game is quite different to watching an nfl game!
Calgary Vipers
(http://www.calgaryvipers.com/). yearly, may to september. independent minor league professional baseball in the golden league. formerly of the northern league.
Calgary International Salsa Congress
(http://http://www.calgary...) yearly, beginning of february. weekend of all night salsa parties and latin dance performances featuring both world-class and local talent. includes qualifiers for the world latin dance cup.