Calgary Tower in Calgary, Alberta

The Calgary Tower is one of the most iconic landmarks in Calgary, Alberta, and a symbol of the city's modern skyline. Standing at 190.8 meters (626 feet) tall, the tower was originally completed in 1968 as part of Calgary’s centennial celebrations and was known as the Husky Tower. It was renamed the Calgary Tower in 1971, shortly after its ownership was transferred to the City of Calgary and Canadian Pacific.

Designed by architect W.G. Milne, the tower was the tallest structure in Calgary at the time of its construction. It was built to promote urban renewal and to demonstrate Calgary’s economic growth and potential. The tower's construction involved a unique slip-form method, where concrete was continuously poured to build the structure in a single, uninterrupted process—a technique that was innovative for the time.

Today, the Calgary Tower offers visitors panoramic views of the city and the surrounding Rocky Mountains from its observation deck. One of the most popular features is the glass floor, allowing guests to look straight down onto the streets below. The tower also features a revolving restaurant, Sky 360, which completes a full rotation every 45 minutes, offering a unique dining experience with ever-changing views.

In addition to being a major tourist attraction, the Calgary Tower also plays a role in city events and celebrations - including as the location of the cauldron for the 1988 Winter Olympics. It is frequently lit up in different colors to commemorate holidays, raise awareness for causes, or mark special occasions. Whether viewed from below or experienced from the top, the Calgary Tower remains a proud emblem of Calgary’s heritage and progress.

LED lights on the Calgary Tower.

Looking down from the glass floor of the Calgary Tower.

You can see the Olympic cauldron on the very top of the Calgary Tower.

Looking down at the Palliser Hotel in downtown Calgary.

Stephen Avenue in downtown Calgary.

Editing Luke on CBC Radio Calgary

A big thank you to CBC Radio Calgary for having me on the Homestretch this afternoon to speak a bit about my hometown photo series, Around the Hat. The show was broadcasting from Inspire Cafe in downtown Medicine Hat, Alberta today, and reached out last week to set things up. 

As I've said many times, you really never know where people will find you, how things will spread, and where the opportunities will present themselves when you put things out to be discovered. Around the Hat was the photo series that really opened the door for all of the North American travel shoots I've done since. After celebrating 5 years just a few weeks ago - it was awesome to reflect on some early work and share a few of those stories with a new audience. 

The scene and CBC Radio inside Inspire Cafe this afternoon.

CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario

Completed in 1976, the CN Tower in downtown Toronto, Ontario is a communications and observation tower that is arguably one of Canada's most recognizable landmarks. For 32 years the CN Tower held the record as the world's tallest free standing structure before it was surpassed in height in 2007 by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

The CN Tower attracts over 2 million visitors annually and features two observation platforms, glass floors, an outdoor platform, and a revolving restaurant. To this day the CN Tower remains a Toronto icon, and at 1815 feet tall, still an epic place to take in views of the city.