Calgary

Calgary's many Main Streets and what they say about the city's character

CBC Radio hits the streets to explore why so many of Calgary's Main Streets are in the inner city and what can be done to spruce up the suburbs.

CBC Radio hits the road to explore why so many of these culture hubs are in the inner city

Thousands of people descend every year on Fourth Street S.W. for the ever popular annual Lilac Festival. (CBC)

Main Street. The heart of the community. 

Every town and city has one, and some neighbourhoods do too. Calgary has many — 24, according to city hall

Quibble about the locations if you will, but main streets matter.

They are places to drink coffee with friends, to grab a bite to eat, to pick up a new jacket or just hang out. They are a testament to our character and our culture.

Over the next few weeks, CBC Radio's The Homestretch will be checking out several of Calgary's main streets to find out what makes them the hubs of community.   

This week we started on Fourth Street S.W. in the Mission district. 

The CBC's Doug Dirks talked to Fracisco Alaniz Uribe — a professor at the Urban Lab at the University of Calgary

University of Calgary assistant professor Francisco Alaniz Uribe weighs in and explains how main streets in small towns compare to those in the big city.

Take a listen to their conversation.


Calgary at a Crossroads is CBC Calgary's special focus on life in our city during the downturn. A look at Calgary's culture, identity and what it means to be Calgarian. Read more stories from the series at Calgary at a Crossroads.