Slovak community in Calgary has rapidly grown mainly during this decade of economic boom in Alberta. According to the 2006 Census, 3,845 residents acknowledged their Slovak heritage (and more in the surrounding suburbs and towns); and out of those 1,195 also speak Slovak at home. Since the second and third generations of Slovaks born in Canada are no longer fluent in Slovak, yet feel to be Canadians of Slovak descent, maintain their awareness of Slovak heritage, and many are actively participating in the Slovak community.

Calgary’s motto is "Heart of The New West" and the local Slovak community is young and dynamic, having an aversion to formal meetings and politicking, but takes advantage of living in one of the most beautiful part of the world.

Popular Events
Branch 65 of the Canadian Slovak League in Calgary organizes trips primarily to the beautiful surrounding countryside. In 2008 we hiked to a greater height than Gerlach, to the glacier at Mt. Rae (3218 m) which starts at 2700 m. Other trips were to the Prairie Mountain and in 2009 we visited the waterfall on Sheep River then allegoric parade and professional rodeo in Pincher Creek in southern Alberta, and at the end of the season, after so much walking in the mountains we relaxed in a natural thermal pool in the pearl of the Canadian Rocky Mountains – Town of Banff.

Other scheduled events include the raising of the Slovak flag every New Year at sunrise at the City hall in Calgary, which Paľo Beňovský organized since the independence of the Slovak Republic; every two months we have a Holy Mass in Slovak, which is served by Alberta-born father Jack Baštigal and organized by the President  of the 65th Branch, Mr. Ivan Hliva. It is also regularly attended by one of our oldest Slovaks, Mrs. Krivý, a long-term secretary of the original branch of the CSL in Calgary. Zuzana Janos organizes monthly guitar jam sessions for young people to sing Slovak Folk Songs and Czech tramp songs in one of the real Calgarian “krcma” (in Calgarese: Pub). Slovak Canadian Chamber of Commerce (Alberta branch) also organizes its meetings.

Slovak Cultural Club in Calgary organizes each November very popular Katarínsku dinner/dance party, then Mikulášsku nádielku for children, and each spring organizes on the Olympic slopes of the ski resort Nakiska a downhill competition for the Slovak Cup.

Photographs from these events will be posted later, so that you get used to regularly visit our website and check for the upcoming events in the Calendarium.

And when the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Ottawa organizes events in Western Canada, such as last year's great representative Exhibition of Slovak graphic arts in Edmonton, we gladly participate and, when needed, are also happy to help.

There are several Slovak-owned firms, shops and professional services. We hope that you will support them, because not only they will serve you with the highest quality, but they will always add something from their Slovak heart.

If you choose to visit Calgary, or to move here, you are always welcome. Sooner or later you will ask yourself: Why haven’t we done that a long time ago?

For contacts and updates on the upcoming events of the Slovak community in Calgary, visit the website of CSL Branch 65 in Calgary, at www.ksliga.com/branch65/