Mayor Nenshi's East Calgary tour

Ralph Klein Park: The Environmental Education and Ethics Center and the
"Hawk Hill Calgary" Sentinals by Beverly Pepper.

In December 2011, Mayor Nenshi met up with the Toronto Star's Petti Fong for an afternoon drive to some of his favourite spots in the east side of our city. You can read the story as it appears in the Toronto Star, or get it all here:

The mayor of a city isn’t supposed to admit to having a favourite neighbourhood but Naheed Nenshi doesn’t need much persuading to reveal that East Calgary is where he goes to eat at his favourite restaurants, discover new parks and reconnect with his roots.

Nenshi, recently voted one of the country’s most popular politicians, went to Harvard and worked at the UN in New York before returning to his hometown where he won the mayoral seat in 2010.
“The city can learn what has worked in other cities and what hasn’t. We don’t want to create Boston or New York or Paris on the Prairies, but we can pay attention to what other cities are doing,” says Nenshi.

Strictly speaking, Calgary began in what is now East Calgary at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers on the site of Fort Calgary.

“My East Calgary is even further east, in that diverse funky mélange of humanity east of Deerfoot Trail where people live and work, shop and play in an environment that can only be described as completely real,” says Nenshi.

Here’s Nenshi’s list of the six things visitors to East Calgary must do when they visit the city.

1. Mirch Masala

This family-run restaurant in a shopping mall (6208 Rundlehorn Dr. NE) was the first place Nenshi went for dinner the day after winning the election. Husband and wife team Sam and Rampi Thind treat the mayor as a favourite son. “Don’t tell my husband,” says Rampi. “But I have a bit of a crush on Naheed. I’m always glad to see him when he comes in with his family.” Papri Chaat, a refreshing dish of pastry with yoghurt and spices, is always waiting for the mayor.

2. Telus Spark Science Centre

It took a decade to plan, design and construct the Science Centre (220 St. George’s Drive NE) which opened in November and became the first science centre to open in Canada in 25 years. “Hey, look how full the parking is on a Saturday afternoon,” Nenshi pointed out. “It’s a remarkable building and it looks amazing at night when it lights up with LED and different colours depending on the season or the occasion. It’s proving to be very popular and has just been opened a couple of months.” During a recent exhibit on sound, Nenshi says he has a new idea for his desk at city hall. He wants to replace the desk with a giant drum set.

3. 17th Avenue SE

The street is lined with shops and restaurants from many corners of the world. Grocery stores from different cultures and countries bring a bit of home to new arrivals to Calgary who long for a taste of something familiar. “It’s called International Avenue and it’s worth a look. It’s not yet beautiful, and we’re working on making it a better pedestrian environment, but the shops and restaurants from every corner of the world make it a great example of Canadian multiculturalism at its real, front line, gritty, just-came-to-the-country best,” says Nenshi.

4. Rotary Challenger, Prairie Winds and Ralph Klein Parks

East Calgary has had a dearth of great public spaces, especially outdoor public spaces, in the past, but this is changing. Rotary Challenger Park (3688 48 Ave NE) and Prairie Winds Park ( 233 Castleridge Blvd. NE) in the Westwinds area, and the city’s newest Ralph Klein Park (12350 84 St. SE) feature great views and big prairie skies. “If you’re lucky you can kick around a soccer ball or jump on a toboggan with people from around the globe,” says Nenshi.

5. Bai’Tun Nur Mosque

One of the country’s biggest mosques, the Bai’Tun Nur Mosque (4353 54 Ave. NE) built by the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, has become a gathering place for all cultures and religions “We welcome everybody,” says Khalid Choudhry. “This is a place where anyone can come to visit, to make new friends, to join their families. Our door is open.” On Fridays, more than 1,600 worshippers congregate here. The Ahmadiyyas follow the teachings of Muhammad, Jesus, Confucius, Buddha and Abraham. The adjoining community centre includes a full-service kitchen where hundreds can join in meals and a recreation area where ping pong is rigorously played by visitors from a range of cultures and backgrounds.

6. Short Pants Plaza and Pacific Place

The multiculturalism in East Calgary means the best Indian, Mexican, Vietnamese, Chinese and African foods are found at Short Pants Plaza (255 28 Street SE) and Pacific Place (999 36 Street NE). Mayor Nenshi’s favourite place to grab a quick lunch is at Express in the Pacific Place food court, which specializes in Vietnamese, or Banh Mi, subs. Then there’s also his favourite burrito place called Las Tortillas, the meat patties at Village Bakery, the beef ribs at Safari Grill and the Tandoori chicken pizzas at Supreme Pizza where to get it right, you have to ask for the pizza Punjabi-style.

- posted by Daorcey from Mayor Nenshi's team