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National Music Centre

Calgary will host the 2016 Juno Awards in April to coincide with the scheduled opening of the NMC.

Anticipation is growing for next year’s debut of Calgary’s lyrical new National Music Centre (NMC). The museum is the centerpiece of the revitalization of the city’s East Village area, with condominiums, restored heritage buildings, restaurants, cafes and retail space slated for the neighbourhood.

NMC’s new 160,000-sq.-ft. facility will have five floors of exhibition space that tell the story of music in Canada, a 300-seat performance venue. The restoration of famed blues club the King Edward Hotel, that hosted the likes of Pinetop Perkins, John Hammond and B.B. King will become a live musical venue once again.

NMC’s collection includes over 2,000 rare musical instruments, artifacts, sound equipment and Canadian music memorabilia, as well as the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame Collection. Special tours of the Rolling Stones mobile studio will be offered for aficionados.

The visitor experience is modeled after that of a music festival. The design of the facility will allow for music to be heard throughout the building. Interstitial or empty spaces will allow the sounds of music to flow through the five-storey structure and encourage visitors to explore.

The overall concept for the building design is that of a musical instrument; the exterior will be reminiscent of music cases, while interior flow will be inspired by rhythm and acoustics. The inspiration for the building was drawn from Canada’s iconic landscapes—from the cadence of waves to the lullaby of lakeshores, from the silence of the Prairies to the echo of the Arctic, and the energy and diversity of Canada’s urban spaces.

Illuminasia Fantasia

September 17-November 1, 2015

The night sky will glow with intricate Chinese lanterns in animal and mythical Chinese symbol shapes at the Illuminasia Lantern & Garden Festival at the Calgary Zoo in fall of 2015. The lanterns will be designed and prepared in China, then assembled on-site by a Chinese team, assisted by local trades people. Incorporated with the lantern displays will be highlights of Pan-Asian gardening techniques, authentic Oriental programming and entertainment.

Beakerhead Festival

September 16 – 20, 2015

Creativity thrives when the worlds of art, science and technology collide at Calgary’s innovative Beakerhead Festival, now in its third year. The Beakerhead Creative Society advances the understanding of science and engineering through the lens of art and culture.

During the weeklong festivities in 2014, over 70 events were staged citywide, Audiences were thrilled with the night extravaganza of El Pulpo Mecanico—the flame-throwing octopus—to eating the Periodic Table. Local restaurants and bars came up with their own versions of “Engineered Eats” inspired by Beakerhead, so that everyone in the city had a chance to “eat and drink in” on the experience.

The hands-on activities encourage everyone to understanding that science and engineering are a part of everyday life. Engineers are encouraged to show their creative sides and artists are encouraged to get technical. A huge part of the program is fostering this creative collaboration in children, with youthful ambassadors promoting the festival in individual schools.

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arrivals in style

Private aviation terminals serve incentive travel groups and VIPs who prefer to travel—or meet—under the radar

Where do pro athletes, rock stars and film legends touch down in Toronto? Chances are, at one of the private aviation terminals offering a discreet, VIP welcome mat.

A short few kilometres away from its passenger terminals, Pearson International Airport has a private side that includes several private fixed-based operators, or FBOs, that discreetly take care of high-flying clientele and their aircraft.

Non-descript hangars around the airfields of west Toronto conceal executive lounges, media rooms and VIP amenities, not to mention personalized customs check in.

Downtown too, almost in the shadow of the CN Tower, Porter Airlines operates its own private Porter FBO Terminal next to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. The small hangar serves private flights and business travellers, plus Porter’s charter service that will fly a group anywhere inside a 2-1/2-hour flight range.

“We see celebrities, royals and sports teams: yes, of course. But also business people – it can cost less for a corporate charter than to send ten executives first class, and it’s a much more enjoyable experience,” says Christine Condotta, customer service manager for Landmark Aviation, the Pearson-based FBO used by Delta Airlines and Air Miami, official charters for the NBA, MLB and NHL.

Over 20 years working at the FBO located just off Derry Road, Condotta has met countless billionaire business execs, film actors arriving for TIFF and major league superstars; you can guess, but she’s not naming names.

Landmark has also worked with business clients and event organizers who like the cachet of an exclusive location where vast airplane hangars and lounges are available for private events when they’re not in use.

“We’ve had a dinner for 400 for a film company. Car companies use our ramp space for test drive events. We’ve hosted meetings and conferences, and the Canadian Business Aviation Association’s annual trade show,” she says, to name a few.