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CALGARY’S GUIDE TO GOING OUT

FREE • SEPTEMBER 2026 • ISSUE #71

THEATRE SEASON LAUNCH FOOD COURT GEMS TOOL SHED GETS ONBOARD DORIENNE PROULX Q&A “THE JACK” VENUE PROFILE

ROOTED & RISING

INDIGENOUS ARTISTS ARE RESHAPING CALGARY'S CULTURAL LANDSCAPE

THINGS TO DO

PLUS:

MUSIC AND GIGS VISUAL ARTS

SCENE'S GUIDE TO

CIFF

FOOD AND DRINKS

CALGARY INTERNATIONAL

CAM HAYDEN COMIC

F ILM F EST IVAL seth cardinal dodginghorse

Where world-class contemporary art meets unforgettable architecture. A bold contemporary art experience inside a reimagined planetarium. 701 11 St SW, Calgary See what’s on

contemporarycalgary . com Erik Olson, Shadow, 2025.

CONTENTS

12 CIFF The 2026 Calgary International Film Festival runs September 24 to October 4. From films of every genre to a host of shorts — these are the films Calgarians will be talking about all year. Find out what you need to know so you don’t miss out.

Cover seth cardinal dodginghorse Photo: Lawrence Teeth Publisher Käthe Lemon klemon@redpointmedia.ca Editorial Assistant Evelina Pak epak@redpointmedia.ca

sEpTember 4

Contributing Editor Catrina Bowles cbowles@redpointmedia.ca Designer Kris Twyman Print/Digital Production Manager Mike Matovich

suns ‘n rosEs song circLe 5 w/ nico bRennaN, lIlli wIllow aNd nicoLe zylstrA 8pm $10 adv all ages

CONTRIBUTORS Reid Blakley, Hannah Caparino, Chelsea Cavanagh, Cam Hayden, Isabelle Hon, Nathan Iles, Lissa Robinson, Alicia L'Archeveque, Kiara Neisz, Kathleen Renne, Don Tse Client Support Coordinator Alice Meilleur Senior Account Executive Jocelyn Erhardt

bluegRaSs night wIth smokin’ toad revival 7pm $20 all ages

froo 8pm $10 all ages

hymmmelodies CoLors of Peace re-relEaSe 8pm $10 all ages

oddiiteaSe buRlEsque orIgins 7:30pm $15 adv 18+

gReenview gRaffItI jam 2-4pm free all welcome

congRess after dArk rope fIguRe dRawIng 7PM $10 18+

gus moberg trAvesty 8pm $10 all ages

tam & BuRns 8pm $10 all ages

a jazz congRess wIth bowlIne quintet 7pm $15 all ages

dRag is for all ages 2pm $10 all welcome

Account Executives Nadine Benoit, Vicki Braaten

CEO and co-owner Roger Jewett

storyslam yyc presEnts: storIes of love aNd loss 7pm free all welcome

President and co-owner Käthe Lemon Vice President Operations Meredith Bailey Creative Director Steve Collins

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada

CIFF 2025 XXX PHOTO: MICHAEL GRONDIN

We acknowledge the traditional territories and the value of the traditional and current oral practices of the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Tsuut’ina, the Iyarhe Nakoda Nations, the Otipemisiwak Métis Government of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

The Scene is a member of the Alberta Magazine Publishers’ Association and abides by its professional standards. redpointmedia.ca 1721 29 Avenue SW, Suite 375, Calgary, AB, T2T 6T7 Published 12 times a year by Redpoint Media Group. © 2026 by Redpoint Media Group. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher.

4 ACT 1, SCENE 1

20 COVER

27 BEER SCENE

What to do, see, and hear this month across the city.

Three Indigenous artists reflect on identity and finding their place in Calgary’s art scene.

8 Q&A

22 FOOD SCENE

Tool Shed Brewing won a bid to be the beer provider for WestJet — making the airline the first to offer only craft beer on its flights.

Indigenous artist Dorienne Proulx works to decolonize fashion and make connections between communities for greater understanding.

We explored food courts to find hidden gems that you’ll love!

10 ART SCENE Churn, Earn, Burn and Then Return at Contemporary Calgary explores capitalism through the visual metaphors of Monopoly.

24 THEATRE SCENE

28 VENUE The Jack Singer Concert Hall has been the performance space at the heart of what is now the Werklund Centre for more than four decades.

Fall forward into this year’s theatre season.

30 Cam Hayden Comic

krAckin’ baNd 8pm $10 all ages

queer video gAme night 7pm free all welcome

wednesdAys! open mIc & acoustIc jam 7pm free all ages

congResscoffeeshop.com/events thescenecalgary.com | 09 | 2026

ACT XXX1 SCENE SCENE1

What to do in September

BY CATRINA BOWLES

LISTEN TO INNOVATIVE PIANO COMPOSITIONS, SEE BEAUTIFUL LIGHT ART, WATCH MONSTER TRUCKS PERFORM SICK STUNTS AND MORE

HONENS FESTIVAL

September 10 to 13 | Multiple locations | honens.com The Honens International Piano Competition, one of Canada’s biggest piano festivals, takes place every three years. In between these competitions, we get the Honens Festival, three days filled with events ranging from classic concerts to innovative presentations. The theme of this year’s festival is “Echoes and Transformations.” One of the fascinating events to check out is the Neurorecital, which debuted at the 2025 Honens competition. In the performance, 2018 Honens Prize Laureate

MONSTER JAM

September 11 to 13 | GMC Stadium | monsterjam.com Calgary’s arts scene is amazing, with fantastic plays, stunning galleries and beautiful music concerts throughout the year — but sometimes, you just want to watch some really big trucks do some cool stunts. Do exactly that this September at Monster Jam, where some of the world’s most popular monster trucks like Grave Digger, El Toro Loco and Sparkle Smash stand on two wheels and fly through the air over two thrilling hours. Embrace your inner child with tickets starting at $37.50.

Nicolas Namoradze performs live while his brain activity is translated into stunning 3D animated visuals.

CINEMA ON 17TH

September 11 to 13 | Tomkins Park | 17thave.ca Enjoy a weekend of free movies over at Tomkins Park with Cinema on 17th. Each day features a variety of films, so there’s something for everyone, whether you want to bring the kids along or turn it into a date. On Saturday morning, Cinema on 17th partners with the Calgary Underground Film Festival (CUFF) for Saturday morning cartoons, featuring three hours of handpicked shorts and animated favourites guaranteed to make you feel nostalgic. Some picks you won’t want to miss include Little Shop of Horrors (which gets a stage adaptation at Theatre Calgary this year) on Friday, Moulin Rouge on Saturday and The Princess Bride on Sunday.

TASTE OF ITALY

September 13 | Bridgeland-Riverside Community Association | italianfestival.ca This year marks the fifth annual Taste of Italy festival, the perfect place to sample all of the authentic Italian cuisine Calgary has to offer. Sample local favourites like Lina’s Italian Market, Marietta’s Gelato Bar, Teso Focaccia and

PHOTO: EVAN ZIMMERMAN FOR MURPHYMADE

& JULIET

September 15 to 20 | Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium | calgary.broadway.com Packed with iconic pop anthems from certified hit-maker Max Martin and created by David West Reed, Emmy Award-winning writer for Schitt’s Creek, & Juliet ponders what would happen if Juliet didn’t end her life at the end of Shakespeare’s iconic play. The play flips between the reimagined events of Romeo & Juliet and scenes between Shakespeare and his wife, Anne Hathaway, who wants him to change the ending. It’s a funny, high-energy jukebox musical, perfect for an evening of good vibes.

more at the vendor booths, or try your hand at making your own Italian food with the pizza-making and grape-stomping workshops. If you have a bottomless stomach when it comes to Italian food, then enter yourself into the pasta-eating contest. Throughout the festival there’s live music and entertainment, from a wandering accordion player to opera singers.

ALBERTA BIODIVERSITY FESTIVAL

PHOTO: MONSTER JAM - FELD ENTERTAINMENT

September 19 | Bow Habitat Station | bowhabitat.alberta.ca There are so many exciting critters and creepy crawlies living in Alberta. Get the chance to celebrate them this month at the Alberta Biodiversity Festival, a collaboration between the Bow Habitat Station and the Calgary Zoo’s Wilder Institute. Meet Vinny, a peregrine falcon, AKA the world’s fastest animal. Look through a microscope at the parasites and plant life that make up the foundation of

an ecosystem, and feel real skulls, pelts and tracks of local wildlife to learn more about their place in the ecosystem. See up-close some of the creatures that live in our rivers at the Bow Habitat stations’ freshwater aquariums or take part in a feeding frenzy for thousands of rainbow trout. It’s a lot of fun for all ages, and tickets are just $5.25.

YYC MUSIC AWARDS GALA

September 20 | Grey Eagle Event Centre | yycmusicawards.com The nominations are in, and this month we’ll find out the winners of the 2026 YYC Music Awards. Since the YYC Music Awards began in 2016, the organization has been celebrating local musical artists, both new and established. In between awards, the gala will feature live music performances from four to five of this year’s nominees. Tickets to the gala are $51.45, available on Ticketmaster — grab yours before they’re gone!

thescenecalgary.com | 09 | 2026

NIGHT LIGHT

September 24 to 26 | Victoria Park | nightlightvicpark.ca Prepare to be enchanted when you attend Night Light. Over the course of three days, artists show off their innovative light-based art works, turning Victoria Park into a glowing spectacle unlike any other art show. Artists are empowered by grants and access to technologies to create interactive installations, projection-mapped architecture and live performances. Night Light is free to attend, so bring along your family and friends.

WORDFEST PRESENTS COLIN JAMES

September 25 | DJD Dance Centre | wordfest.com With 21 studio albums, eight Juno Awards, 31 Maple Blues Awards and thousands of album sales to his name, Colin James is a powerhouse in Canadian blues music. His new memoir, Playing The Changes: A Musician’s Memoir, tells the tale of his long

and illustrious career and how he got there. James himself is here in Calgary to discuss it with Calgary Herald art writer Eric Volmers. Tickets are $30 and are bound to go fast, so grab them while you can.

HORROR CON

October 3 and 4 | Genesis Centre | horror-con.ca Kick off spooky season right at Horror Con, Canada’s first and largest convention dedicated to horror. Over the course of the weekend, sit in on screenings of full-length and short horror films from around the world, and check out panels covering topics ranging from SFX makeup demos, talks from stars of iconic horror films and even spirit channeling. Meet stars from cult classic horror films like Brad Loree, who played Michael Myers in Halloween: Resurrection, and Jordan Ladd and Cerina Vincent from Cabin Fever. Tickets start at $35 for a single day or pay $50 for the whole weekend.

PHOTO: HANNAH BUSWELL, BEE BOLD MEDIA

CALGARY CAT FESTIVAL & MARKET

September 12 and 13 | Contemporary Calgary | calgarycatfest.com The purrfect festival for cat lovers returns to Contemporary Calgary this year, offering an event where you can connect with fellow feline enthusiasts, support local rescues and charities and shop a market full of goodies for you and your cat. There’s a variety of workshops and talks where you’ll learn more about cats and cat care, and the annual Ravensburger puzzle tournament. Recruit a friend and compete to be the fastest to solve a 500 piece puzzle. Win or lose, you get to take the puzzle home with you!

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thescenecalgary.com | 09 | 2026

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ACT XXX1 SCENE SCENE1

Onstage in September

BY NATHAN ILES

FROM ‘80S ROCK LEGENDS TO NYC HIP HOP PIONEERS AND POST-HARDCORE GREATNESS

ZEN GARDEN FESTIVAL

ARIAS & ALES

Waterfront Park transforms into an immersive garden dance party, and everyone is invited. EDM producer Kenny Dope and UK bass master Commodo are just a few of the headliners. September 12 at Waterfront Park, zengardenfestival.com.

Craft beer and opera singers; a match you never knew you needed. This show is a great way to get into an ancient musical form, or just impress a new date. September 20 at Best of Kin, calgaryopera.com.

PHIL IN THE PARK Do you find classical music intimidating? Calgary Phil aims to change that with a free outdoor concert conducted by Juliane Gallant. Admission is free, but you gotta register online. September 13 at Prince’s Island Park, calgaryphil.com.

LEEROY STAGGER

PHOTO: TONY TRINH

EDUCATION PARTY Start the month with an electronic-tinged take on folk as Education Party drops their latest release. Mirror Gold, Alice Jane and Sonia Deleo open up the show so come early! September 5 at The BLOX, bloxartscentre.ca.

JERU THE DAMAJA Don’t miss this chance to catch a New York hip-hop legend. This year is the 20th anniversary of Jeru’s East Coast classic album, Wrath of the Math, and now is the time to celebrate. September 18 at Commonwealth, commonwealthbar.ca.

LYLE LOVETT AND HIS LARGE BAND

SHIP SATURDAY SHOWCASE: NORTHERN BEAUTIES

Four-time Grammy winner Lyle Lovett is bringing his wistful Americana anthems to the prairies. Grab a reserved seat now; tickets will go fast. September 9 at the Jubilee Auditorium, jubileeauditorium.com.

Most Saturday afternoons, the Ship lets a local band take over their stage for an afternoon jam party. Folk rockers Northern Beauties return for this showcase, with support from Justine Vandergrift. September 19 at the Ship & Anchor, shipandanchor.com.

STEVE DAWSON AND JOACHIM COODER One of Canada’s finest roots guitarists and an acclaimed multi‑instrumentalist are coming together to jam on blues, folk, and roots traditions with this edition of Fish Creek Concerts. September 11 at Southwood United Church, fishcreekconcerts.com.

Roots and country straight out of Lethbridge is on the menu as Stagger drops his latest (and possibly greatest) album. September 16 and 17 at the Ironwood, ironwoodstage.ca.

MEHFIL Inspired by the titular gathering centered on music, storytelling, and shared emotions, this group brings Punjab music to the masses in a powerful night of musical community. September 20 at MacEwan Hall, machallconcerts.com.

NEON TASTE PRESENTS UNSANE Riding a fresh remaster of their landmark ‘98 release Occupational Hazard, Unsane is ready and raring to deliver a shot of NYC noise punk straight into your earholes. September 22 at The Palomino, neontasterecords.ca.

ENSIFERUM These Finnish folk-metal icons have been shredding riffs for over 30 years, and keep going on and on. Firewind and North Hammer open up this viking head bang fest. September 23 at The Arrowhead, thearrowheadcalgary.com.

QUICKSAND X FUCKED UP Freshly reformed post-hardcore legends Quicksand and venerable Canadian punk legends Fucked Up are co-headlining one of the loudest tours you can catch this summer. Old Man Moshington is back out of retirement. September 25 at Dickens, dickensyyc.com.

your chances and miss it like a chump. September 26 at the Saddledome, scotiabanksaddledome.com.

DUNE RATS The skate punk anthems of this Aussie threepiece rocked Calgary’s ass back in 2024. If you weren’t there, this is your chance to remedy that grave error. Bring earplugs. October 2 at Modern Love, modern-love.ca.

BEETHOVEN X BEYONCÉ A mash-up night for the history books. Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony is the foundation for new versions of your favourite Queen Bee songs, as pop and classical get married for the night. October 3 at the Jack Singer, calgaryphil.com.

SABATON “Legends on Tour” hits Calgary, giving you the rare opportunity to catch this legendary Swedish power metal band and the real-world history their lyrics often explore. October 5 at the Grey Eagle, greyeagleresortandcasino.ca.

JOURNEY Don’t Stop Believin’ that ‘80s bands can still rock. These bonafide arena rock icons are calling this tour the “Final Frontier,” so don’t take

BAHAMAS Afie Jurvanen’s Canadian indie folk ditties are a familiar sound to anyone who’s listened to local or college radio in the last decade. Catch them live, close your eyes, and imagine you’re on a beach! September 21 at the Jack Singer Concert Hall, calgaryauditorium.com. PHOTO: TAKUYA INOUE

thescenecalgary.com | 09 | 2026

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Q&A

“WHILE ART SUPPORTS US EMOTIONALLY, THERE'S SO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE ON THE

Building Bridges

FRONT LINES OF OUR COMMUNITIES.” DORIENNE PROULX

DORIENNE PROULX DECOLONIZES FASHION AND CREATES CONNECTIONS BETWEEN COMMUNITIES BY EVELINA PAK

nishinaabe-Métis born and Calgary-based, Dorienne Proulx started her artistic path at a very young age. From dancing at powwows, she grew into beadwork and making regalia pieces. She now runs Little Star Artistry, which produces jewellery and pop-ups and provides Indigenous cultural performances. Her artwork has been exhibited through the +15 Galleries with Calgary Queer Arts Society and in murals at the Telus Convention Centre. Beyond her artistic practice, Proulx works with the Indigenous community at a drug and alcohol treatment centre. “While art supports us emotionally, there's so much work to be done on the front lines of our communities,” she says. Q: How would you describe yourself as an artist? A: “I've been a professional artist for about six years now. It started with painting acrylics on canvases, and then grew into exploring other practices like beading. “Contemporary jewellery has been a way to decolonize daily fashion. I have tons of customers who are non-Indigenous and wear my work as a sign of appreciation towards our culture. “The goal around my practice is to create bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities and bring often complicated conversations about colonization and history into a positive space and build connection through art.” Q: Could you explain what “decolonizing fashion” means? A: “In our culture, a lot of materials that would often be disregarded are immensely valuable

to us, like elk ivory. Being able to use pieces that come from the land and animals is a way to show what our community reveres as valuable. “For me, decolonization in fashion means we're able to move beyond a Western view of fashion and represent other cultures.” Q: In the Native Calgarian podcast, you said, “Time is changing and being Indigenous changes.” What does being Indigenous mean to you today? A: “As society progresses, our healing from things like residential schools is going to progress, too. Time and effort have been put in, whether it's through ceremony or therapy. “We're changing what the community looks like, and in my opinion, in a good way. Powwows and outfits have become more contemporary. Our ceremonies, depending on your ceremony grounds, are opening up to non-Indigenous people. “So many of us are getting educated. There was a time when we couldn't vote. So now, being able to become professionals and to change what people see as an Indigenous person is what most of us strive for.” Q: Could you tell us more about your work at the +15 Galleries and how it explores kinship? A: “The piece started because Robyn [of Eagle Medicine Coaching] did a display on Wâhkôhtowin (kinship). She used red thread and had us all hold it to show that if I tug, someone else feels it. With her permission, I started to draft my idea around that piece. “Red threads are a physical representation of connectedness, and the beaded portion of the heart is to visualize what connectedness can mean.

PHOTO: ALBERT WOO

(L–R): TOGETHER ON TURTLE’S BACK MURAL, WÂHKÔHTOWIN, JEWELLERY BY LITTLE STAR ARTISTRY

“At the end of the day, we're all human beings that have a beating heart, and no matter how hard we try to let go of certain threads, we're connected to everything: our communities, the earth, places that we live. That's essentially what Wâhkôhtowin would mean.” Q: As we approach the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, how do you feel Calgary’s attitude toward Indigenous culture has changed? A: “When I was in elementary school, we didn't have cultural showcases. Seeing that we are taking steps towards inclusion is something that I'm really relieved to see. “We're seeing businesses show their support. We're seeing people engage with us and attend events. And while we have so many wonderful days throughout the year when we

can support the community, this is a reality that Indigenous people live with 365 days a year: we do still experience racism and violence. Many of our communities still don't have fresh running water or access to equitable healthcare. “Sitting in humility and recognizing that we still have so much work to do is not inherently negative. There's so much power in recognizing our faults — not the faults of my own community, but our faults — and choosing to take steps in the right direction.” This Q&A was created in collaboration with the Werklund Centre. Dorienne Proulx's work is currently featured at the +15 Galleries in an exhibition presented by the Calgary Queer Arts Society. See more of her work on Instagram: @little.star.artistry

thescenecalgary.com | 09 | 2026

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ART SCENE

MONOPOLY MELTDOWN AN EXHIBITION AT CONTEMPORARY CALGARY TAKES AIM AT THE GAME OF CAPITALISM

BY LISSA ROBINSON

magenta shelf with game tokens, buildings made from wooden blocks, and large coloured banners are but a few elements in Churn, Earn, Burn and then Return, an exhibition on view at Contemporary Calgary. Curated by Mona Filip, the show playfully explores the hidden meanings inside the game Monopoly, exposing how power inequities grease the wheel. Using Contemporary Calgary’s Ring Gallery’s circular architecture, artist Ghazaleh Avarzamani stages a poetic counterpoint by transforming the floor into a massive, immersive Monopoly board. Viewers are forced to navigate numerous obstacles that reveal hierarchies and inequities. For example, the tiny wooden houses that players hoard to build fictional empires are dwarfed by Calgary’s corporate oil towers, sandstone schools, and churches reconstructed from milled blocks.

On shelves painted in Monopoly colours, the now-retired horse and rider playing piece commands an obedient line of humbler pieces including the iron, shoe, and thimble, alongside the battleship and the cannon. By forcing the pieces into a submissive formation, Avarzamani creates visual allegories about economic hierarchies echoed in other elements. Suspended throughout the game board, large textile banners display bleak messaging that mimic the game’s Chance cards. A striking yellow banner reads: "Burn: You have worked hard. Your reward is the opportunity to work harder. Collect nothing." Central to the exhibition is a 2.5-metre-tall cowboy sculpture made from 1,000 pounds of butter. Kept inside a climate-controlled zone, this slow-decaying monument emits a thick, salty scent. The unctuous statue is a satirical effigy of a massive butter sculpture of the Prince of Wales that Canada displayed at the British Empire Exhibition in 1925. Avarzamani cleverly subverts this propaganda using the

same horse and rider token. This brings us back to the word "churn." Historically, churning was the grueling, sacred labor required to turn liquid milk into solid fat — a process so magical it was used in ancient Tibetan and Vedic spiritual rituals. Today, "churn" is cold corporate jargon for the rapid, volatile rotation of labor, investments, and human capital. Avarzamani binds these vastly different histories in an organic medium designed to self-destruct. As the exhibition progresses, the chilled air cannot fully protect the cowboy. The butter is meant to warp, fracture, and rot. It is a stunning metaphor for economic collapse. In a world obsessed with earning and burning, this sweating, fragile empire of butter serves as a haunting reminder that the games we play are entirely manufactured, inherently unstable, and ultimately bound to melt away. Churn, Earn, Burn and then Return is on at Contemporary Calgary until November 8. 701 11 Street S.W.; contemporarycalgary.com

BURN: YOU HAVE WORKED HARD. YOUR REWARD IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK HARDER. COLLECT NOTHING. INSTALLATION VIEW PHOTOS: BLAINE CAMPBELL

WHAT’S ON IN THE GALLERIES

NORBERG HALL

ESKER FOUNDATION

WERKLUND CENTRE +15 GALLERIES

ALBERTA CRAFT CALGARY GALLERY

NEWZONES GALLERY OF CONTEMPORARY ART

Yvonne Mullock & Lindsay Montgomery | SoothSayers Until October 3 This collaborative project was developed during a month-long residency at Medalta, where Mullock and Montgomery explored their shared passion for using craft to explore cultural identity. Drawing on their ancestral ties to Scotland and England, the project fuses folklore and paganism into an experimental work that explores consumption, ritual, and community through a feminist lens.

Johnathan Onyschuk: Old Growths Until October 25 Johnathan Onyschuk’s window installation explores the recurring historical motif of human faces intertwined with plant matter. By merging anonymous folk-art carvings into dense basswood reliefs, individual features dissolve into swirling botanical patterns. The work speculates that these woodcarvings are efforts to communicate with, recognize, and reunite with our distant botanical relatives or nature dwellers.

Calgary Queer Arts Society Presents Thru October Curated by Wilmer Aburto, this showcase brings together established and emerging 2SLGBTQIA+ artists across the cultural corridor. Across these immersive installations, visitors will encounter playful, mirror-bedecked cowboy icons alongside intimate environments built for peer-to-peer storytelling. Together, these varied textures and narratives form a powerful chorus of survival, joy, and belonging within the city's civic heartbeat.

Before They're Gone | Anna Burger-Martindale Until September 12 Anna Burger-Martindale’s SPOTLIGHT exhibition is a love letter to the planet’s remarkable biodiversity. Bridging handcrafted jewellery with environmental advocacy, her ongoing series features endangered species beautifully captured in silver wire. Beyond this dazzling tribute to a fragile ecosystem, a portion of all sales will be donated to Wildlife Preservation Canada.

Samantha Walrod | Off the Beaten Path Opening September 12 Samantha Walrod’s artworks explore fleeting human-wildlife interactions along the edges of the Canadian wilderness. Combining paint, collage, and digital technologies, her highly tactile, layered compositions address the cultural construction of nature. These dense material layers mirror how the mind retains memories, balancing clarity and obscurity, chaos and visual quiet.

thescenecalgary.com | 09 | 2026

SEASON AT A GLANCE SEP 26, 2026 AT 7PM

VIRGINIA MACDONALD QUARTET

OCT 17,2026 AT 7PM

MADELEINE ELKINS TRIO

OCT 25,2026 AT 6PM

THE CHOCOLATE BOX #3

NOV 20, 2026 AT 7PM DEC 16-20, 2026 AT 7PM

EMILIE-CLAIRE BARLOW QUARTET

CAITY GYORGY & MARK LIMACHER

UPCOMING EVENTS

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SEP 26+27

THE FREE LABEL

Live album recorded over two nights. Be on the dance floor as music history is made.

RECORDING LIVE THROUGH THE ROLLING STONES MOBILE STUDIO.

JAN 29-31, 2027

JAN 29, 2027 AT 7PM

BJP × WBDI PRESENT:

MAR 12, 2027 AT 7PM

TETYANA HARASHUCK QUARTET

MAR 27, 2027 AT 7PM

LORRAINE DESMARAIS TRIO

APR 16-17, 2026 AT 7PM

Weekend Activities at Studio Bell

CARRINGTON/DAVIS/ PROZNICK TRIO

FLORIAN HOEFNER TRIO

SEPTEMBER 5+6 | 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Two days of live music, rhythm games, sound effects, and singalongs for all ages in NMC's newest exhibition and sound playground.

Free on Studio Bell’s main ﬂoor.

EXHIBITIONS ON NOW 2 0 2 6 C A N A D I A N M U S I C H A L L O F FA M E

Celebrating the global pop icon’s sound, style, and fearless reinvention.

Honouring the late jazz great’s impact on music.

Recognizing Indigenous trailblazers in music.

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FILM SCENE

Calgary International Film Festival LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION — GET READY FOR CIFF 2026 BY REID BLAKLEY

O CIFF 2025 PHOTO: MICHAEL GRONDIN

“They're really the first generation to hold a screen in their hand from birth, and I think what they're discovering is… emotions are heightened when they're shared with others.” BRIAN OWENS, CIFF ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

n a particularly warm, sunny and smokeless afternoon in late July, both Brian Owens and I are a little disappointed that we have to conduct a Zoom meeting instead of absorbing some vitamin D. “I’m used to not enjoying summer weather,” he tells me with a chuckle. Indeed, Owens is usually busy this time of year leading up to the Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF), where he’s been artistic director since 2018 after a decade with the Nashville Film Festival. He founded what is now Indy Film Festival in 2004 in Indianapolis, as an alternative to the decidedly more mainstream (and, at the time, much more conservative) Heartland Film Festival. “Let's just say, at the time, [Park Chan-wook’s action thriller] Oldboy never would have played Heartland,” he says. “So that's why I started [Indy], because I wanted to see the darker films.” Especially when it comes to the dark stuff, CIFF “competes” with the Calgary Underground Film Festival (CUFF) as one of Calgary’s two large multigenre film festivals, though Owens insists any rivalry is friendly. “We do have different target audiences,” he says, “but a lot of their attendees attend ours, and vice versa.” He notes that sometimes, whether a certain film plays at one or the other depends on what time of year it happens to be released; CUFF takes place in spring, while CIFF is in autumn. “We support them, they support us, you'll see that crossover all the way through.” Regardless of who gets what, CIFF holds out the promise that attendees will be among the first Calgarians to see next year’s most talked-about original films. In 2025, the festival hosted the Alberta premieres of Oscar contender If I Had Legs I’d Kick You and the viral cult comedy hit Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, eventual winner of six Canadian Screen Awards including Best Motion Picture and Best Visual Effects. This year’s lineup promises many such gems. It’s not all about the awards and prestige, though; one of CIFF’s primary focuses is still showcasing local talent.

“Sometimes Alberta films will premiere at Venice or TIFF,” says Owens, “but still we'll highlight them and give them the audience that they deserve.” Indigenous programming is also a hallmark of the festival. “There's usually two to three [Indigenous films] per year in the documentary competition, and two to three a year in the narrative competition. It can ebb and flow based on what's available in any given year for sure, but those films will always find a home with us.” “We do have some guides that we occasionally consult with,” he continues. “The best example is, I spoke with [Tsuut’ina filmmaker] Kevin Littlelight a couple of years ago, and he said it's always important to tell the stories about the residential schools, it's always important to tell those stories about how addiction can attack our First Nations communities. But he's like, ‘we also want to have a good time. We also want to see positive representation.’ And we took that to heart.” When asked about what he looks forward to screening in 2026, Owens is particularly excited about Wild Horse Nine, a dark comedy about a group of CIA operatives shortly before the 1973 Chilean coup by Irish auteur Martin McDonagh (In Bruges, The Banshees of Inishirin). It stars John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Parker Posey and Tom Waits, and Owens predicts it will be nominated for several Oscars: “It’s that kind of movie.” In a time where it seems as though audiovisual entertainment is dominated by streaming, Owens is optimistic about what the in-theatre experience offers, even to younger audiences. “In general, you're seeing Gen Z audiences show up for movies in numbers much higher than Millennials did, and much higher than I think even my own Gen X did,” Owens says. “They're really the first generation to hold a screen in their hand from birth, and I think what they're discovering is, laughing is even more fun when you're in a room with a couple hundred other people. Being scared is more fun when you're in a room with a couple hundred more people… Emotions are heightened when they're shared with others.” CIFF runs September 24 to October 4. For tickets and more information visit ciffcalgary.ca.

thescenecalgary.com | 09 | 2026

CJSW September Charts Direct from your radio pals at 90.9 FM, here is a snapshot of the current artists & albums topping the charts at CJSW. Tune in, turn it up and enjoy. 1.

Ghost Cartridge** - looking into people’s windows (30/30) Stelar Door** - Spiritual Beings Having a Human Experience (30/30) 3. Nyxothera** - The Whitest Dove (Self-Released) 4. La Securite* - Bingo! (Mothland) 5. Sick Puppy* - NOBODY GETS HURT (Halfcase / Barely There Records) 6. Knitting* - Souvenir (Mint Records) Les Gigantiques** - Les Gigantiques (Trap One) 8. Zoon* - Happy Thought School (Paper Bag Records) 9. Fuses - Sawdust in the Transmission (Having Fun Records) 10. Really Much** - Shirt On In The Pool EP (Self-Released) 11. Flytrap** - Weapon Of Mass Creation (Mo Gravy Records) Mock Media* - Rat Bastard (Mac’s Record Label) 13. Gabi & The Fly** - Initiation Of Decay (Self-Released) 14. Belvedere** - Seven Years Bad Luck (Thousand Island Records) 15. Cherry Pick* - :3 [EP] (Light Organ Records) 16. feeble little horse - bitknot (Saddle Creek) Born At Midnite* - Eternal BAM Nation (Arbutus) 18. Fiver* - Fiver Trois Presents Cleaning House (Fiver Trois Presents Cleaning House) 19. Taxi Girls* - Static (Stomp Records) sundayclub* - sundayclub (Paper Bag Records) Arid Landscapes* - Arid Landscapes II (Signal Chain Records) Sook-Yin Lee* - 72RHR (Hand Drawn Dracula) Trusterc* - Creeping Thing (Self-Released) The Realignment Project* - Long Cold Winter (EastLondon Recordings) Magic Art Club** - Mascara (WRMBL) Steb Sly** - The Galaxy Projector (Self-Released) Cola* - Cost of Living Adjustment (Fire Talk) Liv Wade* - Fur Queen (Merilainen Music) Devon Parkin* - New Beliefs On Layaway (Mysterybox Records) 30. Kurt Vile - Philadelphia’s Been Good To Me (Verve)

BEST

“WE SHOULD GO OUT” EVER.

* Canadian ** Local (Calgary area)

Happen at the best bars. Find a Best Bar None venue. BestBarNone.ca

FILM SCENE

Insider Picks

ADAM KERESZTES

CIFF Canadian Features and Shorts Programmer

WE ASKED CIFF’S ARTISTIC TEAM WHAT THEY ARE MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING AT THE FESTIVAL AND THESE ARE THEIR RESPONSES

BRIAN OWENS

CIFF Artistic Director

THE SNAKE

Directed by Jenna MacMillan Who doesn’t want to see a 40ish wild child blow up her own life and sleep with her best friend’s husband? This hilarious mid-life coming-of-age set in P.E.I. is sure to charm anyone who lays eyes on it. Susan Kent wrote The Snake, stars as Jamie, and won a Special Jury Award for Performance at the SXSW Film Festival. Directed by Jenna MacMillan and starring Susan Kent and Jonathan Torrens, both from Trailer Park Boys fame.

CELINA VIDES

SMUDGE THE BLADES

Directed by Cody Lightning Cody Lightning is back at CIFF after the 2023 hit, Hey Viktor! This time, he brings his charming humour to the world of youth hockey. A team of U-18 Indigenous teens end up being coached by the arena zamboni driver (Cody Lighting). Think an Indigenous version of The Mighty Ducks. Starring Ed Helms (The Office), Cody Lightning (Smoke Signals), Paulina Alexis (Reservation Dogs), and David Lawrence (Fubar).

CIFF Features Programmer

Once Upon a Time in Harlem

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HARLEM

Directed by David Greaves and William Greaves Everyone has played the philosophical game: “If you could have a conversation with any historical figure, who would you choose?” Once Upon a Time in Harlem is the answer to that question in documentary form. One night in August, 1972, filmmaker William Greaves and Ruth Ellington invited the surviving artists and intellectuals of the Harlem Renaissance to a party at Duke Ellington’s townhome. Greaves and his camera crew captured those debates and conversations on film. That footage went unseen for over 50 years until Greaves’ son David unearthed it and edited it into a time capsule that is essential viewing for anyone remotely interested in one of the most vibrant periods in American intellectual history.

REHEARSALS FOR A REVOLUTION

Directed by Pegah Ahangarani Archival footage also forms the foundation of Pegah Ahangarani's Rehearsals for a Revolution. Told across five chapters spanning the 1979 Islamic Revolution to the present day, the film is both an intimate memoir and a sweeping portrait of contemporary Iranian history. Each chapter pays tribute to a teacher, mentor or family member who shaped Ahangarani's life while leaving an indelible mark on a nation in constant upheaval. Winner of the L'Œil d'or (Golden Eye) for Best Documentary at this year's Cannes Film Festival, Rehearsals for a Revolution is a moving reflection on memory, resistance and resilience, offering a poignant reminder that even the smallest acts of courage can echo across generations.

BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY

Directed by Paloma Schneideman Feature film debut by Paloma Schneideman, incubated through Jane Campion's A Wave in the Ocean program and featuring Ani Palmer in her first film role, Big Girls Don’t Cry is a coming-of-age film set in a rural New Zealand town in 2006, an early-internet, MSN-anddial-up era portrayed with nostalgic texture. The film captures the time in a girl's life when she has one foot still in childhood and is desperate to plant the other in adulthood. The film premiered in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at Sundance 2026.

NOSOTROS

Directed by Joaquín Ruano A Spanish-language story of love and refuge, Nosotros follows Romero, who leaves his family behind in the Guatemalan highlands to work as a security guard in Guatemala City, and Nubia, a trans woman who owns a small shop in the mall he patrols. The exploration of their love and connection is set against the culture of surveillance, machismo and prejudice in Guatemala’s society, where the two carve out a fragile, and fleeting romance. Featuring Lola Vásquez, Józef Coxaj and Mayra Salvador, the drama offers an intimate portrait of longing and survival. Nosotros is world premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival 2026 as part of their Discovery programme.

thescenecalgary.com | 09 | 2026

EMAN SAFADI

GUY LAVALLEE

CIFF Shorts Programmer

THE BADDEST SPEECHWRITER OF ALL

Directed by Ben Proudfoot and Stephen Curry The Baddest Speechwriter of All is a short documentary about U.S. activist and lawyer Clarence B. Jones. Throughout the film, Jones offers a deep and personal insight into his relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King, as well as a first hand account of the Civil Rights Movement. He also helped Dr. King write part of his legendary “I Have a Dream” speech. Co-directed by two-time Academy Award-winning director Ben Proudfoot and four-time NBA legend Steph Curry, The Baddest Speechwriter is an intimate and honest portrait of a man whose impact continues to resonate today.

A WOLF IN THE SUBURBS

Directed by Amélie Hardy Have you ever wanted to go against the establishment? A Wolf in the Suburbs is a David-andGoliath short documentary about Wolf Ruck, a former Olympian turned suburban resident, who took the City of Mississauga to court to not mow his lawn. It may sound like an inane premise, but you will be thrown into a beautiful and frustrating world of strict by-laws, unnecessary bureaucracy, and a man who never, ever gives up. Directed by Canadian filmmaker Amélie Hardy, A Wolf in the Suburbs premiered at 2026 SXSW and won the Canadian Grand Prize at the 2026 Festival Regard Short Film Festival. This film will leave you feeling inspired to stand up for what’s right.

thescenecalgary.com | 09 | 2026

CIFF Programmer for New American Cinema and Music on Screen

HOW’S ARCHIE?

Directed by Jessie Posthumus There’s nothing better than watching a movie where the star…is a dog! How’s Archie? is a short film that explores the hard realities and miscommunications of an ex-couple through the lens of co-parenting their beagle, Archie. Through their frustrations and awkwardness, this film feels like a window into these people's lives, but make sure you stay until the end as you’ll be in for a treat! Directed by Jessie Posthumus and produced by Nancy Pettinicchio and Rebeca Ortiz, How’s Archie? is a slice-of-life film you won’t want to miss!

RENDERFAMILY

Directed by Tyler Klein Longmire Renderfamily is filmmaker Tyler Klein Longmire’s short animated tribute to his beloved grandmother. Mimicking an RPG video game, Tyler returns to his family home, where photos and forgotten keepsakes become powerful reminders of the loss of his grandmother, while finding ways to honour her life and preserve her memory. Renderfamily is an honest and raw reflection on grief and commemoration.

Funk

Programming for these 2 sections has been an embarrassment of riches this year, making it hard to narrow it down to just two top picks, but I'm going to recommend one from each section that I really encourage people to discover. In the Music on Screen section, I'm on cloud nine about a sizzling, scintillating film from Brazil called Funk, directed by Aly Muritiba. Unapologetically loud, messy, and profane, with a killer lead performance by Duda Santos as up and coming rapper “MC Sabrina,” Director Aly Muritiba has delivered one of the most thrilling moviegoing experiences of 2026.

In the New American Cinema section, I can't wait for CIFF audiences to experience a mind-bending puzzle box called Sender, the remarkable feature film debut from writer/director Russell Goldman. This knockout of a thriller features a stacked cast that includes Rhea Seehorn, David Dastmalchian, Jamie Lee Curtis (who also produced), and — holding the whole thing together — Britt Lower, in one of the best performances of the year. This film stuck with me for days after I saw it, and I'm sure this will spark many a post-screening conversation amongst the CIFF faithful!

A FEW MORE HIGHLIGHTS APART Co-written by Spike Lee and produced by his company 40 Acres and a Mule, this animated short tells the story of two boys, one white and one black, who form a forbidden friendship in the waning years of South Africa’s apartheid system. The directorial debut of Pola Maneli features dialogue in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa. CIFF hosts the film’s international premiere after its debut at Tribeca.

AS THE BANNOCK BURNS Calgary-based musician Shane Ghostkeeper co-stars alongside Marty Wildman in this

locally produced short about three “reservation renegades” making a life-changing delivery in the form of a brown paper bag. The film is directed by Nathaniel Arcand, known for his roles in North of 60, Heartland and Killers of the Flower Moon.

COWARD A Franco-Belgian period romantic drama directed by Lukas Dhont, about two gay soldiers in the trenches of World War I’s Western Front. They decide to improve morale among their comrades by putting on a theatre show. Winner of the Prix du Cinéma Positif and Best Actor at Cannes.

FILM SCENE

Micro Cinema

COLLABORATION AND CREATIVITY IS THE KEY TO CIFF’S “CONSTELLATION” APPROACH

BY EVELINA PAK

ather than being tethered to a traditional movie theatre, cinema today can take many forms. Micro Cinema at Werklund Centre is one example. Initially called Broadcast Lab, it was created as a space and media gallery for audiences to experience art every day as they move through the space. The small-format cinematic works include experimental film, video art, animation and short-form documentary, in which artists explore moving images and reflect

these worlds,” says Lukač. “It has been meaningful to create multiple pathways together — so artists can find the audiences, collaborators, curators, programmers and contexts that are suitable for their practice.” This year’s selection features three works that offer different ways of looking at migration, belonging and our place in the world. Experience Micro Cinema for free on monitors between the Jack Singer Lobby and 8th Ave entrances to Werklund Centre. Daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

JUST ANOTHER NOMADIC DREAM

SHAPES OF RESILIENCE

TACITURNED

In this film, Meduna reflects on immigration and how the places he has moved through shaped his identity and sense of home. Using cut-collage, he brings Lagos, Calgary, New York, and Ibadan into a single frame. “I’m interested in what it means to move between places, to adapt, and to find or create a sense of belonging within new environments,” he says. The film explores migration and belonging and the tension between vulnerability and strength, inviting viewers to reflect on their own journeys. “My definition of home has broadened significantly since leaving Nigeria,” says Meduna. “Rather than being defined solely by geography, it has become something more expansive, something I can carry, discover, and create.” Now based in Calgary, he draws inspiration from the city’s diverse landscapes. “The environment itself encourages me to think visually and to imagine what kinds of stories can exist within these landscapes.”

Maria Fernanda Munar’s practice is rooted in photography and collage, transforming small fragments into something new. Shapes of Resilience extends that process into animation. The film draws on the plant world as a way of connecting with Colombia, where Munar grew up. “Where I’m from, nature thrives in warm weather year-round and is a lush part of everyday life, so connecting with the plant world feels like a way to connect with my home,” she says. The film’s central character is a succulent she remembers from her aunt’s home — a plant she describes as beautiful and resilient. “I wanted to take that quality and personify it as a character that is traversing through a land of body parts, and bring the viewer into an abstracted journey of adaptation and transformation.” As a first-generation immigrant, Munar connects the theme of belonging to her own experience of building a life in Canada. “When I first arrived in Canada, all I wanted to do was assimilate to belong to this new place,” she says. “As I’ve grown, I’ve realized that the more I embrace this fragmentation, the more whole I feel.” It’s a tension she continues to explore visually through her art.

An experimental audiovisual work, Taciturned is what Connor Cook describes as an artistic conversation between himself, Yeisen Chang and the Elbow River. Much of its production was spontaneous, unfolding through events over two years, including Cook’s Radiate Artist Residency and his connection with Chang through the TD Artist Incubator, where Chang later wrote and performed the poetry for the work. Shot entirely on a cellphone, the film captures uncanny, grainy visuals that echo the river’s soundscape. The experience becomes a form of “visually-assisted deep listening,” where the environment shapes the creative process. Taciturned deliberately turns away from action and toward listening and being present in the moment. “Deep listening is, to me, a healing engagement with the moment, imperfect and uncomfortable though it may initially feel,” says Cook. “The deeper I listen, the more I run into the possibility that we humans aren't the centre of the universe, that we certainly aren't its only voices, and that we are actually quite a lot less the 'drivers' than we like to think.”

Iyanuoluwa (Tim) Meduna

on personal experiences in relation to the city and the world. Since 2024, Micro Cinema has collaborated with CIFF as part of the festival’s “constellation” model that sees several screens in different venues around the city connecting film to Calgary’s broader cultural infrastructure. Sanja Lukač, Associate Director, Artist Development & Curatorial at Werklund Centre, sees it as a way to support creators while strengthening connections between visual art, media art, and film. “Artists working with moving images often move between

Maria Fernanda Munar

Connor Cook and Yeisen Chang

thescenecalgary.com | 09 | 2026

©BertCrowfoot

This year, in commemoration of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Elders of the Elders Story Project (ESP) are moving from Truth towards Reconciliation, featuring ceremonies that this group has never before shared with an audience. Also featuring a free Indigenous Makers Market and Powwow Showcase, join us on September 30th for a celebration of tradition, artistry, and ceremony.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 Jack Singer Concert Hall, Werklund Centre

FIND OUT MORE werklundcentre.ca/NDTR BLI

M DIA Artists, program, and date subject to change.

ESKER FOUNDATION Project Space

Until 25 October

Johnathan Onyschuk Old Growth Johnathan Onyschuk, Old Growth, 2026. Detail. Photo by: Blaine Campbell. ,

@eskerfoundation eskerfoundation.art

Esker Foundation

Brendan Fernandes

19 September–20 December 2026 Opening: Friday 18 September, 6–9pm

Other Moves

Arthur Jafa Love is the Message, the Message is Death

Bárbara Wagner & Benjamin de Burca Swinguerra PROJECT SPACE Johnathan Onyschuk Old Growth Until 25 October 2026

Natalie Gerber load 9 November 2026−21 February 2027

Bárbara Wagner & Benjamin de Burca, Swinguerra, 2019. Video Still. Courtesy the artists & Fortes D’Aloia & Gabriel, São Paulo/Rio de Janeiro.

@eskerfoundation eskerfoundation.art

COVER

MANY WAYS OF BEING

THREE INDIGENOUS ARTISTS REFLECT ON IDENTITY AND FINDING THEIR PLACE IN CALGARY’S ART SCENE

BY CHELSEA CAVANAGH

algary’s art community is growing and evolving right before our eyes, in the best ways possible. Par-

ticularly, more Indigenous artists of all creative and cultural backgrounds are adorning our institutions, and touting their unique voices through various artistic mediums. Whether it be through music and film, teaching art to the next generation or working the stage, these creatives play a significant role in what makes the city’s art scene so special. Here, we explore the work of three local Indigenous artists.

INA, CREATED BY TĪNÁ GÚYÁŃÍ (DEER ROAD), SETH CARDINAL DODGINGHORSE & GLENNA CARDINAL, 2019. PHOTO: ART GALLERY OF GUELPH

SETH CARDINAL DODGINGHORSE

seth cardinal dodginghorse grew up surrounded by artists. From a young age, they observed the practices of their mother, who used traditional Indigenous materials like hide and regalia for her work, and their aunt and uncle, who immediately handed them a pencil and taught them to draw. As they developed into their own as an artist, their mediums of creation expanded into film, photography, music and more, earning cardinal dodginhorse several accolades for their work. At first, cardinal dodginghorse didn’t lean into their Indigenous roots with their art like their family had always taught them to. It was their family’s displacement from their land during the construction of the Calgary Ring Road that set cardinal dodginghorse’s art on a more political path. “The Ring Road project was a lot of people being silenced in the community and people in my family,” says cardinal dodginhorse. “As I was processing [that

event] and creating work, it really changed in that short period of time from being very focused on nostalgia towards my memories, to the land and my family.” The shift from nostalgia to activism drove their work in film, emphasizing the Indigenous experience, which eventually led to their breakout role in the short film Klee directed by Métis filmmaker Gavin Baird. “[Baird] sent over this script, and it was the wildest thing I've ever read,” says cardinal dodginghorse. “The film is very ... visceral. There's a lot of really wild, insane things that people see in the movie.” The film follows Klee, an alien that takes on the form of an Indigenous man and then infiltrates a settler community and begins to seduce community members. As the story unfolds, people in the community go missing and are discovered murdered by Klee. The film reached the big screen and made its debut at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.

In 2019, their mother, Glenna Cardinal, approached them with an unexpected request. She wanted cardinal dodginhorse to help her find her artistic voice. “I call it reverse nepotism,” says cardinal dodginhorse with a laugh. In 2022, the pair completed a Visual Arts Residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. cardinal dodginghorse was hesitant to do the project with their mother at first, but says it turned out to be a pivotal experience. “At that time, the best art I’ve ever made was with her,” they say. “I feel like every time we collaborate and do projects together, we really push each other and make things that neither of us could dream of, which is always amazing.” Visit the pair’s latest exhibition at the Nickle Galleries at the University of Calgary starting September 17. sethcardinaldodginghorse.com

PHOTO: CATERI DODGINGHORSE

thescenecalgary.com | 09 | 2026

DOGII CHOW

AUTUMN WHITEWAY (Night Singing Woman, Circling Eagle Woman)

Dogii Chow always wanted to be a drag queen. They grew up watching iconic drag films like To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar; The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert; and Connie and Carla, which sparked their desire to adorn the stage as those queens and make it their own. At first, something always held them back. Dogii Chow was told that being female meant they would never be welcomed into the drag community. At the time, their desire for drag was a distant dream. Now, Dogii Chow is a household name in the drag community, self-titled the Two-Spirit Thunderclap. They are headlining local shows, co-hosting They Got Talent — a drag showcase and competition hosted by Dickens Pub — proving night after night that their unique intersectionality of being a female, Indigenous drag queen isn’t only acceptable, but celebrated. “It's really shocking whenever [people recognize me],” says Dogii Chow. I went to a store with my girlfriend, and someone was like, 'You look familiar. Are you Dogii Chow?’ And I went, ‘Yeah,’ and they got starstruck. It was so weird because I'm like, ‘I'm just here buying mac and cheese.’” In 2020, Dogii Chow first started to dabble in performing and started going by their iconic drag name, a title inspired by yet another iconic piece of cinema, Showgirls. “There's a line [in the film] that talks about eating doggy chow, and I really like that. Also, I like that it was gender neutral, and a little gross.” Just as Dogii Chow began to soak in the thrill of finally performing, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, shutting down the glow of the stage lights for a long time. The pandemic took a heavy toll on the budding drag queen, and amidst the lockdowns, they eventually developed debilitating agoraphobia (fearing and avoiding places or situations that might cause panic). It wasn’t until 2023 that their partner suggested Dogii Chow go out and find some performing gigs, one of the few things that convinced them to step back into the world. While performing again helped them find

PHOTO: DARREN BALLINGALL

their footing, cover to attend other drag shows remained a problem. So what does a queen do in such a situation? For Dogii Chow, funding their attendance to performances meant becoming the talent. They began performing with They Got Talent to fund their cover to shows, and became part of the drag group’s faculty in 2024. Finally free to explore their drag at full throttle, Doggi Chow says their performer identity has molded into an extension of who they are. “I enjoy being a person that's talking about being Indigenous, about being Two-Spirit, about being non-binary, about being neurodivergent. I encompass all these things,” says Dogii Chow. “I'm also a weirdo, so I do enjoy bringing those aspects to my performance and to my drag.” They say it’s also the inclusive energy in our city’s drag community that keeps them coming back to the places and faces they love onstage. “There is so much, especially in Calgary, that goes outside of [male drag queens]. There are so many trans performers here, and it's really cool. Calgary really is something special.” Grab your fives (or your tens or twenties) and catch Dogii Chow in full beat — for the gods! — every Tuesday at Dickens. @dogiichow

Activism is in Autumn Whiteway’s blood. Her art thoroughly reflects this. “Every single artwork is infused with story, or a piece of me,” says Whiteway. Whiteway has three degrees in archaeology, a discipline that has always driven her curiosity in creating, and how her identity as a Saulteaux woman defines her art. “There's often so much more to see in Indigenous artwork than people may pick up on, which makes it important when you're talking to an Indigenous artist to maybe ask them what their artwork is about.” Among Whiteway’s various mediums of creating, Woodland Art — a colourful 2D Indigenous art style that emphasized the X-ray-like features of the “inner spiritual life” of animals and people — is one of her favourites. She teaches the artform at different institutions, including Werklund Centre and Jubilee Arts, an experience she says is very rewarding as an activist artist. “I just think [teaching art] is so incredible,” says Whiteway. “I'm always surprised with each classroom that I work with. When they start translating to me the details of their artworks and what they mean to them, it's always very inspiring.”

Whiteway knows that the journey in educating others on the Indigenous experience and advocating for better representation can be gruelling for artists. But to her, that work is non-negotiable. “We have been misrepresented for so long,” says Whiteway. “People just don't realize that there's a lot of us out there that are getting an education, raising families, being part of community, volunteering and running businesses, but those aren’t the stories that people have often been told about Indigenous people.” Whiteway has made a significant name for herself in Calgary’s art community, having been featured several times in Werklund Centre, Indigenous markets, and churches around the city. “It's so important to have that kind of representation in those kinds of institutions. Some of those institutions have been working hard at decolonizing because they are very colonial spaces. So to be welcomed into that as an Indigenous person is part of their decolonization work. It’s a great honour.” To see Whiteway’s art, visit the Calgary Unitarians Church on September 19. oji-creations.square.site

PHOTO: INDIGENOUS TOURISM ALBERTA

thescenecalgary.com | 09 | 2026

FOOD SCENE

Food Court Gems

UNEXPECTED SURPRISES HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT IN CALGARY FOOD COURTS

KOR Korean Street Food

Expatasia PHOTO: JEFF MATTHEWS

PHOTO: ISABELLE HON

BY ISABELLE HON

ood courts usually come with certain expectations — primarily quick, convenient, cheap food. But high quality isn’t always among those expectations. Yet some of the most underrated corners are home to affordable, full-of-character spots that are genuinely worth seeking out. We made our way through food courts across the city, from malls and supermarkets to farmers' markets and office-towers, to find the spots that stood out and the dishes worth keeping on your radar.

EL GRINGO LOCO

Address: The & Food Truck, The Ampersand, 112 4 Ave. S.W. Hours: Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hidden inside a sleek office tower, this small indoor food truck setup brings a playful, streetstyle energy to the workday, making a quick lunch break feel a little more fun. The rotating mix keeps things interesting, with everything from burgers and poutine to more globally

inspired bites. Don’t miss the El Gringo Loco, known for its authentic take on Mexican street food. Tacos start at $6.50 and come loaded with flavour, from chicken tinga and beef birria to fish, shrimp, and veggie options. You can keep it simple with a Breakfast Burrito ($12), or go for Churros ($12) if you’re in the mood for something sweet. Open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., it’s a short window, but long enough to break out of the office routine for a more easygoing lunch.

HAPPY VEGGIE HOUSE

Address: City Plaza, 109, 303 Centre St. S. Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. City Plaza might look like your typical Chinatown spot at first glance, but tucked away in a corner of the mall, you’ll find some real hidden gems in the food court. Happy Veggie House is one that's easy to miss. They do traditional Chinese vegetarian food in a way that’s way more interesting than expected, recreating meat-like textures that make you pause for a second, like, wait, this is veggie? The wonton soup ($5.95) is pure comfort in

a bowl. The vegetarian drumsticks ($8.40 for 4) have a slightly chewy outer layer and a tender centre, with a bite that feels surprisingly close to the real thing. Add a big plate of fried rice or noodles for around $15. For vegetarian food lovers, this is one to know about.

KOR KOREAN STREET FOOD

Address: Seoul Street Food Hall, Plus15 level TC Energy Tower, 450 1 St. S.W. Hours: Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Head up to the Plus15 level at TC Energy Tower downtown, where Seoul Street Food Hall brings a Korean night market vibe, with Korean street signs, a wishing fountain, and cherry blossom trees adding a slightly dreamy feel. A nice contrast to the usual office rush. At KOR Korean Street Food, you’ll find both classic and more playful takes on bibimbap. There’s the traditional beef version loaded with vegetables, or a California-style option with imitation crab meat and avocado, served in a hot stone bowl. If you’re in the mood for something more snacky, go for the sweetspicy tteokbokki or a cheese corn dog with that perfect pull, a moment that lets you

step away from the workday and slip into a K-drama for a while.

EXPATASIA

Address: Avenida Food Hall and Fresh Market, D426, 12445 Lake Fraser Dr. S.E. Hours: Thursday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m to 5 p.m. At Avenida Food Hall and Fresh Market, a mix of global food spots sits alongside fresh produce and baked goods, making it an easy stop for a weekend food run. Expatasia is one of the spots I’d come back to. Founded by a father-and-son duo, Jeff and Joel Matthews, the team brings years of culinary experience from Asia back to Calgary, with a fully gluten-free menu. If it’s your first time, the Pork Belly Meal ($20.95) is the one to go for, with a crispy skin that gives way to a juicy, tender bite, served with pan gravy, jasmine rice, and market veggies. It’s the kind of meal that just hits and leaves you fully satisfied. They also sell house-made seasonings, such as Cajun Mix and Chicken Salt, to take home. And if you love the food but want a more upscale vibe, this team also operates Ibu in Marda Loop.

thescenecalgary.com | 09 | 2026

THE SCENE’S EVENT CALENDAR

THERE’S SO MUCH GOING ON Find the what, when, and where at thescenecalgary.com

YOUR GUIDE TO GOING OUT

THEATRE SCENE

Theatre seasons at a glance CHECK OUT WHAT’S COMING TO CALGARY’S STAGES THIS YEAR. BY KATHLEEN RENNE

eptember brings with it a certain energy of revitalization: back-toschool, back-to-work, back-to-routine and, of course, back to the theatres with a brand-new season.

THEATRE CALGARY

theatrecalgary.com Theatre Calgary opens its six-show season with the two-hander First Métis Man of Odesa exploring a courtship against the backdrop of the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Following that is the only musical of Theatre Calgary’s next season: Little Shop of Horrors. The cult hit features a blood-sucking plant and a drugged out dentist — perfect Halloween season fare. Up next is the long-standing holiday tradition of A Christmas Carol, followed by American playwright Sam Shepard’s gritty story about sibling rivalry, True West. Jane Austen’s classic Sense and Sensibility takes the stage in spring, and the season wraps in full-on comedy mode with Peter Pan Goes Wrong. If you loved The Play That Goes Wrong, this one’s for you. “The theme of family is at the core of this season,” said Stafford Arima, Theatre Calgary's artistic director. “From siblings and spouses to chosen families, unlikely friendships, and even one very demanding plant, every story reminds us that the relationships we call family are the ones that test us, sustain us, and make life worth the journey.”

ALBERTA THEATRE PROJECTS

albertatheatreprojects.com Around the corner from Theatre Calgary’s Max

Bell, Alberta Theatre Projects (ATP) offers up its “Edge of Being” season. “We are focused on creating a season that brings audiences together with a mix of work that feels both familiar and unexpected,” said Haysam Kadri, ATP's artistic director. “The goal is simple: to create a season that is exciting, accessible, and reminds people why gathering together for live theatre matters.” ATP opens its season in time for Halloween with the campy horror comedy Evil Dead The Musical. The existence of an audience “splatter zone” says it all. The Hobbit comes to the Martha Cohen Theatre for ATP’s family holiday show, followed by Fifteen Dogs. Based on an award-winning novel, Fifteen Dogs follows Greek gods Hermes and Apollo who grant 15 dogs human intelligence as part of a bet about the joys of human consciousness. Up next is the one-woman show Burning Mom about a retired widow who attends the Burning Man festival in Nevada. The season finishes with Dream: A Canadian Musical about an orphaned teen who finds a new life with an elderly widow in rural Canada. The show is presented in partnership with with Forte Musical Theatre. Joe Slabe, Forte’s artistic director, describes it as “an incredibly moving, true story” that enjoyed a successful run at Rosebud.

VERTIGO THEATRE

vertigotheatre.com Vertigo Theatre — “Canada’s national theatre for mystery and intrigue” — celebrates its 50th anniversary season with “a buffet of choices for all intrigue and mystery aficionados.” Jack Grinhaus, Vertigo’s artistic director, sums up

Murdoch Mysteries, Vertigo Theatre PHOTO: AUSTIN HALAREWICH, LAUREN BROTMAN, FIFTH WALL MEDIA

the season as “a rollercoaster journey through the past, present and future.” The season opens with The Lodger, a Canadian adaptation inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s 1927 film about a house guest who might just be a serial killer on the loose. This is followed by Sherlock Holmes: The Hunt for Moriarty. Vertigo’s first show of 2027 is a one-man supernatural thriller that was a hit on Toronto stages, The Veil. The story follows one lawyer’s willingness to do anything to make partner at his firm. A non-verbal visual performance, Last Candle, is next up at Vertigo, followed by The 39 Steps. Like The Lodger, this is also based on an Alfred Hitchcock film, though this Tony Award-winning adaptation takes a comic approach to suspense with four actors playing some 150 characters. Wrapping the season is the world premiere of Murdoch Mysteries, a theatrical adaptation based on the popular Canadian television drama series.

LUNCHBOX THEATRE

lunchboxtheatre.com Lunchbox Theatre has moved to a new venue in cSPACE Marda Loop. Its season of “hyper-local plays” opens with Ribstone, a one-person show

by long-time Calgary actor Christopher Hunt. He explores his family’s ranching roots and the history of Alberta with “old-time folksiness, old-time music and old-time humour.” Up next is Lunchbox’s holiday offering of a radio-play version of A Christmas Carol followed by Cree artist Michelle Thrush’s one-person show Inner Elder, in which she explores her Indigenous identity. Another one-woman show follows with Oh Mother! about one person’s journey to follow her calling as an artist. The final show of the season is Marv & Ev, billed as “part buddy comedy and part Twilight Zone episode.” The show tells the story of two friends in their 70s who are on a fishing trip when things take a strange turn.

DOWNSTAGE

downstage.ca Downstage has a unique approach to its lineup for the 2026-2027 season. “I’m thrilled to invite local audiences into a season that begins with questions rather than answers,” said Clare Preuss, Downstage's artistic director. “What happens when playwrights imagine a shared speculative future? What unfolds when performers step onstage without knowing exactly what's ahead? How

thescenecalgary.com | 09 | 2026

Lunchbox Theatre executive director Patti Neice and artistic director Bronwyn Steinberg PHOTO: HUGH SHORT

does our relationship to theatre shift when we're invited into the creative process itself?” The season starts with October’s Dreaming Climate Consciousness. The evening will see four short plays, each offering “a unique window into this collectively imagined universe.” April 2027 brings A Study of Choices, during which three performers arrive on stage each night with no idea what awaits them. They will interpret instructions and improvised sound provided to them each evening, so no two shows will be the same.

FULL CIRCLE THEATRE

fullcircletheatre.ca Full Circle Theatre offers up a two-show season that Full Circle artistic directors Erin Weir and Claire Bolten describe as exploring the societal impact of male fragility, and how women can exploit that fragility to gain power. The first show opens in November. Titled They Say, it’s a new work billed as a prequel to Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. February 2027 will see a production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, a collaboration with Jupiter Theatre.

COMMUNITY THEATRE On the community theatre scene, there is also a full and varied slate of shows for the upcoming season.

UNTOLD STORIES THEATRE

untoldstoriestheatre.com On the musical front, Untold Stories Theatre will stage hit musicals Grease and Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

thescenecalgary.com | 09 | 2026

THE THEATRE thetheatre.com One of Calgary’s newest theatre companies – The Theatre – offers up a five-show lineup in the heart of the Beltline. “This season, we explore the stories we tell ourselves. From politics and religion to identity, class, and the very creation of story itself; each play this season examines the narratives that shape us,” said The Theatre’s Abagail Vanmerlin. The Theatre’s season opens mid-September with David Ireland’s Ulster American, “a savage, fast-paced dark comedy about ego, politics, competing identities and nationalism.” That’s followed by award-winning playwright Vern Thiessen’s play Icemen, set during the Great Depression. A fringe solo show called The Commandment, in which “an atheist is chosen to deliver God’s newest commandment but refuses,” takes the theatre into December. Next February sees Annie Baker’s surreal comedy The Antipodes. The season finishes with Pulitzer Prize winning-play Clybourne Park. It deals

Downstage artistic director Clare Preuss and artistic producer, Bianca Miranda PHOTO: HEATHER SAITZ

with the “changing face of a neighbourhood” over a 50-year period.

season in the Erratics Indie Arts Club. Its

CHROMATIC THEATRE

Canada’s most celebrated disability artists,

chromatictheatre.ca Late October into early November, Chromatic Theatre, in partnership with Handsome Alice, will present a new musical called Little Elves. It's based on the folktale of St. Nicholas & the Evil Butcher, and will feature great music and creepy puppets.

INSIDE OUT THEATRE

feature presentation in January stars one of Niall McNeil, in a piece called Beauty and The Beast: My Life. McNeil lives with Down Syndrome and has created a show that offers up a blend of “storytelling, humour, fantasy and autobiography.” In conjunction with next year’s High Performance Rodeo, Inside Out will stage an encore presentation of Deafy, “a stand-up / sit down tragicomedy” that blends ASL, spoken word and subtitles. And, in April, comes a show

insideouttheatre.com Inside Out Theatre will stage its 2026-2027

accessible to younger audiences, Bent Boy.

FRONT ROW CENTRE

MORPHEUS THEATRE

SCORPIO THEATRE

frontrowcentre.ca Front Row Centre’s three-musical bill includes Nine, a play about an Italian film director facing a mid-life crisis; Fun Home, billed as “a refreshingly honest, wholly original musical about seeing your parents through grown-up eyes”; and The Producers, the zany Broadway hit by Mel Brooks.

morpheustheatre.ca Morpheus Theatre opens its season in October with a farce called Fox in the Fairway, followed by its holiday show, It’s a Wonderful Life. Early 2027 will see a mystery comedy with The Game’s Afoot. Morpheus closes its season with its longstanding tradition of staging a comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan. This season, it will be The Grand Duke.

scorpio.ca Scorpio Theatre brings Harvey Fierstein’s Torch Song to the Pumphouse Theatre in October. This work explores the life of Arnold Beckoff, a torch-song singing, Jewish drag queen living in New York City. There is no shortage of theatrical entertainment on Calgary stages throughout 2026 to 2027. The real issue is having the time to see it all.

Expect an epic adventure…

MATTHEW MACKENZIE AND MARIYA KHOMUTOVA. PHOTO BY EMILY COOPER.

THEATRE CALGARY PRESENTS THE PUNCTUATE! THEATRE PRODUCTION OF

FIRST MÉTIS MAN OF ODESA BY MATTHEW MACKENZIE AND MARIYA KHOMUTOVA FEATURING MATTHEW MACKENZIE AND MARIYA KHOMUTOVA

SEPT 08 — 27 2026

TICKETS: THEATRECALGARY.COM

MARTHA COHEN THEATRE AT WERKLUND CENTRE

BEER SCENE

ALL THE TOOLS IN THE SHED TOOL SHED BREWERY WINS BIG WITH A NEW WESTJET CONTRACT — AND CALGARIANS GET A PRIZE, TOO

BY DON TSE

raham Sherman, president and founder of Tool Shed Brewery, admits no limits. He was once challenged to run an Ironman triathlon without training. So he did. He holds three Guinness World Records. He boasts a world championship win in barbecue. Tool Shed itself is the manifestation of Sherman's homebrewing hobby taken too far. Dos Equis — a major international beer brand — once had a fictional Most Interesting Man in the World as a spokesperson. But Sherman is the actual living embodiment of that character. So, when WestJet issued a request for proposals (RFP) to be the airline's beer supplier, Sherman knew his brewery could win it. The story starts long before WestJet issued the most recent RFP. According to Sherman, Tool Shed was not even invited to participate in the last WestJet beer RFP five years prior. And nothing fires up Sherman more than being told he can't do something. So began his obsession with winning the most recent RFP. Sherman began marketing Tool Shed as “Canada's Craft Brewery.” Team meetings at Tool Shed would begin with Sherman asking, “Why are we here?” And the team would respond, “To be Canada's craft brewery!” It was a deliberate effort by Sherman to get his team to think on a national scale. Tool Shed started sales in other provinces. The brewery entered and won beer competitions. And the brewery began brewing beer for WestJet's airport lounges, where it proved to be a favourite beer of WestJet clients. Think big.

thescenecalgary.com | 09 | 2026

Tool Shed founder Graham Sherman and Steve McClelland of WestJet. PHOTO: COURTESY WESTJET

Make noise. Be so good they can't ignore you. “What better way to be Canada's craft brewery than to go after one of our national airlines?” asked Sherman. “We went in thinking, ‘we can win this.’” The RFP was not limited to craft brewers, so Tool Shed was competing against large multinational brewers. And not only did Tool Shed win, it won all three available slots: a light lager, a regular ale and a premium beer. It was possible for different breweries to win the three different beer categories in the RFP, so for Tool Shed to become WestJet's exclusive beer supplier is huge. For Tool Shed, which brewed its first batch of beer on February 9, 2012, the WestJet contract is transformational. “This wasn’t a craft beer RFP,” says Sherman. “This was a beer program. We were bidding against the largest brewing companies in the world.” According to Sherman, the contract could see the brewery triple production at its facility in Calgary’s northeast. “This is one of those few moments in life when you get to sit back and ask yourself, ‘Is this real life?’” said Sherman. “This started as a small backyard project and now our beer will be available across Canada and in 22 countries.”

WestJet was founded in Calgary and flew its first flight in 1996. One of its three Boeing 737200 airplanes flew from Calgary to Vancouver with just complimentary beverages and no beer on board. By choosing Tool Shed for all three categories of their on board beer, WestJet is now the first major airline in North America to offer exclusively craft beer. “Tool Shed is so authentically Calgarian and Canadian, and embodies the entrepreneurial spirit,” said Sam Taylor, chief experience officer of WestJet Group. “This partnership allows us to bring this spirit on board. Tool Shed reminds us of WestJet when we were starting.” As of July 15, 2026, and for the next five years, Calgary's Tool Shed Brewing will be the only beer available on all of WestJet's flights where beverage service is available. That means sales and exposure on flights to almost 40 destinations across Canada, about 20 destinations in the United States and to about 20 other countries. Calgarians get a prize as a result of the new contract as well. As part of the WestJet contract, Tool Shed agreed to give a 15 per cent discount at their brewery taproom in Calgary — which also serves world-championship-winning barbecue and some non-beer beverages — to

“This is one of those

few moments in life when you get to sit back and ask yourself, ‘Is this real life?’” GRAHAM SHERMAN, PRESIDENT & FOUNDER OF TOOL SHED BREWERY

customers showing a WestJet boarding pass on the day before, the day of, or the day after their flight. At Tool Shed's first team meeting after announcing winning the WestJet contract, Sherman asked, "Why are we here?" And the team responded, "Because we are Canada's craft brewery." Visit Tool Shed at 9, 801 30 St. N.E.; toolshedbrewing.com

VENUE

The Jack Singer Concert Hall FROM JAZZ TO CLASSICAL, POP TO PUNK, THEATRE TO GRADUATION CEREMONIES — THE JACK SINGER CONCERT HALL AND LOBBY HAVE HEARD IT ALL

BY KIARA NEISZ

amed after Calgary real estate developer and avid arts supporter, the Jack Singer Concert Hall opened in 1985 as the stage at the heart of Calgary's arts community. The hall was built to fill the need for a community arts centre for organizations such as the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and Theatre Calgary. Since then, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra has called this venue home, and internationally acclaimed musicians, Broadway productions, comedians and dance companies have all taken the stage, not to mention award ceremonies and celebrations. The Jack Singer Concert Hall is designed to deliver top-notch sound, no matter the type of performance. The adjustable 56-ton wooden acoustical canopy can be raised or lowered to better suit each performance. Paired with sound-absorbing curtains and banners, there’s a reason the hall is known for its amazing acoustics. The Jack Singer’s 60-foot stage is backed by the massive crown jewel Carthy Organ. “The Carthy Organ is truly a unique instrument and experience. I recommend to anyone to attend a show when the instrument is in use,” said Cameron Clowe, Associate Director of Production at Jack Singer Concert Hall. The Carthy Organ remains Canada's largest since its 1987 debut, made with hand-carved oak and over 1,600 alloy and wood pipes. More than just a centrepiece of the concert hall, the instrument inspired the first Calgary International Organ Festival, bringing in performers and audiences from around the world to celebrate its sound. Beyond the stage itself, the Jack Singer Lobby has become a gathering space for some of Calgary's most notable celebrations, hosting events from Avenue magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 to Calgary Citizenship Ceremonies and the Rozsa Awards. The lobby is equipped with a dedicated stage for speeches and live entertainment, an inte-

PHOTO: WILL YOUNG, COURTESY WERKLUND CENTRE

The Jack Singer Concert Hall has spent more than four decades building its legacy, and the curtain is far from closing — but it is time for a bit of a refresh. Currently, construction is underway for the Werklund Centre Transformation Expansion. The new 1,000-seat OstenVictor Playhouse and 200-seat studio theatre as well as the new Olympic Plaza are expected to be completed in 2028. The second phase of the Werklund Centre Transformation — the modernization phase — will begin once funding and regulatory approvals are received. Through the future modernization phase, elements of the existing Werklund Centre facility — including the Jack Singer Concert Hall lobby, Centre Court, and more — will be upgraded to enhance guest experience, accessibility and programming. In the meantime, with performances continuing to take place year-round, audiences can experience the next chapter for themselves by checking out the upcoming season at Werklund Centre.

“SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED IN THIS ONE ROOM BETWEEN STRANGERS. IN THOSE MOMENTS I TRY AND REMIND MYSELF HOW LUCKY I AM TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING THAT MEANS SO MUCH, TO SO MANY PEOPLE.” CAMERON CLOWE, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION

grated sound system, large-screen projection, and two built-in 80-inch monitors, making it as suited for galas and presentations as it is for pre-show gatherings and celebrations. “The Jack” is about more than just performance space, it’s a space to connect with others in the community. “We are also home to a number of galleries showcasing local and national artists. I love walking around the building and being exposed to a variety of different visual arts,” said Clowe. For Clowe however, what makes the venue special isn’t just the extravagant architecture or the performances being held. It’s all the moments that continue to linger after the audiences have gone home.

“I’m not a spiritual person or very nostalgic, but occasionally I will find myself walking across the stage while the hall is empty and silent, which it rarely is, and I have to stop, take a moment and consider all the experiences that have happened in this space between the performers and the audience, touring crews and the local crews,” said Clowe For the people who keep it running, The Jack Singer is a space where thousands of moments have unfolded beneath the same stage lights. “So much has happened in this one room between strangers. In those moments I try and remind myself how lucky I am to be a part of something that means so much, to so many people,” said Clowe.

QUICK FACTS

Address: 225 8 Ave. S.E. Website: werklundcentre.ca Hours: Monday-Friday: 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Saturday: 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Sunday: Closed Capacity: 1,797 Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible seating available UPCOMING EVENTS: • Dolly Parton's Threads: My Songs in Symphony on Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m. • Nordic Nights Sept. 18-19 at 7:30 p.m. • Menopause The Musical on Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m.

thescenecalgary.com | 09 | 2026

HOW LIVE DO YOU LIKE IT?

CJSW’s bandroom has a legendary lineup. Check out the sessions at YouTube.com/@CJSWRadio

CAM HAYDEN

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FEATURING THE HITS CRAZY IN LOVE SINGLE LADIES TEXAS HOLD ‘EM AND MORE

Conductor-composer Steve Hackman — the visionary creator of Brahms X Radiohead, Beethoven X Coldplay, Tchaikovsky X Drake, and more — returns with the ultimate royal summit of pop’s reigning queen and classical music’s king! Performed with your Calgary Phil and a stellar line-up of guest vocalists. ⓒ Lauren Desberg

3 October 2026 / 7:30PM Jack Singer Concert Hall tickets at calgaryphil.com

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OCT. 13-18, 2026 TICKETS AT WORDFEST.COM