Calgarians share their sacred spaces

This story was originally published March 27, 2016

When Richard White wrote abouthis sacred spaces, it generated a lot of responses with Calgarianssharingtheir special places with us.

It's clear the people of this city love parks, and views of the skyline. There are also memories, which help draw people back to this place, and to communities that were once central to their lives.

• Richard White on the places that connect him to Calgary

Park lovers

For H.B. Mejira, it's the area around Princes Island Park after rainfall.

Tony Webb loves getting lost on his mountain bike in Fish Creek Park.

For Steve, it's Bowmont Park, where he tracks the passage of time by riding his bike year round and watching the seasonschange.

Cyleene Chen enjoys North Glenmore Park, overlooking the Glenmore Reservoir.

BarbCardwell is another park lover."Fish Creek Park! Tied with going for a paddle on the Bow River! Both can make you almost forget you're even still in the city," she wrote on the CBC CalgaryFacebook page.

Holly Herman enjoys the catch-and-release pond at the Bow Habitat Station

WhileGemmaKelsall loves theWeaselhead at the mouth of the reservoir.

Nostalgia

For others likeEddie Kiffiak, it's about nostalgia for a past life.

"When I'm home to Calgary I'll usually take a drive up to 37th street and 31st ave in the southwest, just behind Currie Barracks," he wrote on the CBC Calgary Facebook page."And I'll park the car and reminisce about growing up there, when my mom was still here, something about it is like a warm blanket around me. Many great fond memories about being a kid back then."

It's memories that drawRickGrimm to his corner of the city as well.

"I have been away from the land of wheat and honey Bowness, Calgary for 16 years now," he wrote."When I gohome to visit my folks, I needto visit the train trestles that cross the Bow toward Silver Springs and also need to walk aroundBownessPark (preferably with my cousinChereRuby). Without fail, those images of home heal all my worries."

Ken Clark wrote of the past on the CBC Calgary site.

"Sunalta/LowerScarboro(172513thAve S.W.), where my mother's family settled... in 1921, thenthe western edge of town! I lived there for a year while attending MRU (College at the time), just before the family home was sold."

City life

Others prefer a more urban, and contemporary,Calgary experience, includingthe views from the city's manybluffs.

For Dan Clements it's "north-central Renfrew, Bridgeland to Kensington, Hillhurst. The views are spectacular. Great people, open and caring make great neighbourhoods."

Dan Menachem prefers the bustle ofStephen Avenue on a warm, sunny day. "Always lifts my spirits," he wrote.

• Richard White on the places that connect him to Calgary

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