The Bay Downtown Arches
The Calgary Downtown location of The Bay (Hudson’s Bay Company) was completed in 1913, the first of the “Original Six” flag ship stores in Canada. The beautiful colonnade with polished granite was opened in 1930. It has been a favourite location of newly wed couples to shoot wedding photos for decades.
Learn More About the History of HBC
Devonian Gardens at The Core Downtown
Opened in 1977, you can find the Devonian Gardens on the 4th floor of The Core Shopping Centre (aka TD Square) by the Food Court. It is a free indoor botanical garden and park complete with a living wall and koi pond. I remember going to the Devonian Gardens when I was little visiting from Hong Kong. It’s quite a pleasant surprise to see in the concrete jungle of urban downtowns. This wonderful garden is also a favourite spot for weddings photos and actual weddings.
The Lougheed House
Lougheed House (aka Beaulieu) is the former home of Senator James Alexander Lougheed built in 1891 and doesn’t have much if anything to do with former Alberta Premier Peter Lougheed. This sandstone mansion was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1992. Located in the Beltline Area, it’s a bit tucked away and a stark contrast to its modern neighbours. I know about it, because the wife and I booked it for our wedding photos. We came back for brunch on our 5 year wedding anniversary. The Lougheed House will always be a special place to us.