Welcome to Bowness

The historical main street runs along Bowness Road for approximately three blocks from 62nd to 65th Street. Walk it on any given afternoon and you'll understand immediately why this community holds onto its identity so fiercely. Independent businesses line the street, not chains, not big-box anchors, but locally owned shops, cafés, and restaurants that have been part of the community for years. Angel's Drive In is a retro fast-food joint offering classic burgers and milkshakes in a nostalgic setting. Cadence Coffee is more than a café, it's a community hub serving great coffee and brunch with an old school diner aesthetic. Salt & Pepper has been a mainstay Mexican restaurant in Bowness for over 35 years. Brewsmith Brewing, located on Mainstreet, has established itself as a community-oriented, family-friendly space, with live music on Thursdays and rotating art exhibitions. 

Bownesians have an incredible sense of pride. They are proud that they are a small town in the big city. It shows up in the way neighbours greet each other on the street, in the community events that draw the whole neighbourhood out, and in the way long-time business owners know their regulars by name.

Bowness Park sits between the Bow River and a lagoon, and is popular for picnics, summer sports, ice skating in the winter, and boating. The park continues to offer year-round activities centred around the Seasons of Bowness Park restaurant, where visitors can warm up with hot cocoa or sit down for a meal. In summer, the boat rentals, children's train ride, wading pool, and splash park draw families from across the city. In winter, the lagoon becomes one of Calgary's most beloved skating destinations (with skating trail), with fire pits, rentable ice bikes, and a Crokicurl rink adding to the experience.

What sets Bowness Park apart from every other park amenity on this list is that for Bowness residents, it isn't a destination, it's the end of your street. Residents run, bike, and walk to it daily along the Bow River pathway network. Whether it is summer or winter, there are always activities, paddle boating, canoeing, and a splash park in summer, and ice skating and fire pits in winter. People drive from across the city to visit Bowness Park. Bownesians just walk out their front door.

The name Bowness was chosen by early landowner Thomas Stone, who had enjoyed visiting Bowness-on-Windermere in the English Lake District before coming to Canada. Stone and his partner built a ranch house on an island in the Bow River, the very island that would eventually become Bowness Park. In 1908, John Hextall, an English solicitor, purchased the land and envisioned turning Bowness into an exclusive residential suburb in a natural scenic setting of great beauty. In 1911 he subdivided the ranch, built a bridge connecting it to Calgary at his own expense, and struck a deal with the city: in exchange for donating two river islands to become a public park, Calgary extended its streetcar line into his new development.

The community grew into a village in 1948, then a town in 1952, and finally joined the City of Calgary in 1964. After amalgamation, the population hasn't changed dramatically, sitting at just over 11,000 residents, and the small-town vibe and historical streetscape still exist.