There’s no shortage of gorgeous guys in this gorgeous country. But one city has a corner on the hot-man market: Calgary, AB. I’ve been lucky enough to visit all 13 Canadian provinces and territories, and while there are hunky guys in every corner, Calgary consistently delivers the best man-scenery.
Why the disproportionate number of hunks in this cowtown-cum-boomtown? Here’s my theory: it’s oft-proven that attractive people tend to get the best jobs. Thanks to the oil-producing Alberta tar sands, at the moment Calgary has many of Canada’s most lucrative employment opportunities, attracting an array of well-educated young transplants from around Canada. Apparently, good-lookers with fashion sense and great grooming get the coveted downtown jobs and—voilá!—a city full of studs.
Optimal viewing happens on sunny weekdays. Claim a bench on Stephen Avenue Walk, a pedestrian mall, around lunch hour, and you’re set to enjoy the parade of strapping young engineer types who pour out of the oil companies’ glossy skyscrapers. If the weather’s iffy, head inside the city’s famous +15’s (“Plus 15”). This system of enclosed pedestrian bridges 4.6 m (15 ft) above street level connects most of Calgary’s downtown high-rises, many of which have second-floor food courts and shopping areas brimming with hunks doing lunch.
And in case you’re wondering, I’m not alone in this opinion. Many of my gay travelling friends agree, and plenty of gal pals, too. It’s a topic that brings out a lot of opinions (including the definition of hot guy). The conclusion: it’s Calgary’s variety of hotties—guys of many ethnic backgrounds, types and styles—that sets the prairie city apart.
If you enjoy handsome men as a tourist attraction, join me on a Calgary bench at lunch time? With a little luck, some of the guys will think we’re hot, too.
www.downtowncalgary.com
www.bankershall.ca
www.calgary.ca
www.tourismcalgary.com
www.travelalberta.com
