Calgary Named Canada’s Cultural Capital

It’s going to be a smug, smug winter in the 403.

Cow town is set to get a much better new nickname: 2012’s Cultural Capital of Canada. Heritage Canada made the announcement Friday, though the year-long title will not take effect until April. The award comes with a $1.625 million grant for the city’s arts scene, and apparently unlimited bragging rights as the city marks the centennial anniversaries of the Calgary Stampede, the Calgary Public Library and the Pumphouse and Grand Theatres. Heritage Canada will also be giving $1.625 million to the Niagara region as a "lower-population" arts capital. Previous winners include Toronto, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and this year’s arts capital Vancouver.

Image courtesy of Reuters