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Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) announced the completion of the 17 Avenue S.E. Extension & Victoria Park/Stampede Station Rebuild. CMLC led and funded the transformative project as Development Manager on behalf of its partners at The City of Calgary and the Calgary Stampede.
A foundational development of the Rivers District Master Plan, this $128 million multi-modal infrastructure project creates a critical connection within Calgary’s emerging Culture + Entertainment District, opening a key corridor across 17 Avenue S.E. into Stampede Park for the first time in 40 years, and modernizing the busy LRT station.
“The completion of the 17 Avenue S.E. extension and the rebuild of Victoria Park/Stampede Station are transformative milestones for The Culture + Entertainment District. For the first time in four decades, we’ve reconnected Stampede Park to the Beltline neighbourhoods, unlocking new growth opportunities for the area,” said Kate Thompson, president and CEO of CMLC. “This essential connector, along with other infrastructure investments like Stampede Trail and the forthcoming 6 Street S.E. Underpass, will improve multi-modal access, drive local spending, and attract private investment to The District.”
The extension’s new three-lane configuration improves access for millions of visitors each year, ensuring smooth movement for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles between the Beltline and Stampede Park. This vital connection links visitors to the BMO Centre, forthcoming Scotia Place and Stampede Trail.
“We’re ready to welcome the world and our community with this brand-new entrance into Stampede Park, in a way that celebrates our Western heritage and community spirit,” said Joel Cowley, CEO of the Calgary Stampede. “The 17 Avenue extension into Stampede Park, now named Flores LaDue Parade, along with the redesigned Victoria Park Stampede Station will provide guests with easier access to our gathering place, whether they’re driving, walking, arriving on wheels, catching a rideshare or taking transit. Naming the new roadway Flores LaDue Parade is a nod to an iconic Calgary Stampede figure, Flores LaDue – trick roper, entrepreneur and community builder – and recognizes the spirit of celebration that will happen in this space with the road designation ‘Parade.’ This new roadway and LRT station will elevate our guests’ sense of arrival, whether they’re attending a convention at the BMO Centre, an event at GMC Stadium, or visiting for a hockey game.”
The new station’s expanded side-loading platforms, brought to street level along with ramps from the north, south, and Macleod Trail entry points, enhance pedestrian safety and provide clearer sightlines. The upgrades, combined with a spacious 7,200-square-foot public area at the station’s south end, offer an inviting space for gathering as people arrive and depart the station on their way to their Culture + Entertainment District experience. The changes have also shortened pedestrian travel times from 400 metres to 60 metres, improving accessibility for the nearly 13,000 daily station users.
The station’s copper-vaulted canopies, paired with an eye-catching oculus—an elliptical backlit glass that will bring the vibrant colours of The District to life—create a memorable and welcoming arrival for visitors. The extension boasts streetscape enhancements, including pavers that mirror the design of Stampede Trail and the BMO Centre, and rolled curbs, which ensure a smooth transition from daily use to festival conditions for major events like the Calgary Stampede, enhancing safety and the visitor experience.
“Located on the Red Line, which serves approximately 47,000 riders daily, Victoria Park/Stampede Station is a critical part of Calgary’s transportation network,” said Doug Morgan, general manager of Operational Services for The City of Calgary.
“This upgrade was essential to address the limitations of the original station, which created significant physical and visual barriers. Replacing the elevated design with street-level, accessible platforms and removing obstacles like the Plus 15 walkway has dramatically improved safety, sightlines, and ease of access. Along with the 17 Avenue S.E. Extension, the improvements in road and transit connectivity in our downtown will both support the present-day transportation needs of Calgarians and future-proof the area’s transportation network for the many more Calgarians who will someday call The C+E home.”
ISL Engineering, with support from WSP, Platinum Engineering and GEC Architecture delivered design services for the station. The extension was designed by Arcadis, DesignCore, and O2 Planning & Design. PCL Construction served as construction manager for both the station and the extension.
More than 500 workers—from demolition crews to structural steelworkers, as well as rail, overhead power, electrical, and mechanical teams—logged over a combined 450,000 hours to complete the station and extension.
“This was a complex project, constructed in a narrow right of way between Macleod Trail and the BMO Centre – in the heart of one of Calgary’s busiest culture and entertainment hubs – while maintaining transit service through the majority of construction,” added Thompson. “The project team successfully executed the demolition of key structures, constructed a siding track bridge over the Elbow River, completed an at-grade crossing at 17 Avenue and Macleod Trail, built a temporary shoofly and a temporary platform, and built a new station. We’ve been able to maintain access to the station and to Stampede Park through most of this project, leveraging a phased construction approach that saw a series of changes to pedestrian access and a handful of weekend station closures, as well as the nine-day Switch. We’re grateful to Calgarians for their patience and understanding through all stages of this critical infrastructure project, and we can’t wait for them to experience this transformed connector for themselves.”
Flores LaDue Parade will be managed by the Calgary Stampede and will operate year-round as a multi-modal connection to Stampede Park, with the flexibility to close during key events to create a more pedestrian-friendly celebration, including during Stampede in July and other select large events that will take place in the surrounding outdoor area.
“The new extension and modernized station represent a major step in creating a more connected and accessible Calgary,” said Ward 8 Councillor Courtney Walcott. “By removing the barriers that once existed at this site, this investment has strengthened the link between downtown Calgary’s east end communities, making it easier for Calgarians and visitors to enjoy all that The Culture + Entertainment District has to offer. Through their leadership on the project, CMLC has enhanced transit and pedestrian access while unlocking new opportunities for economic growth and community engagement, helping to build a more vibrant, inclusive, and accessible city for everyone.” |
