Calgary

Arriving in Calgary just before noon it was invigorating to see the outside covered in a layer of white. A snow storm had come through a couple of days earlier and left a blanket over the landscape, and -18°C in the air.

It was great to be back in a snow coated city once again, bringing back good memories of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in Russia, swimming in the snow, and running home after nights out.

Checking in to the Regency Suites in downtown was a unique travel experience. On check-in to my hotel, I signed a paper to say I had not been to Iran, South Korea and Italy in the last two weeks. It said that if I had, then I needed to self-isolate.

It was understandable to see Iran in the list, as it had become the second virus epicentre after China. I had been in Iraq in the weeks prior and we had watched the news of infections in Iran spiking. We were understandably concerned that infections may sneak across the border, due to the close link between both countries, particularly in the south. We were worried that Iraq may be put on the same list and it would give us non-essential staff issues when travelling home. To minimise exposure of non-essential staff to the virus and potential quarentine, we were down-manned.

Thankfully the hotel receptionist accepted my form and she handed me the key card.

President Trump declared a National Emergency as a response to increasing infection rates of Covid-19 on my arrival day to Calgary, Friday the 13th March. This seemed to send the Canadians in to a spin as to how to respond, and my plans began to unravel. Over the last few weeks, I had been keeping myself a few days ahead of the exponential growth in each country. But once again I was sharing a border with the next epicentre.

Plans to catch up with old friends, meet people in the Shell Canada office and complete my Fitness to Work Medical were rapidly grinding to a halt. With a personality that finds it difficult to sit in a hotel room during the day, I headed up the Calgary Tower to enjoy a sunset night-cap. Enjoying my last few days of freedom.

Canada had not yet gone in to lockdown and I decided to continue with the trip to Banff. Cash had been sunk anyway, and I wanted more time to monitor what was happening in the UK. I was due to return there in two weeks. The relative isolation of Western Alberta, on the foothills of the Rockies seemed as good a place as any to weather the coming storm.

My colleague and friend Eric was still keen to catch up. The joy of familiar human company for breakfast was very special in these increasingly restrictive times. We had a hearty breakfast and then he drove me over to the outdoor shops to buy a pair of thermals and gloves, needed for the ski slopes the following day.

The Brewster Bus to Banff left the Calgary Westin just before noon. The seats just behind the driver were reserved, designed to limit the number of coughs going down his back. I sat a bit further along, still with a good view out of the windows on the front and the side.

It was a Sunday but Calgary was eerily quiet. It looked like a fun city, shrouded in white, with elevated walk-ways above street-level. Keeping those few people moving around warm.

Following a shortened visit to Banff, I returned to Calgary for one night to await my flight to Toronto. Choosing a hotel next to the airport, now very much self-isolating, but keen to get home. It was a restful evening eating take-away and writing the diary.

The streets were eerily quiet during the drive to the airport. It reminded me somewhat of the period of protests in Iraq in October 2019. During periods of calm I was able to get around the southern compressor stations. With all the news channels and talking heads abuzz with fear, the situation on the ground was surprisingly calm. The vastness of the prairies and the desert have similarities when people stay home.

This city definitely deserves a return visit, during less challenging times. There are a few friends to catch up with, maybe catch the Calgary Stampede and walk along the Bow and Elbow Rivers.

Read further stories about Canada in the links to Montreal and Banff.