By Reem Ghaleb
Calgary hosted its first annual Doors Open YYC Naked event at 35 sites across the city on Sept. 29–30, offering the public a free, behind-the-scenes look at the city’s most impressive architecture. The public could tour sites all over the city of cultural, historical, artistic and mechanical importance.
The University of Calgary participated in Do YYC with exclusive tours of the Central Heating and Cooling Plant, Olympic Oval, the Taylor Family Digital Library and the Energy, Environment, Experimental Learning building.
According to the TFDL’s director of cultural and community programs Donna Livingstone, over 70 people visited the TFDL.
“It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase our new building to the wider Calgary community,” said Livingstone.
She said it was also an opportunity to answer many questions.
Lougheed House, a national historic site in Calgary’s downtown, also had several visitors.
“I think the important thing is that people are going to be able to see things that they wouldn’t be able to see the rest of the year,” said executive director of Lougheed House Blane Hogue. “The whole purpose of this is so that people in Calgary — whether they are born here or new to Calgary — can get to understand what makes this city.”
Head gardener of Lougheed House Marie Gattinger also said Do YYC was an opportunity to see the ins and outs of the city.
“Don’t just stay at home. Go and see your own city,” she said.