This article is part of the Bright Leaders of Calgary series, which features prominent corporate leaders from our Team Calgary program and their insights on the local business community and vision for the future.
Calgary’s ability to convene people and ideas is shaping how the city competes on the global stage — and Kurby Court is helping make those connections happen. As President and CEO of the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre, Kurby sits at the crossroads of tourism, business and city-building. From hosting global conferences to activating downtown Calgary, his work plays a critical role in how the city attracts investment, talent and international attention.
Under his leadership, the Convention Centre is both an economic driver and a community hub, connecting Calgary’s key industries with global ideas, expertise and opportunity.
With a front-row view of how major events shape cities, Kurby shares his perspective on what makes Calgary competitive on the world stage. His insights reflect the priorities outlined in Uplook: An Action Plan for Our Economy, Calgary’s long-term strategy focused on strengthening the city’s economic future.
We sat down with Kurby to talk about Calgary’s evolving brand, the power of connection and what gives him confidence in the city’s next chapter.
From international conferences to city-defining events, the Convention Centre plays a visible role in Calgary’s economy. How do major events and conventions shape how Calgary is perceived globally?
We play two roles as a convention centre in Calgary. We’re an economic driver and a community hub, and our socio-economic impact is just as important as our economic impact.
From a business events perspective, we generated over $114 million in economic impact last year, but it’s not always about tangible numbers. It’s about the intellectual transference of knowledge, because that’s where the secret sauce is. Our role is to be a vessel for conversations that safely enable ideas to surface that may have never existed until everyone entered the room. When international delegates connect with Calgary’s strengths across life sciences, aerospace, agribusiness and energy, that knowledge base fuels our economy long after the lanyard comes off.
Photo: Calgary TELUS Convention Centre
Competition for global meetings and events is intense. What makes Calgary stand out when international organizers are deciding on a location?
When organizers are choosing a destination, it really is about location, accessibility and connectivity. We were the first purpose-built convention centre in Canada, and we remain the most connected, with more than 1,100 hotel rooms accessible through our elevated indoor pathway, the Plus 15. We’re also connected to a world-class museum, Glenbow, and Werklund Centre (formerly Arts Commons) through the Plus-15 network — we’re built for a winter city. People can come here, put on flip-flops and never have to go outside when it’s -30 C.
Beyond that, organizers are asking why Calgary, where the intellectual property is and where the industry minds are. Aviation, life sciences and energy are all examples where Calgary has real, living proof points, and for years we’ve been punching above our weight. Now, with new venues online, we can compete for both global citywide events and conferences that want connectivity and intimacy.
Calgary’s civic identity has shifted in recent years, and we’re now known as the Blue Sky City. What do first-time visitors consistently underestimate or misunderstand about the city when they arrive, and what changes their minds?
People expect a cowboy town — for 10 days a year, that’s how the world knows us. For the other 355 days, we’re a diverse global hub. Visitors underestimate our culinary scene, the density of innovation and how interconnected Calgary really is. While it’s a big city, it still feels like a small town, where three or four contacts can turn into 50 or 100 connections very quickly. Once people get to know Calgary, the story changes.
I think they’re also consistently moved by how seriously our city takes Truth and Reconciliation. It often catches international delegates off guard, not in a negative way, but because they see that this work is taken seriously here. Land acknowledgements aren’t performative, and reconciliation isn’t a box to tick for appearance’s sake. We focus on educating people on what respect for the land means and what reconciliation looks like in practice.
Large-scale events are ultimately about people coming together. How is the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre evolving the guest experience to meet higher expectations around accessibility, sustainability and connection?
We’re a contact sport — and what I mean by that, is that this business is eyeballs to eyeballs. It’s about people. We’re a venue for all people. Accessibility, inclusion and a sense of belonging are now table stakes. We’ve invested in tools and partnerships that help people navigate the space and feel supported, and we’re aligned with the city’s environmental goals to keep our environmental footprint small while our community impact stays large.
From your vantage point, what kinds of conversations or industries is Calgary especially well positioned to host over the next decade as the global economy evolves?
We remain global leaders in energy and agribusiness, but we’re seeing massive momentum in life sciences, supported by our world-class research facilities and universities. Aerospace is also growing aggressively, and creative industries continue to play a role. These are sectors where Calgary has depth, credibility, and real-world examples, which makes it easier to host meaningful global conversations.
Photo: Calgary TELUS Convention Centre
Looking ahead, what gives you the most confidence about Calgary’s next chapter as a place to host global conversations?
Calgary has options now. With BMO Centre, the new arena soon to come online, Werklund Centre and continued investment downtown, we can host citywide events, mid-sized conferences and everything in between.
Planners don’t want to be in one building all day anymore. They want variety, and having all of that within a city block is incredibly advantageous. WestJet making Calgary its home connects us globally, and our universities and institutions are elevating the workforce and attracting investment. The more diverse and intellectually rich our city becomes, the bigger the conversations we can host.
What gives you optimism for Calgary’s future?
Calgary is resilient. I’ve seen this city handle immense pressure with integrity, speed and grace. This is a place where all conversations can take place safely.