Calgary Gay Pride 2011

I went to the Calgary Pride for the first time this year. It must be one of the latest prides in North America, Sept 4 2011. I wasn't sure if I should expect snow or rain, but it was a beautiful long weekend. I noticed the absence of Dykes on Bikes and shirtless women and I am wondering if that is because it is a very conservative place. It had a small town friendliness to it. Most people there don't live in the city, but in the sprawling suburbs. The downtown is almost dead after business hours and on weekends and what few people you see are inside in what seems unique to Calgary. Most of the downtown is connected by a maze of skywalks between buildings called plus 15 ( mostly on the second floor level...15 steps up?). If you put it all together it must be the biggest mall in North America. It's a truly unique place and I love it for so many reasons, most of all the friendly locals. I will add more photos all week as I get time. It was a good test for my new lens.