Consulate Closure Notice
Please be advised that the U.S. Consulate in Calgary will be closed on Friday July 4, to observe Independence Day.

13 June 08: NASA Aircraft Examine Impact of Forest Fires on Arctic Climate
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the summer fire season heats up, NASA aircraft are set to follow the trail of smoke plumes from some of Earth's northernmost forest fires, examining their contribution to arctic pollution and implications for climate change. [More].

Consul General Pens Piece on North American Water Issues
Consul General Tom Huffaker was a recent guest columnist for Alberta WaterSMART, a not for profit society dedicated to the improvement of water management awareness, technologies and practices in Alberta. Tom’ s piece is the inaugural column for The Alberta Water Portal, developed by Alberta WaterSMART, the Bow River Basin Council, IBM and Tesera Systems. The Alberta WaterPortal is open source, in support of making it easier to find and share of water related information and knowledge. To read the Consul General’s article, click here. For more on Alberta WaterSMART, click here.

May 02, 2008: Ambassador Wilkins Salutes Canadian Military at Calgary Museums Gala
On May 2, Ambassador Wilkins was the guest speaker at a gala dinner celebrating the Calgary Military Museums Society. Along with The Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Secretary of State for Small Business and Tourism, Consul General and Mrs. Claire Huffaker and 350 other guests, the evening, dubbed “Between Friends: Celebrating the Unique Relationship Between Canada and the United States”, was a huge success, raising funds for educational programs at the Military Museums. To read the text of the Ambassador’s speech, click here. [slideshow]

April 12, 2008: Consul General heads North for Operation Nunalivut
Consul General Huffaker joined a team of academics and journalists on a three day trip to Ellesmere Island, to observe the final days of “Operation Nunalivut”, a month-long training exercise for Canadian Forces, including locally engaged Rangers. Escorted by Brigadier General Chris Whitecross (Commander, Joint Task Force North) and a team of officials from the Department of National Defence, the group set out from Yellowknife in a Canadian Forces plane on April 12 and spent the next days on Ellesmere Island, at Resolute Bay and in Eureka, the location of the forward base of operations for three sovereignty patrols operating on the Northeast coast of Ellesmere Island. The soldiers briefed participants on their activities, operating procedures for the extreme North, and displayed and described their equipment and survival techniques. [slideshow]

March 31-April 2, 2008: Ambassador Wilkins visits Regina and Calgary
From March 31-April 2, Ambassador Wilkins spent time in our two prairie provinces, Saskatchewan and Alberta, meeting with political, academic, and business leaders.

On March 31, the Ambassador met with newly-elected Premier Brad Wall, as well as with Saskatchewan’s Lt. Governor, Dr. Gordon Barnhart and other members of the Cabinet. He was escorted on a tour of Regina by the Lt. Governor and the Mayor of Regina, Pat Fiacco. At a noontime address to the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP), he spoke on the challenges facing democracies in the post 9-11 world. [read on/slideshow]

March 27 - 28, 2008
Washington State Congresswoman Leads Trade Delegation to Alberta
March 27 and 28 saw the visit to Alberta of Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who led a delegation from Eastern Washington to Calgary and the oilsands in Fort MacMurray. Other officials on the two day trip included Mark Peters, Executive Director of the International Trade Alliance in Spokane, and Spokane County Commissioner Mark Richard; as well, there were representatives from 6 companies, Washington State University and Spokane Community College.
On her website, the Congresswoman stated, "The trip was excellent. It exceeded all of our expectations. The trade mission impressed upon us the importance of the U.S. and Canadian relationship. First, we are important trading partners. The Canadian dollar is strong. Washington is the third largest exporter to Alberta after Texas and California. We are also friends with a common language, culture and way of life" .

To read a report on the Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers’ trip, please visit the Calgary Herald website. For more on Rep. McMorris Rodgers, visit her website.

Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), for entry into the United States at land or sea borders, as of January 31, 2008:
- Oral declarations of citizenship alone will no longer be accepted;
- U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 19 and older will need to present a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate;
- Children ages 18 and under will only be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate;
- Passports and trusted traveler program cards - NEXUS, FAST, and SENTRI - will continue to be accepted for cross-border travel. All existing nonimmigrant visa and passport requirements will remain in effect and will not be altered by this change. A passport has been required for air travel since January 23, 2007. [read more on WHTI]
NEW. Entry requirements at land or sea borders in effect June 1, 2009:
Washington -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced today the final rule for the land and sea portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), a core 9/11 Commission recommendation. The WHTI final rule requires travelers to present a passport or other approved secure document denoting citizenship and identity for all land and sea travel into the United States. WHTI establishes document requirements for travelers entering the United States who were previously exempt, including citizens of the U.S., Canada and Bermuda. These document requirements will be effective June 1, 2009 [Press Release] [FAQs] .

Help stop terrorism through the U.S. Government's Rewards for Justice Program.

Are you an American citizen travelling or residing in Canada? Please register

Ambassador's newsletter to American citizens.

Read about the Calgary Consular District in the State Magazine.