Catherine Ford's Calgary: A very personal view of our city

Each of us has our own Calgary. It's a city made up of memories, experiences, joys and sorrows.

There isn't one Calgary there are 1.2 million versionsout there.There are also different ways to experience the city. It's all about the people and places that matter the most to you.

• Are you a Calgarian or do you just live here?
• Geography: Calgary's hidden puppet master
• 12 ways you know you're a Calgarian

As part of Calgary at a Crossroads, we've asked several well-known Calgarians to tour us around their Calgary.

We begin this serieswith Catherine Ford.

For decades she was one of our city's best-known journalists.Working at the Calgary Herald, Ford was a force to be reckoned with when it came to her national column on politics and social issues. Sometimes acerbic, always funny, she later wrote a book calledAgainst the Grain: An Irreverent view of Alberta.

Ford was sometimes referred to as "Alberta's Wild Rose" thorns and all and she had a gift for pissing off the powers that be,like Ralph Klein. Yet she was, and is still, involved in charity fundraisingand writes on issues as diverse as city parks and politics. She alsostill works as a policy pundit.

If Calgary had "grand dames,"Ford would be one of them (although she'd likely prefer the word "broad").

Calgaryat a Crossroads isCBC Calgary's special focus on life in our city during the downturn. A look at Calgary's culture, identity and what it means to be Calgarian. Read more stories from the series atCalgary at a Crossroads.