Calgary Marathon celebrates country’s 150th by printing iconic Canadian illustration on shirts

If you’re looking for an iconic Canadian race this year, you’re not going to get much better than the Calgary Marathon on May 28. 

As Canada turns 150 this year, one of Canada’s fastest-growing metropolises and host of the Calgary Marathon is upping the national pride factor. Runners who attend will get a shot at winning a trip in The Rockies, experience uniquely Canadian moments along the route and best of all, they’ll take home swag printed with an iconic Canadian illustration by one of the nation’s most celebrated artists. 

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Alberta-born artist David Crighton has agreed to let the Calgary Marathon print his 1995 illustration titled Canada Coast to Coast on the race’s T-shirt and medal ribbons to celebrate the country’s 150th birthday. 

 “I am thrilled my artwork has been selected to represent the Scotiabank Calgary Marathon Race Weekend in honour of Canada’s 150th Birthday in the province of my birth,” said Crighton. 

“We are delighted to partner with David to commemorate such a special year for Canada. Runners will experience the coast to coast to coast course on race day and take home both their finisher’s medal and t-shirt with David’s beautiful illustration to remind them of their achievement and Canada’s Sesquicentennial,” says Executive Director of Run Calgary, Kirsten Fleming.

David Crighton was born in Edmonton but his father’s career brought the family to Ontario where they eventually settled in Toronto. For those who are fans of his work, this Toronto connection is apparent is several of his pieces. Crighton has a knack for creating collage-style illustrations of well-known Toronto intersections and iconic landmarks like the city’s Honest Eds. Crighton entered Central Technical High Schools Art Program in 1973. His career took off when he became an architectural illustrator. He has since focused on creating images of buildings, bridges and man-made structures which many Canadians will recognize. 

Of course, the Calgary Marathon experience includes more Canadian-isms than presenting runners with Crighton’s work. Runners will mimic national experiences along the route like kissing a cod in Newfoundland, eating watermelon with a Rider fan in Saskatchewan and receiving a medal from a cowboy in Alberta. 

To celebrate having run the marathon or one of the other distances offered (including a one-time 150K) runners will enter a draw for a train trip from Banff to Vancouver. That four-day luxury trip is sponsored by Canada Rail and valued at $5,800.