Brendan Dunlop, Guest Contributor

There are countless tales about the Wild West. Come April 2025, Calgary Wild FC will bring a whole new meaning to the age-old name.

Calgary was the first city, along with Vancouver, to announce their involvement in Diana Matheson’s Project 8 plan to start a long overdue professional women’s league in Canada, and the first club to unveil their original branding which is as uniquely Calgary as Calgary is Canadian. 

“Calgary is a huge soccer city,” says Wild FC Marketing Director Kelly McGuire. “We have a really, robust city wide system with one of the best built out pathways in the country from grassroots all the way up to the women's pro am team, which is the only one in Canada that plays in the UWS League down in the in the States. So this is just a massive feather in the cap.”

For a city that for a decade had to live with their provincial rivals calling themselves the “City of Champions” having another professional soccer team in town is something Calgarians will proudly boast about.

“Calgary is such a great sporting city, and we have so so many young girls who play soccer. Having a team in a league present in our city just allows them to continue to dream. When you can see it, it's so much easier to believe that you can be there too.”

Two of Canada’s most accomplished internationals hail from Alberta. Alphonso Davies and Steph Labbé have flown the flag for their home province both domestically and abroad, and it’s easy to see why they’ve been so proud to represent a province that supports their own and the sport, despite a crowded sports landscape. 

The buzz for Wild FC and the launch of the Northern Super League is undeniable. The club were present with flags and banners at two of the biggest summer events in western Canada; Calgary Pride, and of course, the Calgary Stampede.

“The community has been so exceptionally supportive of the team and so excited. We can't get people information fast enough, whether it's about season tickets, everybody wants merchandise,” says McGuire. 

“This is something that people are waiting for and they are going to be happy to, you know, show up in person, show up online watching games, show up in their local pubs. And I hope that all six NSL markets get that support, regardless of the kind of other extracurricular activities that they have going on,” says McGuire, in reference to the Rocky Mountain lifestyle that has people more inclined for active and outdoor activities than sit in a stadium or arena with the frequency of sports fans in other parts of the country.

The outdoors and wildlife of southern Alberta had a tremendous influence on the club name and crest which was unveiled in May to big fanfare in Calgary.

Inspired by the mighty owl, a creature known for its silent grace and sharp hunting skills, the bird is always poised for the perfect moment to strike. This is that moment for professional women’s soccer in Canada. 

The vibrant hues of neon violet and red symbolize the essence of Calgary, mirroring the breathtaking sunsets and the distinctive red of the Calgary Tower that rises above the skyline of the Prairie city.

Atop the owl's head, a stylish 'W' is prominently featured. This design element also pays homage to Alberta's winding rivers and jagged mountains, while the five points of the 'W' celebrate Alberta's Famous Five and the five nations of Treaty 7.

“The owl is a unique symbol for this area, not as highly thought of as maybe a bear or a moose, but that’s part of the point,” says McGuire. “It's a little bit more stealth, which is exactly what we were kind of going for as a team. Lots of wisdom and stoicmann behavior, and being able to be the kind of all seeing Huntress, but able to strike at a moment's notice.

“That will be the goal on the pitch, to be a little unsuspecting, but have the talent to back it up.” 

Calgary Wild FC will soon make some major staff announcements this fall at McMahon Stadium, where the club will call home when the NSL inaugural season kicks off in April. 

“Even in a city where it's minus 30 or 40 in the winter, every day you see people outside. Some are still riding their bikes, because Calgarians just love to be active,” says McGuire. “There's just an infectious kind of energy to take advantage of in this very, very beautiful place that we live. 

“For the players, this is their high energy. Those who come from afar will realize very quickly that Calgary is a great place to live, work and play with so much to offer. Calgary is a big, small town in so many ways, and that’s one of the things that makes Wild FC different as the NSL breaks new ground in year one.”

As the only NSL club between Toronto and Vancouver, Calgary really is a gateway to the west, and Wild FC are keen to make their mark as Canadian soccer breaks new ground.