PARK began with a conversation between founder Kara Chomistek and her ACAD + University of Calgary friends regarding the future for artists in their community. In 2008, there were few opportunities for their businesses to grow in Calgary, making it challenging for them to root their businesses here. Many of these entrepreneurs and creatives were moving to cities like Toronto and New York to pursue their careers. Kara and her peers decided to host a free outdoor market on the grounds of the University of Calgary, with the hopes of providing a community space for artists, entrepreneurs, makers, and designers. They didn't know that this would later become part of a much larger cultural movement!

Fast forward to 2012, a breakthrough year for PARK. Not only did Kara Chomistek leave her full-time job in engineering to pursue PARK and fashion styling, but PARK formed it’s first major partnership with Mercedes-Benz Downtown Calgary. This led to a massive leap in our production capabilities! As we near the end of 2019, we are reflecting on the biggest highlights of the past seven years with MBDT.

PARKLUXE 2012

For this show, we partnered with Mercedes-Benz Downtown Calgary to transform the Hyatt Auto Gallery into a luxury runway!

PARKSHOW 2013

In 2013, we celebrated our 5th anniversary with a growing team, a bigger audience, and grander plans than ever before! We also hosted PARKSHOW at the Aerospace Museum (now called the Hangar Flight Museum)and we are proud to say it still has people talking to this day. Mercedes-Benz Downtown Calgary provided a lineup of gorgeous cars for our guests to admire before the show!

PARKLUXE 2017

In 2017, the PARK team (now made up of over 30 volunteers and staff) took over an empty warehouse in the historic community of Inglewood for PARKSHOW 2017 and celebrated Mode Models' 30 anniversary!

We followed MODE30 with one of our most epic shows — PARKLUXE 2017 Presented by Bankers Hall featured our most complicated runway to date at Spruce Meadows. We also hosted our Platinum VIP dinner in collaboration with Teatro, and Mercedes-Benz Downtown Calgary graciously provided transportation to the show for all our platinum guests!

PARKSHOW 2018

For our ten-year anniversary, we aimed to outdo our 2017 shows with our most ambitious plans yet. PARKSHOW returned to the East Village to transform the George C. King Bridge into our longest runway! We also hosted a new contest with Mercedes-Benz Downtown Calgary and two lucky PARKSHOW guests watched the show from a Mercedes convertible while enjoying a complimentary bottle of bubbly! Talk about VIP seating.

PARKLUXE 2018

We wrapped up our ten-year celebration in downtown Calgary. PARKLUXE 2018 took over Brookfield Place for an evening of fashion, music, and culinary delights. Once again, Mercedes-Benz Downtown Calgary provided VIP Transportation for our Platinum Dinner guests, hosted by Teatro, and a fleet of cars which made for a grand entrance to the show!

PARKSHOW 2019

We started off our 11th year with PARKSHOW 2019 Presented by Brightside and an exciting new partnership with Export Quebec + #MTLStyle! Of course, our long-term sponsorship with Mercedes-Benz Downtown Calgary continued as 707 Fifth was transformed from a bustling downtown hub into a spectacular runway — which incorporated escalators!

PARKLUXE 2019….COMING SOON

PARK will be returning to Brookfield Place, home to 6 public art installations and the tallest building in Calgary, on September 28 to celebrate Canada’s premier artists, designers, and culinary talents. Mercedes-Benz Downtown will once again provide VIP transportation from our Platinum VIP dinner, exclusively catered by Hawthorn Dining Room — located in the iconic Fairmont Palliser. Click here to reserve your seats and see what else we have up our sleeves next week!