The Prairie Chicken Sculpture

The Prairie Chicken is one of U of C’s historical landmarks. And by historical, I mean like… 40 years old? As a former Campus Tour Guide, I can tell you that the Prairie Chicken was left unnamed by the artist so that anyone can interpret it however they want. Some see the pages of an opening book, others see a native headdress. One day, a group of students decided to tar and feather the statue. Since then, it has been known as the Prairie Chicken.
The Prairie Chicken hill is a great place for students to hang out, eat lunch, smoke sheesha, picnic, read a book, etc. If you’re lucky, you could probably spot some young lovers showing a little too much PDA for your comfort. If you’re like me, you’ll probably spend countless hours napping and getting grass imprints on your face.
The grass is usually quite soft and lush during the summer. You’ll usually be able to find a bit of shade on the hill if you don’t like direct sunlight. Whatever your preference, there will always be a perfect spot at the perfect angle to suit your lounging needs. Just put on some sunscreen, use your backpack as a pillow, and inhale the fresh smoke from your neighbour’s cigarette. The Prairie Chicken is definitely one of my favourite parts of the University of Calgary.