Chinook Optical

Chinook Optical Purveyors of Fine Eyewear since 1916. Located in the Britannia Shopping Plaza, Calgary, Alberta, Can Our business was founded by Dr. E.S. His son, B.J.S.

Tharp as Consolidated Optical, located in the Leeson & Lineham Block building (209 -8th Avenue SW) in 1916 in Calgary, Alberta. Tharp, became a doctor of Optometry after serving in the navy in WWII. He founded Chinook Optical in 1960 and now the next two generations are continuing the business. Chinook Optical is proud to be a small and independent business in Calgary, Alberta. The store was one o

f the original tenants in Chinook Center when the mall opened, yet for almost a decade now we have enjoyed our current location in the Britannia Shopping Plaza. We are proud of our history serving the Calgary community for more than 100 years and look forward to the next century of eyecare in our city. Our exceptional team of licensed opticians, students of opticianry and licensed doctors of optometry are continuing our tradition of excellence in health service.

I’ve noticed that some of my best decisions didn’t start with certainty.They started with curiosity.A willingness to exp...
06/24/2026

I’ve noticed that some of my best decisions didn’t start with certainty.

They started with curiosity.

A willingness to explore an idea.

To try something different.

To see what might happen.

Sometimes it worked.

Sometimes it didn’t.

But even the things that didn’t work out usually taught me something I needed to learn.

Maybe that’s why I’ve become a little less concerned with getting things right and a little more interested in staying open.

Open to new ideas.

Open to changing my mind.

Open to trying again.

Because more often than not, the path reveals itself while we’re moving, not while we’re standing still.

Has trying something new ever taken you somewhere completely unexpected?

06/22/2026

So honoured to be included in the article about the ‘OG’s of Calgary’ in Where Canadian Rockies May - November 2026 magazine edition. Thanks to Mr. Fab for the great writing. On stands now.

Janel’s staff pick comes with a little extra personality.Seen here in Anne & Valentin, this frame strikes that rare bala...
06/22/2026

Janel’s staff pick comes with a little extra personality.

Seen here in Anne & Valentin, this frame strikes that rare balance between presence and lightness.

Its metal construction creates a distinctive silhouette without relying on heavy volumes or oversized proportions.

Balanced in scale, confident in character.

A perfect example of how thoughtful design, distinctive colour, and refined proportions can deliver plenty of presence without overwhelming the face.

Few design details in eyewear are as recognizable as the Tom Ford “T”.But what has allowed it to endure is everything su...
06/19/2026

Few design details in eyewear are as recognizable as the Tom Ford “T”.

But what has allowed it to endure is everything surrounding it.

The Tom Ford Icon Collection revisits the shapes that established the brand’s reputation. Strong silhouettes, confident proportions, and a design language that remains unmistakable years after its introduction.

While trends come and go, the foundation of these frames has remained remarkably consistent. A clear point of view, refined over time rather than reinvented season after season.

It’s a reminder that great design isn’t about constant change.

It’s about creating something worth returning to.

Because true icons aren’t defined by the moment.

They outlast it.

When I was younger, I used to think that finding the right path meant having a clear plan.Now I know that’s rarely ever ...
06/18/2026

When I was younger, I used to think that finding the right path meant having a clear plan.

Now I know that’s rarely ever the case.

Looking back, a lot of the things that shaped my life didn’t arrive as answers. They arrived as little pieces.

A conversation that stayed with me.

A comment I couldn’t stop thinking about.

An idea that showed up more than once.

At the time, none of them seemed particularly important.

But somehow, they all became part of a bigger picture.

Maybe that’s one of the reasons listening matters so much.

Not because it gives us all the answers, but because it helps us collect the pieces.

And sometimes those pieces come together in ways we never could have planned.

But for now, I’m curious:

Have you ever had a moment where things only made sense when you looked back?

Morgan’s smile says it all.Seen here in her custom tinted Lapima frame, a reminder that great eyewear is never just abou...
06/15/2026

Morgan’s smile says it all.

Seen here in her custom tinted Lapima frame, a reminder that great eyewear is never just about seeing better, it’s about seeing yourself in it.

At Chinook Optical, we’ve always believed eyewear is deeply personal. One of our favorite ways to take that idea even further is through custom lens tints, creating a frame that feels uniquely yours.

A subtle shift in color. A completely different point of view.

Curious about adding that extra personal touch? Ask us about custom tint options on your next frame.

As a child, I never imagined I would one day be carrying on my family’s business. If you had asked me then what my futur...
06/11/2026

As a child, I never imagined I would one day be carrying on my family’s business. If you had asked me then what my future looked like, this probably wouldn’t have been my answer.

And yet, somewhere along the way, there was a quiet whisper.

Not a plan. Not a roadmap. Just a feeling that kept showing up.

The funny thing about those whispers is that they’re easy to ignore. Life gets busy. Doubts get loud. Responsibilities pile up. But over time, that whisper grew stronger because I started listening.

Do I always have the answers? Absolutely not. God knows I don’t.

But I’ve learned to trust that voice a little more each year.

When I look back now and see that little girl become the woman carrying the torch of a business built by generations before her, I’m reminded that listening is about so much more than communication.

It’s about connection.

The connection we build with the people around us.

The connection we build with our purpose.

And perhaps most importantly, the connection we build with ourselves.

Because before we can truly listen to anyone else, we have to learn how to listen to the voice that’s been quietly guiding us all along.

Maybe that’s why listening has become so important to me. Not because it always gives me the answers, but because it helps me find the courage to take the next step, even when I don’t know exactly where the path will lead.

Monica understands the power of a signature silhouette.Wearing her Celine sunglasses, she leans into one of fashion’s mo...
06/08/2026

Monica understands the power of a signature silhouette.

Wearing her Celine sunglasses, she leans into one of fashion’s most enduring statements, the oversized frame.

There’s a reason Celine continues to define this category season after season. The proportions are deliberate, the lines are confident, and the effect is effortless.

Some trends come and go.

An oversized Celine frame remains exactly what it has always been, iconic.

There’s something refreshing about a brand that doesn’t take itself too seriously.In a world where everyone seems to be ...
06/05/2026

There’s something refreshing about a brand that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

In a world where everyone seems to be chasing, Vasuma chooses personality.

The Stockholm based collection has a knack for creating frames that feel familiar at first glance, then completely different once they’re on your face. A little vintage. A little rock & roll. A little “where did you get those?”

The result is eyewear with character. The kind that starts conversations, gets compliments, and somehow becomes the pair you reach for even when you own ten others.

Because great style isn’t about fitting in.

It’s about finding the pieces that feel unmistakably like you.

So if your current frames are doing their job but not saying much, consider this your sign.

Come by and meet Vasuma. Some frames help you see better. The right ones help people see you differently.

Address

813 49th Avenue SW
Calgary, AB
T2S1G8

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+14032521961

Website

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