A Pocket History of Calgary
by Carolyn Ryder

8th Avenue, Calgary, Alta. (from the Calgary Public Library Postcard Collection)

Calgary was founded in 1875 by the Northwest Mounted Police at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers. The building of the fort established the area as a centre for Canadian law and order. The mandate of the police was to eradicate the profitable local whisky trade and to establish good relations with the Blackfoot Confederacy. Fort Calgary, which was briefly named Fort Brisebois after the detachment's commander, was officially renamed in 1876 by RCMP Assistant Commissioner A.G. Irvine in response to a suggestion from Colonel James Macleod. Macleod's family had connections to Calgary (meaning "bay farm") Bay on Scotland's Isle of Mull.

Substantial settlement did not occur until after the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway's transcontinental line on August 11, 1883, which was followed on August 31 by the inaugural issue of the Calgary Herald newspaper. The railway led Calgary to become a transportation and distribution hub for the ranching and agricultural operations nearby. On November 7, 1884, Calgary was incorporated as a town and on January 1, 1894, it officially became a city. The population grew from 506 to 3,900 in the intervening years.

In the fall of 1886, fire swept through downtown Calgary, destroying many wooden buildings. This disaster precipitated the boom of buildings made with local Paskapoo grey sandstone, eventually earning Calgary the title of "Sandstone City." Postcards of the time illustrating these buildings were used to impress the recipients and give Calgary a prosperous air.

After Alberta's incorporation as a province on September 1, 1905, the Dominion Government's immigration policy promoting homestead land resulted in an influx of settlers, who subsequently fed Calgary's growth, as well as its cultural and social development.

The resulting building boom culminated in the 1912 opening of Alberta's first public library. The construction of Central Park Library, now the Memorial Park branch of the Calgary Public Library, was generously financed by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. This beautiful building was built in the classical style and influenced by the Beaux Arts tradition. It became the cultural centre of the city, hosting many educational and arts groups.

The Stampede at Calgary, Alberta (1912) (from the Calgary Public Library Postcard Collection)

The origins of the world-famous Calgary Stampede were in the Calgary Dominion Exhibition of 1908. Cowboy Guy Weadick, who had participated in that exhibition, championed the idea of an annual rodeo, to be held in conjunction with the annual Calgary Exhibition, and convinced four local ranchers, including Pat Burns, to support it. The success of the event in 1912 led to the holding of what is now known as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth" every July.

Strong local interest in politics over the years resulted in the birth here of the United Farmers of Alberta (1921), the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (1932) and the Social Credit Party (1935). Former Calgary lawyer R.B. Bennett became prime minister in 1930. William Aberhart rose to prominence with the Social Credit. Other notable Calgary politicians include premiers Ernest Manning, Peter Lougheed and former Calgary mayor Ralph Klein. Nellie McClung moved to Calgary in the mid-1920s and, in addition to writing books, became involved with the Famous Five in their pursuit of the "Persons Case."

The discovery of major oil and gas fields propelled Calgary into becoming the nation's energy capital. Important oil and gas strikes in the Turner Valley area in 1914 and Leduc in 1947 strongly influenced Calgary's economic development. From the 1940s until the 1970s, Calgary exploded with phenomenal urban growth fuelled by the oil and gas industry. Large buildings sprang up and the city became known for its seemingly constant construction. The Husky (now Calgary) Tower, the highest structure in Calgary when it was built in 1967, was soon dwarfed by other buildings. Fluctuating oil prices and policies led to Calgary's renowned "boom and bust" economy and the city suffered some economic downturns in the 1980s.

Calgary's importance in the world arena was solidified in February 1988 when it hosted the XV Olympic Winter Games. The Games were judged to be a huge success, largely because of the dedication of the thousands of volunteers. A Stanley Cup win by the Calgary Flames hockey team in 1989, along with a near miss in 2004, and Grey Cup wins by the Calgary Stampeders football team in 1947 and 1998 are some of the highlights of Calgary's sporting tradition.

Although the petroleum and agriculture industries are still important, efforts have been made to diversify the economy over the years. Calgary has become a North American leader in communications, engineering, health sciences, filmmaking and tourism. It is now the second largest centre for head offices in Canada. With an official population of 951,395 as of April 2004, it is the fifth largest city in Canada. Calgary's growth continues and the city is currently experiencing a renaissance in the musical and literary arts.

Calgary's history has influenced the residents' strong belief in individualism and optimism, which bodes well for the future.

Carolyn Ryder is Customer Services Librarian, Local History Collection, Calgary Public Library.

Selected bibliography
Books
Centennial City: Calgary 1894-1994. Calgary: University of Calgary, 1994.

Dempsey, Hugh A. Spirit of the West: A History of Calgary. Saskatoon: Fifth House: Calgary: Glenbow, 1994.

Foran, Max. Calgary: An Illustrated History. Toronto: J. Lorimer: (Ottawa): National Museum of Man, 1978.

Foran, Max, and Heather MacEwan Foran. Calgary: Canada's Frontier Metropolis. Burlington, Ont.: Windsor Publications, 1982.

Gorosh, Esther. Calgary's "Temple of Knowledge": A History of the Public Library. Calgary: Century Calgary Publications, 1975.

Gray, James H. A Brand of Its Own: The 100 Year History of the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede. Saskatoon: Western Producer Prairie Books, 1985.

Stenson, Fred. The Story of Calgary. Saskatoon: Fifth House, 1994.

Ward, Tom. Cowtown: An Album of Early Calgary. Calgary: City of Calgary Electric System and McClelland and Stewart West, 1975.

Web sites
AlbertaSource. Heritage Community Foundation. Accessed November 6, 2004. www.albertasource.ca

City of Calgary home page. "The City of Calgary." Accessed November 6, 2004. www.calgary.ca/cweb

A Virtual Tour of Historic Calgary. Calgary Public Library. Accessed November 4, 2004. calgarypubliclibrary.com/calgary/historic_tours/tours.htm