by Anthony Imbrogno, a volunteer with The Calgary Heritage Initiative Society/Heritage Inspires YYC
The Leduc oil well discovery launched Calgary onto the world’s stage.
Calgary’s first skyscraper was the 11-storey Barron Building (ca.1951). The Guinness family built Elveden Centre (ca.1958), Calgary’s first to 20 storeys.
Calgary’s most iconic building is Husky Tower, built for Canada’s centennial. CPR’s station was demolished for an office complex with tourist attraction, a freestanding observation tower, the tallest building in Canada outside Toronto.
The Ukrainian Catholic Church (ca.1955) stands out for its Byzantine style. In Inglewood, the Standard Church of America served the Black community. The Shaarey Tzedec Synagogue arrived in Mission in 1959.
Alberta’s 50th anniversary, the post-war boom, and the centennial brought several institutions to Calgary.
Eric Harvie preserved Western Canadian heritage through the Glenbow Museum. The Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium was built, and a Brutalist-style planetarium opened. Confederation Park preserved a creek and coulee.
Stampede Corral (ca.1950) replaced Victoria Arena and McMahon Stadium was ready in 1960. Calgary’s first mall was North Hill Centre (ca.1958).
Britannia became Calgary’s first complete neighbourhood, with plaza, residences, and parks. Queen Elizabeth II toured it in 1959.
In 1953, an updated Calgary General Hospital opened. Foothills Hospital opened in 1966, Calgary’s lead trauma centre and research/training hospital. It’s associated with the University of Calgary, also founded in 1966.
Heritage Park (ca.1963) became a living museum of early modern prairie life and preserves heritage buildings.
Bearspaw Dam was built (ca.1953), named after a Treaty 7 signatory. The airport received a new passenger terminal (ca.1956) and began international flights.
Mewata Bridge was built to handle automotives. McKnight Boulevard was named after a WWII flying ace, which connects John Laurie Boulevard, named for an Indigenous advocate.
Macleod Trail was moved from Ramsay to 2 Street SE. Bow Trail replaced Old Banff Coach Road, with Sarcee and Blackfoot Trails flanking the city’s west and east sides. But the Sien Lok Society opposed razing Chinatown for a highway.
In 1961, the Trans-Canada Highway replaced Morley Trail and Banff-Windermere Parkway.
In 1973, Crowchild Trail was named after Tsuu T’ina chief David Crowchild. He said, “May this be a symbol of cutting all barriers between all peoples.”
All copyright images cannot be shared without prior permission.
“Opening day, Leduc #1 discovery well, Leduc, Alberta.”, 1947-02-13, (CU1137357) by Unknown. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary. https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/asset-management/2R3BF1F7K3LP?WS=SearchResults.
“View of the Barron Building showing Uptown marquee, Calgary, Alberta.”, 1952-08, (CU1111123) by Calgary Herald, unknown photographer. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary. https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/asset-management/2R3BF1OEEZZ6?WS=SearchResults.
“Expanding downtown skyline, Calgary, Alberta.”, 1961-01, (CU1111336) by Calgary Herald, unknown photographer. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary. Published in the Calgary Herald, January 31, 1961. Tall building is Elveden House. https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/asset-management/2R3BF1OEKM7T?WS=SearchResults.
Needle Installation on the Husky Tower, 10 November 1967, City of Calgary Archives, item CalA 94-004-003.
Husky Tower over 200 feet in height – 27 feet of concrete poured a day, City of Calgary Archives, item CalA 2006-042sVII-0054.
“House of Israel, Calgary, Alberta.”, [ca. 1940-1945], (CU1216464) by Unknown. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary. https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/asset-management/2R3BF1X4X4X4.
“General Hospital, Calgary, Alberta.”, 1955-07-28, (CU1131227) by Rosettis Studio. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary. https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/asset-management/2R3BF1FH47LJ?WS=SearchResults.
“Bearspaw dam, Calgary, Alberta.”, 1954-12, (CU1141494) by De Lorme, Jack. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary. https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/asset-management/2R3BF1FMZG3A?WS=SearchResults.
“Airport, Calgary, Alberta.”, [ca. 1940], (CU2230158) by Unknown. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary. https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/asset-management/2R340823X7MF.
Trans Canada Highway – Canmore, September 2006, Jack Borno, via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trans_Canada_Highway_-_Canmore_-_panoramio_(1).jpg.
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