I am writing this message on August 12, exactly 75 years from the date on which the Bridgeland-Riverside Community Association (BRCA) was formally created under provincial legislation. As I mentioned in an earlier issue, the predecessor to the BRCA, the Bridgeland-Riverside Athletic Association (BRAA) was established in 1908, being the first group in Calgary to operate like a community association.
Calgary’s 1950 population of 132,000 doubled by 1960, primarily due to the oil and gas boom kicked off by the 1947 Leduc field discovery, and we are now a city of close to 1.7 million people. No other city in Canada has grown as fast as Calgary, and there have been incredible opportunities and challenges as a result of such rapid expansion. Calgary had 206 communities at the time of the 2021 Canada Census, and you only need to visit the outskirts of the city to know that this number has increased significantly since then. Calgary’s various community and resident associations are run by over 20,000 volunteers.
The mission of community associations has evolved over time, although their role in promoting recreational and social activities to bring residents together has remained one of their primary functions. The BRCA also aims to inspire residents to be engaged and to create opportunities for their voices to be heard. In doing so, we strive to enhance a sense of belonging, wellness, and pride in our community.
We hope you can join the BRCA and your neighbours to celebrate our 75th (and 117th) birthday on September 13 at the Community Hall. The event will include games, a BBQ, and a movie in Murdoch Park. Thanks to the generosity of a multitude of local businesses, all activities will be free. It will be a great day for recognition of the past and best wishes for the future of our amazing community.
Alex MacWilliam
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