by Deb Lee, BRCA Heritage and CGH Commemoration Project
We want to bring you up to date with activities that have contributed to progress on our Commemoration Project. Our intention is to tell the story of the Calgary General Hospital while enhancing Murdoch Park. Owned and operated by the City of Calgary for the majority of its existence in Bridgeland, many thousands of Calgarians experienced “the General” as physicians, workers, patients, or as newborns. When we’ve connected, there is unequivocal support for our Commemoration Project, and many have made donations. Our goal is to reach more people to increase interest and gain more support for the project. So, what have we been doing?
Regular readers of The Bridges will have seen monthly articles about the evolution of the hospital, from the beginning days (1890) of the re-purposed house on 9 Street SW to the final days (1998) of the almost 1,000 bed hospital. You will have read about the significant role of volunteers, the contribution of the School of Nursing, the evolution of health care with new buildings such as the Convalescent-Rehabilitation wing as well as the great food provided at “the General”. More articles will be coming, featuring important contributions made by the Calgary General Hospital over its 88 years providing health care in Bridgeland. You can also check out the BRCA website’s history section for more information: brcacalgary.org/history.
Over the past year we have reached out to the public through a variety of means. On the 25th Anniversary of the hospital’s implosion last October, we had media attention from CBC Eye Opener and a feature on Global News. Two articles have been written by David Parker in the Calgary Herald plus an article in the Kerby News.
In early 2024, we initiated a series of information sessions at the BRCA hall with good attendance from a range of people. We have also shared the story of “the General” with groups such as the Chinook Country Historical Society, the Optimists, and several others, including Historic Calgary Week and a Jane’s Walk. We’ve learned a great deal from the memories shared by the participants. Many told us of their great affection for the hospital and how people worked together to make for a positive and caring experience for the patients. The strong connections between the Bridgeland community and the hospital has been evident though all our conversations. We plan to have more information sessions this fall. Watch out for the poster and plan to join us.
Financial support from large funders such as the provincial government, the City of Calgary via our Ward 9 Councillor Carra, and granting organizations is being pursued. A grant from the Historical Society of Alberta was received to research options for digital sharing of “the General’s” story. The Bridgeland BIA is supporting the project. Despite a very challenging funding environment, we are finding interest in and support for our Calgary General Hospital Commemoration Project.
How Can Bridgelanders Help?
• Attend an information session this fall and learn more about this historic hospital.
• Share information about the CGH Commemoration Project with those who have a past connection. A hard copy poster, brochure, and postcard can be obtained at the BRCA hall and digital versions are available online.
• Invite us to present the story of “the General” to your group.
• Make a donation – (tax deductible) using the QR code or the donation link on the BRCA website.
With the support of Bridgelanders and the larger community, this project to tell the story of the Calgary General Hospital will come to fruition and will be a source of pride for all who learn about it, for generations to come.
Click here to the Bridgeland Community News home page for the latest Bridgeland community updates.
