“Ina reflected on her time in Mission Calgary while we sat together and looked through photographs she took back in the 1980s and 1990s. She lived just off 4th street on 23rd Ave SW. Her memories of the neighbourhood all shined through her stories as if we were walking around the streets and experiencing the neighbourhood firsthand. During her time in Mission, Ina took photographs of the buildings, the streets, and anything that caught her artistic eye, as shown in the photographs taken. Ina mentioned that in Mission, people cared for each other, the neighbours all helped each other, and above all they cared for the neighbourhood with a sense of pride.
Ina shared some of her daily routines, from walking down to the river to sit on the bench in Lindsey Park, to grabbing lunch every day at a small bakery that served some of the best French bread she has tasted.
Ina also had great experiences visiting the festivals on 4th street and visiting yearly a gentleman that sold fun-coloured socks which she wore as it would make others smile or catch their attention on the #3 bus. Ina enjoyed going to sit by the river where she could unwind, meditate, and reflect while listening to the sound of the river. On one of her trips to the river, a beaver was sitting right beside her in peacefulness while the sounds of the water relaxed them both.
The shops were all in beautiful buildings, from the Mac’s on 4th, the old location of Paros Greek Restaurant on 4th, to the old Tivoli building. They all had character and the shops inside were always changing with new vendors.
She remembers how busy it was in a good way, all the restaurants did well on the street, and it had many, and you could even see the Calgary tower from 4th street. She enjoyed walking through the neighbourhood and her favourite restaurant was a wonderful French restaurant named La Chaumiere, where she would visit frequently for the wonderful food and friendly, welcoming environment.
Ina travelled across Western Canada and up to Alaska, but after all the travels she still says that Mission has always been special to her. “It was just the place to be.”
Interview conducted between Mr. T. Speechly and Ms. Ina Roos on December 14, 2025, and transcribed by Mr. T. Speechly. Photographs were taken by Ms. Ina Roos (a photographer) in the 1980s.
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