As a new year begins, it is a natural time to look back as well as forward. January invites reflection on the values, traditions, and achievements that shape who we are. For residents of Upper and Lower Mount Royal, our story is one rooted in community vision and continuity. This month, the Mount Royal Community Association honours that legacy.
The MRCA was officially incorporated on January 22, 1934, under the name Mount Royal Community Club. Its purpose was to foster community pride and cohesion through recreation, social events, and neighbourhood improvements. Founding objectives included acquiring land for clubhouses and playgrounds, organizing amateur athletics, and providing meeting spaces for lectures and public discussions. It was a grassroots organization that believed community was something that must be built and maintained through shared effort and shared space.
Over the decades, Mount Royal evolved. Homes were built and rebuilt, generations came and went, and new challenges emerged. But the community spirit embedded in those early years continued. The original clubhouse was eventually replaced by Mount Royal Station, our current hall and administrative home. The association updated its name to the Mount Royal Community Association and expanded its mandate to reflect the changing needs of residents. New priorities such as traffic safety, heritage preservation, urban planning, and inclusivity became part of the association’s ongoing work.
Today, nearly ninety years later, the MRCA still operates on the same principles of neighbourliness, volunteerism, and shared responsibility. The board of directors, elected from among the membership, guides policy decisions, programming, and partnerships. Committees lead initiatives in planning and development, parks and recreation, community events, and communications. Volunteers run the rink, help maintain the tennis courts, organize seasonal events, and support hall operations. None of this is possible without members—people who take the step of joining, showing up, and supporting the work.
The heritage of Mount Royal is also reflected in the architecture and streetscapes of our neighbourhood. With over sixty homes on the City of Calgary’s Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources, and many more protected by restrictive covenants, Mount Royal is a living example of Calgary’s early 20th-century urban design. The tree-lined boulevards, century-old homes, and heritage buildings are part of what makes this area unique. The MRCA has long played a role in promoting thoughtful preservation and respectful development, ensuring that as our community grows, it does so with intention.
Our hall, Mount Royal Station, stands as a symbol of that history. Originally the site of a Canadian Pacific Railway stop, it has since become a central gathering place. From weddings and memorials to community meetings and art shows, the hall continues to be the backdrop to life in Mount Royal. In many ways, it is where the past and future meet. Every time a new resident joins the association, every time a neighbour attends an event, they add their chapter to the story.
As we begin this new year, we invite you to become part of that story. Membership in the Mount Royal Community Association is more than an annual fee. It is a way of connecting to the legacy of those who came before us and supporting the generations to come. Your membership helps maintain the hall, operate the rink, support local advocacy, and sustain our volunteer programs.
To learn more or to become a member, visit www.mrca.ca. Whether you are new to the area or a long-time resident, your participation matters.
Join today. Honour the past. Help shape the future.
Click here to the Lower Mount Royal Community News home page for the latest Lower Mount Royal community updates.
Click here to the Mount Royal Community News home page for the latest Mount Royal community updates.
Click here to the Upper Mount Royal Community News home page for the latest Upper Mount Royal community updates.
