History of Calgary

[suburbia]

A couple months ago I learned that Calgary got itself an official Historian Laureate, Harry Sanders. More recently I learned of the new Historian Laureate's blog. I've always enjoyed the prior CBC Radio segment where Mr. Sanders, known to many as Harry the Historian, shared tid-bits of Calgary's history, often making connections that were obscure but ended up being important to how things have since panned out.

Historian Laureate's official blog:
calgaryhistorian.blogspot.ca/
Harry the Historian's personal (and most educational) twitter feed:
twitter.com/harry_historian

His most recent post on the blog is about the lot currently occupied by Holt Renfrew. I had no idea about the William Aberhart, Ernest Manning and Preston Manning connection!

Also interesting was his inaugural post, which teases with a mention of the original UCalgary having opened 100 years ago this month, in October of 1912. I had no idea, but am eagerly waiting to hear more in a forthcoming post.

Anyway - if others have tid-bits about the history of Calgary, please do share. Don't think the thread should be limited to the Historian Laureate, but Harry is certainly a great place to start!

[suburbia]

Harry just tweeted about a new history book focused on the cardiovascular sciences in Calgary / University of Calgary / Health services. Could be interesting:

http://libininstitute.wordpress.com/...te-of-alberta/

http://medicine.ucalgary.ca/Libin-hi...scular-Calgary

http://www.amazon.ca/Hearts-Minds-Vi...dp/1926832159/

[5seconds]

Thanks for the link! I'm a sucker for the History of Calgary.

[Bigtime]

I didn't know he was on twitter, I've started following him. Always great to learn more history about the place you are from.

[Calgarian]

With all the discussion in the main thread about how Fish Creek Park came into being and how all the decisions were made transportation wise for the Midnapore area, I think this is a great idea for a thread.

[Surrealplaces]

Nice to have someone online that has such knowledge of our history.

[5seconds]

A great article from 2009 about unrealised plans for Calgary, by Jason Markusoff. Well worth the read.

http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald...9dba5b9bad&p=1

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by 5seconds

A great article from 2009 about unrealised plans for Calgary, by Jason Markusoff. Well worth the read.

http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald...9dba5b9bad&p=1

I remember that article, someone posted it here back in '09, great read. It seems this time the city is actually starting to learn from the mistakes of the past.

[suburbia]

Answers to the first UCalgary questions. Turns out yesterday was the 100th anniversary, and it preceded the UAlberta at Calgary.

http://calgaryhistorian.blogspot.ca/...ould-have.html

Interesting. I think this has convinced me I should attend the UCalgary cardiovascular sciences history book launch today afternoon. Could learn more interesting tid-bits

http://medicine.ucalgary.ca/Libin-hi...scular-Calgary

[DizzyEdge]

a lot of the old communities have goofy names. For example "Mount Pleasant".
I suspect though that most of the older community names weren't made up by imaginative developers, but by unimaginative developers who copied names from trendy communities in other cities.

[Rusty van Reddick]

Sunnyside is the sunny side of the river-why is that goofy?

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by Rusty van Reddick

Sunnyside is the sunny side of the river-why is that goofy?

Doesn't the name pre-date skyscrapers though?

[lubicon]

Any south facing area would be the sunny side of something - by definition. The north bank of the river (ie the part that faces south) fits the bill regardless of the presence or absence of buildings on the south side of the river. I'm not sure if Rusty's answer is correct but it certainly is logical.

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by lubicon

Any south facing area would be the sunny side of something - by definition. The north bank of the river (ie the part that faces south) fits the bill regardless of the presence or absence of buildings on the south side of the river. I'm not sure if Rusty's answer is correct but it certainly is logical.

Makes sense, it's just amusing is all. I'm pretty sure the south bank of the river was pretty sunny back in the day, what with the area being virtually flat and all.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by freeweed

Makes sense, it's just amusing is all. I'm pretty sure the south bank of the river was pretty sunny back in the day, what with the area being virtually flat and all.

years ago I found a photo of great-great-granddad & family in front of his new house at 5th St & 4th Ave. 'first house - in the boonies' was written on the back. Nothing but flat bald prairie in the background.

I heard a family story about them taking the wagon in to town & my granddad was told to keep an eye out because they had to drive past an 'injun camp' at 4 St & 7 Ave - the site later became the Eatons store.

No such thing as 'political correctness' in granddad's stories when I was growing up.

[Wigs]

I really like these brief Calgary history videos

• Video Link

['bertan]

Howdy all!

First-time poster here, have some posts in 'that other major Alberta city's' forum under same handle.

Lived in Calgary full-time from 1973 to 1992 then off-and-on until 1994. Have fond memories of the popular downtown improvements in the '70s, one being the creation of Oxford Square and Devonian Gardens (anyone remember the irresistible smell around the CinnaBon kiosk?)

Another fave stop for food was the restaurant atop the downtown Bay store on the sixth floor. Could any other old-timer like me please remind me of that restaurant's name? Lots of gooood meals were served there!

I'm sure I'll be dragging you all down memory lane in Calgary again soon! lol

'bertan

[DizzyEdge]

Unfortunately the Devonian gardens was renovated into a something that's more like a food court with big planters than the jungle it once was.