Perfect weekend for historical stroll
Three days left to take advantage of local tours and special events
It’s the final weekend for Historic Calgary Week 2015. These are the events for the final three days.
Start your Saturday with the history of Sunalta. Sarah Meilleur of Calgary Heritage Authority and senior heritage planner Darryl Cariou are hosting a walking tour of the historic neighbourhood at 9:30 a.m. Meet at the S.W. corner of 16 Street and 14 Avenue S.W., next to the tennis courts.
A bit later in the morning, Fish Creek Provincial Park planner and founding member of Friends of Fish Creek, Wayne Meikle, is running a tour of the Bow Valley Ranch in the park. A homestead was established in this area by John Glenn in the 1870s. Meet by the red barn at the Bow Valley Ranch in Fish Creek Provincial Park, 15979 Bow Bottom Trail S.E. for a 10 a.m. start.
Windsor Park was incorporated into the City of Calgary in 1950 and was considered on the outskirts of the city. Two local sisters, Carol and Linda Stokes, will host a walking tour around the neighbourhood and talk about the changes over the last 65 years. Meet at the front entrance of the Windsor Park Community Hall, 5304 6 St. S.W. for an 11:30 a.m. start.
If you can’t get enough of walking tours, Stampede archivist Shannon Murray is going for a stroll around Stampede Park to talk about the history of Stampede and the iconic buildings in the park. Meet at the Saddledome steps on Olympic Way for a 1 p.m. start. Please note that parking at Stampede Park is $15.
Outside the city, Karen Peters of the Okotoks and District Historical Society is hosting a 2 p.m. walking tour of downtown Okotoks and sharing the history of the buildings and businesses. Meet at Okotoks Museum and Archives, 49 North Railway St.
If visiting cemeteries in the evening interests you, historian Don Sucha is leading a walking tour of the Queen’s Park Cemetery and telling the stories of the people buried there. Expect a long walk and possibly some graphic details. Meet at 3219 4 St. S.W., the main entrance off 4 Street, for a 7 p.m. start.
On Sunday morning, visit some orphaned wildlife that the Cochrane Ecological Institute houses on its preserve. There will be a presentation at 10:45 a.m. and a short walk. Grounds open at 10 a.m. Feel free to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy in the foothills. The CEI is approximately 23 km north of Cochrane on Highway 22. Turn left at Range Road 280 westbound.
Inside the city, Dr. Judith Barge is hosting a walking tour of the Hextall Homes in Bowness, developed by British lawyer John Hextall in the early 1900s. The Bowness Historical Society is providing free brochures. Meet at 8331 48 Ave. N.W. for a 10:30 a.m. start.
Visit the Bearspaw historic school buildings at 2 p.m. The buildings include a 1920 one room school and a replica of a horse barn. Meet at the school complex, 253253 Bearspaw Rd. Signs are on the 1A before Bearspaw Road. At the junction of Highway 1A and Bearspaw Road, turn south and go for about 0.4 km. Call (403) 208-2599 for more directions if needed.
Visit the historic neighbourhood of Inglewood at 2 p.m. and learn about the buildings on 8 Avenue, 9 Avenue and 10 Avenue, like the Seven Oaks Court and Stewart Livery Stable. Meet at the parking lot next to STASH, 1309 9 Ave. S.E.
To finish off your day, celebrate 140 years of the McDougall Church near Morley. A 3 p.m. presentation on the McDougall family will be followed by a tour of the church and grounds. Meet at the McDougall Memorial Church, 26 km west of Cochrane on Highway 1A.
Monday is Heritage Day in Alberta and the final day of Historic Calgary Week.
Start the day by going way back in time with an ice age tour of Nose Hill hosted by Cory Gross of the Alberta Paleontological Society at 8:30 a.m. Explore bedrock outcrops, gravel pits and glacial erratics, but be warned that there will be an uphill walk on a paved path. Meet at the parking lot at 14 Street N.W. and 64 Avenue.
Join Heritage Park senior interpreter Doug Coats at 10 a.m. for a “six-pack” talk on historic homes. Six of the 20 oldest homes in Calgary are now in Heritage Park. Coats will give a free, illustrated presentation on the houses, but normal park admission applies to see them in person. Meet at the Heritage Park Orientation Centre at the Canadian Pacific Railway Station near the entrance to the park, 1900 Heritage Drive S.W.
Celebrate Heritage Day at Fort Calgary, where the city started. Starting at 10 a.m. and with free admission enjoy a full day of activities including First Nations storytelling, Mountie history, crafts for kids, theatre performances and a walk through the vegetable garden. At Fort Calgary Historic Park, 750 9 Ave. S.E.
For a relaxing afternoon, call ahead at (403) 260-1219 to preregister for a discounted spot at the Fairmont Palliser’s afternoon tea for $32.50 per person. Tea will be followed by a presentation on the hotel’s most famous guests. The Fairmont Palliser is also offering a special rate to stay for the weekend.
And that’s it for Historic Calgary Week 2015. To stay up to date on historic events around Calgary and for more information on any of these events, visit chinookcountry.org