Central Memorial Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Central Memorial Park |
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Memorial Park Library
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| Location | Beltline, [[File:|22x20px|border |alt=|link=]] Calgary |
| Area | 4.68 acres (18,900 m2) |
| Created | 1889 |
| Operated by | City of Calgary |
Central Memorial Park is a beautiful park located in the heart of Calgary, Alberta. It's sometimes called Central Park or Memorial Park. This historic spot is home to the Memorial Park Library. You can also find a statue of a soldier on horseback and a special monument called a cenotaph here. The park and its library were recognized as a National Historic Site in 2018.
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History of Central Memorial Park
Central Memorial Park covers an entire city block in Calgary. It is located between 12th and 13th Avenues SW. The park was designed in 1889. It was landscaped in the classic Victorian style.
The park is about 4.68 acres (18,900 m2) in size. It underwent a big update between 2008 and 2009. This renovation cost $11.5 million. The newly improved park officially reopened in May 2010.
Monuments and Statues
Central Memorial Park is home to several important monuments. These statues and memorials tell stories of history and remembrance. They honor people and events from the past.
South African War Memorial
The South African War Memorial honors Albertans who fought in the Second Boer War (1899-1902). The famous sculptor Louis-Philippe Hébert created this statue. He was visiting Calgary when the idea for the monument came about.
People raised money to create a memorial. Hébert promised to make a statue "taller than your trees." The statue was finished in 1911 and unveiled in 1914. It shows a soldier on horseback. The horse was actually owned by a rancher named Pat Burns.
The statue is one and a half times larger than real life. It is considered one of the finest equestrian (horseback) statues in the world. The soldier on the horse is modeled after Eneas McCormick.
About Russell Lambert Boyle
The statue is often linked to Colonel Russell Lambert Boyle. He was born in 1880. Boyle served as a sergeant in South Africa. He is best known for his bravery during the Second Battle of Ypres. He led the 10th Battalion, CEF in their first battle. Colonel Boyle died from his wounds in April 1915.
His name is not written on the monument itself. This is because the statue honors all Albertans who fought in the Second Boer War. The dates 1899-1902 are carved on the base.
The Cenotaph
A cenotaph is a monument that honors people buried somewhere else. The Cenotaph in Central Memorial Park was officially dedicated on November 11, 1928. The Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Dr. W. G. Egbert, unveiled it.
Thousands of people attended the ceremony. Two granite benches sit near the Cenotaph. One bench says, "May we live as nobly as they died." The other bench reads, "Pass not in sorrow, but with pride."
First World War Soldier Statue
There is also a statue of a First World War soldier. This statue is located outside the Memorial Park Library. It was put there by the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire after the war.
Activities at the Park
Central Memorial Park is a place for quiet reflection and community events.
Remembrance Day
Every year on November 11, a special ceremony takes place here. It is a Remembrance Day wreath-laying event. The The Calgary Highlanders military unit holds a parade and remembrance ceremony. Many organizations and people come to pay their respects to veterans.
ANZAC Day
ANZAC Day is also honored annually at the cenotaph. This day, April 25, remembers soldiers from Australia and New Zealand.
Wordfest Literary Festival
Since 2017, Calgary's international literary festival, Wordfest, has been based at the Memorial Park Library. The organization hosts author events and other literary activities there.
