Mission, Calgary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mission
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Neighbourhood
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Rouleauville Square in the Mission district
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 Mission, Calgary
Location in Calgary
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| City | Calgary |
| Quadrant | SW |
| Ward | 8 |
| Established | 1900 |
| Annexed | 1906 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.53 km2 (0.20 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,050 m (3,440 ft) |
| Population
(2006)
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| • Total | 4,433 |
| • Density | 8,364.2/km2 (21,663/sq mi) |
| • Average Income | $37,040 |
| Website | Mission Community Association |
Mission is a lively neighbourhood in the inner city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It started as a Catholic mission called Notre Dame de la Paix. For a while, it was even its own village named Rouleauville.
Today, Mission is known for its many restaurants and shops along 4th Street SW. Every June, it hosts the popular Lilac Festival, which brings lots of people to the area. A local representative, called a councillor, speaks for Mission at the Calgary City Council.
Contents
Discovering Mission's Past
How Mission Began
The story of Mission began in 1875. A Catholic missionary named Father Constantine Scollen set up a permanent mission here. This was after a temporary location had been used for a few years.
In 1883, another Oblate missionary, Father Albert Lacombe, came back to the area. He wanted to make sure there was a strong French-speaking Catholic community. So, he got two large pieces of land for what he called a "Mission district." Father Scollen, who had lived in the area since 1862, later moved away.
From Village to Calgary Neighbourhood
The land that is now Mission became an official village on November 2, 1899. It was named the Village of Rouleauville, after a person named Charles Rouleau. This village was part of the North-West Territories at the time.
Even though Father Lacombe wanted to keep the French language and culture strong, Rouleauville slowly became more English-speaking. In 1907, the village became part of Calgary. When this happened, all the French street names were changed to match Calgary's street numbering system.
Mission and the Floods
Mission is one of several Calgary neighbourhoods that have been affected by floods. In 1929, the area was covered in water when the Bow River overflowed its banks.
More recently, in June 2013, the area was hit by another big flood. People living in Mission were asked to leave their homes for at least 72 hours to stay safe.
Important Buildings in Mission
Father Lacombe also helped start many Catholic schools. One of these was St. Mary's School, founded in 1885. It first started in a two-story log cabin convent in the Mission district. Today, St. Mary's is the oldest school still open in Calgary, though it's in a newer building now.
In 1889, St. Mary's Church was built. In 1912, it became St. Mary's Cathedral. This happened when it became the main church for the new Diocese of Calgary.
Mission's Population
How Many People Live in Mission?
According to a count done by the City of Calgary in 2012, about 4,325 people lived in Mission. They lived in 3,177 homes. This was a small decrease from the 4,363 people who lived there in 2011.
Mission covers an area of about 0.5 square kilometers. This means that in 2012, there were about 8,364 people living in each square kilometer.
Income and Residents
In 2000, the average household income in Mission was about $37,040 $. About 25% of the people living in the neighbourhood had low incomes. Also, in 2000, about 20.1% of the residents were people who had moved to Canada from other countries.
