Oliver Bowen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oliver Bowen
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| Born | December 21, 1942 Amber Valley, Alberta, Canada
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| Died | January 1, 2000 (aged 57) Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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| Monuments | Oliver Bowen LRT Maintenance Facility |
| Occupation | Civil engineer |
Oliver Bowen (December 21, 1942 – January 1, 2000) was a talented Canadian engineer. He led the team that designed and built the very first line of Calgary's light rail transit system. This system is famously known as the CTrain. The city of Calgary honored his important engineering work. They named a special maintenance building for the CTrain after him.
Oliver Bowen's Family History
Oliver Bowen's family played an important role in Canadian history. His grandfather, Willis Reese Bowen, and his father, Obadiah Bowen, were among the first Black settlers in Amber Valley, Alberta. They were also important community leaders there.
Many Black settlers came to Alberta around 1910. They were part of a movement called the Great Migration. This was when many African Americans moved from the southern United States to other places. They were looking for new opportunities and a better life.
Building Calgary's CTrain
Oliver Bowen started his career working on street construction crews in Calgary. He worked hard and learned a lot. Soon, he became the manager for designing and building Calgary's first CTrain line.
This was a huge project for the city. The first CTrain service officially began on May 25, 1981. It was a big step forward for public transportation in Calgary. In 1984, Oliver Bowen was named the City of Calgary's Director of Transportation. He held this important job until he retired in 1998.
Honoring Oliver Bowen's Legacy
In 2009, the City of Calgary decided to honor Oliver Bowen's amazing work. They named their largest CTrain maintenance building after him. This facility is called the Oliver Bowen LRT Maintenance Facility (OBMF). It is located in northeast Calgary and is a very important part of the CTrain system.
Oliver Bowen and his brother grew up with Cheryl Foggo, a well-known writer and filmmaker. Cheryl Foggo even made a documentary about Oliver Bowen's life and achievements. In May 2014, a play called The Real McCoy was performed. It was a special tribute to Oliver Bowen and his contributions.
