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Timeline of Calgary history facts for kids

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The city of Calgary, located in Alberta, Canada, has a rich and exciting history. This timeline will take you through some of the most important moments, from its early days to becoming a major modern city.

Calgary's Early Days: The 18th and 19th Centuries

First Visitors and Settlers

  • 1787 – David Thompson, a mapmaker, spent a winter with the Peigan people along the Bow River. He was the first European known to visit this area.
  • 1870 – The land where Calgary now stands became part of Canada and the North-West Territories.
  • 1873 – John Glenn was the first European settler to live in the Calgary area.
  • 1875 – A fort was built here, first called Fort Brisebois. It was soon renamed Fort Calgary by Colonel James Macleod.
  • 1877 – Treaty 7 was signed. This agreement gave the land around Fort Calgary to the Canadian government.

Growing into a Town and City

  • 1882 – The first sawmill was built on the Bow River.
  • 1883 – The Canadian Pacific Railway arrived, and a train station was built. This helped Calgary grow a lot.
  • 1884 – Calgary officially became a town. Its first mayor, George Murdoch, was elected.
  • 1885 – The Calgary Police Service was created to keep the town safe.
  • 1886 – A big fire, known as the Calgary Fire of 1886, caused a lot of damage.
  • 1888 – The Anglican Diocese of Calgary was established.
  • 1891 – The Calgary and Edmonton Railway opened, connecting Calgary to Edmonton.
  • 1894 – Calgary officially became "The City of Calgary."
  • 1900 – The area known as Downtown East Village, Calgary was established.

Calgary in the 20th Century

Early 1900s Growth and Events

  • 1910 – The area of Parkdale became part of the City of Calgary.
  • 1910 – The 103rd Calgary Rifles military group was formed.
  • 1912 – The very first Calgary Stampede was held. It's a famous rodeo and festival.
  • 1915–18 – The Mewata Armouries, a military building, were constructed.
  • 1919 – The Victory Stampede was held to celebrate the end of World War I.
  • 1920 – The 103rd Rifles military group was reorganized and became The Calgary Regiment.
  • 1923 – The Calgary Stampede became an annual event, happening every year since then.
  • 1924 – The Calgary Highlanders split from The Calgary Regiment to become their own military group.
  • 1932–33 – The Glenmore Dam was built.
  • 1945 – The current Calgary Stampeders football team started playing.
  • 1947 – Stampede Wrestling was established.
  • 1948 – The Calgary Regiment was renamed The King's Own Calgary Regiment.

Modern Calgary Takes Shape

  • 1967 – Construction began on the Husky Tower. It opened to the public in 1968.
  • 1970 – The first +15 enclosed walkways were built downtown. These connect buildings above street level.
  • 1980 – The NHL's Calgary Flames hockey team moved to Calgary from Atlanta.
  • 1984 – The Suncor Energy Centre was completed. It became the tallest building in Calgary at the time.
  • 1988 – Calgary hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics, a huge international event.
  • 1989 – Bankers Hall-East building was finished.
  • 1989 – The Flames won the Stanley Cup, the top prize in hockey.
  • 1992 – Stephen Avenue was named a National Historic Site of Canada.
  • 1996 – The Canadian Pacific Railway moved its main office to Calgary from Montreal.
  • 1997 – The Calgary Declaration was made.
  • 1999 – The Hub Oil explosion occurred.
  • 2000 – Bankers Hall-West was completed, 11 years after its twin building.

Calgary in the 21st Century

  • 2002 – The J26 G8 Protests took place.
  • 2007 – Calgary's population grew to over 1,000,000 residents.
  • 2010 – The Bow building was completed. It became the tallest building in Calgary, surpassing the Suncor Energy Centre.
  • 2011 – Eighth Avenue Place I was finished.
  • 2013 – Widespread flooding in southern Alberta forced 75,000 Calgary residents to leave their homes.
  • 2018 – Brookfield Place East was completed. It became the new tallest building in Calgary.

Moments of Unrest in Calgary's History

Calgary, like other cities, has experienced times of public unrest. These events often highlight important social issues of the time.

Key Events of Public Unrest

Public Unrest in Calgary, Alberta, Canada (in order)
Date Issue Event
August 2, 1892 Racial tension After a smallpox outbreak, some people blamed the Chinese community. A conflict occurred where a crowd damaged Chinese businesses and property. Police arrived to stop the unrest and protected Chinese residents for several weeks.
July 16, 1902 Labour issues The Calgary Trades and Labour Council organized a large demonstration with thousands of people to support local workers' rights.
February 10, 1916 Ethnic and labour tension During World War I, an anti-German conflict led to the destruction of the Riverside Hotel. Another incident saw a cafe damaged after its owner hired an Austrian immigrant instead of a returning soldier.
October 11, 1916 Military unrest Soldiers from the 218th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force challenged the local police. The city was largely under the control of the soldiers for a time.
January 1918 Labour issues Calgary freight handlers went on strike, even though strikes were banned by the government. Other workers joined in support. Several strike leaders were arrested.
February 8, 1917 Military unrest Soldiers from the former 218th Battalion, who had moved to Edmonton, caused unrest after being told to go to Europe immediately. They damaged several stores and restaurants.
May 1919 Labour issues The Calgary General Strike happened in support of the Winnipeg General Strike. Thousands of workers stopped working for over a month, causing almost a complete halt to local government and business activities.
January 1926 Unemployment More than 40 protesters from the Central Council of the Unemployed were arrested. They had ordered meals and refused to pay to protest the city's lack of support for homeless and jobless people.
December 1926 Unemployment 300 protesters from the Central Council of the Unemployed marched on City Hall. They were asking for "relief," meaning places to sleep, food, and help getting to work.
June 30, 1931 Unemployment A meeting between unemployed workers and the Calgary City Council led to a crowd gathering outside. When police told them to leave, they moved to a nearby vacant lot. After speeches, police tried to remove a speaker, and a conflict began.
June 10, 1935 Unemployment Hundreds of protesters on the On-to-Ottawa Trek occupied the Calgary Relief Office for several hours to make their demands known before continuing their journey. Many more unemployed people joined the Trek as it left Calgary.
1940 Racial tension A group of 300 white soldiers caused unrest in Calgary's "Harlemtown" area. Military police stepped in to end the incident.
November 28, 1974 Racial tension The Calgary Urban Treaty Indian Alliance held a demonstration. Dozens of people occupied the Indian Affairs office to protest social service funding.
December 2, 1983 Sporting disruption A conflict broke out during a Stampede Wrestling match. This event led to Stampede Wrestling being banned from Calgary for six months.
October 25, 1993 Education 2,000 students walked out of Calgary schools to protest cuts to education funding. This caused public disruption and raised awareness about the issue.
June 11–15, 2000 Anti-globalization 2,000 protesters gathered during the World Petroleum Congress. Police were present to manage the situation, with officers on rooftops and helicopters overhead.
June 25–27, 2002 Anti-globalization About 4,000 to 5,000 people demonstrated in Calgary. They were protesting the Group of Eight, or G8, meeting happening nearby in Kananaskis, Alberta.
March 21, 2008 Racial tension A group called the Aryan Guard held a demonstration. More than 40 of their supporters faced over 200 anti-racist protesters. Police formed a barrier to keep the groups apart and escorted the Aryan Guard to City Hall.

Areas Now Part of Calgary

Over the years, Calgary has grown by adding nearby areas. Here are some of the places that are now part of the city:

  • Academy
  • Albert Park
  • Altadore
  • Barlow
  • Barlow Junction
  • Beddington
  • Bel-Aire
  • Bowness
  • Brentwood
  • Brickburn
  • Bridgeland
  • Britannia
  • Calgary International Airport
  • Cambrian Heights
  • Camp Sarcee
  • Capitol Hill
  • Charleswood
  • Collingwood
  • Eagle Ridge
  • Forest Lawn
  • Glamorgan
  • Glenbrook
  • Glengarry
  • Haysboro
  • Heritage Woods Subdivision
  • Hillhurst
  • Hubalta
  • Inglewood
  • Keith
  • Killarney
  • Kingsland
  • Lincoln Park
  • Lynnwood
  • Manchester
  • Midnapore
  • Montgomery
  • Mount Royal
  • Mount View
  • North Haven
  • Ogden
  • Parkdale
  • Princes Island
  • Renfrew
  • Rideau Park
  • Rosscarrock
  • Roxboro
  • Sarcee Junction
  • Shepard
  • Silver Springs
  • Simons Valley
  • Southwood
  • Spruce Cliff
  • Spruce Meadows
  • St. Andrews Heights
  • St. Georges Heights
  • St. George's Island
  • St. Patrick's Island
  • Stanley Park
  • Sunalta
  • Thorncliffe
  • Turner
  • Tuxedo Park
  • Windsor Park
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Timeline of Calgary history Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.