Chinook Chapter

Historic Calgary Week has wrapped up for another successful year, welcoming over 3,000 attendees across 81 events. Attendance was somewhat affected by inclement weather on several days, resulting in a number of last-minute cancellations. We sincerely thank everyone who attended despite the less-than-ideal conditions.

As always, the sharing of personal experiences by presenters greatly enriched the events. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Elder Ernest Poundmaker for his wise words of welcome and prayer at the Opening Ceremonies. Addresses by Councillor Terry Wong and Alberta Leader of the Opposition, Naheed Nenshi, were also deeply appreciated. The music video My Alberta Home by Carolyn Harley provided a perfect and moving conclusion to the Opening Ceremonies.

Several events explored the connections between Calgary’s natural and built environments, while others—such as Contemporary Calgary, FireWORKS, and the Stampede—highlighted the links between the past, present, and future. Attendees also gained valuable insights into inclusivity through events such as the Drum Circle, the tour of the Chinese Cultural Centre (including a dim sum lunch), Honouring the Gold Mountain Dreamers, and visits to The Centre for Newcomers.

Memorable presentations brought Calgary’s history vividly to life, including stories of the Cecil Hotel, insights from an undercover police officer, and reflections on George Weber’s humanity. Evocative sessions such as Stephen Avenue Comes Alive, Lost Calgary, and Memories in Miniature were particularly well received. As always, walking tours of Calgary’s neighbourhoods remained a favourite among attendees.

We extend a huge thank you to our 90+ presenters, whose countless hours of research and reflection added depth and richness to this year’s program. The dedication and hard work of our volunteers were invaluable—Historic Calgary Week simply could not happen without them. We are also deeply grateful for the support of our sponsors and partner organizations, whose contributions made these events possible.

This year, the new registration system used for many events proved to be a great success, significantly improving the registration process. We look forward to further streamlining and enhancing this system next year.

We hope to see you again at the 36th Historic Calgary Week, taking place July 24 through August 3, 2026.

All photos by Walter DeBoni.