Timeline of Calgary history
Encyclopedia
18th century
- 1787 – CartographerCartographyCartography is the study and practice of making maps. Combining science, aesthetics, and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality can be modeled in ways that communicate spatial information effectively.The fundamental problems of traditional cartography are to:*Set the map's...
David ThompsonDavid Thompson (explorer)David Thompson was an English-Canadian fur trader, surveyor, and map-maker, known to some native peoples as "Koo-Koo-Sint" or "the Stargazer"...
spent the winter with a band of PeiganNorthern PeiganThe Northern Peigans or Aapátohsipikáni are a First Nation, part of the Niitsítapi . Known as Piikáni, "Pekuni" or Aapátohsipikáni , they are very closely related to the other members of the Blackfoot Confederacy: Aamsskáápipikani , Káínaa or...
encamped along the Bow RiverBow RiverThe Bow River is a river in the Canadian province of Alberta. It is a tributary of the South Saskatchewan River, and is considered the headwater of the Nelson River....
. He was the first recorded European to visit the area.
19th century
- 1873 – John GlennJohn Glenn (Alberta)John Glenn was the first documented European to settle in the Calgary, Alberta, Canada area...
was the first documented European settler in the Calgary area. - 1875 – Originally named Fort Brisebois, after NWMP officer Éphrem-A. BriseboisÉphrem-A. BriseboisInspector Éphrem-A. Brisebois was a politician, soldier, and police officer with the North-West Mounted Police of Canada. He was born 7 March 1850 at South Durham, Canada East, now Durham-Sud, Quebec....
, it was renamed Fort CalgaryFort CalgaryFort Calgary was established in 1875 as Fort Brisebois by the North-West Mounted Police, located at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers in what is now Calgary, Alberta.-History:...
by Colonel James MacleodJames MacleodLieutenant-Colonel James Farquharson Macleod , born in Drynoch, Isle of Skye, Scotland, was a militia officer, lawyer, NWMP officer, magistrate, judge, and politician in Alberta. He served as the second Commissioner of the North-West Mounted Police, from July 22, 1876, to October 31, 1880...
. - 1883 – The Canadian Pacific RailwayCanadian Pacific RailwayThe Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
reached the area and a rail stationTrain stationA train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
was constructed. - 1884 – Calgary was officially incorporated as a town and elected its first mayor, George MurdochGeorge MurdochGeorge Murdoch was the first mayor of Calgary, Alberta. He was born in Paisley, Scotland, and died in Calgary, Alberta....
. - 1885 – Calgary Police ServiceCalgary Police ServiceCalgary Police Service, formed in 1885, is the municipal police force for the City of Calgary, Alberta.- Organization :Founded in 1885, the current head of the CPS is Chief Rick Hanson...
established. - 1886 – The Calgary Fire of 1886Calgary Fire of 1886The Calgary Fire of 1886 occurred on Sunday, Nov. 7, 1886. The fire began at the rear wall of the local flour and feed store, and spread through the community's wooden structures. Ultimately, fourteen buildings were destroyed or razed in attempts to control the blaze. Losses were estimated at...
. - 1888 – Anglican Diocese of CalgaryAnglican Diocese of CalgaryThe Anglican Diocese of Calgary is a diocese of the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert's Land of the Anglican Church of Canada, located in the southern part of the civil province of Alberta. It was established in 1888...
established. - 1891 – Calgary and Edmonton RailwayCalgary and Edmonton RailwayThe Calgary and Edmonton Railway was an early pioneer railway in what was then the Northwest Territories, now Alberta, Canada. It connected the towns of Calgary and Strathcona and opened in 1891...
opened. - 1894 – It was incorporated as "The City of Calgary" in what was then the North-West Territories.
- 1900 – Downtown East Village, Calgary established.
20th century
- 1902 – Oil was first discovered in AlbertaAlbertaAlberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
in 1902, - 1912 – The Calgary StampedeCalgary StampedeThe Calgary Stampede is an annual rodeo, exhibition and festival held every July in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The ten-day event, which bills itself as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", attracts over one million visitors per year and features one of the world's largest rodeos, a parade, midway,...
is held for the first time. - 1915-18 – Mewata ArmouriesMewata ArmouriesMewata Armoury is a Canadian Forces reserve armoury in Calgary, Alberta.The building was built between 1915 and 1918 for an original cost of $282,051 Canadian dollars. The building was designed by T.W. Fuller and the project was supervised locally by Calgary architect Leo Dowler...
constructed. - 1923 – A plebiscite increased the term in office for the mayor from one to two years. In 1968, the Municipal Act increased the term in office by one year, for a total of three years.
- 1929 – Great Depression in CanadaGreat Depression in CanadaCanada was hit hard by the Great Depression. Between 1929 and 1939, the gross national product dropped 40% . Unemployment reached 27% at the depth of the Depression in 1933...
. - 1932-33 – The Glenmore Dam is constructed.
- 1947 – Huge reserves of oil were discovered in the province. Calgary quickly found itself at the centre of the ensuing oil boom.
- 1947 – Stampede WrestlingStampede WrestlingStampede Wrestling is a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based in Calgary, Alberta and was for nearly 50 years one of the main promotions in western Canada and the Canadian Prairies...
established. - 1970 - First +15+15The Plus 15 or +15 Skyway network in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is the world's most extensive pedestrian skywalk system with a total length of and 59 bridges. The system is so named because the skywalks are approximately 15 feet above street level...
enclosed pedestrian walkway constructed downtown. - 1971 – 403,000 inhabitants. The relatively low-rise Downtown CalgaryDowntown CalgaryDowntown Calgary is a region of central Calgary, Alberta. It is not a single neighbourhood per se, but is actually a larger community containing three neighbourhoods and a number of districts....
quickly became dense with tall buildings, a trend that continues to this day. - 1973 – The city's economy grew when oil prices increased with the Arab Oil Embargo.
- 1988 – Calgary hosts the 1988 Winter Olympics1988 Winter OlympicsThe 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...
- 1989 – 675,000 inhabitants.
- 1992 – Stephen AvenueStephen AvenueStephen Avenue is a major pedestrian mall in downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The mall is actually the portion of 8 Avenue SW between 4 Street SW and 1 Street SE. It is open to vehicles only from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m....
is designated as a National Historic Site of Canada. - 1996 – Canadian Pacific RailwayCanadian Pacific RailwayThe Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
moved its head officeHead OfficeHead Office is a 1985 American comedy film, produced by HBO Pictures in association with Silver Screen Partners. It stars Judge Reinhold, Eddie Albert, Lori-Nan Engler, Jane Seymour, Richard Masur, Michael O'Donoghue, Ron Frazier, Merritt Butrick and was directed and written by Ken...
from Montreal to Calgary. - 1997 – Calgary DeclarationCalgary DeclarationThe Calgary Declaration, also known as the Calgary Accord, was an agreement made between most premiers of the provinces and territories of Canada regarding how to approach future amendments to the Constitution. It was signed in Calgary, Alberta on September 14, 1997, by all Canadian premiers and...
. - 1999 – Hub Oil explosionHub Oil explosionThe Hub Oil explosion was an industrial accident that took place on August 9, 1999 in Calgary, Alberta and caused two fatalities. The Hub Oil refinery was located at 5805 17th Ave...
21st century
- 2002 – J26 G8 ProtestsJ26 G8 ProtestsJ26 was a smaller-size convergence in what is commonly called the anti-globalization movement. It took place in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in June 2002 during the Group of Eight summit in nearby Kananaskis....
. - 2005 – Imperial OilImperial OilImperial Oil Limited is Canada's largest petroleum company. The company is engaged in the exploration, production and sale of crude oil and natural gas. It is controlled by US based ExxonMobil, which owns 69.6% of its stock...
moved its headquarters from Toronto to Calgary in order to take advantage of Alberta's favourable corporate taxes and to be closer to its oil operations. - 2006 – EnCanaEnCana CorporationEncana Corporation is one of North America's largest natural gas producers, with about 95 percent of its production being natural gas. Its strategy is to be the lowest-cost, highest-growth senior natural gas producer in North America. The company produced approximately of natural gas in 2010.The...
announced the construction of the Bow, a 58-floor skyscraper in the downtown core of the city. - 2007 – 1,020,000 inhabitants.
- 2008 – The Calgary Economic Region had an estimated population of 1,232,679.
- 2010 – Centennial Place (Calgary)Centennial Place (Calgary)Centennial Place is a set of 2 skyscrapers constructied in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Named in honour of Alberta's Centennial year, the complex includes an underground 5 level parkade with 793 stalls. The office space covers .Construction of Centennial Place was completed in 2010...
will finish.