Calgary's birthday — Is it 150 years old, or just 131?
Much could be made of the fact that little is being done to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of Fort Calgary, the locus of European settlement at the confluence of the Elbow River and the Bow River in 1875. Distracting from the topic is the fact that Calgary was not established as a town until later, and then even later as a city.
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Is the year 2025 an important milestone in the story of Calgary?
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It depends — on who is telling the story and many other factors.
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Until recently, history was a list of names, dates and places. White guys — and their European titles and surnames. Dates of significance — as chosen by old white guys. And locations with names to honour distant namesakes — Calgary is named after a village in Scotland.
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Why this view of history is not enough in 2025 is more important than whether the 150th anniversary of Calgary is celebrated.
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To the victors go the spoils. And the naming rights. And the perspective.
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At least that was the dominant view of the powerful in society until recently — and still the view of many who want to decide the narrative.
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Working-class history became important after the Second World War. The story of the First Nations, from their perspective, is gaining more audiences. White guy scoundrels, including the drunk and bigoted first prime minister of Canada, are being toppled off their pedestals — literally and figuratively.
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Not that old, dead, white guys did nothing to contribute to the story of Canada, but they were not the only players — or necessarily the most important characters in the saga.
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So what are we to make of history if the old ways no longer work?
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The story of Calgary belongs to more players than white heroes of the past. First Nations people's stories include those of the Nations that were here when European explorers and settlers arrived, and also the Nations that were here before they arrived.
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More needs to be done to tell their stories and understand their point of view.
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The story of the development of the area and its natural resources also deserves more attention — particularly the period before the arrival of the steam engine. The region had centuries of development before steel. And before cattle.
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The bison belonged then, as does their story now. Many more stories fill out the landscape. Seasonal use of the land and its plants and animals, for example. The reasons that a confluence of rivers became confluences of people as well as waters.
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Calgary's birthday — Is it 150 years old, or just 131?
Article content Much could be made of the fact that little is being done to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of Fort Calgary, the locus of European settlement at the confluence of the Elbow River and the Bow River in 1875. Distracting from the topic is the fact that Calgary was not established as a town until later, and then even later as a city. Article content Is the year 2025 an important milestone in the story of Calgary? Article content Article content Article content It depends — on who is telling the story and many other factors. Article content Article content Until recently, history was a list of names, dates and places. White guys — and their European titles and surnames. Dates of significance — as chosen by old white guys. And locations with names to honour distant namesakes — Calgary is named after a village in Scotland. Article content Why this view of history is not enough in 2025 is more important than whether the 150th anniversary of Calgary is celebrated. Article content To the victors go the spoils. And the naming rights. And the perspective. Article content At least that was the dominant view of the powerful in society until recently — and still the view of many who want to decide the narrative. Article content Working-class history became important after the Second World War. The story of the First Nations, from their perspective, is gaining more audiences. White guy scoundrels, including the drunk and bigoted first prime minister of Canada, are being toppled off their pedestals — literally and figuratively. Article content Article content Not that old, dead, white guys did nothing to contribute to the story of Canada, but they were not the only players — or necessarily the most important characters in the saga. Article content So what are we to make of history if the old ways no longer work? Article content The story of Calgary belongs to more players than white heroes of the past. First Nations people's stories include those of the Nations that were here when European explorers and settlers arrived, and also the Nations that were here before they arrived. Article content More needs to be done to tell their stories and understand their point of view. Article content The story of the development of the area and its natural resources also deserves more attention — particularly the period before the arrival of the steam engine. The region had centuries of development before steel. And before cattle. Article content The bison belonged then, as does their story now. Many more stories fill out the landscape. Seasonal use of the land and its plants and animals, for example. The reasons that a confluence of rivers became confluences of people as well as waters.
