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Frequently Asked QuestionsHow can I learn more about historic resources in Calgary and elsewhere in Canada? Where can I find archival/historic photographs of Calgary or a specific building? How can I learn more about my heritage home? What career and educational opportunities are available in historic conservation and restoration? Who can I speak to about an endangered site or "at risk" property? How can I find out about upcoming heritage-related events in Calgary? Do you have a privacy policy? How will you use my information?
What’s the difference between the Calgary Heritage Initiative, the Calgary Heritage Authority, the Calgary Heritage Planning Office, the Chinook Country Historical Society, and so on? Who does what?
Calgary has a variety of organizations and agencies concerned with recognizing and protecting the city’s heritage. Some are nonprofit membership organizations; others are government bodies. The Calgary Heritage Initiative (CHI) is a grassroots nonprofit society focused on raising awareness through our website and through programmed activities about Calgary’s built heritage and history such as public presentations and tours. A Development Watch Committee monitors sites at risk of demolition and engages with key stakeholders to pursue opportunities to ensure our built heritage is not lost. The Chinook Country Historical Society, a chapter of the Historical Society of Alberta, is another nonprofit membership organization. Its objective is "to promote a greater understanding of Canadian and Alberta history in Chinook Country for people of all ages." CCHS sponsors monthly talks and the annual Historic Calgary Week which takes place in late July–early August. On the government side, the Calgary Heritage Planning office is made up of four heritage planners who are employed by the City to manage the Calgary Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources and work with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the integration of the city’s resources into its future. The Calgary Heritage Authority (CHA) is responsible for advising City Council on all matters relating to heritage resources in Calgary, evaluating potential heritage sites/maintaining the Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources and promoting public awareness of Calgary's heritage. The CHA also works to ensure the Calgary heritage sector is well organized, collaborative and efficient in its efforts to promote understanding of and broaden citizen participation in Calgary's heritage. To add to the mix, the Calgary Public Library offers “Heritage Matters” public programs, and a volunteer committee presents quarterly “Community Heritage Roundtables.” All these groups are distinct, but they often complement each other, and may sometimes collaborate, to promote common goals. Return to list
How can I learn more about historic resources in Calgary and elsewhere in Canada? Several searchable online databases provide detailed information about historic sites. Discover Historic Calgary is a searchable database of resources included on the Calgary Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources. It includes details on their history, location, and significance as well as contemporary and historic photographs. You can look up properties by street address or other criteria here. Discover Historic Calgary is a work in progress. New listings and photographs are added regularly, so if you don't find what you're looking for now, continue to check back. Information is also provided by the provincial government regarding buildings on the Alberta Register of Historic Places or that have been researched as part of the Alberta Heritage Survey Program. Search both listings here. In addition, Parks Canada administers the Canadian Register, a searchable database containing information about recognized historical places of local, provincial, territorial, and national significance. It is not complete, but a work in progress with new listings added regularly. Return to list
Where can I find archival/historic photographs of Calgary or a specific building? The Archives Photographs Catalogue of the Glenbow Museum contains more than 100,000 historic photographs, illustrations, cartoons, and posters from the 1870s to 2000s. Many of them can be accessed online here. You can also visit the Archives in person Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. The Community Heritage and Family History Collection at the Calgary Public Library is another excellent source of historic photos and postcards. The collection includes a Legacy Database of photos and yard signs of homes that participated in Century Homes Calgary 2012. Return to list
How can I learn more about my heritage home? If you own a house that is approximately 100 years old, CHI recommends you join Century Homes Calgary, a grassroots initiative celebrating houses built before and during Calgary’s first building boom which peaked in 1912. The Century Homes website provides advice on researching your home, including links to helpful resources such as A Guide to Researching Historic Buildings<The Calgary Public Library also offers regular “Research the History of Your House” sessions; visit the CPL website for more information. Return to list
Where can I find contractors and/or trades people familiar with the special needs of heritage properties? The Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals has an extensive directory of heritage specialists in Canada. The Restoration Trades Directory also provides a listing of building artisans, contractors, designers, and consultants in Canada and the U.S. Return to list
What career and educational opportunities are available in historic conservation and restoration?
A number of institutions in Canada offer post-secondary studies in heritage conservation. A description of existing educational programs is available on the Heritage Canada Foundation website. Return to list
Who can I speak to about an endangered site or “at risk” property? Direct your questions to the City of Calgary’s heritage planning staff. Nationally, you can also post your questions on the Heritage Canada Foundation AGORA-L, a nationwide listserv, or nominate a property at risk to HCF’s annual Top Ten Endangered Places list. Grassroots involvement is key to bringing attention to places at risk, so be sure to contact your local community association and work with this group of neighbours to advocate for the site. For a link to your community association visit the website of the Federation of Calgary Communities. Return to list
Where can I enquire about registering a property as a historic resource? What are the different types of designation? Properties may be designated as historic resources at the municipal, provincial, federal, and/or international level. The Calgary Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources is a list of places that have been evaluated by the Calgary Heritage Authority and have been formally acknowledged to have significant heritage value to a community or to the city as a whole. There are currently more than 700 properties on the Inventory, which is updated on an ongoing basis. Listing on the Inventory makes important information about the heritage value of a place available to owners, developers, government bodies, and others. Learn about the criteria for listing here. Some of the sites on the Inventory are legally protected against demolitions or inappropriate changes by also being designated as Municipal Historic Resources or Provincial Historic Resources under the Alberta Historical Resources Act. Municipal Heritage Resources include City-owned properties, properties whose owners have requested this legal protection, and properties whose owners have accepted it in exchange for receiving other benefits such as higher density allowances. Provincially, a site may be granted Provincial Historic Resource designation if it is associated with an important aspect of Alberta’s natural or human history, is of outstanding provincial significance, is in its original location, and retains the physical site features necessary to convey its significance. More information about criteria for listing can found on Alberta Culture’s Historic Places Stewardship website here. National Historic Sites are “places of profound importance to Canada.” There are more than 950 National Historic Sites; of these, 167 are administered by Parks Canada. Calgary’s National Historic Sites are the Allen (Palace) Theatre, City Hall, Beaulieu (Lougheed House), Fort Calgary, Heritage Hall on the SAIT Campus, Mewata Armory, and Old Stephen Avenue. Learn more here. While Calgary has no sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, it is worth noting that of Canada’s 16 sites, five are in Alberta: Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, Dinosaur Provincial Park, Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Waterton Glacier International Peace Park, and Wood Buffalo National Park. If you are aware of a place that is not yet recognized as a historic resource but you believe should be, please confer with the City of Calgary’s heritage planning staff. Return to list
How can I find out about upcoming heritage-related events in Calgary? CHI advertises heritage-related events on our website and in our regular e-newsletter (to receive our e-newsletter, join our mailing list here). Chinook Country Historical Society, the Calgary Heritage Authority, and the Calgary Public Library also host regular heritage events. If you are hosting a heritage-related event and would like CHI to publicize it, please contact us. If you register for and/or attend a Community Heritage Roundtable, your name will automatically be added to a mailing list to receive regular updates on upcoming Roundtables. Return to list
I’m a tourist visiting Calgary and would like to learn more about the city’s heritage. In addition to the heritage-related events posted on the CHI website, are there any self-guided or regularly offered tours? The City of Calgary’s Heritage Planning Office has published numerous self-guided walking tours for different areas of the city . Some are available in PDF form from the City’s website. For hardcopies, place an order by calling 3-1-1 (within Calgary) or 403-286-2489. Visitors to Calgary are also invited to contact the Calgary Downtown Association which offers a program of walking tours. Return to list
Do you have a privacy policy? How will you use my information? The Calgary Heritage Initiative Society ("CHI") is committed to protecting the personal information of our members and visitors to our website. We manage your personal information in accordance with Alberta's Personal Information Protection Act and any other applicable laws. Personal information, such as an email address, name, telephone number or postal address is collected, used and disclosed only for purposes consistent with CHI's mission statement, which includes the preservation, productive use and interpretation of buildings and sites of historic and architectural interest in Calgary. In order to provide those services, CHI may at times apply for grants or funding from government agencies, and may be required to disclose your personal information to those government agencies. We also use your personal information to communicate with you. If we wish to use or disclose your personal information for any new business purpose, we will ask for your consent. We do not sell, rent, or lease our member list to third parties. For more information, please contact us . Return to list
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