Editorial: Moving forward by looking back
Calgary Herald July 27, 2010
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Calgary is a city that always seems to be rushing headlong into the future -- looking ahead to the next municipal election, the next major downtown project, the next big festival. This week, however, is a good time to stop and look back. It's Historic Calgary Week, and it reminds Calgarians that this thriving city of more than one million souls would not be the bustling, forward-looking metropolis that it is without the folks who came before, who put that vision into place.
In September, school bells will ring throughout Calgary as more than 99,000 students head off for a new year in the Calgary Board of Education's 218 schools, while another 45,000 kids attend classes in the Calgary Catholic School District's 106 schools. It all started with the first schools established in Calgary by John Costello and Mother Mary Greene. The latter opened St. Mary's School in July 1885 and, with Father Albert Lacombe, established a Catholic school district by December of that year. Costello started Calgary's first public school because, the story goes, he had enough children of his own to populate the classroom. One of those children was future Calgary mayor Michael Costello, who, in December 1916, "at the head of a large crowd of rejoicing Calgarians," according to the Herald, officially opened the new Centre Street bridge, still in use today.
As Calgarians head to the polls this fall to elect a new mayor, they might want to reflect upon the first man to occupy that office -- George Murdoch, who fired his gun to celebrate Calgary's incorporation in November 1884 and his own impending mayoral candidacy. Doing some grocery shopping today? Take a moment to remember Calgary's first grocer, Isaac Freeze, who set up shop on 9th Avenue. Gridlocked in traffic? Think of future prime minister R.B. Bennett, who caused Calgary's first traffic accident, when he drove his car into a light pole on Stephen Avenue, and swore to bystanders he'd never drive again. (He never did). And while you're sitting in traffic, if you hear a fire engine go screaming by, remember James (Cappy) Smart, who started the Calgary fire department in 1885 after the J.L. Bowen house caught fire and neighbours could only throw snowballs helplessly at the blaze.
These and so many other people came before us and left their marks on this city in countless indelible ways. Take a moment to thank them while you're enjoying the many activities planned for this Historic Calgary Week.
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