Calgary's Histories: Embracing Without Erasing!
History is a continuum which means if we are going to embrace our city’s human history, we must acknowledge the histories of the indigenous people, European explorers, pioneers (farmers and ranchers), railway, as well as the early and modern industrial, arts and technological stories.
Yes, we need to acknowledge the injustices of the European culture on both the Indigenous Chinese and Black peoples, as well as their accomplishments in creating one of best places in the world to live today. Yes, we must acknowledge almost everyone in a position of power in the late 19th and early 20th century were racists, but also realize they also made positive contributions to the evolution of our city. Most of the world’s cultures were based on a class and religious structures, where not every human was deemed equal.
Creating a more inclusive history of the evolution of Calgary, does not require us to erase Calgary’s early European history? I believe, if we want to create a modern inclusive city, we must embrace the diversity of our city’s histories.
As I have said before, “we have to embrace the diversity that defines us, and not let it divide us.”
No longer The Stampede City!
Did you know Stampede Park is now the “C+E District?” Yes, Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) is marketing the area around the expanded BMO Centre and the new arena as the C+E District (Culture + Entertainment), not Stampede Park or Victoria Park (the historic names). This new generic name means little or nothing to anyone.
You would think they would want to build on the equity in Stampede Park and the Stampede City brand which has a 100+ year history. The Stampede is Calgary’s calling card to the world. Why are we throwing it away?
We should be embracing Calgary as the “Stampede City.” The Stampede is our signature event and encompasses our collective histories like no other event in Canada. The value of the Stampede brand for marketing the city is huge. It is something that makes Calgary unique.
Here’s how the Stampede reflects Calgary’s culture past and present:
Elbow River Camp (formerly Indian Village showcases the diversity of our indigenous cultures.
As an agricultural fair it celebrates our city’s agricultural history.
The rodeo and chuckwagon races celebrate our ranching culture.
The Grandstand Show celebrates Calgary’s art culture showcasing the city’s emerging performers.
The Stampede’s Western Oasis Art Gallery showcases a small fraction of Calgary’s visual arts scene.
Backstory:
When the Calgary Stampede was first being planned, the indigenous population of Canada were not allowed to leave the reservation system without a permit. Guy Weadick was adamant that he wanted to have the indigenous people participate in The Stampede. He lobbied the federal government to allow Treaty Seven nations to come to Stampede and participate in the celebration. The feds initially said, “No”, but Weadick persevered and the largest gathering of indigenous people outside of the Canadian reservation system occurred in 1912 at the first Stampede. The Stampede and Treaty Seven Nations have enjoyed a respectful relationship for 100+ years. It is perhaps the best example of how our two cultures have embraced each other. The Indian Village at Stampede (now rebranded as the Elbow River Camp) has been an important part of Stampede for 100+ years. I am of the understanding the name change was not initiated by the Kainai, Piikani, Siksika, Stoney Nakoda, and Tsuut'ina First Nations of Treaty 7, but by non-indigenous people.
So, “Why are we trying to erase the name “Stampede Park” from our marketing vernacular, when it is part of the history of indigenous, black (John Ware was a legendary black cowboy) and white histories?
No longer “The Energy Capital of Canada”
Similarly, Calgary is known worldwide as the home to Canada’s oil and gas corporate headquarters and to a lesser extent its solar and wind power start-ups. You would think Calgary’s leaders and influencers would want to build on Calgary importance as one of Canada’s biggest economic engines.
Why are some people trying erase Calgary’s history as the “Energy Capital of Canada? This brand could easily be extended beyond the energy industry to include the city’s vibrant “energy” associated with its great recreational opportunities, year-round arts and festival calendar and our street life.
But no, we had to come up with the generic moniker “The Blue Sky City.” Yes, Calgary has big, bold blue skies, but so do many other cities. We now will have to spend millions to sell the new brands to convention planners, tourists and investors, when we already had great uniquely Calgary brands, i.e. “Stampede City,” “Stampede Park” and “The Energy Capital of Canada” that we could have built on.
Calgary’s downtown has one of the highest concentrations of office buildings in North America as the result of being home to 100s of oil and gas companies, as well as their law, accounting and engineering firms. I get it that some people think Calgary should distance itself from fossil fuels and dirty oil, but the reality is when you take everything into consideration, climate changes, economic impact and political injustices, we should be proud to be “The Oil Capital of Canada.”
What are we doing?
No longer Fort Calgary Park
And, just a few weeks ago, it was decided Fort Calgary Park would become The Confluence Historic District and Parkland (TCHDAP). Yes, Fort Calgary will still exist in TCHDAP (not a great acronym) but gradually that name will be phased out.
We were told a name change was needed to allow more diverse programing to tell the story of the indigenous people and railway history of the site. How do the terms “confluence” and “parkland” conjure up indigenous or railway history? At least the “Elbow River Camp” creates a mental image of a first nation summer village. Many cities in Canada and around the world are at the confluence of rivers. Wouldn’t a better name have been Fort Calgary at Makhabn Camp. (“Makhabn” being the Blackfoot name for the Bow River)
This new name would celebrate both histories. That would be inclusive!
Fort Calgary Interpretive Centre at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers today. Photo credit: Travel Alberta
What’s next?
I am guessing there are people out there who would love to change the name of downtown’s Stephen Avenue to 8thAvenue SW or some other generic or politically correct name. I am pretty sure 1st Baron Mount Stephen was a racist.
I wonder if Olympic Plaza will get a new name as part of its mega makeover. The Olympic Saddledome will soon be gone and of course the Olympics is an elitist event full of scandals. Why would we want to celebrate the fact Calgary was the first Canadian city to host a Winter Olympics and the first one to make a profit which created an endowment that made Calgary a leader in winter sports training for decades?
It also looks like one of Calgary’s most important public sculptures “The Famous Five” will lose its prominent location at the confluence of Olympic Plaza and Stephen Avenue as part of the Arts Commons expansion. Let’s hope another prominent site can be found.
Calgary Early Adopter of Celebrating Indigenous Culture
A unique feature of Calgary is that most of its major roads have names with an indigenous link. Also, by using the term “trail” rather than “freeway or expressway,” Calgary’s road network celebrates, in a subtle way, the trails used by First Nation peoples.
The Glenbow had for decades a major permanent exhibition dedicated to story of the Blackfoot Nation history and culture. They have also employed and engaged indigenous leaders as part of their curatorial and education teams for decades. The Glenbow is well positioned to tell the stories of Calgary’s past from a diversity of perspectives.
Embracing Without Erasing
Can we embrace without erasing? That is the question. How can we embrace the history of the First Nations without erasing the white man’s history. History is a continuum which means we must celebrate both; it isn’t one over the other anymore.
If Calgary wants to foster an inclusive culture, we need to find a way to include everyone’s in history – First Nation, Europeans and Asians. We need to tell the story of how this diversity has combined to create one of the best cities in the world to live, work and play for those of all ages and backgrounds.
Calgary isn’t perfect - no city is!
History is an acquired taste
When I moved to Calgary in the early ‘80s I didn't relate to the Stampede or Calgary's history. It wasn't my history. But the longer I lived here, the more I began to appreciate Calgary’s local history and culture – both indigenous and pioneers, mid-century and contemporary.
History is often more important as you get older, and you spend more time reflecting on the past than pondering the future. The longer you live in a city, it changes your perspective.
One of the things I think hurts Calgary's preservation of its history is that a significant part of our population hasn’t lived here for a long time. It takes time to appreciate a new city’s history and culture.
It bugs me when people who have lived in Calgary for decades still refer to Ontario, Manitoba, Maritimes or BC as home. I had very strong ties to Hamilton when I arrived, but Calgary quickly became my home and it is where my heart lies today. We thought of moving when we retired but my attachment to Calgary was too strong, and always will be.
Last Word
Stampede Park and Fort Calgary should be considered sacred sites. These two sites are critical to preserving not only Calgary’s late 19th and early 20th century history, but have strong ties to the area’s indigenous history also.
Why are they being superseded buy new generic names that have nothing to do with reconciliation or enhancing Calgary’s ability attract tourists or investment is beyond me.
Let’s not transform Calgary into “The Generic City” with meaningless monikers, brands and nicknames that erase our histories.
If you like this blog, you might want to read these:
The Future of Calgary’s City Centre Is In The Hands of CMLC
Historical Postcards From The Calgary Stampede