July 24 through August 3, 2026
Historic Calgary Week has wrapped up for another year with over 3,000 attendees at the 81 events. Attendance was impacted somewhat due to inclement weather on several days with many last-minute cancellations. Thank you to all that attended even in less-than-ideal conditions. As usual, personal experiences brought to the presentations enhanced the experience for all.
We thank Elder Ernest Poundmaker for his wise words of welcome and prayer at the Opening Ceremonies. Addresses by Councillor Terry Wong and by the Alberta Leader of the Opposition, Naheed Nenshi, were much appreciated. The music video, My Alberta Home, by Carolyn Harley was the perfect way to finish the Opening Ceremonies.
Several events showed the connection between our natural and built environments. Others, such as Contemporary Calgary, fireWORKS, and the Stampede, highlighted the links between the past, present, and future. We all learned more about inclusivity in events such as the Drum Circle, the tour of the Chinese Cultural Centre (and dim sum lunch), Honouring the Gold Mountain Dreamers, and the Centre for Newcomers.
Many will remember the notoriety of the Cecil, hearing from an undercover policeman, as well as George Weber’s humanity that brought that era to life. Evocative presentations such as Stephen Avenue Comes Alive, Lost Calgary, and Memories in Miniature were enjoyed by attendees. And of course, walking tours of neighborhoods remained a favourite.
A huge thank you to our 90+ presenters whose many hours of research and reflection enriched the presentations of our history. Again, we witnessed some superb presentations. The tremendous contribution of our volunteers is much appreciated, as Historic Calgary Week could not exist without their dedication and hard work. The support of our sponsors and partner organizations was vital in bringing these events to you.
The new registration system used for many of our events this year was a great success that improved the process immensely. We look forward to further streamlining this next year.
See you at the 36th Historic Calgary Week – July 24 through August 3, 2026.
The Fall/Winter program guide is available at https://www.chinookhistory.ca/programming. Please join us!