SOCIETY ACTIVITIES
The Bearspaw Historical Society holds a number of activities throughout the year such as tours of museums or heritage organizations, workshops on topics that will help community members learn to document, preserve, or commemorate aspects of history, dinners and presentations.
PRESENTATION: Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 4 pm. Please join us to hear archaeologist Laureen Bryant discuss aspects of Calgary and Haskayne Park history as learned through archaeological research. She will also discuss the importance of awareness and conservation of archaeological sites. Laureen is an archaeolgist with the City of Calgary's Resource Stewardship, Parks and Open Spaces. Please register online through our website at info@bearspawhistoricalsociety.ca. We look forward to seeing you there!
100th anniversary
Saturday, September 9, 1:00 - 5:00 pm
Come and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the historic 1920 Bearspaw School. The centenary event of 2020 was delayed due to Covid. We welcome former students and the community to come and celebrate this important anniversary.
Historic Calgary Week 2023 Tour and Presentation, Monday, August 7, 2023
About 30 visitors participating in Calgary History Week events were given a tour of our buildings. A presentation on 100 years of Bearspaw history was given by Society President Roger Pilkington. It was great to welcome the visitors. We appreciate the work of the Chinook Country Historical Society in coordinating Historic Calgary Week each year as it provides a way for people to learn about the Bearspaw school and area.
Presentation on the Glenbow Quarry and Village by Shari Peyerl, May 18, 2023
During a presentation on May 18, 2023, archaeologist and oral historian Shari Peyerl described how she pieced together different lines of research to recreate the history of the Glenbow Quarry and village. Shari is the author of Alberta’s Cornerstone, Archaeological Adventures in Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park that was published in 2022. Shari described how the people of Glenbow, from the quarrymen to a Boston millionaire, developed a bold vision for what the village of Glenbow could become. Insights into community life were provided as well as the factors that contributed to its short-lived existence. Thank you very much Shari! The book can be purchased through the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation or various online stores.
Historical Tours
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A trip to the Caroline Wheels of Time Museum and
their restored Big Bend School. The Society members
admired the tremendous amount of hard work and
dedication that has gone into this museum. (© Elisa J. Hart)
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Al Bays, of the Canadian Museum of Making provided
us with a tour of this impressive museum. (© Elisa J. Hart)
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An historical walking tour in the beautiful Glenbow
Ranch Provincial Park. (© Elisa J. Hart)
Workshops
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Michael Gourlie of the Alberta Archivists Society facilitated
a workshop on ways of preserving our precious old
photographs so that they will be around for future generations
to enjoy. (© Elisa J. Hart)
Dinner and Presentations
At least once a year the Society holds a dinner so that the members and invited guests can get together and visit. It may be a harvest dinner, a Christmas party, or we may just decide that it is time to celebrate. We also get to learn about some aspect of local history through a presentation after some of the dinners.