Confluence Historic Park preparing events for Calgary's 150th anniversary

Marking Calgary's 150th anniversary will look somewhat different than it has in the past when milestones were celebrated.

In 1875, members of the North-West Mounted Police arrived on their horses at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers, the site where Fort Calgary was built.

A community grew around that fort. Calgary became a town in 1884 and later a city in 1894.

The arrival of the Mounties was marked with commentary and events in the past, notably in 1925 and 1950.

In 1975, the centennial was a year-long celebration. There was a special logo developed, commemorative books were printed.

Canada Post got in on the act with a postage stamp featuring the wild horse race at the Calgary Stampede while the Royal Canadian Mint issued a special silver dollar which sported a cowboy on a bucking bronc.

In 2025, the occasion is looking at bit tamer.

The City of Calgary said it has no budget or events planned to mark the 150th anniversary.

However, a civic partner, The Confluence Historic Site and Parkland, is taking the lead in honouring the occasion.

Just don't expect any logos or stamps.

"I think in the last 50 years, the way that we look at history has certainly changed and it continues to evolve," said Jennifer Thompson, the president of The Confluence.

Her organization is planning a series of events called 150 Years Later: Reflecting on Fort Calgary's Legacy.

The first program, a monthly series of public discussions led by experts, is called Hot Dogs and Hot Takes on History. It's initial offering is later this week and will focus on the American whisky trade in what later became southern Alberta.

"Hot Dogs and Hot Takes was really a way to engage new audiences and ignite conversation about what happened on this land," said Thompson

The evening is designed to be less of a lecture and more of a conversation.

Thompson noted the event is already sold out so those with an interest in history should watch for these upcoming monthly sessions.

Later this year, there are plans for a theatre production, Indigenous artists responding to historical photographs of Fort Calgary, a temporary exhibit on less known North-West Mounted Police stories and projecting art on a building at The Confluence.

In the past, Thompson said celebrating the arrivals of the Mounties was more focused on their arrival and not on the impacts of the event on the local Indigenous population which was around long before the Europeans arrived.

"I don't think it's too bold to say the Indigenous perspective has certainly been marginalized when we talk about colonialism," said Thompson.

"We are really proud here at The Confluence to be taking on talking about the 150th."

Funding for its events remain uncertain at this time as it can only do so much within its existing budget.

Thompson said the organization is applying to all orders of government for grants to help it go forward with its program of events.

She said their plan is for their events to be scaled up or down, depending on what funding comes through.