Central Memorial Park and Library, Calgary, Alberta

Central Memorial Park and Library, located just south of Calgary’s downtown, reflect official efforts to create an attractive and cultured new city in the West. Developed during Calgary’s first major economic and population boom at the turn of the 20^th century, they illustrate the confidence and optimism of the young city. The library, which opened in 1912, is a Beaux-Arts Classicism-inspired building with a massive portico and grand staircase. It is among the largest and most imposing of the 125 Canadian libraries built with funding from American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Together, the library and park have formed a social, cultural, educational, and memorial centre for Calgarians for more than a century.

The park, originally known as Central Park, initially served as a tree nursery for the young city of Calgary. Inspired by the construction of the new library, park officials began planning a redevelopment of the park, with geometric pathways and elaborating planting beds. William Reader, Calgary’s influential Parks Superintendent from 1913-42, directed the development of the park and its plantings after 1913, creating a civic and horticultural showpiece.

The library was championed by the Calgary Women’s Literary Club under the leadership of Annie Davidson, recognized now as one of the city’s cultural pioneers. This group had advocated for the establishment of a free public library in Calgary for years, arguing that it would help turn the booming western town into a mature city. The library was built with funding from American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. A great believer in the importance of public libraries to communities, in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, Carnegie donated more than 56 million dollars (more than 1.5 billion dollars today) to help build libraries worldwide. Three of these libraries were in Alberta.

The design of Calgary’s Memorial Park Library is inspired by Beaux-Arts Classicism, with its grand columned entrance, rich and ornamental exterior elements, and elegant interior. Upon opening, it quickly proved popular with Calgarians. As the headquarters for educational associations and various clubs, it became a cultural and educational hub, even housing the city’s first art show. It served as the main library from 1912 until 1963, when it became a branch library and housed the archives and research centre for the Glenbow Museum. It continues to serve today as a working library.

The park is a formally designed landscape which includes a strictly symmetrical layout with elaborately designed beds, paths, lawns, specimen planting, two decorative water fountains, and numerous monuments and war memorials. In the centre of the park is an equestrian memorial by noted French-Canadian sculptor Louis-Philippe Hébert, erected in honour of Albertans who fought in the South African War. A statue of a First World War soldier is located in front of the library, and a cenotaph, erected in 1928, is dedicated to the soldiers who died in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War. Today known as Central Memorial Park, this park serves as a place of remembrance and is the site of annual Remembrance Day ceremonies.

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