Calgary's Story

Resources documenting Calgary, southern Alberta, and Western Canada

Bringing the city’s history and heritage to life.

Whether you’re interested in learning more about the signing of Treaty 7, Calgary’s boom-and-bust past, exploring your house’s history, who Deerfoot Trail was named after, or what Calgary looked like at the turn of the century, you’ll find the answers in this collection of community heritage and family history resources.

Visit Calgary's Story, presented by Walt and Irene DeBoni, on Level 4 of Central Library.

A person's hand with a red fingernail browsing through index cards in a wooden library card catalogue drawer. Close-up view of a traditional library card catalogue with wooden drawers and metal label holders.

Land Acknowledgment

With gratitude, mutual respect, and reciprocity, we acknowledge the ancestral home, culture, and oral teachings of the Treaty 7 signatories, which include the Siksika Nation, Piikani Nation, Kainai Nation, the Îethka Stoney Nakoda Nation, consisting of the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney Bands, and the people of the Tsuut’ina Nation. The City of Calgary is also homeland to the historic Northwest Métis and to the Otipemisiwak Métis Government, Métis Nation Battle River Territory, Nose Hill Métis District 5 and Elbow Métis District 6.

At Calgary Public Library we celebrate stories: the stories of the community and the land that we live on. We serve the community on Wîcîspa, Guts’ists’I, and Moh’kinstsis, which describes the gathering place where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet.

We respect all people who share, celebrate, and care for the Treaty 7 territory of southern Alberta and we honour the original caretakers of the land who remind us of the ongoing histories that precede us. We recognize our shared responsibilities going forward to help bring everyone together on this journey of Truth and Reconciliation. 

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Historian in Residence

Available for six months each year, the Historian in Residence delivers specialized programs about Calgary's rich past, and meets one-on-one with Library patrons to discuss your history-related questions.

Learn how you can connect
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Inspiring life stories since 1912.

A timeline of important milestones in the Calgary Public Library’s history.

Share in our story
background image: Aerial view of a river flowing through Calgary, Alberta.

Do you know the stories of Calgary?

Try this virtual escape room with friends and family! You'll learn about Calgary's community history, from the time of the dinosaurs, to the Indigenous people who live here and other notable Calgarians and places in the city.

Historic Calgary Week Escape Room

The Library During COVID

The pandemic fundamentally changed how Calgary Public Library operated for more than two years and has affected how it continues to operate moving forward. The Library During COVID documents the Library’s experiences of meeting the challenges of COVID-19 while staying connected throughout changes to service, staffing, and operations. 

This documentary recognizes an important historic moment for the Library community. We couldn’t have done it without the support of all Library staff, including those who shared their experiences on camera with us, and the community. Thank you all for your continued support.  

The Fidler Map

The Fidler Map is the first recorded map of the Blackfoot traditional territory. The map details insights from a Blackfoot Chief named Ackomokki — but was named after the European man who transcribed his drawings, Peter Fidler.

Take a trip back in time with recorded history programs

Miss out on a program, or want to rewatch one you loved? Check out the free history programs on our YouTube channel to hear accounts from experts in local history, international archeology, and more.

Select a program