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Application Timeframe: Monday, February 23 - Friday, April 10, 2026
The residency runs for 3 months from June 1 through August 31, 2026.
Heritage Calgary and Calgary Public Library invite applications for the paid position of Historian in Residence. The program is a 3-month community engagement residency that supports historians and researchers working in any genre related to Calgary's (Moh'kins'tsis’) social, cultural, and built history.
The Historian in Residence is a historian or historical researcher who studies, interprets, and communicates knowledge about the past. As our understanding of history expands, so too does our understanding of what a Historian is and does. Applicants must demonstrate training, expertise, or a track record of credible historical research and interpretation.
The Historian in Residence is invited to actively use the Calgary Public Library Collection, including the Calgary's Story collection, and the Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources* to document, research, and interpret the people, places, and events that have created Calgary and Southern Alberta's distinctive character during their residency.
The resident has access to a designated office space on the fourth floor of Central Library near the Calgary’s Story collection and can also work remotely. They will engage with the public through programs such as open office hours, interactive/online workshops, school group tours, and lectures and are invited to curate an exhibit, performance, or screening at the close of their residency.
The Historian in Residence is selected in partnership between Heritage Calgary and the Calgary Public Library.
Application Deadline: Friday, April 10, 2026
The successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to catalyze individuals and places via their research and projects, and an affinity for the people who comprise Calgary's diverse communities. They have experience in historical research, including the use of primary or secondary sources, and a record of producing work such as publications, reports, exhibits, interpretive materials, community history projects, or equivalent outputs.
During the residency, they will encourage heritage activities through an active program of personal research and community engagement, in any field of study and any medium, that reveals more about the city’s rich and diverse past. The residency program will be based in a designated studio at Calgary Public Library where the Historian is expected to hold office hours in person and/or virtually. This is an opportunity for patrons to book appointments in order to receive research and writing advice. Experience working with communities, large groups, especially school and post-secondary groups, and older adults, is an asset.
Historians whose work and research focuses on underrepresented communities such as Indigenous, LGBTQ2+, and feminist histories are encouraged; the work must be consistent with the principle of respect for the dignity and worth of all people. Because of the public nature of the studio space and the diversity of patrons of all ages and cultures at the Library, the work must be respectful and suitable for family audiences.
The Historian in Residence will:
The residency runs for 3 months from June 1 through August 31, 2026.
The Historian in Residence honorarium is $50.00 per hour to a maximum of 160 hours for a total of $8000 per residency. This amount includes offsite preparation time and onsite program delivery time, including consultations and time to work on research.
Applicants will be evaluated based on a letter outlining suitability for the position that includes the following:
Applicants also need to provide a:
The successful candidate will be selected by a committee. All applicants will be notified once the committee has made its selection, in mid-April. The successful candidate will be notified, but their name will not be announced until the residency has been formally announced by the Library and Heritage Calgary.
* INVENTORY OF EVALUATED HISTORIC RESOURCES
The Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources (The Inventory) is a database of sites that have been evaluated by Heritage Calgary according to the Council-approved policy. Any property listed on the Inventory could merit legal protection as a designated Municipal Historic Resource. Some of the sites on the Inventory are legally protected under the Historical Resources Act, either by The Province as designated Provincial Historic Resources or by The City as Municipal Historic Resource (approved by City Council by Bylaw). All sites on the Inventory can be found on the Inventory map and the printed background research files are also available in the Library’s Calgary’s Story collection.
Calgary’s Story (which includes the William and Harris Shared History Centre) is housed on the fourth floor of Central Library and encompasses several initiatives designed to make the collection accessible and connected to Calgarians. Calgary’s Story at Calgary Public Library is a historical collection containing materials from all subject areas, which relate to the history and development of Calgary (Moh'kins'tsis) and southern Alberta, including the region known as Rupert’s Land and the Northwest Territories prior to Alberta becoming a province in 1905. Calgary’s Story is not considered an archival or comprehensive local history collection. Although the physical collection is designed for in-library use, aspects of it have been digitized. Calgary’s Story is located next to the Indigenous Language Centre and the Children's Lodge, where Elders and knowledge keepers from all Treaty 7 Nations make themselves available for questions and programming. Calgary’s Story is an interactive storytelling environment that highlights the stories, past and present, of our community and provides an opportunity to work with partner organizations to amplify the stories of our members through display, hands-on access to older forms of media, a self-directed digital storytelling environment, public programming, exhibitions and the Historian in Residence program.
Please submit applications to:
Programs and Partnerships: Historian in Residence Program
Central Library, 800 3rd Street SE
Or electronically to residencies@calgarylibrary.ca