Do you remember what life was like in Calgary 40 years ago in 1985?  

The NHL All-Star Game was hosted at the Saddledome, boxing legend Muhammad Ali rode in the Stampede Parade, and the Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts — now known as the Werklund Centre — opened.  

Despite a challenging period in Alberta's economy, Calgary Public Library was able to expand in 1985. It was the year that Fish Creek and Giuffre Family Library opened its doors. Read below to learn about the history of these locations and the impact that these spaces still have on our community 40 years later. 

Fish Creek Library 

Fish Creek Library is hard to miss. This southeast location was designed by architects Ian McDougall and Ken Hutchinson, who intended it to resemble the Rocky Mountains. However, its iconic shape was frequently compared to a pyramid, and the nickname stuck. 

It was the community who helped name the Library “Fish Creek” and construction began on October 25, 1983.  

Fish Creek Library officially opened to the public on June 1, 1985. A Calgary Herald columnist declared the building to be “a genuine jaw-dropper,” an “impressive piece of oil-boom architecture,” and “the closest thing in Alberta to a pharaoh's tomb”. 

Today, Fish Creek Library is the largest community library in Calgary. There are many people who regularly use the meeting spaces, enjoy exploring the expansive collections, and have built relationships with staff.  

A stand-out part of Fish Creek is Engine 23 — a decommissioned fire truck that sits within the large Early Learning Centre. When you make your way up to the second floor, you can hear the sounds of joy and see a lot of smiling faces. Children are engaged in imaginative play. They can crawl, climb, get behind the wheel, and pretend to be real firefighters.  

If staff had to describe Fish Creek Library as a fictional place from a book, they would pick Neverland from Peter Pan. They say that everyone can find their inner child by playing, engaging, and using the fun spaces in this location. 

Giuffre Family Library 

Giuffre Family Library has a storied history and has seen both physical location changes and a new name. Originally opened in 1954 as Alexander Calhoun Library, this location was named after Calgary Public Library’s first Chief Librarian. Calhoun guided the Library through a period of expansion and change, which included the Great Depression and two world wars. 

The current building opened in 1985, just around corner from the original building. The location has become a beloved community hub.  

The name of the Library was changed in honour of a $1.5 million gift to the Library on behalf of the Giuffre family in 2018. Mary and Joe Giuffre moved to Calgary in 1955. Joe established a self-storage business and credited Calgary Public Library for developing his family's love of reading and helping his children to achieve their goals in life.  

Today, Giuffre Family Library serves a wide range of visitors. Early literacy programs are popular, especially Baby Rhyme Time which is hosted several times a week. Staff describe the regulars of this location as being courteous, articulate, and well-read. 

Something surprising about the architecture of this location is an outdoor patio that sits on the building's flat roof. Since this location is tucked into the side of a hill, staff occasionally refer to it as the “Hobbit Library”. 

For more information on all 22 Calgary Public Library locations, visit our website.