The fascinating history of Calgary's Edworthy Park and who it's named after

Edworthy Park is a beloved green space in Calgary, offering sweeping river views, stunning walking trails, and a rich history that stretches back to the early days of the city.

The name comes from Thomas Edworthy, a well-known pioneer, major land holder, commercial agriculturalist, and industrialist in Calgary. Edworthy was born in England before immigrating to Canada in 1856.

He originally began farming in Ontario before heading out west to Calgary in 1883. After squatting on land for several years, Edworthy purchased 140 acres of land from the Cochrane Ranch and built a homestead for himself and his family, named the Shaganappi Ranch. 

Edworthy established a garden for both fruits and vegetables, which quickly became popular, and he was even known for his “Shaganappi spuds.”  Around this time, Edworthy also found deposits of high-quality sandstone on his property.

After the great fire of 1886, Calgary’s town council passed a bylaw that required buildings to be constructed out of non-flammable material. Edworthy opened the Bow Bank Quarry, which consisted of three separate quarry sites, and supplied sandstone to the city. 

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Edworthy operated the quarries until he died in 1904. His wife, Mary, leased the quarries and operated the gardens until her own death in 1934. Back then, the Edworthy’s land was not in Calgary, but instead a part of a small village called Brickburn, which was home to an industrial brick-making operation. 

George Edworthy, the son of Thomas and Mary, took on responsibility after his parents’ passing and extended the family’s presence in the civic and business industries. He served as the Canadian manager of United Grain Growers, president of the Calgary Stampede and a director on many foundations and boards. He lived in the Edworthy house until 1962. 

As Calgary grew, the land that makes up Edworthy Park was purchased in 1962 by the City of Calgary to make a public park bearing the Edworthy name. Over the decades, Edworthy Park has grown into a vibrant public space where Calgarians can gather and play, surrounded by natural beauty and history.