The storied past of the historic City Hall in downtown Calgary
Standing in downtown Calgary, the historic City Hall remains one of the city’s most recognizable and oldest landmarks.
In 1886, Calgary was hit with a devastating fire, which caused a lot of damage to the city, but also reshaped building standards, causing civic leaders to push for more durable construction across downtown.
Sandstone quickly became the material of choice and was sourced from nearby quarries and used to create new fire-resistant public buildings. Plans for the new City Hall emerged during this period.
The construction of City Hall was a tough topic, causing years of debate over the location, cost, and design of the structure. Early proposals were rejected by ratepayers, with some arguing that the city couldn’t afford the build, while others said the existing town hall was no longer suitable.
Eventually, work started after the project was approved in 1907, but it wasn’t smooth sailing. Budget overruns and disputes led to delays and a temporary shutdown in 1909, where construction stopped for nearly an entire year, before resuming construction in 1910, and it officially opened in 1911.
City of Calgary
The building was designed in Romanesque Revival style and served as Calgary’s municipal headquarters. It housed council chambers, administrative offices and public meeting spaces. The basement also contained jail cells, police offices, and a courtroom until 1914.
It also boasts a prominent clock tower that quickly became a defining feature of the building. The four-faced tower clock was crafted by the Seth Thomas Clock Company and was fitted with a massive bell that weighed around 1,500 pounds.
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As the years went on, the building could no longer serve the expanding city administration. A new structure, now known as the Calgary Municipal Building, was built next door and officially opened in 1985, allowing many civic departments to relocate to the larger, more modern space.
Jeff Whyte/Shutterstock
The historic City Hall was not retired; instead, it was preserved as a heritage landmark. It was designated a Provincial Historic Resource in 1978, a National Historic Site of Canada in 1984, and Calgary’s first Municipal Historic Resource in 1991.
From 2016 to 2020, the building went through a massive $34.1 million renovation and opened back up to the public. It is the only surviving city hall from its time in Western Canada, and it should be able to serve Calgary for another 100 years.