The unique stories of how these six Calgary neighbourhoods got their names
Calgary is home to more than 200 unique neighbourhoods, each with its own story to tell, but do you know how they got their names?
From French missionaries to bridge companies and streetcars, we’ve rounded up some of Calgary’s most interesting neighbourhood name origins.
Mission
Todamo/Shutterstock
Mission was originally a small village called Rouleauville. It was inhabited by French-Canadian priests, most notably Father Doucet, who came to the region in the 1870s to establish a mission. In 1907, Rouleauville was annexed by the city and renamed Mission, reflecting its origins.
Sunalta
The name Sunalta is believed to be derived from a combination of “Sun” for its sunny location and “Alta,” short for Alberta. The neighbourhood was developed in the early 1900s, designed as a convenient area close to downtown.
Marda Loop
Glenbow Library and Archives Collection
Marda Loop’s name comes from two major parts of its history, the Marda Theatre and the popular No. 7 streetcar that helped transport people from South Calgary to Downtown. In 1985, the Building Revitalization Zone (BRZ), now Business Improvement Area (BIA), held a contest to see what the area should be called. Marda Loop was submitted by Irene Horne, paying homage to the area’s history.
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Bridgeland-Riverside
Jeff Whyte/Shutterstock
Bridgeland-Riverside was originally a village called Riverside. When Calgary was experiencing its first major population boom, Russian-German immigrants populated the area, earning it the nickname “Germantown.” When the Dominion Bridge Company set up in the village, locals began calling it Bridgeland. It was annexed to Calgary in 1910, where it picked the official name Bridgeland-Riverside.
Hillhurst
Hillhurst’s name actually comes from Quebec. Senator Matthew Cochrane, the owner of the Cochrane Ranch, named the neighbourhood after his birthplace, Hillhurst Farm in Compton, Que., before Ezra Riley bought the land.
Beltline
calgarytransit.com
While you may not think much about Beltline’s name, it actually comes from Calgary’s old streetcar Route No.5, known as the “belt line,” which once connected the area to downtown.
Are there any Calgary neighbourhood names you would like to learn more about? Let us know in the comments below.