The story behind a small Calgary park named after a Russian princess
Calgary is home to plenty of parks, many of which come with long, interesting back stories, and Princess Obolensky Park is no exception.
The small green space is tucked inside the north side of Stanley Park. Stanley Park itself has been a gathering point in the city for over a century, sitting along the Elbow River in the Parkdale community.
The park features open green space, picnic areas, and a range of recreational activities, such as baseball diamonds, tennis courts, a lawn bowling club, an outdoor pool, and a skating rink. Aside from that, it’s home to a small parklet called Princess Obolensky Park.
Located at 4th Street and 36th Avenue SW within the north portion of Stanley Park, it’s named after Princess Tania Obolensky. At just the age of 11, Obolensky fled Russia with her family during the revolution in 1917. In 1931, Obolensky emigrated to Canada with her husband, Austrian Count Leo Von Kunigl.
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Obolensky and her husband lived in Canada together until he decided to move to South Africa during the Great Depression and World War II. Obolensky chose to stay in Calgary and went on to become a successful businesswoman.
In 1952, she opened a popular clothing and gift shop called La Boutique, which was once situated across the street from the Hudson’s Bay on 7th Avenue. The shop served as a social centre as well as a fashion centre, and cemented Obolensky’s footprint in Calgary’s history.
Following her death in 1984, the park was dedicated in her memory the same year. Today, the park still stands and features some scenic benches where people can sit and take in the surrounding area.