Sept. 01, 2025 | CREB

Calgary's Heritage Neighbourhoods

In the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers lies Calgary. Incorporated in 1884 as the first town in what is now the province of Alberta, Calgary received city status in 1894.

While our city has come a long way with growth, continuous economic development and an increase of cultural diversity, it's always interesting to look back at where we came from. Here's a list of Calgary's oldest neighbourhoods and how they have evolved.

Inglewood

Inglewood was established in 1875, preceding the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885.

Located less than four kilometres east of downtown Calgary, Inglewood is Calgary's oldest neighbourhood and has evolved into a dynamic community that blends heritage and industrial buildings with modern developments.

Some of the historic buildings you can find in Inglewood include Fire Station No.3, one of Calgary's first fire stations and Hunt House, the city's oldest standing building that is still located on its original site.

150 years after its establishment, Inglewood is also home to art galleries, international food restaurants, boutiques, the bird sanctuary, and a vibrant night market in the summer. It's a neighbourhood with a soulful atmosphere that captivates families, creatives and nature lovers alike.

Prices as of Aug. 20, 2025

Downtown West End

Established in 1884, Downtown West started as a community of single-family homes. In 1911, Mount Royal College was located here and expanded in 1931 and 1948 before relocating in 1972. The college's Kerby Memorial Building remains a seniors' centre.

In the 1970s, the houses were demolished, and by the 1990s, half of them had been replaced with medium-rise office buildings, car dealerships, and surface parking lots. These were then replaced by high-rise apartment buildings in the 2000s.

Nowadays, as you walk through the hundred-year-old streets, you are surrounded by a mix of historic buildings like the Mewata Armoury (1917) and the boldly brutalist Centennial Planetarium (1967), now the art space Contemporary Calgary, as well as modern.

This neighbourhood is perfect for those who are looking for an energetic city buzz, as there are trendy restaurants, quirky shops and cultural spots like the Avatamsaka Monastery, a Buddhist centre that grew from a small commercial building.

Downtown West is also a minute's walk from the Bow River pathway, which offers a wonderful view of the city for a relaxing walk or a satisfying cycle or jogging session.

Prices as of Aug. 20, 2025

Eau Claire

Since its establishment in 1886, Eau Claire has been one of Calgary's most sought-after neighbourhoods, given its closeness to the Bow River. It's also close to Princes' Island Park, one of Calgary's best parks, which makes it the perfect choice for outdoor enthusiasts who also enjoy inner city living.

According to Heritage Inspires YYC, Eau Claire was established when the Eau Claire and Bow River Lumber Company manager, Peter Prince, built its mill next to the river in 1886. The mill, one of Calgary's first major industries, employed many people of Norwegian descent who came from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, with the mill's owner, Issac Kerr. They built Trinity Lutheran Church in 1910.

Now, 139 years later, you can find luxury high-rise condos while still experiencing the Eau Claire's historic roots when you see heritage homes, and diverse businesses.

Prices as of Aug. 20, 2025

Mission

Mission Notre Dame de la Paix (Our Lady of the Peace) was founded west of Calgary in 1872 by French-Catholic Oblate missionaries and relocated in 1875 to a spot along the Elbow River near where it flows into the Bow River. By 1899, about 500 residents incorporated the Village of Rouleauville, which is now Mission.

To this day, the neighbourhood, is composed of a lively community that is proud of its French heritage. You can see this through the street signs that reflect the area's early French settlement.

Significant landmarks in Mission include St. Mary's Cathedral, the Parish Hall, the Canadian Northern Railway Bridge and Rouleauville Square.

With mature tree-lined blocks and numerous heritage homes and multifamily buildings, Mission is the perfect blend of history and community that makes it a desirable place to live and grow.

Prices as of Aug. 20, 2025

Sunnyside

Located in the traditional territory of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), Sunnyside was established in the 1880s as a residential area. Later, it expanded with rental cottages for Canadian Pacific Railway employees.

According to Heritage Inspires YYC, Senator Matthew Cochrane, owner of the 360,000-acre Cochrane Ranche, named Hillhurst after his birthplace, Hillhurst Farm in Compton, Quebec. Ezra Riley purchased the ranch in 1903 and sold it and his Sunnyside property to the City of Calgary in 1904, donating 20 acres to the City for Riley Park with the condition a cricket pitch be built.

Hillhurst-Sunnyside was a middle-class community of labourers, tradesmen and office workers, and its vibrant shopping area along 10th Street NW created a village feel.

Sunnyside is now well recognized for its tight-knit community and for its architectural styles, including 1880s' CPR cottages, 1910s' Edwardian Front Gable style houses, and 1920s' Georgian Revival brick apartments on Memorial Drive.

This village feel of the neighbourhood has transcended the passage of time, and with a variety of heritage and modern buildings, diverse businesses, cozy coffee shops and mouthwatering restaurants, Sunnyside is a fan-favourite for many Calgarians.

Prices as of Aug. 20, 2025

Bowness

Before its establishment in 1911, Bowness was a location rich in resources and sheltered wintering for cattle before entrepreneur and visionary John Hextall registered subdivision plans and built a bridge connecting Calgary to his new Bowness Estates, which became the framework for the village and town of Bowness.

But these development plans didn't take off until after World War II, when a group of veterans settled in the town, followed by Dutch and German immigrants, according to to Heritage Inspires YYC. The Bowness community quickly grew into a village by 1948. Then, with schools, churches, theatres, stores and a volunteer fire brigade, Bowness became a town in 1952 and joined the City of Calgary in 1964.

The iconic Bowness Park is the most prominent heritage site in Bowness, developed as a recreational area in the early 20th century by John Hextall and later expanded based on a plan by Thomas Mawson, a renowned town planner. 

Fast forward to 2025 and Bowness is loved by Calgarians due to its diversity, wonderful local businesses, memorable landscapes and numerous opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Prices as of Aug. 20, 2025

Sources

The Canadian Encyclopedia | Calgary Avenue Calgary | Check Out Calgary's Historical Architecture on a Self-Guided Walking Tour Avenue Calgary | Calgary's Best Heritage Neighbourhood (Built Before 1950) Calgary Homes | Oldest neighbourhoods in Calgary Heritage Inspires YYC | Eau Claire  Heritage Inspires YYC | Inglewood Heritage Inspires YYC | Mission Heritage Inspires YYC | Hillhurst-Sunnyside Heritage Inspires YYC | Bowness Ken Ritcher | History of Bowness 

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