When it comes to celebrating and honouring its history, Calgary often gets a bad rap. However, one thing Calgary does well is recognize its military history and the many contributions veterans have made to our society. Several areas throughout the city have become important places where those contributions are highlighted.

With nearly 270,000 members at 1,400 branches across the country, the Royal Canadian Legion includes everyone from serving or retired members of the Canadian Armed Forces and the RCMP to regular civilians. What they share is a desire to support those who served Canada and a commitment to improving their communities.

Its name may evoke calmness and serenity, but the story behind one of Calgary's leading landmarks is anything but peaceful. As it evolved from a lightning rod for dissension to a symbol of unity, the Peace Bridge was judged not only for mistakes made, but also conventions challenged and lessons learned. In the process, this iconic footbridge earned the respect of friends and foes alike, one step at a time.

They say that those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it, and the same could apply to historic buildings. In the wake of the Enoch Sales House fire and demolition, heritage groups and individual Calgarians have called for more to be done to preserve the city's historic structures.

The master-planned vision for Calgary's East Village revitalization, launched in the mid-2000s, is becoming a living, breathing reality, now more than ever.

Alain Dupere has lived in East Village since 2011. He's watching the transformation happen one day at a time, observing the changes while he walks to and from work. Dupere, who is also president of the East Village Neighbourhood Association, says that although the area is still under construction, its vibrancy is increasing as more buildings become move-in ready and amenities continue to pop up.

"It's a great place to live and to visit. Anyone can use the amenities in our neighbourhood," he said. "It's becoming a destination for the greater Calgary (area) and beyond, and that's a nice thing."

Some might believe that the excitement around this developing community, and the desire to live and work there, are new phenomena. But according to Harry Sanders, Calgary's former historian laureate, it's not far off from the activities of the space over a century ago, when non-indigenous people first arrived in the area often referred to as the "birthplace of Calgary."

Fish Creek Provincial Park is one of the largest urban parks in North America, with everything from vast natural areas to a popular, manmade swimming lake.

But the 1,348-hectare park almost never happened, and once faced the unfortunate possibility of being loved to death by the expanding population of Calgary.

Its saviours were a dashing politician who came to power in the early 1970s, and later, diligent work by provincial park staff to find a balance between human use and wild spaces.

East of downtown Calgary, in the shadow of the core's hulking skyscrapers, stands the city's oldest home in its original location – Fort Calgary's Hunt House.

Many homebuyers desire the uniqueness of a vintage house. However, while they dream about living in their little piece of history, they need to keep their eyes wide open to the challenges these homes often present.

Calgary's final downtown houses shine in video showcase

The handful of older homes left in the downtown core may seem out of place, but thanks to an enterprising Calgarian, they have landed squarely in the spotlight. If YouTube can make celebrities of children and animals, why not houses?

Calgary's century homes are still turning heads

If you're lucky enough to live to 100, you'll probably slow down a bit. But many of Calgary's 100-year-old homes are still going strong and drawing plenty of attention.

"These are homes that have stood the test of time," said Karen Paul, director of communications for the Calgary Heritage Initiative Society (CHI), a grassroots, member-based organization dedicated to the preservation, and productive use and interpretation, of buildings and sites of historic and architectural interest in Calgary. "They offer a level of craftsmanship, character, uniqueness and aesthetic beauty that is hard to find in modern homes."