If there's one thing about me, I love talking about the odd, the occult, the taboo.
When I travel one of the very FIRST things I search for is a neat + creepy cemetery to visit. Some of the top places I wish to experience around the world are places where life exists after death such as Aokigahara in Japan, The Catacombs in Paris, and St.Louis Cemetery in New Orleans to name a few.
Once upon a time when I was working as a photographer, we would have our team-building / training right here in Calgary. They would put us up in the Best Western hotel next to Burnsland Cemetery and that is where I would go to decompress (and light up a joint) at the end of each training day with all the little bunnies running around. Seriously. There were (are?) SO many bunnies. I think they were someone's dumped pet that learned to thrive amongst the graves. Life continues everywhere hey?
Back to Burnsland cemetery, it is a very peaceful and beautiful space to walk or sit amongst the trees and folks who reside there. All my treks were self guided but did you know Calgary has guided cemetery tours that are free to attend? Which include Union Cemetery, Chinese Cemetery, St. Mary's Pioneer Cemetery, and the aforementioned Burnsland Cemetery. The Calgary Heritage Authority has deemed these four City of Calgary Cemeteries to be historically significant cultural landscapes that played an important part in the settlement and establishment of Calgary as a city.
I want to pause before I continue and in the spirit of respect and truth, acknowledge the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprising the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai First Nations), as well as the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Districts 5 and 6.
The indigenous peoples of this land have been occupying these lands for living and beyond far longer than the existence of Calgary. Areas like Edworthy Park and along the Bow River, that contain cultural artifacts and pre-contact burial contexts. Although records are minimal and rooted in the cultural passdown of the groups that have and do reside here, we must also acknowledge the pain caused by settlers in this area. Settler graveyards were imposed on the landscape. Many early Indigenous deaths from this era, particularly those from surrounding reserves or the St. Dunbow Industrial School, were frequently interred in unmarked or separate, poorly documented plots at settler cemeteries. As well the St. Dunbow Industrial School was responsible for the poorly documented or lost burial sites of at least 73 children.
While we can recognize or appreciate the post colonized cemeteries, it can’t be done with the ignorance of forgetting who was here before us.
The Calgary based tour dates and times can be found on the City of Calgary website here. They run from May-November. As a totally free and unique activity, it is an accessible way to learn more about a part of the city that would be normally overlooked.
I will be updating the blog with new updates of these tours and photos as I participate in them!
That’s All Folks!
JP
NOTE:
Cemeteries are not wheelchair or stroller accessible. Pets are not permitted. For more information, call the Cemetery office at 403-221-3660 or email CalgaryCemeteries@calgary.ca.
