The leaves are turning, the nights are colder and it’s time to harvest the garden. Whether you’re jarring, pickling or having a family dinner, our stunning natural landscape is a breadbasket.

After the last Ice Age 11,000 years ago, Indigenous peoples thrived on buffalo. Herds traversed down the escarpment to reach the Bow River along the path today called Edmonton Trail. Nearby, the confluence of Mohkinstsis, meaning “elbow”, and the Bow River was a fine place to camp during the seasonal round. Europeans and Metis then arrived to trade manufactured goods for beaver pelts, Canada’s main export for a century.

“Plains Cree driving buffalo into pound.”, [ca. 1871], (CU181370) by Unknown. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary.

Southern Alberta was investigated for its agricultural suitability by Captain John Palliser (the Palliser Hotel, Square, school and neighbourhood are named in his honour). His expedition travelled from 1857-1859, determining parts of the Palliser Triangle area as suitable for livestock and a smaller, fertile part for settlement.

“Cowboys and cattle in corral on ‘CC’ ranch, Mosquito Creek, Alberta.”, [ca. 1905-1906], (CU1125928) by Steele and Company. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary.

More land opened to agriculture thanks to government scientists’ introduction of Marquis wheat, a crop that matures before the fall frost. Farmers’ irrigation infrastructure helped too. You can visit Calgary’s very own canal, which begins at Western Headworks below Max Bell Arena and empties into Chestermere Lake.

“Calgary headworks and main canal, Western section, Calgary area, Alberta.”, 1922-06-09, (CU145290) by Western Irrigation District. Courtesy of Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary.

In 1914, under the Vacant Lots Garden Club, the City purchased land for community gardens and beautification. The Club was supported by Annie Gale, the first woman city councillor in the British Empire. These plots became Victory Gardens during WWII to support the war effort. You can still visit the last of these gardens in Bridgeland-Riverside, at the Vacant Lot Gardens municipal historic site.

“Mrs. Annie Gale and her son Bill, Calgary, Alberta.”, 1914, (CU1198772) by Unknown. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary.

Vacant Lot Garden Municipal Historic Site, Bridgeland-Riverside, June 2024. Photo courtesy of Anthony Imbrogno.

Calgary is also famous for ginger beef. In 1975, Louise Tang and Lily Wong of Hong Kong opened Silver Inn Restaurant. They included a beef-centred menu item among other Beijing-style Chinese dishes to introduce the cuisine and cater to the palates of Calgarians.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Silver_Inn_Restaurant_(02)_(9520722503).jpg Silver Inn Restaurant, 2013, Calgary. Photo by Mike W., via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

Today, Calgarians enjoy cuisines from all over the world. You can participate too by volunteering at your local community garden or visiting farmers’ markets. You can also join Light Cellar’s foraging community to find nature’s goods yourself. We are blessed to be stewards of this bountiful land.

– Anthony Imbrogno is a volunteer with The Calgary Heritage Initiative Society/Heritage Inspires YYC

– All copyright images cannot be shared without prior permission

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