The Calgary Heritage Initiative Society (CHI) advocates to preserve and promote the productive use of buildings and areas of historic significance. We are volunteers who want to share our city’s built heritage with fellow Calgarians and future generations.
CHI was founded in 2005 and the following year was registered as a non-profit society in the province of Alberta.
What we’ve accomplished so far…
CHI is a past recipient of the Heritage Calgary's Lion Awards for Advocacy and Awareness
CHI has collaborated with other organizations on projects of mutual interest:
- Calgarians for Heritage Districts: our partner in the 2021 Heritage Inspires YYC online public awareness campaign, funded by the Alberta Real Estate Foundation
- Century Homes Calgary: winner of the Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Community Programming (2012)
- Chinook Country Historical Society: Historic Calgary Week talks and tours
- The Calgary Public Library: promotion of the extensive Calgary's Story collection
- Heritage Calgary: CHI has researched and submitted many suggestions for inclusion in the Inventory of Evaluated Historical Resources
- Heritage Round Tables: topical forums on community engagement, repurposing buildings, heritage trades and traditional building materials
CHI has advanced public awareness through:
- Educational programs: Demystifying Designation and Researching Your Historic Home
- Social media platforms and campaigns
- Member outreach and e-news
- Media exposure
- Plaque sponsorship: At the Stanley Residence, childhood home of the creator of the Canadian flag
- Architectural tours: The Brutalist Bus Tour, Endangered Buildings, Sandstone Schools and Historic Mission
CHI has helped preserve buildings like the historic McHugh house in the Beltline
CHI has advocated for municipal and/or provincial protection of:
- Heritage conservation areas
- The Calgary Brewing and Malting Company buildings
- The Nimmon's residence
- The Barron Building
- The Enoch Sales House
- Eamon’s Bungalow Camp
- Century Gardens
…among others