Fort Calgary will become a historic landmark

In an effort to revitalize itself, Fort Calgary has changed its name and logo to reflect more of the history of its location.

Located along the Bow and Elbow Rivers in Calgary, this site is now known as The Confluence: Historic Place and Parkland.

“The stories here are complicated,” said Jennifer Thompson, president of The Confluence. “That's why we engaged Indigenous peoples, Calgarians, partners, the RCMP and other key audiences to gather knowledge and perspective. We heard about the importance of telling a broader cross-section of the story of The Junction and advancing Truth and Reconciliation.”

“Confluence is about the coming together of separate subjects, identities and histories,” he added.

“Today we're officially launching the new name, and we're taking an important step toward telling the many stories of this place we call Calgary today.”

Thompson adds that the name change went through a process of agreement and consultation with more than 1,500 stakeholders.

Extending the story

The hope now is to expand on the story of when Fort Calgary was built by the Northwest Territories in 1875.

This includes creating new exhibits that have not been updated since 1994 or 2001.

Star Crop Eared Wolf, the space's new curator, has announced the creation of a new Blackfoot First Nation exhibit to open in December.

As a member of the Blackfoot, she says she has worked hard to gather insightful interviews with elders and create what she hopes will be an interactive and dynamic experience for others to understand her culture.

“So now being able to sit down at the table and share my ideas and thoughts and be able to create a validated and Blackfoot exhibit is a step in the right direction,” Crop Eared Wolf said.

“I'm also very happy with the name change. In Blackfoot culture, we change our names as we go through different aspects of life, so this is necessary. I think this is a sign of growth. Here, we're taking it in a different direction and trying to showcase the diversity and dynamic mosaic of cultures in the Calgary region.”

The confluence was also given a new Blackfoot name, “I'táámito'táaattsiiyio'pi,” which means “harmonious meeting place.”

Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek also attended the event, describing the new name as an “incredible energy” location near the hub of a new entertainment district that will soon host the all-inclusive festival.

“The past meets the present. It is our responsibility to think about how we got here and how we can ensure that the bright future we all want is an inclusive future,” he said.

“I think this organization will play a very important role in shedding light on our history and it will help us travel together.”

Confluence will soon host an open house on Sunday, May 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., which will show attendees how its new identity will connect the community through a variety of activities for all ages.

Officials say the historic designation given to the site is associated with Fort Calgary and the name will remain with that name.