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A Look Back In Time: Kingsland Junction Throughout History
Nestled in the Southwest quadrant of Calgary, Kingsland Junction is home to approximately 4,800 residents, including all of us at Trico LivingWell! How did the Kingsland Junction we know and love become what it is today? Before the hustle and bustle of the residential buildings and businesses, this area was acres of farmland owned by Harnam Singh Hari.
Harnam Singh Hari, 1913
“Harnam Singh Hari, driving wagon, De Winton area, Alberta.”, 1913, (CU1102785) by Unknown. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary.
In 1909, Harnam Singh immigrated from India to Canada and developed farms in both Kingsland and De Winton. Harnam Singh was Alberta and Calgary’s first Sikh citizen. With significant dedication and effort, he overcame multiple obstacles and grew his business to span the 400-acre spread stretching across what is now Chinook Centre.
In 2014, Calgary honoured his legacy and achievements with Singh Hari Park, located on the land he farmed in Kingsland.
Aerial View of Kingsland, 1958
“Aerial view of Kingsland and Chinook Park areas, Calgary, Alberta.”, 1958-10-15, (CU1132098) by Rosettis Studio. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary.
This aerial view of Kingsland looks west at 7th Street and Elbow Drive, with the reservoir framing the communities of Chinook Park and Kingsland. The reservoir was constructed to store a sufficient amount of drinking water for Calgarians and sustain environmental health. In fact, almost half of Calgary’s water supply is drawn from here. Besides these important features, it is also used for recreational activities like sailing.
Kingsland Shopping Centre, 1959
“Kingsland shopping centre, Calgary, Alberta.”, 1959-08-29, (CU1131934) by Rosettis Studio. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary.
Located on 75 Avenue and Elbow Drive SW, this quaint shopping complex hosted a variety of businesses. Today, we know this centre as Kingsland Plaza, home to a Shoppers Drug Mart, Cobbs, Starbucks, and more.
Kingsland Rugby Park, 1954
“Calgary Tigers rugby team, Calgary, Alberta.”, 1930, (CU1134507) by Halliday. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary.
As rugby blossomed in Calgary and expanded across the province, many games were hosted at the Kingsland Rugby Park. In 1999, the Calgary Rugby Park moved to 9025 Shepard Road SE and is now one of the premier rugby parks in Canada.
